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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Never had a prominant beef yet and its been seen by thousands of people. If that were to happen, I would give them their money back + a squirmole + a wiggle + etc etc ,,,They would feel so bad that they would be fighting me to take the money.
BTW I work few fairs nowadays as I have found a far more lucrative outside market to work on,,,Fetes, Galas and Steam fairs etc etc, as posted before the UK Fairs are mainly made up of the fast cheque plate big earners. Who also have to find the big rents haha. |
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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
Ken, I know what you do I was just curious if politics had anything to do with fair income over there.
If weather is the most killer that must be rough. My wife is from Morcambe and yesterday there were several roadside fires here in Florida due to people flicking lit cigs out the window. She was telling me that her mother used to always flick cigs out the window but since it always rained there was no fear of fires. This is our dry season and it hasn't rained in months. This recession is scary for everyone. At least I am alive! Will |
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Very true,, Morcombe,,,yes I have had a tickel or two there haha.
Whats a dry season ? Flick cig butts out of the car window now will result in a stampede of smokers fighting to pick them up and re use them. At £5.50 a pac of 20 !! Ken |
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Sorry >>>>> $8 for a pac of 20,,,,sorry a 20 pac !!
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Rotten Special user 829 Posts |
Yeah, my Mum in law quit due to the cost. Crazy. They have raised them here as well but not that dear. $5.50 usd a pack. Sin tax is coming in hard to save us from ourselves.
We are going to try to head over there in June or July. I have yet to visit her homeland. So we are saving our nickles and hoping we can afford a vacation. Vacation? What is that??? |
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
Check out our showrun and pay us a visit when your here ok.
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The Curator of the Unusual Inner circle Tampa FL 1399 Posts |
Hey Ken, My girlfreinds family lives in England....So if I visit next winter and I land at Heathrow..Are You gonna ask if my Kingpole's standin straight and offer me a cup-O tea or turn me in to Scotland Yard???/
You come to a point in your life when you really don't care what people think about you, you just care what you think about yourself.
Evel Knievel contact: curatoroftheunusual@hotmail.com |
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
For you, it's only half a yard...
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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The Curator of the Unusual Inner circle Tampa FL 1399 Posts |
When running a "Profitable" Single-O...in this Day and age, you'd better have a Strong attraction...When runnin a Large show...you can afford to have some weaker attractions...but either Way...FLASH is Cash...The main difference between a Single-O and a large Bannerfront is with a Singl-o, you have 10'-20' to sell Em....with a big banner front you have 100'...When I play Tucson in a couple of weeks a Zid-bit show is goin to be there also, I will be studying it...
You come to a point in your life when you really don't care what people think about you, you just care what you think about yourself.
Evel Knievel contact: curatoroftheunusual@hotmail.com |
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
I would offer anyone a cup of tea,,,providing I was treated with the respect that which I would treat others.
I have been down on my uppers and recieved tea and other vittles from the most unlikely of people. My philosophy to treat people the way I would wish to be treated has been a power to me. Another code I abide to is "Do unto others as I would wish to be done by" I would add to that "But do it a B****Y site faster ! |
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The Curator of the Unusual Inner circle Tampa FL 1399 Posts |
Hey I was just watchin Dr. Phil...Marital problems...Some guy named George (Patton) kept sayin "NO Monty, your my B****!" uh, whats up with that?.....
You come to a point in your life when you really don't care what people think about you, you just care what you think about yourself.
Evel Knievel contact: curatoroftheunusual@hotmail.com |
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
If a zibb is going up against you on a Fair lot then the owner has not read the instructions nor understand its true worth.
I will call a big show out because I have had one been there and worn the shirt, I refer to the UK ONLY, I bet at the end of season my personal weekly wages will work out far more against a larger multi manned show UK ONLY in fact this has been proved beyond doubt (Ask my Bank Manager) Or those working a wall. Still Im back in it again,,,,should know better,,,,letting myself down, me gone. |
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The Curator of the Unusual Inner circle Tampa FL 1399 Posts |
The Zibb is not going up against me...It was already there when I booked in...In fact the Fair lady asked if I had a Big snake, cause the Guy next to me had one.(Apparently he is not followin the manual) I told her I would NOT fly my snake Banner...I want everyone to make money.....
