Help me :)

[Deepsea merman]

Hi!
I wan't to start selling mermaid tails so i make a page in GoFundMe to help me ( I haven't money :\)
I'm a portuguese scout too and I'm collecting funds to can go to japan in 2015. So if you want to help me, you can give some money. Not much money 5€ or less. If you haven't money too, you can share with your friends.Thanks

page: http://www.gofundme.com/7q1hi4

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Hi!
I wan't to start selling mermaid tails so i make a page in GoFundMe to help me ( I haven't money :\)
I'm a portuguese scout too and I'm collecting funds to can go to japan in 2015. So if you want to help me, you can give some money. Not much money 5€ or less. If you haven't money too, you can share with your friends.Thanks

page: http://www.gofundme.com/7q1hi4

Sorry to say it but nobody's going to give you any money, if you don't have pictures of your handmade tails.

[Deepsea merman]

I know that. I haven't photos because i haven't money to make tails :\

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Do you have designs at least? Or some other proof that you CAN make tails?

[Samantha Siren]

Looks like you will have to get a job like the rest of us and earn your way up the ladder my friend.

[Deepsea merman]

well designs yes of course.

[Deepsea merman]

But just 200€ are for the tails.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Sorry bud. No proof no dosh.

[Mermiah]

A lot of people on this site have been screwed over by "tail makers" before so please don't be to insulted, I'm sure your tails are lovely and once you get your proof up here I'm sure you will have some customers :) until then just keep you head high and look for a good job.

tail making is expensive! Of course I could share some cost snipping details I have found with you if you want :)

but one of then is very time consuming

even if you don't want my help I still wish you good luck and good fishes :)

[Samantha Siren]

I agree with Ireneho, if you have nothing to show you will not get any customers. Have you even made a tail yet?

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to be rude. And no, I wasn't someone that was ripped off by a shonky tail maker.

I've had bad business dealings in the past, and that has made me very cautious of people who say they can do things yet provide no proof of their services.

[Mermiah]

Oh no you didn't come off as rude :) just maybe a smidgen harsh, I just wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings and to put some context behind it ;)

[Morticia Mermaid]

Sorry hun. As a tailmaker myself here's some advice, find employment and start saving money :) It's all you can do, its what I had to do. If you really want something, you're going to have to work for it. No one is going to hand it to you (even if you have the coolest, most epic, most amazing designs out there). I had to save when I first got into neoprene tails, and I'm doing it again trying to get into silicone tails.

And after reading your "fundraiser". It seems like the mermaid tails was an after thought as a way to try to get more money for your trip. If it's something you really want, you'd get more in depth in your description and reasoning, listing any research you've done, what you've learned, how you plan to be different from the DOZENS of tailmakers already out there, etc. And even then that might not get you any donations.

Just a tailmakers 2cents.

[Winged Mermaid]

Take Morticia's advice! She speaks from experience- I know she had a Kick Starter for starting her tailmaking business (I think twice, but I'm not sure if it was that or just a really long campaign), for a tank, and for her Silicone tailmaking- but I don't think any of them came through. And that's a extremely common thing for fundraising campaigns. In this community you just have to work hard and save for what you want! If you want to really make a kickstarter (using it as a generic term for all the other donation campaign sites) you have to work hard and look outside of the mermaid community. Those I've seen make them work make it their LIFE for months to promote and get sponsors, even then I've only seen it a few times with mermaids.

The best way to get the funds is to save up, get a job, and make sacrifices. The 4 years I saved for my silicone tail, I made daily sacrifices and comprises and scrimped every dollar I could! My thought process all the time was, “I COULD get a Starbucks latte for $5.. or I could have that $5 for my tail.” “I COULD buy a new pair of jeans from this store, or I could go to Goodwill and save $20 for my tail.” ect. Ask yourself all the time- do you I need that fast food run, do I need those earrings, do I need that t-shirt, do I need that candy bar, could I trade someone for these services or goods, could I save by shopping online or going to goodwill, could I sell some things that I no longer use, how else can I cut down on expenses and save money, ect ect ect. Endless sacrifices and compromises let me save what I needed, even though it took years! I even did trade on services from friends when I could- like for $40 worth of services I normally had to pay for, instead I did 3 hours of hardcore cleaning in their house for them. I cut back a lot on stuff I didn’t need. For all holidays and birthdays I asked for money/checks for my tail fund instead of presents. Save meticulously and responsibly :)

[AniaR]

I get confused with this account because the mermaid who actually owns that tail in your profile pic IS on the forum. SO sometimes when I see this profile I think it's her.

As far as funding, you need to advertise outside of the mercommunity as most mercommunity people are trying to save $$ themselves. I have occasionally donated small amount to fundraisers in the past as a pay it forward because people have helped me a long the way, but most arent in a position to do that

[Anahita]

I find it really weird that you've never made a tail before, you have no proof that you even know of how to work with the materials - even on a small scale - and you've been on here for only a month, but you're asking for donations to make it... And you're throwing it in with your "help me go to Japan" fund.

