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Bball5630 Regular user 140 Posts |
So I am doing a convention and I have a booth where my wife is doing face painting for set prices per face and I was asked to do balloons. I have done restaurants where I am paid an hourly rate and accept tips, or a corporate event where no tips, just hourly. I however, haven't done this type before. I don't want to do for tips only as I don't think I should in this environment. What is a good fee for Balloons? Do you have a set price, a price per balloon, a suggested donation? Most of my creations are 3 or more balloons, and I was just wondering what anyone else has done in this situation...
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Wes Holly Special user Cincinnati, OH, USA 644 Posts |
Random thoughts ...
I have done it both ways and can't say that one way makes more money than the other - some people will tip more than others (especially if you make it fun) - if you set prices you'll make a lot of $1 flowers/swords and for me, that's not much fun anytime you set a price for an item, you risk being subject to sales tax laws - different localities have different rules & provisions - call your local city hall and find out what the official policy is - if it's a one time thing they may tell you not to worry about it create a good looking menu board and have different price levels (put your contact info on it as well) bring a small platform to stand on - elevating yourself will make it easier for people to find you and to see what your doing from farther away. it also "elevates" you as a performer in the eyes of the guests if you do the tip jar - make it large and already halfway filled with bills of different denominations - it should be elevated as well be entertaining what is your focus? if it's to market yourself as an entertainer, forget charging or asking for tips. or bring a third person to your booth to sell tickets for face painting and balloons, then you aren't handling the money and people will more remember how much fun you are and not how much they paid for the balloon. |
Bball5630 Regular user 140 Posts |
Thanks for the response. Actually it's a different type of event. At festivals, I have worked for tips. However, this is a bit different. It is a convention where they are giving me a table in exchange for a couple of performances. I am selling magic and my wife is doing face painting. I am not really going to market myself as this is several hours away and it will not benefit me that much. I will have cards available, but this isn't what I am going for here.
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Jay Ward Veteran user Flowery Branch, GA 328 Posts |
$1 per balloon, so a 3 balloon creation is $3. You can make a sign with $1 choices, $2 choices and so on. When I used to make them at a flea market, I offered the 6th balloon free to help encourage folks getting the bigger choices. You could pre-make some basic swords and sell those for 50 cents.
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Perry D Winkle Regular user 173 Posts |
Are you giving them a show or are you just a twisting machine? No offense. I used to be a twisting machine.
If you are entertaining, do tips. You'll collect more and won't be subject to sales tax. But there's a rule or it won't work. No parent NO BALLOON. And this isn't just because of liability. A child will run to their parent 'Mommy I want a balloon' Parent: 'Okay billy here's a dollar now go have fun.' Because in the parents mind your just a joker handing out balloon dogs (No entertainment there, nothing that deserves reward). They have not been entertained by a real balloon worker and under that model they aren't going to. I cannot tell you how many times I've had children standing in line without their parents holding a dollar. I tell them: 'Sorry but I can't give you a balloon without your parent or guardian here. Why don't you go get them I'd love to meet them. I'll be sad if they don't want to meet me.' And this isn't a lie. I do want to meet their parents and I GENUINELY want to entertain their parents. I do not want to be some sap handing out poodles and swords as fast as I can. Then they go back and get the parent and sometimes the parent is cross about this. They sometimes stand with their arms folded glaring (initially). I smile and shake their hand, I tell them about myself and what I do. Then the parent is there listening to my jokes and enjoying a show. They open up and begin to have fun. They weren't expecting to be entertained. I make that parent and child a star. For five minutes they are my only audience. I give them my best. And when I create a balloon dragon or monkey that takes six balloons and stick it on their head that same parent says, 'Wow, that was impressive.' Then they throw in five to ten dollars after that single that the child drops in. That's being an entertainer. You don't have to charge for that. |
funnyclown Elite user Burlingame, CA 494 Posts |
I agree with Perry. I hate charging a set price for a balloon. I also agree you will probably make more with the tip idea. And if you do charge a set price you would then be selling a product and not just offering a service. In that case you must pay your states sales tax. Keeping it simple is the best idea.
Mike Ianneo
Funnybone Magic "Defender of the Defenseless One Balloon Dog" https://www.funnybonemagic.com |
Jay Ward Veteran user Flowery Branch, GA 328 Posts |
For the record, I don't like charging for balloons either. I also don't like events where I don't get paid. If you go for the tips route, you might try the "suggested tip". Have a chart with suggested tips. When someone asks for a monkey in a tree, say the suggested tip for that is $3, is that ok? I know that when I made balloons at the flea market, and paid booth rent, I would have not made it without charging for balloons. By the way, they always sold like hotcakes. In fact, that's when I realized I could make balloons for a living.
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