You come to a point in your life when you really don't care what people think about you, you just care what you think about yourself.
Evel Knievel contact: curatoroftheunusual@hotmail.com |
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The Curator of the Unusual Inner circle Tampa FL 1399 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-03-26 12:51, Kondini wrote: Yes and no, But the QUALITY of the banner Definitely does,
You come to a point in your life when you really don't care what people think about you, you just care what you think about yourself.
Evel Knievel contact: curatoroftheunusual@hotmail.com |
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dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
Really?
I must be miss reading / understanding you. It seems to me to read - that the banner quality affects what is on the inside? So if I have a poor attraction (no comments from you Ken - you couldn't keep your hands off my ....hey its that do unto others line - you were after a free ....... [set of silk pajamas?] ....sorry personal joke) back to my thought - if you have a poor attraction and a BIG QUALITY banner then its good exibit. And if its EXACTLY the same exibit but wiht a naff banner then its no good? Or are you saying the quality of the banner affects your takings? How does it affect your "HEAT" from your heat sources? Oh and to answer an earlier question about getting flack from customers ...... Swadlincote got a taste of the HIgley method last year. Now Swadlincote is a DIVE and full of punk kids - who MOAN their arses off! (Ken worked here some years ago - but that's another story - one filled with @s and *s and £@^&! etc). Of the HUNDREDS of people that the set up pulled in (i had my freind man it - he loved doing it) whilst I went else where and perfomred (well away from the tent)we only got one moan - and then in TRUE brit style it was written down on a note and not told to us deireclty! She got her money back once I tracked here down and told her I would double it and give that to the CAB (cahrity on the next lot). SO even in Swadlincote - very little heat - I get virtually none. |
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Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
Since I have been brought up again and the works value questioned let me answer a copuple of things. Not to get drawn into a pizzing match but just the way it is as I see it and deal with it.
First Jim...the show you will be near is NOT a zibit show as I designed it. Just so you don't judge based on a misconception. He has a couple of Zibits as part of his stuff but it is not my show idea. He is also just a good guy tryin' to pay the rent like everybody else and has done pretty well for himself through his own hard work and ideas. He does what he can with what he has and I have great respect for his efforts. (no snake though...he has a turtle) OddityPriodigy: In all my years I have NEVER recieved a report of any heat from buyers. Not one. Not they don't exist but I keep in contact with many of the folks who actually work these things and ASK and PROD to find any negatives we can overcome. IF they are presented as suggested they work just fine. It is all in the presentation and level of expectation NOT set. Perfect for a flea market atmosphere not related to a show atmosphere of a midway. My specific plan idea probably doesn't work for anything else really and is not meant to. It's not out to be in combat with other types of shows. It also works very well for Magicians to have a little something extra in a box to make some side money. They are not drawing heat either. Understand what they (Zibits) are about...a way for someone to get a Single-O out there without having to spend a ton of money or have to have something over the top spectacular. The show is not designed to compete with other bigger shows with bigger budgets. I started this idea a long time ago when I found my 'Museum' trailer show was just not pulling in people. Spectacular banners by Mark Frierson and all. It was OK but I was not satisfied. I WANTED a large freak animal (stuffed) so I could do a Single-O but I didn't have the money to do it or get one. It is when I concieved of an approach which was opposite of what was being done and a way to take something known to be a fake (Fiji Mermaid) and be able to blind pitch it in such a way as to eliminate the heat and negatives by raising the curiosity factor and lowering the expectation to a level where it would be satisfying automatically. Thus the fully open front...just a box on a table. They knew from the get go there was JUST something in the box...but what? The success came from the careful choice of words and the wording on the banners (in effect just signs) that would eliminate any negatives that come to mind when walking by and prevent pulling out a half a buck or a dollar. All very psychological. It worked. Would it work next to Jim's 100 ft