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MagicB1S Inner circle Knoxville Tenn. 1039 Posts |
I was just called by a Pumpkin festival to Twist Balloons. If you can remember a while back I posted a topic about a festival I did and there was a clown there also twisting. Well This event Called and informed me that there will be someone else there also twisting... It doesn't bother me to twist at an event with multiple Twisters but my Question is.... Is this common? I know for the past twenty plus years of performing My magic act I never performed with other entertainers, However in the past several months of twisting this is the second time I am going to be at an event with a second twister.... What are your thoughts
"There are Tricks To All Trades.... My Trade is all Tricks"
"An amature practices until he gets it right. A Professional Practices until he can't get it wrong" www.Themagicchest.webs.com bobswislosky@yahoo.com |
TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
In my experience festivals rarely hire more than one magician or one puppet show. But, depending on the size of the crowd expected, multiple balloon modellers are quite common. Multiple face painters are even more common.
You can either stand with the other balloon guys and make one area the balloon area, or spread out and cover as much of the event as you can. Both approaches are common. Tony.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
Jestnjoker Elite user 440 Posts |
It's pretty commmon around me.
Cons: -Your potential client base may have just been cut in half. Even if you are making way better stuff, the guests at the event don't know what came from who unless they see you make it. So they'll just take a card from the balloon guy that they see. -You may be asked to make things that the guests have seen from the other twister. This is not a huge issue, but you always get some little brat who wants something exactly like they saw it. Pros: -When you want to cut your line, guess where you send them? No need to feel bad about turning someone away. -Good competition breeds good creativity. -Networking. I believe I have met every single one of my professional colleagues at a "shared" event. And they have generated thousands of dollars for me. I've had some very good and some very bad experiences with shared events. Once I had to deal with a guy who wore pajamas and a 50 cent nose and called himself a clown. He only twisted one balloon animals and spent the whole time making excuses about why he never bothers to do more. He felt the need to justify this to me the whole time. I tried to be a good sport about it and did my best to teach him some easier fancy creations so that he could take some of my line and more kids could get what they wanted. I could tell he felt threatened and I had no intention of making anyone feel uncomfortable. I wanted him to know that we were on the same team and were there for the kids. Keep that in mind and you should be fine.
Jeff Wright
www.WrightEntertainment.biz Voted Best Party Entertainer in Cleveland, Nickelodeon Parents' Picks Awards |
Kevinr Inner circle 1854 Posts |
I think its better to wrk next to the other balloon twister so the credit of who made what goes to the correct person.
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Pokie-Poke Special user Bensalem, PA 883 Posts |
If the person is making you look bad, "Pajamas and .50c nose" I would not stand near him. this way people know he is not with me.
www.pokie-poke.com
The Adventure cont... |
Jestnjoker Elite user 440 Posts |
Kev, it's obvious to the people in line. Not to other guests at the event who may see someone walking around with the balloon. Then they walk up to the first balloon guy they see, assuming it's the only one, and ask for a card. I've seen it happen with my work.
Pokie, I feel what you are saying. Had I made an effort to distance myself I would have definitely seemed like I was challenging him. I had been around him before when I was performing magic. I didn't want to cause any issues, so I opted to play nice.
Jeff Wright
www.WrightEntertainment.biz Voted Best Party Entertainer in Cleveland, Nickelodeon Parents' Picks Awards |
Kevinr Inner circle 1854 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-10-10 23:43, Jestnjoker wrote: True.. didn't think of that I really don't work lines.. 1. Usually I do a magic shows and balloons after the show... 2. Big balloon decor or massive scuplture.... 3. Balloons at table setting deals (because balloons get better tips than magic) In a nut shell that's what I do.. |
Jestnjoker Elite user 440 Posts |
I'm usually not a fan of the circumstances that are frequent at a large public venue, but if nothing else, it's a great way to be seen and hand out my card. Very often now I hear "Oh, we saw you at (insert public event). She kept her balloon for weeks." And most public venues result in numerous bookings.
