Have anyone done a Flier for clowning at Birthday parties and the like? Would love to know what you did and how it was presented! Bump a nose!! :?:

You mean to put on people's cars and the like?

No. Haven't done that one yet...

Well, thanks for replying anyway. :D

I have and I have found that a colourful (especially with photo's of you) leaflet with a catchy heading and your contact details is pretty much all that is required. e.g.

Sugarbear the birthday clown!

Sugarbear's stupendous birthday specialty!

Don't fall into the trap of trying to say everything in one leaflet. You need to know who you want to target and focus it toward them. Always keep the message simple because all the leaflet needs to do is to get them to contact you. Most people do not quite know what they want and so you can turn enquiries into bookings by providing them with information If everything is laid out in your leaflet they will have no need to contact you and so they will not bother.

Get some good, clear digital pictures in your finalized makeup and costume (Makeup is priority in this instance. You want people to remember the face.) Who you are, What you do (facepainting balloons, juggle,etc.) Where you do it, (Parties, funfairs). Maybe put some quotes from happy customers. Also, Get yourself in your local newspaper as much as possible

Remember to keep it simple. And have you contact info in there in several places. You my even think about a coupon or special offer (Like10% off any party booked this month went accompanied by this add.

Just a few thoughts

Gilbert and Scruffy, what's your success rate with this? I've been considering it, but also thought that it may not be the best way . I had a flyer on my car this weekend from a political canidate of all things, and my first thought was not a very good one. His campaign funds must be rather low! :). I'm not sure if I would want to everyone's first thought of me to be an unfavorable one.

One of the things they talked about at Mooseburger Camp is different methods of advertisement. This way was not very highly rated, although I can persoanlly see why most people would choose it. It's economical, and can get your information out to many people in a short amount of time.

Anyways, what's everyone's two cents worth?

I wouldn't use them for drumming up new business. In my experience they get thrown away. I think the best wat it to make as many personal appearances as you can. I would use them to promote myself at events Say, a Hopice duck race or relay for life event. This would help keep your name out there among the public. Also, don't be afraid to contact the paper,Maybe a short article, EG. Being fexlible has it's advantagesReplied, Bips the Clown as he passed a balloon to young Joey, Jo-Jo Shabadoo at saturdays Apple-fest.". May be a small article on what you do. The newspaper story will give creedence to what you do. People will tend to take you seriously whne they see it in paper.
There is a long running story, thatEmmett Kelly used to give a part of his Salary to a publisist or agent every week. I have never been able to document the truth, I don't remember reading that in his autobiography. But it helped keep him in the public eye. He even had somewhat of a merchandise deal. I have the Emmett Kelly puppet to proove it.

Also, don't be afraid to put put a news letter type thing Via EMail. A list of people that you have worked for, And events that you will be at. Kids that have had you come to there birthday may come to the pizza place on a friday to see you there.

I agree with Scruffy. Flyers are best put in shop windows and placed as part of a display about you at events where you are working.

We tend to use word of mouth and business cards, but I used flyers send to sepcific locations and to post at stores for special events. One thing I've seen, though is people will leave the bottom of their flyers with their contact info in pre cut strips at the bottom that way they can tear if off and take it with them and for some this seems to work. The person that interested doesn't have to write down the info.

I do this to drum up business for my guitar repair business. They work. But If you do this, tear a couple off before you hang them up. I guess no one wants to be the first.
It helps :D

I am so excited! I met up last night with a clown from my area who is busier than a one-armed paperhanger. She has been in the business for quite a while. She gave me some great tips and even said that once she has been able to see my work and knows that I'm reliable, she's start steering people in my direction, if she has too much work and can't do their event. Cool, huh?
Jubilee

That's good news, Jubilee!

I've had a few referrals myself so far, and they seem to work out pretty well.

My western carnival was postponed from 1022 to 110504 because of inclement weather, and the vendors can't reschedule this weekend because it's too busy.

I also agree with what Scruffy said about the tear off fliers, and taking the first one or two off yourself. I think it's a psychological thing...

1) people don't like to be first, I think, because they want to feel a sense of trust.

2) If someone else takes one first, then the standard has already been set.

thats great juubilee sounds like your well on your way to to bein a clown about town kinda like a roving reporter only funny.

Congrats Jubilee!

Sounds good Jubilee, Good Luck

Just thought I would let you know on the issues of getting fliers done.

There is a forum on www.deviantart.com where art students and budding graphic designers will do work for next to nothing and from past experience is very good.

Hope this helps someone like it has helped me.

I use an 8X11 flier with my photo smack in the middle, and depending on who I'm catering to, it will list what I do. For my corporate flier, I list what I will do at their store opening or special event. For Parties, I expound on what will occur during the joyous occaision. For schools, it will list what I perfer to do there, etc. I have many different fliers for many different occaisions. I use fliers to send in the mail with letters to prospective employers, so they can see who I am. The best way to get face/name recognition is to have your face and name every where you can. When I perform , I have 8x11 signs with my face and name;" Willy Nilly Here Today". I enlist several "helpers" and we put up signs before I get started. (Be sure to remove them when you leave.) Hope this helps- e-mail me and I will send you one of my fliers as an example...Willy Nilly

Making a flier or handing out business cards to the general public really does not help grow your business very quickly. It only burns a hole in your pocket quicker.

The key to effective marketing is getting your materials into the hands of highly targetted audiences. About the only place putting fliers on a windshield might be effective is at a PTA meeting or in a Pre-school parking lot.

But not really a great way to grow your biz...

Esther
Clown Marketing Institute

Here I go visiting old threads again.

I find some of the comments on fliers interesting. The original post does not refer to the type of fliers and the first assumption is the simple boring car flier. I have a dual sided, full color, tri-fold flier that generates quite a bit of interest. I will say that I don't just throw it around. I am selective in using it because they are quite a bit more expensive than good quality business cards. At parties I use coloring pages and business cards but when I am dealing with prospects on a professional level I hand them a flier along with a business card.

I make my own Fliers i have pics of my clowns their names & all i do with my numbers & company logo

Hey Willace, any way you could post a pic. I didn't even think about taking a pic of mine until I read your post.

I disagree with the poster who stated that giving a card to the general public is a waste of money. Espcielly when you are starting out you want to get your name out there and start building brand awareness.

AS far as a flyer, I have done a 1\4 sheet with my picture and phone number for a couple of festivals I have done. It worked and since it was just black and white it cost less then cards to get a whole bundle of them.

I am currently working on a redesign of that flyer to create a clown sized business card to give away while in clown. basically a giant sized copy of my normal card.

Ill post a pic once i have time to scan one of my fliers