How to be a Librarian's Favorite Entertainer

Since 1994, I’ve had a good deal of success performing each summer in public libraries. When I first approached libraries in the late 1980’s and early 90’s, I felt fortunate to book two or three summer library shows. But for the last ten years my entire summer has been booked solid, performing for young readers. I have analyzed my success, and have come up with several factors responsible for my growth in this market.

Whenever you perform, you want to hear the client say the magic words, “We’d like to have you back again.” You also want to hear something like, “We’ve had other entertainers, but you’re our favorite.” I’ll give you several “secrets of success” that if followed, will give you the same results.

Children’s librarians make up a small, tightly knit community, and they like to stay in contact with each other. They attend regional and even statewide meetings, and e-mail and call each other constantly. A popular topic among librarians is, “who have you used for your summer reading program entertainment?” If you do your job in a professional manner, the word will spread, and you’ll become very busy in the library market. Likewise, if you do a poor job, word will get out, and you will see your library business dry up almost overnight.

Librarians are among the most organized, detail-oriented clients I’ve ever served. So, the first secret of success in the library market is to be prompt and professional with your correspondence. Contracts and invoices need to be neat and clear, and sent out promptly. Sometimes a library will send you their contract, so make sure you sign it and send or fax it back immediately.

I can’t stress this first point enough. Several librarians have commented to me that they appreciate the fact that I get their materials to them immediately. They have told me that several other entertainers won’t send contracts back, and have to be called and reminded.Along with the correspondence, make sure you also send a thank you note a day after your show. It’s a simple courtesy that will add to your image as a professional.

The second secret of success is to be early to your show. It’s important to be early for any show, but especially libraries. Librarians have told me several horror stories of having 100 children eagerly awaiting a performer, who never shows up. Then the librarian has to improvise, and read stories to the disappointed audience.

I arrive one hour early. My show only needs 30 minutes for setup, but arriving an hour early will get you lots of “bonus points.” You’ll never make a librarian unhappy if you arrive early, but if you’re late—watch out! I enjoy arriving early at a library. I usually walk around the library, and then sit down and relax with a good book.

A third secret of success is to have a show that is totally self-contained. I make no demands on the librarian. My show can be performed in a meeting room, out in the library, or even in some instances outdoors. The library doesn’t have to supply anything, or do any setup. I even bring my own masking tape, to mark a line on the floor where the children should sit.

Another big secret of success, which will really differentiate you from the competition, is to promote the library and their services. I do this before and during the show.

You promote the library before the show by supplying the library with a photo of yourself, a bio, and a press release. Librarians really appreciate these materials, and they will be used in flyers, signs and newspaper stories to promote your appearance.

During the show, I promote the library by making my patter and routines tie-in to books, reading and other library services. For instance, I may do a funny cooking routine, and of course I got the recipe from a cookbook at the library. Or, I may preface a routine by saying I was at the library doing some research on the Internet, and here’s what I found. Or, perhaps you checked out a video at the library, and learned something, which ties into a trick.

The key is that you don’t just talk about books, but you mention other services the library provides, such as computers and Internet, or videos, or music CD’s, etc.

To really make librarians happy, see to it that lots of books are checked out at the conclusion of your show. The best way is to have a display of the magic books and related arts, such as juggling, puppetry and ventriloquism, right in the room where you perform the show. During the show you can mention the books, and also at the end you can remind the children about all the wonderful books ready to be checked out.

Finally, even though you’re working in a library and promoting reading, make sure you have a funny show that really entertains the kids and parents. Often we think of libraries as being stuffy, quiet places. But make sure your show isn’t boring and too quiet.

The average age of a library audience is 5 to 8 year olds. You will usually have younger siblings, down to age two. Sometimes you’ll get a few 10 or 12 year olds, but the vast majority of your audience will be kindergarten to third grade. So make sure your show is appropriate, with lots of comedy and audience participation.

If you do a killer show, the parents will be impressed and will walk out thanking the librarian for the wonderful show. And a great show that entertains the kids and holds their attention, will be looked upon favorably by the librarians.

Work on all of these little details that I’ve mentioned, and the result may be that you will become the favorite library entertainer in your area.

                                                          Click here to return to the list of Marty's Columns.