MagicBase
Reviews
Linking Ring review
MAGIC
review
Joel Bauer, (Author, Speaker) Review
Owner's Reviews
Eric Myers review on The Magic Cafe site
Roger Way Review
Linking Ring Review by Mike Gorman
Magic Magazine Review. Oct. 2004
I've played with the demo--superb!
For 99% of performers who do GIGS, MagicBase is all they will ever need...
"Trying to run a magic business without MagicBase
would be like flying a
Jet without fuel."
Joel Bauer
Speaker/Performer/Author
Sample Joel's new book "How to Persuade People Who
Don't Want to be Persuaded: Get What You Want - Every Time!" online
at:
www.lobelinepr.com/Bauer
Rick Morse: My MagicBase is ALWAYS open and ready for use—I can honestly say I can’t get along without it!
Joe Romano
"I just wanted to thank you for your introducing me to MagicBase.
MB is one of those products that I wish I had 15 years ago. It has
literally changed the way that I do business. This year I will make
more money and work less thanks to your software.
This morning I turned on MB, it reminded me to call a couple of clients
that were sent videos a week ago. Each follow up call resulted in
a booking that a year ago was a call that would have probably been forgotten.
MagicBase and TIVO have changed my life!"
Brian Kaufman: "You have designed quite a wonderful program. It is easy to use, easy to find what you need (quickly! Always a plus!) and best off, it truly is like having a full-staffed office right at the click of a finger…and best off, I get to be the CEO!"
Jamahl Keyes: "It was an answer to my prayers!"
Paul Belanger, Baltimore, MD: "I love your software. It is by far the best performer / event software on the market. You have perfected what I have been unable to do with my own files." Feb. 2004
Patrick Slaughter: "I think your program is great at helping us performers manage the customers that we already have."
David J Greene "MagicBase is GREAT! I have all the information I need right at my fingertips. I no longer have to deal with the paper cuts caused by thumbing through files and files of papers!"
Phil Spitz "I
am a very satisfied MB user. The combo of support for the magic part of
our business is the real kicker. It took me a little time to warm up to
it , however now that I am using it it is great. We have ported all of
our records over and did our first big mailing. It is a breeze.
The invoicing and contracts are well thought out... Another big plus for
us is it a Macintosh program as well (as PC). Download the demo and try
it.
As for Bob Miller, he has been very helpful answering my questions. He
is promt to return emails. All around a good package." Mr Phil
"Daniel Brown here. Received the 100 page, printed, MagicBase Users Guide on Friday and was absolutely elated! Great product--great service! Thanks so much for all your help. This should shorten the learning curve for me considerably. I can lay the users guide out in front of me with MagicBase on the screen and really "go for it"! It's a genuine pleasure doing business with you Bob, you're all about the "service"."
Daniel Brown
Here's a review by Eric Myers posted on The Magic Cafe site:
So there I was studying the advertisement for this software
on www.bobmillermagic.biz. Could I possibly learn how to use this software
given that I can barely access my email. Even though I'm only 27, I'm
pretty bad with computers. Nevertheless, this software looked amazing
and very helpful to a working magician. So I took the plunge and ordered
it.
First let me start by saying that Bob Miller has been very helpful. He
has answered all my e-mails promptly and even called me to discuss the
software prior to my purchase. First rate customer service indeed. I should
also mention that the Users Guide for the software is available on the
website. You can download it for free to see the details of what you will
be able to accomplish with this software. The advertisment on the site
is also very detailed and will give you an overview of the capabilities
of this package.
That said, I played with the software for 2 weeks prior to writing this
review so I could give it a fair shake. I even read all 100+ pages of
the Users Guide so that I could explore the more advanced features available.
Bottom line, while there are a few things I would like to change, I think
this software is invaluable to the working performer. This software alone
can elevate you to the level of a professional performer, at least in
terms of marketing.
The software basically consists of several screens all of which have a
different function. The first is the "Customers" screen where
you will enter all of your client information, event names, and show general
show information for each event. This is also the screen where you will
enter all the financial information such as fees etc. A really nice feature
also calculates your mileage rates and automatically adds this to the
total fee. The beauty of this software is that all the screens are linked
so that information you type on this screen for example will get automatically
included in the contract or letter etc that you decide to send to the
client.
From the Customer screen, you can access several other screens including
the Routines screen. This screen is where you can record all of your available
tricks by type, length, props needed, sourch and price. The information
entered in this screen will be used by the Show Planner screen when you
are planning out each of your shows for a given event/customer.
The Show Planner screen is very easy to use. Basically, it lets you chose
the material you will use for each show. Because you have already entered
all of your material in the Routines screen, all you have to do is use
a drop down menu to choose the tricks you would like and the order in
which you would like to perform them. The rest of the information including
type of trick, length and props is automatically added. A nice feature
also calculates the total time of the show given the material you have
chosen. Also nice, because each trick is categorized by type, you can
easily pick a variety of material that is diverse and not repetitive of
the same type (ie. vanishes, comedy, rope etc). This screen also allows
you to record standard shows if you do the same show every time. Doing
so will allow you to easily plan future shows by just selecting the standard
show you would like so you don't have to type in new tricks every time.
From this screen, you can also print out a show plan so that you can easily
see the order and tricks you have chosen.
My favorite screen is the Documents screen (I can't rember the real name).
This screen is invaluable in that it includes a multitude of records including
detailed income summaries, and customer breakdowns. For example, on this
screen, you can see a detailed breakdown of all shows and revenues earned
over a certain period of time. You can also view all shows and revenue
from a particular customer. This screen also includes all information
that you may want to send to a customer including contracts, thank you
letters, referral forms, etc. You can choose these individually or there
is a button that will allow you to print out all the documents necessary
for a customer.