Honestly, even if people do donate, it makes me think you have no intention to make tails, and that you're just putting it in there to see if THAT will get you some of the money to go t Japan - like a cover for if people who donated specifically in hopes of you making tails they can buy ask you later on down the line "what happened to you making tails" you could respond you only made enough to do one or the other, and you chose the other.

I guess I'm trying to say it sounds like you're sneakily trying to get people to pay for your vacation by exploiting people's excitement over tailmaking.

[Deepsea merman]

I find it really weird that you've never made a tail before, you have no proof that you even know of how to work with the materials - even on a small scale - and you've been on here for only a month, but you're asking for donations to make it... And you're throwing it in with your "help me go to Japan" fund.

Honestly, even if people do donate, it makes me think you have no intention to make tails, and that you're just putting it in there to see if THAT will get you some of the money to go t Japan - like a cover for if people who donated specifically in hopes of you making tails they can buy ask you later on down the line "what happened to you making tails" you could respond you only made enough to do one or the other, and you chose the other.

I guess I'm trying to say it sounds like you're sneakily trying to get people to pay for your vacation by exploiting people's excitement over tailmaking.

Sorry, but if you read the description of the page, only 200€ are from the tail making and 2600€ for japan. I'm not a steller i preffer died with hungree than steal somethin!

[Deepsea merman]

Thanks for all this answers!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I don't get it. If you are not a seller, then how else would you get money? Are you basically just begging strangers for money? Why don't you ask your family?

[MermaidMichelle]

I think pedropimenta meant "stealer" as in thief.

Like Raina, I have made charitable donations (toward mermaiding as well) in the past as part of the pay-it-forward initiative. I spent years life-guarding and made far more than the cost of any tail (of this era), but was compelled to give it all to my family...yet then I received the money for my Merbella tail seemingly from the Hand of Providence...it was weird, but cool!

The problem here is that you haven't given us any evidence of your devotion to a very complicated and difficult occupation. Show us your design concepts, tell us what materials you plan to use, inform us of your progress. We shall be with you every step (stroke?) of the way, but if it is just about money, well....I suspect I am not the only one here living a life of poverty, if you understand my meaning.

I hope to read more about your budding career! :mermaid kiss:

[Morganna]

A lot of people on this site have been screwed over by "tail makers" before so please don't be to insulted, I'm sure your tails are lovely and once you get your proof up here I'm sure you will have some customers :) until then just keep you head high and look for a good job.

tail making is expensive! Of course I could share some cost snipping details I have found with you if you want :)

but one of then is very time consuming

even if you don't want my help I still wish you good luck and good fishes :)

I know I'm jumping in late here and this is slightly off topic, but if you are willing to share some $ saving tips and tricks I for one would love to hear them! I recently started trying to make my first silicone tail. I have made fabric ones in the past but only really want my own silicone one. Anyway... sorry for rambling. But like I said I would love to hear any advice you have!

[Mermiah]

Well my theories are still just that, theories. I haven't tested them on anything but paper but logically they make a lot of sense :)

there is a plastic type clay that can be made when styrofoam is dissolved in acetone (but you have to be OUTSIDE whereing a face mask and vynal gloves :3 safety first ;)) and then you make a molded monofin of the client/your own feet (but have them wear fluffy socks and wrap they'd feet in sryan wrap for protection) and then make a "skeleton" type monofin that you later cover in monster clay to sculpt the "skin" of the fluke. Then you mold the fluke with the monster clay and fill the mold with latex or silicone (and if my math is right there doesn't have to be a bonding with the plastic and the "skin" as long as you don't try to peel it off it SHOULD stay on well but in the water who knows what would happen :/ (still developmental haha)



BUT!! I do have a thing that works PERFECTLY its a half silicone tail and the body of it is made from fabric and up cycled and painted scales that you see right on to the fabric! I have a fairly old video tutorial on you tube but I'm going to be making a new one soon :) this is the old one here http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_E_GZyg5Whg

I hope my crazy brain was some help to someone :3 and feel free to use the plastic scale making technique :) it's free for all ;)

and if you want I'll keep anyone who wants to know about my crazy monofin updated ;)

[Mermiah]

And if anyone has questions I don't bite ;)

[Deepsea merman]

well, I started drawing a tail end and the next weekend I'll start doing the tail. I was thinking of doing an extended tail. Have tips?

[Mer-Crazy]

well, I started drawing a tail end and the next weekend I'll start doing the tail. I was thinking of doing an extended tail. Have tips?

My tip is don't do an extended tail. If you're already short on funds then its best to tell you that extended tails are a lot more expensive to try and make than general silicone (I think?). They're also much more complicated in terms of pretty much everything. For a first time tail maker who has never made a tail before and seems to have no experience in this field, with such little funds fabric, neoprene, sequin or silicone are all better options (not to mention cheaper). There are some very talented girls attempting them at the moment, but so far I think there are only one or 2 tutorials out there on the net.

