How much should I charge?

[himynameisthor]

Me and my friend Eric have been invited to juggle on stilts for a small indoor craft faire at the college we attend. It will be our first clowning gig (we likely won't be talking, but we're good jugglers), and I was wondering how much should I charge?

oh, and what else should we learn how to do? the crowd is going to be alot of moms, likely dragging their daughters along, and i'm sure ball passing won't be the most impressive thing they've ever seen ;] i tried balloon animals, and poodles are easy (after i figured out how to keep the balloons from popping every time, that is), but not very exciting.

does anybody do streamer poi or staff/baton in their acts? if so, how well does it go over?

[Jubilee]

Well, charging is subjective. If you can, try to call a few entertainers in your area and act like you have an event coming up and ask about pricing. That will give you a good idea.
Also, ball passing could be fun if you could talk while you do it and maybe drop one once in a while and fall over yourselves trying to put everything back together. Grin.
Balloon animals are always a hit. Making poodles may seem mundane to you, but most kids love any balloon animals and will be happy if they can maybe pick the color out. You may have a few requests that you can't do, but that's okay for your first time out. If you are nervous about the balloons, just leave that out for now and buy a book and practice for next time. I have developed quite a repertoir of balloons over a very short amount of time!
Jubilee

[mr_buckaroo]

figuring out what to charge can be tricky if its just in your town you can come up with a flat rate but if you undercharge you will be loosing money and if you over charge they can always go to someone else that could do it cheeper. i have found this through doin rodeos exspecialy. try to figure out all your expences including travel time if you are going out of town.then find out how long you will be there and what you would like to charge for your time. so you have exspences + travel time+ performance time + what you would like to take home= what to charge. and also remember that the first few gigs you do the best thing you could walk away with is the experiance. thats what i tend to look at if anyone figures this different i would like to get your input im always open for new ways to figure this.

[Gilbert]

Originally Posted by himynameisthor

oh, and what else should we learn how to do? the crowd is going to be alot of moms, likely dragging their daughters along.

How about flowers. Always goes down well with the ladies when you make them a balloon flower. I used it last Saturday with a little girl that was scared of clowns. I made her a flower, went down on one knee and held the flower out toward her while looking at her feet. She smiled and came to me to collect the flower and I made a new friend

Originally Posted by himynameisthor

I tried balloon animals, and poodles are easy (after i figured out how to keep the balloons from popping every time, that is), but not very exciting.

Multi Hobbies have some great balloon ideas.

[Scruffy]

If you want a BOne simple gad, It's tried and treue here in the states.. Blow up a 260 to about si inches in length, (About the same size as your standard dog) hand it to them and say, Here's your dog...What, what kind of dog? Why a Corn Dog of course, Then make it into a standard dog.
The easiest flowwer to make is a tulip. Inflate a 260 to about the 4 inch mark To our international members I guess thats about 10 cm. Tie it off. Next with your imdex finger, press the nipple end back down through the ballon and into the long tail. now twist the tail. Presto, a tulip!
Thor, Check with your suppliers for a bag of Apple balloons AKA Qualatex 3210 Ruby reds. They essentially tie the same as a tulip. There fast, and impressive. Blow an apple up almost to the tail ( Before I forget, the 321Q assortment are known as Bee bodies) make a twist, about three inches from the nipple for the head of a Bee. To make a hummingbird,make the twist from the tail end. Inflate a 260 fully. Leave just enough to tie the nipple and tail into a knot. Fold the balloon in half across the knot then twist the two balloons together. Don't forget swords and hats. Both you can invent on the fly.

[saphireSue]

Balloon flower, I use a 260 and do as scruffy decribe for tulip then do a figer s like a sword for leaves, then take another 260 blown almost completely tie to get then twist to make 4 petal and attach to tulip as the inside of the flower, You can also tie 4 heart balloon on to the tulip, makes a real pretty flower but takes more time and uses 5 balloons.

I always get asked 1st for a dog on a leash 2nd a sword, 3rd cat or flower. I can do more but this I get request for over and over and they're the simpleest.

[claratheclown]

ok, i live in los angeles cali, there are no clown schools here at all, i have had the advice of so many clowns for different things. Most told me to watch other clowns and eventualy assist them. I've talked to other clowns and I realized i am pretty much on my own out here in california, the only clowns willing to help me live to far away. So i have decided to go to the clown convention thing at the end of jan begining of feb, and i also decided to take an online class. I hope those things will help. But my real questions are, why is juglling so hard? Where can i get more balloon animal ideas? and finaly, if i do some free birthday partys, will i be ok? I know some balloon animals, and im figuring my character out, but thats all i have for now. Of course i wont do a party till my character is ready. I dont want to wait till febuary to actualy do clown stuff. Someone help me with my millions of questions, hehehe. thanks

[saphireSue]

Well as far as clown animals, Walmart has a good starter set with pumps and easy directions for quite a few animals, then get creative and go from there. I can make many different but in most cases kids want simple ones; like dog on a leash, once one kid has it they all want it. I can't help with juggling, I still can't get it. Don't worry not every clown juggles, I don't and I think I do a good show with out, but I would like to learn myself. As far a free birthday parties, do it, if it's what you want to do. The only thing with doing free birthday parties, or any thing free [And I do donate free time to certain events} some times people expect you to do it for free because you did it for so and so.. Good Luck

[mr_buckaroo]

i learned my juggling from the klutz books they have a good one for that its called juggleing for the complete klutz and its agood starter book. as for the balloons t. myers magic has all kinds of books and vidios plus all the balloon supplies you need and that is where i get all my makeup and other supplies for the most part there address is tmyers.com. i am supprised that there is not a clown school somewhere near you though. i have seen that circus circus has one on ocassion in las vagas or reno ya might want to check into that.

[Jamz]

one of the best books that Ireccomend is Captain Visuals Big Book Of Balloons it is a great book for beginners and has some good balloons
There are also some good balloon sites on the web one of the best Ihave found is MBD2.COM.
You can get instructions and answers to your questions