New Mermaid - Please Answer Questions!

[MermaidSloane]

Hi! So I am in the process of buying my first tail (I AM SCREAMING ON THE INSIDE) and I am wondering how you're supposed to care for a tail that is made of neoprene and has silicone on the outside (so a hybrid tail). I am also planning on working with kids so I have a few questions listed below


Most mermaids on YouTube have full silicone tails and I'm sure the care instructions are different because the material is totally different right?
What is is like getting into a neoprene based tail? It shouldn't be too hard right? I've only ever used a finis monofin and I've tied my knees together for practice, but I've never gotten into a tail.
When working with kids, what is the best way to avoid accidents (hitting them with the tail, having them pull you under, etc.)?
I have to propose my idea to have something like "Mermaid Mondays" at both my YMCA pool and a private swim club. Do you have any advice for that?"
Is there anything else you think I should know before I start? I have a month until I can order my tail and I will take all advice! I'm getting a tail because I love making kids smile whether it's with music or playing games, etc, and I think this would really wow the kids that I see everyday.


Thank you! I appreciate all help you can offer. I am a Chesapeake mermaid btw based outside of Philadelphia

[Aquos Savar]

Welcome. TTYL

[MermaidNerenia]

Make sure you're comfortable before scheduling anything with children or 'official public experiences.'

Go swim somewhere with a friend for the first few months to practice. Tying your legs together is well and good but it's a bit different in a tail.

When working with kids plan things out in advance, ask kids around you or have parents ask their children questions about mermaids and give you their questions and responses. Make sure you know in advance how you're going to answer "Are you real?" "Where do you live" "What do mermaids eat" "Can you breathe underwater" "Where are your legs" have parents close to you ask their young ones "If you met a mermaid what would you ask her" to get some ideas to things they might tell you.

Study study study these forums are chock full of great info for meet and greets and working with young ones.

A solid proposal for a company like YMCA or a Youth Center or Rec center should be well written like a business proposal, include some full color photos and let them know what services you offer and what your requirements are.

Welcome and good luck!

[AniaR]

check out my youtube series if you haven't already. I address a lot of this stuff! www.makemeamermaid.com I learned a lot more since publishing my first two books ;)

welcome and good luck on everything. Love your attitude!

[MermaidNerenia]

^^^^^^^^^^^ THAT listen to everything that Raina says.

[MermaidSloane]

Thank you all so much! Raina, I am a huge fan of you and your videos and I will definitely look at them for some advice! These are all things I didn't really think about, but I can totally come up with answers to the types of questions kids ask. Now that I'm done school, I can study mermaiding :)

[Mermaid Summerlilly]

As for making sure they don't pull you underwater, just make sure they know you CAN'T breathe underwater. Some of your friends can, but you are too close to the humans and you didn't develop gills. But you can old your breath, just like them. Got it? :P :) :D

[MermaidSloane]

As for making sure they don't pull you underwater, just make sure they know you CAN'T breathe underwater. Some of your friends can, but you are too close to the humans and you didn't develop gills. But you can old your breath, just like them. Got it? :P :) :D

That's a really good one! I know Mermaid Melissa (very famous on YouTube) is a freediver and she can hold her breath forever and I didn't want to be pressured to stay under forever too. I can hold my breath for almost a whole length of our pool with my monofin but at a party, I'd rather make the kids happy and keep them entertained than hold my breath for a year :)

[Mermaid Kelda]

Many mers like to tell kids they're mammals, like whales and dolphins, so they can't breathe underwater and need to come up for air :)

[MermaidSloane]

Many mers like to tell kids they're mammals, like whales and dolphins, so they can't breathe underwater and need to come up for air :)
oh I really like this one too !! All really good ideas :) thank you

[KateyMermaid]

Most mermaids on YouTube have full silicone tails and I'm sure the care instructions are different because the material is totally different right?