There is no way I can describe all the features available with MagicBase.
I highly recommend that you check out the advertisement and demos at Bob
Millers website for more detail.
As I said, there are a few things I would like to see changed the biggest
of which is that the screens don't show up as full screen. Rather, they
appear as about 3/4 screen and if you hit the maximize button the empty
space is filled in as white space. Bob explained why this is so but I'm
not smart enough to understand it. This is not a big problem, but being
a lawyer, my eyes need to see big things so hopefully this can be changed
in later versions. I also think the software should be updated to allow
for more information regarding shows obtained through Agents. This can
be done with the current version but I'd like to see a spot on the main
customer page where agent fees are considered and factored in.
Bob has indicated that updates will be made over time so improvements
are likely. My concerns are not major and do not take away from the effectiveness
and usefulness of this product.
Even if you are not into marketing, this software is great for record
keeping, especially come tax time. You can dowload the software from Bob's
site for $90 or buy a cd-rom version for $95 which is what I did. These
are introductory prices that will end in early February so be sure to
take advantage of them now. Bob also offers free shipping during this
period. This software is fun to play with and very useful. I highly recommend
it.
Here's a review by MagicBase owner, Roger Way:
Product Review: MagicBase
Integrated Marketing Software
By Roger "Skip" Way
Carolina Magic & Comedy
As a working performer, I've used a variety of programs
to track clients, record shows, manage inventory, generate letters and
review financial issues. Finally, master magician, Bob
Miller, has come up with an easy-to-use integrated software package
that does it all. The program is called MagicBase.
I don't want to go into specifics here. You can read all about the program
and download the user's
manual in PDF format from Bob's website, www/bobmillermagic.biz for
that. There are, however, a few features that I really liked in
this package.
The current edition of MagicBase offers three very useful tools:
• A variety of interactive marketing guides and features to help
you get new shows,
• A basic data management function to help you track and communicate
with current and potential clients to keep those shows, and
• An intuitive tool that helps you plan and track multiple shows.
The program is designed specifically with the working magician in mind.
But, the program is easily adapted to the marketing and management needs
of nearly any novelty entertainer.
The Marketing Assistant does an awesome job of reminding me of
approaching deadlines for sending promotional packages to fair & festival
committees, trade show managers and school administrators. This module
makes it easy to identify my top referral sources for special recognition
to insure continued interest and loyalty. The built-in contact manager
makes tracking promotional mailings and phone calls a snap. Mass mailings
for newsletters or "remember me" cards are just as easy. The
program even tells me at a glance which clients are booked, pending a
booking, not interested in booking or an interested prospect for future
contact.
The Data Manager is nearly as good as having a personal secretary.
This program generates a variety of customized forms, letters and cards,
including contracts, thank you's and more. There are several ways to sort
and list clients. Filters allow you to choose a specific client base for
special mailings, birthdays, whatever. I have some concerns over the flexibility
of the packaged word processor. The forms included are easily customized
and edited. However, full customization and the creation of entirely new
mail merge forms elude this edition of MagicBase. Still, nearly every
form the average working performer would expect to use is included.
The Show Planner module is among my favorites. Since a vast majority
of my business is generated through word-of-mouth promotion I wind up
performing for many of the same families year after year. It's difficult
to keep track of which illusions I used in each show; what was effective
and what bombed. MagicBase removes the guesswork and tedious record keeping.
With MagicBase, I entered all of my polished routines, including props
and necessary materials. I then developed a series of four different shows,
each with a slightly different theme, drawing routines listed in the database.
The show planner keeps me from placing two similar effects back-to-back
in the same show. On show day, MagicBase generates an itemized packing
list of every prop and tool I need for each show scheduled. If I decide
to change a routine in the show format, the packing list is instantly
updated. Now, when I schedule a show for a client, I can check to see
which show I used last, what the kids liked or didn't like, and schedule
a different show structure for the upcoming event.
The program offers a full range of negotiation & financial planning
goodies. On screen ticklers remind me to ask prospective clients about
the availability of electricity; who provides the sound system; whether
the event is indoors or out; then stores this info for future negotiations.
A built-in fee negotiator calculates deposits, mileage fees and standard
charges and adds this into a total fee that can be instantly quoted to
the client without wading through the details. For those of us who travel
a lot, that's a nice touch.
While this is not a financial bookkeeping package, MagicBase does offer
a variety of financial reports, including annual and monthly income summaries.
For those who have regular clients, MagicBase offers detailed and summary
reports of annual and monthly income by client.
If you already have customer files stored in another database, MagicBase
provides a method for exporting those files and loading them into MagicBase,
saving you loads of time and effort.
The program is a bit complicated at first, but I found that the more I
used it, the easier it was to operate. To help guide me along, MagicBase
includes a strong collection of helpful aides:
• Automatic pop-ups guide you through the actions
of most buttons. Once you're comfortable with the program, you can turn
this feature off.
• A series of helpful tutorials are included with
the package.
• If these aren't enough, MagicBase has one of
the most complete and easy to use help screens I've seen in a program
like this.
• For those questions that the help files just
don't address, the help screen has a handy instant email button for direct
technical assistance. That's convenience!
MagicBase offers a lot for an integrated management program that retails
for about $100.00. Bob offers free download of a trial version and the
complete user manual from his site. It's a pleasure to recommend this
software.
MagicBase Integrated Marketing Software
(Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP, Macintosh OS 9.1 or 10),
Retail: $90.00 Download/$105.00 CD-ROM,
www.bobmillermagic.biz
Roger "Skip" Way
Raleigh, North Carolina
Creating Laughter Worldwide since 1971
www.carolinaclowns.com