Banner line? Very much doubt it...though sometimes the same people that go into one show will go into all of them regardless. But it's not designed for that. My zibits have fooled experts and museums and when they are not fooled they get the gag...that's all. No one say's, 'oh, that's just taxidermy' and that's what I was after when I made my first ones (and still.) As to ones you have seen...what happens to them once they leave here obviously is out of my control and I have seen some of mine that look horrible because of misuse or not taking care etc. BUT in that case any buyer has a lifetime guarantee of replacement or refurb or in the case of something not working out like they wanted a new type zibit. That's part of why I have a lot of support because I try hard to do my best for them. If somebody doesn't like my work or doesn't see the value after reading the plan then they don't buy it...there are many ways to go. But the bottom line is with ALL those I have heard back from, they have a lot of FUN, make some money and can pack in the truck of a car working when they feel like it. That's good stuff and I'm very proud of a decent track record. Is it right for you or the big midways? NO. And I'm clear about that. In show biz there are the big Show Room shows and there are the lounge acts. I'm happy with the latter. Been to the big room and it wasn't to my liking. Finally, in 1993 I opened a big museum (5,000 sq feet.) It had nearly 2 1/2 milloion bucks worth of exhibits in it. (I had borrowed stuff from all over.) Many sopectacular things...some state fair quality like Olaf The Giant etc. and many straight exhibits fro History to Toys. But what I noticed again and again, it was my dopey Zibits that made people smile and they asked me about. That's the best I can tell you. People liked 'em. Guys who buy them and show them like them. I'm sure there are many folks like you who don't like them. That's ok. It's a big world. I have seen countless shows over the years...coast to coast...and never once even though I thought a show might be a total rip off did I not have respect or understanding for the showman out there doing it. I only ask the same. I make stuff. It draws no heat that I'm aware of...however I can see how it could. The Zibit and the Plan is a single unit. They work together. Every one who buys one knows that up front. If you buy a car it needs the wheels. Simple as that. I have tried my best to give a respectful, thoughtful answer. Doug
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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The Curator of the Unusual Inner circle Tampa FL 1399 Posts |
Dave in all sincerity, The Banner sells the tickets, When I started I put ALL my money into the Front (Banners and such) My freind said "WHY did you NOT build the inside of the show First!(quality attractions) I told him I have only so much money, I put the money into the Front SO I would stay in business...to GET the money to improve the inside....which I did (improve the inside)....
You come to a point in your life when you really don't care what people think about you, you just care what you think about yourself.
Evel Knievel contact: curatoroftheunusual@hotmail.com |
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Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
PLEASE read my post above but absolutely Jim is correct, the flash is the cash...look at any dark ride. This is why my front is a few choice words and designed for those who don't have the budget for the required spectacular illustrated banners. It works on a different level but couldn't hope to compete next to a proper banner line like Bobby Reynolds or Jim's. It would have to be quite a distance away.
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
May I just add to Dougs excellant precise,,,the response, use of and presentation of a zibb in the UK is far far removed from the presentation in the US. So do not talk about that which you know nothing of (The Biz UK).
Why o why do I feel all of this will fall upon deaf ears. None so blind as those who have no wish to see! Ken. |
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The Curator of the Unusual Inner circle Tampa FL 1399 Posts |
Ken agreed..In different Locations such as yours...The operator must understand all the Elements he/she is up against, Quite obviously YOU understand your circumstanses and have done a magnificent job adapting and surviving...This is/has become a general discussion on the Basics, You having survived for many years in what appears to be a difficult/changing climate is a credit to ALL showman....Believe me, I have learned from your observations and I salute you in your Efforts.....JZ
You come to a point in your life when you really don't care what people think about you, you just care what you think about yourself.
Evel Knievel contact: curatoroftheunusual@hotmail.com |
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