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Alex Rapattoni Loyal user Seattle, Wa 229 Posts |
So, I'm just curious, what do you guys say after you offer to make balloons and someone asks the question "how much is it", or "does it cost anything"?
Do you respond differently if the kid asks than when the parent asks?
Weird is part of the job.
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MagicB1S Inner circle Knoxville Tenn. 1039 Posts |
When a child asks me how much is it I Usually respond back with "Its $19.95 plus Shipping and Handling, But wait if you act now you don't only get one Balloon but you get Two Just pay extra shipping and handling for the second Balloon" I do this in my best infomercial voice. The kids usually look at there parents confused and the parents get a chuckle.
"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 |
MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
Why not just answer the question?
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iwillfoolu Special user Upstate NY, USA 746 Posts |
I assume you're at an event your being paid to be at?
"Normally I charge a few buck... however, Mrs __________ wanted this to be a super special party so if you promise to thank her for throwing such a great event, I'll make one for you for free" Joey D |
Alex Rapattoni Loyal user Seattle, Wa 229 Posts |
The question is really for events when you will be making most of your money through tips. I don't really want to have a set price in mind, but I want to inspire better tips.
Weird is part of the job.
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Alex Rapattoni Loyal user Seattle, Wa 229 Posts |
Mike,
I'm not really sure how to answer the question.
Weird is part of the job.
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tom hughes Loyal user 225 Posts |
I usually say something along the lines of;
" I work for tips... you pay what you want 'cos if you paid what I want it'd be $5000 per balloon... but ( suggested donation) $3 ( $4 or $5) would do!" Gets a giggle out of the adults and makes it apparent that a tip is appropriate. best tom
http://www.ashevillemagic.com
http://www.themagictomshow.com magician/magic show in asheville w.n.c. |
Beowulf Loyal user Thomas A. Lilly 284 Posts |
One smile.
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Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts |
Children in general don't have a concept of tipping. Often they are sent like military drones to find out the deal-ee-o.
If you point to your tip bucket, they will shout out "It is only a dollar!!!" you're screwed then. The best answer I find is this..... "bring your mom or dad here, I only give balloons to kids with parent's permission." They understand parent permission from school. they will drag the parent over. Then to the parent you can say "I work for tips.... the more zeros the better I like you!" This also why it is important to get paid by the establishment.... you are doing them a service by keeping the customers happy, then tipping is ancillary. When you don't NEED the tip the tips are better.
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy As seen on the TODAY SHOW www.balloonguy.net Creator of Bad to the Balloon DVD series Go to my store: http://tinyurl.com/Bad2theBalloon |
Juliegel Loyal user 294 Posts |
I agree with Mark when it comes to kids. To them if it is an optional to pay for something the that is no option at all. "I'll take 9 please".
I personally don't have any sort of tip bucket. I just find them to be to close to just charging. Then there is also the maintenance of the bucket by priming it and keeping it free of change. My lines can be to lengthy for that. I normally begin the day by making a few nice things and just giving them out. These first people often reach for their wallet to pull out a couple bucks but I stop them. I tell them that the balloon is on the house as long as they tell those that ask that they tipped me (whatever I consider that balloon is worth). Because it is early on in the day people compliment these people and ask where they got such a neat balloon. "Oh the balloon guy over there, he was great, I gave him a ten!". Things get rolling and the line gets constant and longer throughout the day. People who have seen and been told that tipping is normal so they also tip. Those in line (always form a wide curve line or circle) see them tip and they feel they have to tip. It just starts cycling. This is only recommended for events where people will be hanging around for long. Fairs and mall gigs are great venues. It you are just stopping by a craft bizzar then you may want to skip this one but when the time is right you can clean up. Also, inspired by the Coldstone Creamery format of tip for a burst of entertainment I am working on a design for a light and sound device that a can burst into effect when people tip a ten. It will have a spinning light and some sort of music. I have a few ideas but nothing exact yet. Should encourage higher tipping. Dylan |
Pokie-Poke Special user Bensalem, PA 883 Posts |
Just a note on kids not knowing about tipping...
