Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => Balloon Chit Chat => Topic started by: Andrew on September 25, 2014, 05:18:36 AM
Personally speaking, I do not think anybody on here charges enough for their work.
I think we should all put up our fees. We OWE it to ourselves and to our families.
I have continued this rant at the beginning of my latest FREE balloonbizz.com training.
Working recently with a juggler, I asked him how was life and how was business.....he replied...its a great life but his earnings had fallen this year by about 25% to £15,000 (thats approx $24,500) PA. I asked if that was his part time job.? No Me I am FULL TIME.
There are so many clients out there that can afford to pay you what You are worth.....why run around like a headless chicken trying to scratch a living when you could treat your family to a better life.
Please take a look at the latest FREE training at www.BalloonBizz.com (http://www.balloonbizz.com)
I am prepared for ALL your comments good and bad...but all I ask is that you OWE it to yourself to CHARGE WHAT YOU ARE WORTH.
Yours in Balloons
Andrew
You shouldn't make assumptions that nobody on here charges what they are worth...
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Darren
My aim with this post was to get people talking, thinking and arguing, and taking action.
I am aware that there is a broad spread on fees and skills. I am trying to make sure everyone takes a step back and re-evaluates where they stand now and where they want to go. If you are happy with your fees....brilliant. If not hopefully you will look to see what can be done to improve your position.
If I can help you, or anyone else, then great. There are many many performers in this world who have a great talent but need help to improve their lot.
Glad the post has had a reaction.....thats what I want.
Yours in Balloons
Andrew
I have been thinking a lot about your posts Andrew, sometimes it takes me a while to formulate something to say (bear with very little brain). I have different skills to others and some have more or less experience in the industry than me. I enjoy the work that I do and also the creations that I produce so for me it's as much about the enjoyment as it is this capital to be gained from it. Demographic's must come into play alongside many other things including your ability to bring a smile with whatever you produce.
I do have a question to ask you regarding fees though. How exactly do you know what your worth?
I'm not rich far from it :) Don't the smiles and laughs we get make even the cheapest person out there feel wealthy?
I charge £200 per hour even when driving if I am selling balloons I sell at £8 for a one balloon dog I don't have much work do you have any tips? Ps I don't wish to lower my prices as I am worth it
Www.twistandmake.co.uk (http://www.twistandmake.co.uk)
Www.facebook.com/twistmake (http://www.facebook.com/twistmake)
Lol :D
I work in a school with some of the wealthiest parents in the north of the country. I know many well and they all know I make balloons. To date I have had two bookings through the same person and the fee was not thousands, in fact, these savvy people are wealthy because they now how to get a bargain and get the best price. I guess oil barons and princes do not exist in all parts of the world. :(
It's all well and good saying that Andrew!! but it goes a lot further than that, you have to take the economy into account, people just cant afford things these days, with taxes on everything, and monthly bills, i have noticed, people that who would normally hire a clown/balloon artist etc, now really can't afford it.
Not to mention the "it's a balloon" customers, that would put a seasoned twister in the same league as a beginner, and pays them the same price for substandard work!! I am not knocking the beginner twisters out there, but this happens a lot, and they are willing to work for a lot less that what i charge for an hour!!
And finally the play centres, you have ball pits, bouncy castles, adventure slides, paint balling, bowling, face painting, etc, all under one roof, plus they feed the kids also and do party bags!! This seems a lot easier for the parents these days and they don't mind paying for the service!!
So to close Andrew, we have no choice but to run with the times, or we will just get left behind, playing with our worthless balloons!!
Regards!
Kenny.
On a whole, I agree with Andrew. I am considered 'expensive' in the UK balloon world. I refuse work if they don't have the budget for me. This is hard for a lot of people, "refusing money" but actually when people DO have a big budget they think of ME! As word of mouth spreads, if a client doesn't have a budget they will only start thinking of those people that will drop their prices instantly or who charge close to nothing. Those gigs are some of the worst events, usually badly organized and a demanding queue.
I have lots of work coming in. People can afford me and those that can't usually come back another year when they can. You have to have patience and believe in your art.
I am regularly undercut by other balloon artists ( some who I think are definitely NOT charging what they are worth!) I find it frustrating because it brings down our industry. If you haven't changed your prices in 10 years, it is time to do so!
Ultimately in the entertainment world they want to book YOU. It is the personality, the banter and the joy you personally bring to an event. If you are having a hard time getting work and your prices are already low, don't blame the bouncy castles, the ball pools or the facepainters. Are YOU worth having at their party because YOU will make it great, fill it with colour and joy, have a visual impact as well as have everyone laughing? If yes, then charge enough so you can do this job without resentment and you can earn a decent living!
Balloon Love,
Tess
Well everyone has an opinion, but I do believe everyone should charge their worth (shame it doesn't work with politicians but that's another story..) ;)
The seasoned professionals are who we / I look up to and rightly, should charge accordingly, but does that then mean that the pleasure (albeit "less seasoned") should never be felt by those that can not nor possibly never will be able to afford the caviar of this art form?
