|
|
Robert//Livingston New user Still learning after 97 Posts |
Hey everyone,
So, there is an event around here called 'First Friday', and it happens downtown in the city I live in. It is pretty much a yard sale that takes up an entire street. There are bands, and artists that set up booths trying to sell stuff. I tried to get a booth for magic and balloons, but apparently you need to give them two weeks advance to set one up. So I made the best jesters hat I could out of 160's (to get more balloons attached to it) and went down to walk around and try to busk a bit. Now, I've only been doing Balloons for a couple of months, and I've learned from "Balloon School", and "Bad to the Balloon". People came up and asked where I got the hat, and I told them that I made it and would make them a little something if they liked. So for about the next four hours I walked around and made Monkeys, Teddy Bears, Dolphin Hats, Princess Hats, Jester Hats, Palm Trees, Swords, Shark Hats,Mermaids mostly things that I can make with just some 260's. I got tips ranging from $1 to $10, and made about $80 at the end of the night. The only problem is I didn't have a sign or anything specifying that I was a balloon artist, because I think I would have gotten more business. Anyways, I just wanted to share my first experience on the street with balloons. I'm usually a street magician, but I also love to do balloons. Also, there was a clown there that was doing simple one balloon animals (dog, sword, giraffe). I didn't know how I felt about giving him competition, but people were going to him and asking who was making the cool hats and stuff. Now time to purchase "Bad to the Balloon 2"!!
"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional."
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, and the lesson after" - Vernon Sanders Law |
Jestnjoker Elite user 440 Posts |
Are you in Phoenix by chance?
Jeff Wright
www.WrightEntertainment.biz Voted Best Party Entertainer in Cleveland, Nickelodeon Parents' Picks Awards |
Robert//Livingston New user Still learning after 97 Posts |
No, I live in Alabama. I think they do First Fridays a lot of places though.
"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional."
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, and the lesson after" - Vernon Sanders Law |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Several communities in this area host First Fridays and they generally welcome street performers and buskers. A couple have a $10.00 annual licensing requirement for identification purposes. Others hire local performers straight out.
As for the competition - if the clown had paid for his booth, you may run into a bit of a problem. One local town here restricts booths to one type of product or service to restrict competition and, theoretically, increase profits. Buskers aren't welcome there and I'm too cheap to pay for a booth space - go figger. Still, I love working the others. Look around at other small communities - rules differ from town to town. You might also check in at http://www.Festivalnet.com for a list of First Fridays, street fairs and the like in your area. Good luck with yours!
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Ballooning 101 » » First Friday (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |