Business help for new pro mer?

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Hello mer friends! It's Nerin (or Caspiana)! I need some help.
Im starting a business on pro mermaiding and need some advice and such. My first gig might be at the end of this August either getting paid or volenteering at my local library for a pirate program. Now this isn't official, but I'm thinking possarove and ahead. So here are my questions, please answer all you can.
1. How much should I charge per hour? (Give me options)
2. Mermaid treasure ideas, I already have a few so just list and I'll accept what I don't already have.
3. Should there be a max time I can be there? And cute idea for when I have to leave the kids is tell them that I have to get back to the water and hope to see them soon.
4. How much is a traveling tank big enough for a 5'4 human with an extra appendage... I think my tail adds like 1-2 feet to me.
5. Any other advice for a new pro mer?
Now for my other businesses...
1. How much should I charge for my drawings? (You can see examples in my album called tail designs for the future, please don't copy, just ask me)
2. This is more of a statement and not really a question, but just to let you know, I might possibly be starting 2 businesses on making custom monofins of you house of material and also tails. Now idk on how far up the scale my tails will go, but for now fabric and sequins if you want is for sure if I do start that one.
3. Again more of a statement, I have a business that I have had for three years now, it's making and selling regular jewelry.
4. I'm also going to for sure start a Etsy shop of accessories and such.

ok so hopefully you all can answer these and help me on anything else. And as soon as I can post pictures of my tail and merch. I will. As well as links to websites. So thanks everyone. And hope you can help a damsel fish in distress!

Love,
Mermaid Nerin (aka: Mermaid Caspiana)
~~~~~~~~~~M~~~~~~~~~~
(that's a tail sticking it of the water... Lol)
🐙🐚🐠🐟🐬🐳🐋🐡🌙🌌🌠🌕🌊

[Mermaid Danielle]

If you haven't already, you should check out Raina the Halifax Mermaid's new book. It will answer most of your questions. There are also many threads on here where your questions have already been answered as well. Good luck to you!

[halesloveswhales]

Well, a tank is going to be super expensive and hard to transport, so i recommend not even looking into that.
As for figuring out what to charge, I think there's another thread on that, but basically, the goal is to do better than breaking even. Everyone does it differently. Also, look up some other professional performers in your area (clowns, magicians, costume performers) to see what they charge, then set your price sort of comparable to their price. As for max time to be at a party, that depends on how comfortable you are with staying in your tail. So you decide that.

My two biggest pieces of advice to you are:
1. GET BUSINESS CARDS. They're not too expensive, and they are super helpful to getting your name/face out there. Make sure you have a picture of you as a mermaid on them.
2. TAKE THE LITTLE JOBS when you're starting out! A lot of the volunteer work you do will be great publicity for you.

[AniaR]

yup, my book is a good place to start, I've also posted many threads in the pro-mermaid area of the boards :)

[Mermaid Caspiana]

If you haven't already, you should check out Raina the Halifax Mermaid's new book. It will answer most of your questions. There are also many threads on here where your questions have already been answered as well. Good luck to you!
Ya, I want it next time I have the money, but right now I can't get it and my first gig is Mayr coming up, so I really need the info. But thank you for helping me all the time Danielle! You are so sweet!

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Well, a tank is going to be super expensive and hard to transport, so i recommend not even looking into that.
As for figuring out what to charge, I think there's another thread on that, but basically, the goal is to do better than breaking even. Everyone does it differently. Also, look up some other professional performers in your area (clowns, magicians, costume performers) to see what they charge, then set your price sort of comparable to their price. As for max time to be at a party, that depends on how comfortable you are with staying in your tail. So you decide that.

My two biggest pieces of advice to you are:
1. GET BUSINESS CARDS. They're not too expensive, and they are super helpful to getting your name/face out there. Make sure you have a picture of you as a mermaid on them.
2. TAKE THE LITTLE JOBS when you're starting out! A lot of the volunteer work you do will be great publicity for you.
thanks for the tank advice! Ok. I'll try to find some. Thanks! Also I love being in water and my tail so I could probably go however long they want. I'm pretty sure we are going to go ahead and get some business cards from vista print. And that's one thing in hoping for with the library... It would be great if they paid me so maybe I could get Raina's new book and start saving for a 'real' tail. But if not. It still gets me out there and I can hand out business cards so maybe that could bring more jobs of birthdays and such. So keep your fins crossed!
How much do you guys suggest for my drawings?

[Mermaid Caspiana]

yup, my book is a good place to start, I've also posted many threads in the pro-mermaid area of the boards :)
For one, this is great to have you on my thread! Lol. I'm a small new timer mer! So ya! Hahaha! But thanks for the advice I hope to get your book and I will look for some boards. What do you suggest for my drawings? Thanks Raina!