Had I not seen and tipped a free artist in a bar whilst on holiday many years ago I would never have seen / been interested in this art form... but the gentleman / Artist worked for tips!
And had I not done past work for very little (your version of small change) I would not have gained the life experience that I am gaining, not have progressed to the excitement of wanting to work with balloons more and more each day, never getting over the surprise and joy on the face of kids (and adults)..
You could almost say the "apprentice twister" (under cutting son~#@~#) paves the way for the "big boys" (for who would know or want something they have never tasted)?
So Hats off to you all and long may you work,
But each to their own..........an apprentice should earn as they learn and open the eyes of the public :D
To be honest I have no idea whether I am charging enough or too much! The reason mainly being that most balloon artists seem reluctent to declare their prices. I have been a children's entertainer for the last 6 years ( and a professional entertainer for the last 20 years) but I have only been 'ballooning' professionally for the last 1 - 2 years. It has been very difficult to work out what the going rate should be as it seems rarely displayed on websites and I am reluctant to pose as a potential client to try and find out prices. ( I would be frustrated if this was done to me). Even then you would only get a price for your enquiry, not the price structure or how it is worked out. I try to make my prices transparent on my website based on my children's entertainer rate plus the cost of supplies, but as I said I really do not know whether this is the going rate or not. (I currently charge £100 for an hour and £40 per hour over that plus travel at £1 per mile over 10 from my location. )
I am very confident as a performer and with most of the balloons I can produce but I don't have the years of experience directly in balloons or the skill of some. I don't feel I should charge as much as the top pros obviously, but still feel I have a lot of worth and that my clients are always amazed and happy and I am getting bookings.
For an all day event or similar however I wouldn't know what to charge - I assume you start to discount after a certain amount of hours? Also for the awesome sculptures I would love to start trying - I just wouldn't have a clue where to begin on charging. Am I charging too much / not enough / about right? Without a certain amount of openness about the taboo money questions it is really hard to say.
Great to get the discussion going though Andrew!
Quote from: "Tesstify"On a whole, I agree with Andrew. I am considered 'expensive' in the UK balloon world. I refuse work if they don't have the budget for me. This is hard for a lot of people, "refusing money" but actually when people DO have a big budget they think of ME! As word of mouth spreads, if a client doesn't have a budget they will only start thinking of those people that will drop their prices instantly or who charge close to nothing. Those gigs are some of the worst events, usually badly organized and a demanding queue.
I have lots of work coming in. People can afford me and those that can't usually come back another year when they can. You have to have patience and believe in your art.
I am regularly undercut by other balloon artists ( some who I think are definitely NOT charging what they are worth!) I find it frustrating because it brings down our industry. If you haven't changed your prices in 10 years, it is time to do so!
Ultimately in the entertainment world they want to book YOU. It is the personality, the banter and the joy you personally bring to an event. If you are having a hard time getting work and your prices are already low, don't blame the bouncy castles, the ball pools or the facepainters. Are YOU worth having at their party because YOU will make it great, fill it with colour and joy, have a visual impact as well as have everyone laughing? If yes, then charge enough so you can do this job without resentment and you can earn a decent living!
Balloon Love,
Tess
Hi Tess, just to clarify the wording highlighted in yellow, I don't blame them at all, but merely stating that these places do make it difficult for entertainers, And yes they have it all under on roof!! I don't rely solely on my job as an entertainer, so i can pick and choose the work, but i know people who do, and yes they are good entertainers aswell!! So maybe your in a great place for work, but i have seen a general down turn in the market in Ireland.
Some great comments thank you, If you don't mind I will try to answer all the points tomorrow.....its been a MAD week here with new bookings and enquiries.....My Christmas mailing has been producing great results and I am also working on a really exciting project.
Till tomorrow
And THANKS GUYS
Yours in Balloons
I just saw this on Andrew's facebook wall about giving a Ted talk, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1540325374 (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1540325374)
TEDx was amazing and it was great to be involved.
Two TEDx events one as an entertainer and one as a speaker.
The opportunities and the doors that it has opened for me are staggering and I can see my business going to the next level.
Its all about thinking and working bigger, with continued learning and development.......and not necessarily about the new sculpture. Marketing is the way forward to grow your business.
Will publish link to my TED talks as soon as they get uploaded by the team.
in the mean time its back to the marketing and also the FREE content at www.balloonBizz.com (http://www.balloonbizz.com)
I have been working very hard on my web site because as you say marketing is important and if the first experience they have of you is your website its got to impress. Its been a real leaning curve for me. I want it how I want it so I am learning how to develop the site so I can do it all myself. Its turned into a bit of a hobby! John Oliver who has been teaching me is pretty proud of me. "My best pupil". He often tell me there are so many ways to advance my business before I even step out of the door. So my balloon designing has been put to one side for a little while as I concentrate on this. I am sure I will soon be overpowered by a desire to design new stuff soon though. I am addicted after all. Thanks for all the interesting information you give Andrew.