[deepblue]

Pedro- I'm not trying to be harsh, but you don't seem to have a realistic idea of what it costs to even begin to make a silicone tail. You speak of using 'normal' silicone and not platinum- those don't work and are dangerous to the maker and wearer. You say you want to raise 200 Euro, but that's simply not enough.

You clearly don't yet have the knowledge you'll need to create a tail and it's good you want to learn- but you can't expect anyone to contribute to a fund for something that makes no sense.

You have to take the time to learn. It takes a long time, and a lot of effort, and costs a lot. There are mistakes along the way, and tailmakers who rush the process end up with tails that are unsafe.
.

[Deepsea merman]

I thought and has cut many "scales" and began to stick on paper to make a mold of the scales and make a simple silicone tail, pitch a 7 or 8 layers of silicon (dragon skin) and make the legs, then a monofin with lexan and insert it in a fluke. I'll start with a fin of H2O as it is simpler. what they think? need to know how much silicone?

[Merman Arion]

I don't mean to be rude nor harsh either but the more this thread goes on, the more it baffles me :doh:

Pedro > Clearly you don't know how to read properly in this forum. We just told you that you are not ready. Is it so hard to get that simple sentence?
I'm with SurlySeaNymph on this one. You gotta make a proper research first, then make a plan and afterwards, get the material with the money you have been saving for your project. It's gonna take some time but it's better this way.


Envoyé de mon iPhone à l'aide de Tapatalk

[MermaidMichelle]

Thank you for the illustrations and cool pic, Mermiah!

I personally haven't practically made an actual tail; I have just welded two swim fins together as a homemade monofin for my first swim. I didn't really endeavour with any crafting after that. I did draw a design about which Raven Sutter of Merbella Studios seems quite enthusiastic, but that of course means that she will be doing practically all of the real work...which means that it will be done well....

I look forward to seeing what you come up with! :mermaid kiss:

[Mermiah]

Why thank you :3 and I hope your tail comes out like you want it :)

wait.....you got to use a WELDER :D awesome!! I love playing with fire more than I probably should ;3 but that's TOTALY awesome :D
do you have pics of your mono fin somewhere?

[MermaidMichelle]

1955919560
Here is my "monofin"; it may not be terribly impressive, but it worked for my first experience mermaid-style-swimming. I could swim (slightly) faster and more efficiently, flip vertically, and 'hover' with my head and shoulders out of the water using only it. Additionally, as I am no longer physically strong enough to lift myself out of the water using only my arms at such a height as that of the pool deck, a single kick with this fin was all that was required to take me safely on land.

These were but $20-30 swim fins purchased at Canadian Tire several years ago, thus I did not actually need to take a welder to them; I used a cigarette lighter instead. I had a near-death experience when I was 16 in which I was burned alive (the inspiration for my tail) and thus do not enjoy playing with fire, but still was able to do a sufficient job for a first monofin swim.

I swam with such vigor, however, that the homemade monofin is already showing signs of wear; still it was wonderful to be able to experience my first mermaid-style swim so cheaply. Thank you for asking about it! :mermaid kiss:

[Deepsea merman]

1955919560
Here is my "monofin"; it may not be terribly impressive, but it worked for my first experience mermaid-style-swimming. I could swim (slightly) faster and more efficiently, flip vertically, and 'hover' with my head and shoulders out of the water using only it. Additionally, as I am no longer physically strong enough to lift myself out of the water using only my arms at such a height as that of the pool deck, a single kick with this fin was all that was required to take me safely on land.

These were but $20-30 swim fins purchased at Canadian Tire several years ago, thus I did not actually need to take a welder to them; I used a cigarette lighter instead. I had a near-death experience when I was 16 in which I was burned alive (the inspiration for my tail) and thus do not enjoy playing with fire, but still was able to do a sufficient job for a first monofin swim.

I swam with such vigor, however, that the homemade monofin is already showing signs of wear; still it was wonderful to be able to experience my first mermaid-style swim so cheaply. Thank you for asking about it! :mermaid kiss:

Nice!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Check out MermaidMichelle's serious face!!

[MermaidMichelle]

Merci beaucoup, pedropimenta! :mermaid kiss:

Well, now you have seen my face....Perhaps someday, you shall see me smile! :pearl:

[Deepsea merman]

Merci beaucoup, pedropimenta! :mermaid kiss:

Well, now you have seen my face....Perhaps someday, you shall see me smile! :pearl:

hahahaha hope so

[Mermiah]

I love it :D I am working on making a monofin for my moms tail :3 (cus my mom is a total mer mom)

[Deepsea merman]

I love it :D I am working on making a monofin for my moms tail :3 (cus my mom is a total mer mom)

The perfects mum