What kind of tail are you getting? I do not recommend jumping straight into wearing a silicone tail if youve never used fabric or neoprene. The care for full silicone is different than other materials. But full-silicone is definitely something that should be an end goal, not a starting point.



What is is like getting into a neoprene based tail? It shouldn't be too hard right? I've only ever used a finis monofin and I've tied my knees together for practice, but I've never gotten into a tail?

Ever worn a wetsuit? It's kind of like that. Neoprene is very very stretchy. your tail will almost feel like it is too tight when you first put it on dry. However, neoprene stretches a CRAZY amount in water. wear it in the water for a few minutes and you will be shocked how much your tail loosens up. BE ADVISED tail swimming is different than using a monofin. youre knees are bound, you cannot get out of a neoprene tail quickly, and there will be significantly more drag than using your monofin alone.




When working with kids, what is the best way to avoid accidents (hitting them with the tail, having them pull you under, etc.)?

practice practice practice!!! Make sure you are a confident swimmer in your tai before considering working with kids. know how far behind you your tail goes, know how to move quickly if need be. Know how long you can swim while holding the weight of a small child. If a kid jumps on your back, are you strong enough to swim to the surface? Can you still propel yourself if a child grabs the end of your fluke? These are good scenarios to train for. Kids are excitable, and yes a lifeguard or parents should ALWAYS have an eye on the children, but things can, and do, happen




I have to propose my idea to have something like "Mermaid Mondays" at both my YMCA pool and a private swim club. Do you have any advice for that?"

Going to someplace with a mermaid event idea, esp someplace like the YMCA, you want to go to them prepared. Do you have any water safety training? lifeguarding? SCUBA? Most likely their first concern will be the safety of the guests, and your qualifications. Be willing to do a swim test for them, they probably wont require one, but offering to do the lifeguarding swim test in a tail never hurts. It will also make parents feel more at ease if they know their child is around someone who has the childs safety in mind.



Is there anything else you think I should know before I start? I have a month until I can order my tail and I will take all advice! I'm getting a tail because I love making kids smile whether it's with music or playing games, etc, and I think this would really wow the kids that I see everyday.

Basically, PRACTICE!! I take my monofin to the pool nearly everyday, my tail comes about once a week (just to minimize damage). You can never be too experienced, too strong, or too prepared. OH, have a backstory ready. Kids are FULL of questions. its always nice to have your mermaid persona have a fleshed out "mythos" and backstory. It makes answering those questions so much easier than just making it up on the spot.

Good luck! I think starting a program at your local YMCA is a great idea! :) Can't wait to hear the adorable stories!!

[MermaidCelesteFL]

I second everything Katey and Raina said, especially about starting with silicone tails. Everyone on this forum HIGHLY advises against getting anything with silicone as your first tail. I initially didn't respond to this, because I feel like a broken record for saying it- but PLEASE do your research before tail buying. There are some unsavory tail makers out there that don't make a good product, and some are very well known for making "inexpensive, realistic" tails. If you can't find enough feedback on the maker, ask the forum before buying just to be safe. Some makers are really great, but others have a tendency to erase negative reviews and comments on their work, making the search a lot more difficult.

To sum up:
1. Buy a monofin, start to practice in that for a while.
2. Get/make a fabric tail, and practice in that.
3. See if you can locate some charity work in your area while you get used to wearing a tail. That will also help you get your business name out there.
4. Give it about a year or so and see if a silicone tail is something that you TRULY want to invest in, and start saving up while practicing in a fabric or neoprene tail.

Keep in mind, that the most well known and well-liked tailmakers out there are solely silicone or spandex, rarely hybrid (there are a few exceptions). Be aware that if they do tout having a silicone/neoprene hybrid, it's usually NEOPRIN, and it's not good quality. Again, do some research yourself before deciding to buy. I won't tell you what you can and can't do, but just be aware.

Mermaiding (and pro mermaiding) takes a lot of time and practice. Good quality silicone tails cost a lot of money, and there is no way around that. Even pro swimmers need to practice in a monofin and fabric tail before going full silicone.