Jeff Wright
www.WrightEntertainment.biz Voted Best Party Entertainer in Cleveland, Nickelodeon Parents' Picks Awards |
Cholly, by golly! Loyal user 251 Posts |
Working with other twisters has always been a good experience for me.
1. If the other guy is awful, I look great. 2. If the other guy is great, I usually learn some new sculptures, lines, bits, etc. |
Jestnjoker Elite user 440 Posts |
Cholly,
The glass is half full, eh?
Jeff Wright
www.WrightEntertainment.biz Voted Best Party Entertainer in Cleveland, Nickelodeon Parents' Picks Awards |
Cholly, by golly! Loyal user 251 Posts |
Absolutely...
I personally think all event planners should hire multiple twisters. |
Jestnjoker Elite user 440 Posts |
I tend to agree. It's not like I'll ever run out of a line. It's usually a budget issue, but in today's world, so many planners are worried about EVERY CHILD getting a balloon. I just lost a bid on an event because she was worried about kids not getting a balloon. She had over 300 kids and the event was only 2 hours long. Duh!
Jeff Wright
www.WrightEntertainment.biz Voted Best Party Entertainer in Cleveland, Nickelodeon Parents' Picks Awards |
Cholly, by golly! Loyal user 251 Posts |
Yeah...
I always tell clients that I will do as many balloons as possible. That doesn't mean they are hiring a puppy and sword factory, though. It just means I'll try to keep the line moving. |
Kevinr Inner circle 1854 Posts |
I tell them 2-5 minutes per creation.. So if they only book me for an hour well anymore than 20 children is not possible.
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RiffClown Inner circle Yorktown, Virginia (Previously Germany) 1579 Posts |
300 balloons for 300 kids in a short amout of time is not a problem. If the want them blown up or even twisted, then that's an entirely different conversation...
Rob "Riff, the Magical Clown" Eubank aka RiffClown
<BR>http://www.riffclown.com <BR>Magic is not the method, but the presentation. |
Jestnjoker Elite user 440 Posts |
When working a line I often throw uninflated pink balloons at people at tell them it's an earthworm. World's fastest balloon animal. Gets a good reaction.
Jeff Wright
www.WrightEntertainment.biz Voted Best Party Entertainer in Cleveland, Nickelodeon Parents' Picks Awards |
Kevinr Inner circle 1854 Posts |
I have had clients ask for 45 items per hour and I refuse... I don't want to known as just another twister who makes creations out of two balloons..
25 an hours is my max and I usually ask for 18-20 But that's just me.. Funny line with the pink balloons I migh have to try that one.. |
Cholly, by golly! Loyal user 251 Posts |
I don't think giving a client any kind of definite "x number of balloons per hour" estimate would work for me.
I book myself as an entertainer... not a toy factory. I'd be happy to drop off a big bag of puppies on the morning of the event, though. $1 a puppy? |
Jestnjoker Elite user 440 Posts |
Yeah, I often consider offering a "pre-inflated" option too. They pay me for my work before I arrive and everyone gets a balloon. But I'd like to avoid that aspect of the business as much as possible and just book an extra hour onto the event.
I know many entertainers that have a minimum amount of hours required to book them. A friend of mine has a 5 hour minimum. This is obviously an opportunity cost decision. I don't think he books more than 10 a year. Keeps him open to tour and lecture the rest of the year.
Jeff Wright
www.WrightEntertainment.biz Voted Best Party Entertainer in Cleveland, Nickelodeon Parents' Picks Awards |
Smarty Pants World Loyal user 231 Posts |
Nice thread going on here. I am very upfront with event planners and clients about how many balloons they can expect to have made in an hour. The only event where I promise every single kid will get a balloon is at a birthday party, since I'm not willing to leave any kids disappointed at a private event like that. For large public events, I am very honest about how many balloons I can realistically make - perhaps 15 in an hour.
For many event planners, they just aren't familiar with how many balloons to expect in a certain amount of time. I've had a few expect all 300 kids to get a balloon in a two hour frame. That's not just unrealistic - it's downright impossible. It's my job to not just educate them about what I can do, but also what I can't do - and avoid problems rather than solve them after I'm already booked. Plan ahead to avoid problems later on! |
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