Competition blues

[Mermaid Tory]

So I've been feeling really down recently due to some new competition in the area. I've been doing character entertainment for a few years now and had started mermaiding last year after taking 6 months to make my tail. I've gotten jobs here and there and have my social media up. Hand out cards whenever I can and had sent out about 60 postcards I had made to local potential places. I've spoken to just about any place I could think of for events and have gotten a few gigs.
Up until this point I was the only one but this summer a new girl has made her appearance and is getting a lot of jobs. What's really getting me down is that she's getting work from places that I had already reached out to and had actually talked to people about potential events. I was told they would keep me in mind or have been outright turned away saying they don't do that sort of stuff but now they are holding mer events with this other girl. I've always left my information just in case but seem to be looked over. My tail is a sequin tail and so looks just as realistic. We have the same build and even basic look so I don't think it's related to that.

I'm bummed because I sorta slowed down on advertising myself the last few months because I'm trying to get pregnant and didn't want to risk having to go back on events later on but had always planned on continuing as soon as I could. Now I'm thinking I should forget about entertainment after going into mommy hood since I'm already losing work and will only lose more when/if I take maternity leave.
I've already reached out to say hi and let her know about a potential group event coming up but I already know that work out because the client is kinda cheap and her rates are already higher then mine. I actually found out after one job that they went with me simply because my rate was lower.

anyways how did you guys get over a slump like this?

[Mermaid Chloe-Marie]

Oh i'm sorry :( I don't have very much advice to give :( But I think that your tail is absolutely beautiful. And girl you are doing so much to get your business out there! I mean truly you have put a lot of work into this and that is extremely admirable.

[Mermaid Tory]

Thank you :) I have to remind myself to just keep swimming but it's hard when I made the introductions and a year later they are booking with someone else. I really think people think we are the same person because being a mermaid performer here is new as it is so they don't realize that there's more then one of us.

[AniaR]

She is probably under cutting you honestly. When everything else is on par, that's usually the issue. I know it's really hard but keep your chin up. We lost a booking this year due to similar reasons. but hey, if people want the award winning company they know where to find us ;)

[Mermaid Tory]

Thank you Raina. You are the best. Although I think I might be the cheaper one ( I did get one job and they told me after that they went with me because I cost less but I actually have no clue how much she had asked for the same event) but I was the only one in the area for awhile so I could set my own prices which I based off of my experience doing princess and fairy work. Maybe this just means I can start charging more to keep up!