So I take it you FOR busking then Grommet ?    

Like I said.. it isn't for everyone. Thanks for reading my first "proper" posting... Sorry about the length of it. I really didn't have time to write a shorter one!!  g:o)~

Quote from: "Krazy Kev"I remember a long time ago busking in a local Asda for charity and the tight sods were trying to get away donating 10p and 20p! Must have been the poor balloon standard! :oops:
Kev

Have they not heard of Inflation !!!!  8-)  :roll:

don't think of it as begging, think of it as doing what you like in public and entertaining others while you're at it.

i get very cheesed off by this attitude and i think that it's time to educate others about this. we need to change this way of thinking and the best way to go about it is with ourselves.

we should go about doing it in a professional way, so that everyone else will get a different impression. as the impression we make, will cause others to see us in a different light bringing with it a change of attitude from others.

I am planning on moving down south and busking with balloons and performing magic and fire eating on the street.  I am from America and have been looking at the laws on doing this.  It seems in America you do not need a license to perform or sell art on the streets, it even lists sculptures under art.  A balloon animal is a sculpture, even though it may be a different medium than we are used to seeing sculptures.  Making balloon animals is also an art and a performance.  Bearing this in mind, as long as I am interpreting the law correctly you can legally put a price per balloon on your creations.  

Now as far as it being a lowly form of balloon twisting and only for desperate people I don't think that is the case.  I know whenever I am on vacation or at a festival I always look for the street performers.  I find street performers incredibly entertaining and I always tip when I can.  The way I look at it is where else can you get live entertainment so cheaply, and at the same time be so close to the performer.  When it comes to balloon artists you even get a work of art made just for you.  I look at balloon art as a real art.  Imagine if you were a painter instead of a twister.  Do you know any other kind of artist that will give away art custom made for you for a dollar or so?

Lastly, I have found a lot of people don't tip not because they are cheap, but because they don't know any bettor or forget to.  Many times working at fairs the parents give the kids the money to give to me.  They stand patiently waiting for the balloon and then run off with the money as soon as they get their balloon.  In a few seconds their parents send them back with the money to give to me.  This is a great example of knowing your supposed to tip but forgetting or still having to have someone remind you.  Balloons bring out the kids and innocence of all of us, even the adults.  So have a sign or a pin reminding them to tip.  This way you don't have to ask for donations if you feel uncomfortable with that, but the people are still reminded to do so.

You need to approach busking with the attitude of gratitude.

Use the same thank you for a 5 year old giving a coin as you would an adult handing you a fiver. (20's and better get a hearty 10Q)

Idea I have had for years is to make a really good balloon sculpture 10 - 15 minute job..... watch it gather a crowd ..... and then auction it off!!!

Yeah you can make a quick money twisting dogs and swords, but don't it leave you a little hollow inside?

I make big stuff and little stuff and I currently only ask a dollar per balloon.  I love making the big stuff, its fun for me.  The only problem is if you get a big line and your making fancy stuff it can take a while to get through the people.  Also once you have made the fancy stuff you cant really tell someone no.  Most of the time when I make a fancy one people tip extra for the work also.

Is that a dollar a balloon model or a dollar per balloon used in the model ?

A dollar regardless of how many balloons I use.  Generally if it is  really fancy I get a tip anyways.  When I go to Florida to do street performing and busking I will charge more for complicated balloons.

I ONLY do busking. I do like the idea to auction more complicated figures. I know colleagues who busk this way. But for me I usually make hats from 3-5 260's, Addi style. It's fast and they are really eyecatchers. In the beginning I made 1 or 2 balloon doggies and swords but after a while you don't feel comfortable anymore doing this in a row. I only use 260's, 160's, 5" rounds, 5" hearts. All the other shapes and inprints are to expensive for busking, especially some from Q.
I know a balloon "artist" who for several years now only makes dogs, giraffes ands swords, nothing else: he don't want to develop his skills, this works fine for him. The strange thing is he almost makes the same money as me doing more attracting figures. Standard price: 1€ per balloon (no, not 1$ or 1£ :lol: )
I'm proud to be a busker: it takes a lot of effort, panache and guts to perform every time on different unknown locations. I'm sure I make the same money (or more) then most balloonartists who are doing parties etc. All respect to you guys!    I'm often asked for parties and stuff but I don't have the talent to entertain a group of people for a couple of hours, I know my limits. Also it's a fact when people ask me to perform on a homeparty they think I work for a nickle and a dime..I suggest them to visit some booking agencies and investigate their prices pro hour. Often, not always, they go in shock  :roll: They also want to book you mostly in the weekends, not possible because I want to busk! That's the downsite of busking: you can do it only in the weekends and during the holiday seasons. My biggest motivation to do this is that you are your own boss, you start and finish whenever you want and don't have to listen to people who hire you and think they own you.
I would like to hear more from you guys, buskers.

Parcival, you answered a question I was wondering myself in one of your posts.  Can you busk during the week?  I expected during the times when children are in school the balloon business would be a bust (excuse the bad pun).  I have some magic acts aimed for adults I am going to try to fill in with at these times.  Things like fire eating, glass eating, a razor blade swallowing and slight of hand act, real don't try this at home kind of stuff.  Is it bad during the evening when children are out of school though?  I'm sure it is somewhat location specific, I'm just curious to hear other people's experiences.

Busking appears to be a personal choice, however my son lost his job in the summer. So we decided to go busking. We did 55 minutes and took £39. He did most of the work as I was there for morale support. The lady who laughed most at his jokes was the local police lady, we had no problems at at all. Why such a short time? It lashed with rain.
My thoughts are that it is not a lot if money, but if one did say, 5 hours per day it would be OK. It's great fun(once you start) and a great way of getting experience. (Since that day he has taken on some paid shows)
So if you are thinking about. Stop thinking: and just do it.
On a personal level it was a fantastic experience watching my son, doing what I love to do, and now seeing him developing his own show.
Down side: is that  he keeps pinching my jokes!

http://www.davehendy.co.uk

Quote from: "mrmagic4"Parcival, you answered a question I was wondering myself in one of your posts.  Can you busk during the week?  I expected during the times when children are in school the balloon business would be a bust (excuse the bad pun).  I have some magic acts aimed for adults I am going to try to fill in with at these times.  Things like fire eating, glass eating, a razor blade swallowing and slight of hand act, real don't try this at home kind of stuff.  Is it bad during the evening when children are out of school though?  I'm sure it is somewhat location specific, I'm just curious to hear other people's experiences.

Nope, no busking during the week, no kids, no tourists..Busking after school is not worthwhile, the kids don't have any money  

they do if you hold them up by there feet and shake them :twisted:

I'd have thought Lincoln Christmas Market would be a good busking opportunity for you Craig - or is it tightly controlled?