Me and my partner were twisting at a AAA ball park, a woman came up with a bunch of kids (about 9) and said it was a birthday, there was another kid waiting, boy, about 8, cute kid, the lady made shure all of HER kids got, before letting anyone else get. and the 8 year old waited his turn. when all 9 brats got theres the woman gave my partner $1. the 8 year old sees this, and in quite a loud voice proclames "a BUCK! Boy lady your cheep!" the woman puled out some more, and split. boy did that kid get one heck of a hat! some kids get it!
www.pokie-poke.com
The Adventure cont... |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-01-27 11:50, MagicB1S wrote: I used this line all day yesterday and boy did it work out nice! Thanks for sharing it! Christopher
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Beowulf Loyal user Thomas A. Lilly 284 Posts |
Had once explored putting a tipper monkey on a perch, a la a parrot, to keep it from inquisitive hands and yet make it visible. Figured to use it for tips and jokes plus a place to hang a sign, below the perch, maybe a blow-up of my business card. Idea was to be able to flip the sign to indicate time remaining. Periodic triggering of the monkey would help draw attention to the time.
Even better would be something along the style of the arcade game in Astaire's 'Bandwagon': flags pop out, banners, steam, music. Or a miniature air-dancer balloon that would inflate on command, wave it's arms like crazy, and then collapse. |
Bad to the Balloon Inner circle Clearwater Florida 2116 Posts |
Addendum to tipping....
The only place I really accept tips or promote tipping is in a restaurant.... WHY? Restaurant work I do at a discount compared to my other gigs, Regular gigs I get paid for my services in full. Which makes my service a gift to the guests. People may offer me tips but I soft refuse "I am paid to be here..." if they insist rather than making a scene I take the money. If it is a charity event I donate the money back. Anything else I keep it.
Mark Byrne
AKA Mark the Balloon Guy As seen on the TODAY SHOW www.balloonguy.net Creator of Bad to the Balloon DVD series Go to my store: http://tinyurl.com/Bad2theBalloon |
Mister Jazzz New user Texas 24 Posts |
When I'm working for tips I say 1 or 2 of these with a few variations:
If it looks like a date: "How much is she worth to you?" Kids/Parents: "I'm working for tips and the normal tip is $20. Are you normal?" (said with a huge grin) then if they don't do the $20 (actually had quite a few do it.) followed by, "Oh I get it. You know that para means 'almost' so a para-legal means almost legal. I guess I just had another paranormal experience" Kids: "This special balloon only costs $0.05 but with the price of inflation now-a-days..." Though, if I'm paid at the event: "You don't have to. The event is paying me to entertain you and your huge smile is a great tip! Now go find *mention the name of the person who hired you* and tell them to have me back again!" Then depending on the situation I'll have fun and say what they should say... |
MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
There's some great advice here but a few items might need a closer look:
Pokie-Poke wrote: Quote:
...when all 9 brats got theres the ... I hate to hear a perfromer casually refering to kids as brats that way. I suppose if these kids behaved in some horrible way you might decide they are brats but you didn't mention that in your story. I never think of kids as brats myself. Mister Jazz wrote: Quote:
If it looks like a date: "How much is she worth to you?" I wouldn't like it if someone used this line on me. There really is no good answer. Am I supposed to say "Well I was going to give you a dollar but she's worth at least 10 bucks to me!". |
Leland Inner circle St Louis 1180 Posts |
"How much you got?"
LOL
Life of Magic!
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TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
I rarely work for tips (Ireland not being a tipping culture) but I saw a very good American working the streets of Cork recently. Whenever anyone asked, he loudly said: I am working for tips. If you like the balloon, be as generous as you like. If you don't like it so much, take it away as a gift from me. I only get paid if you are happy.
He gave no other guideline, but was very friendly, and was getting fives and tens. If a kid came up to me on his own, and he had a euro in his hand, I would take it. But if he didn't (assuming he is a young kid, who doesn't understand tipping) then I would just give him the balloon. But that's just me.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
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