My Kickstarter! :D All hep appreciated plus rewards! :D

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Hey guys! So I finally made my Kickstarter for my fully sequined neoprene tail! I really need help and only have 28 days and counting to go! I only ask for a grand total of $400-$450! I thank everyone who helps so much! All donations and shares are greatly appreciated! Yes, shares are greatly helpful, share everywhere to everyone! Again I thank you! Without further ado: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/835606348/mermaid-caspianas-realistic-sequin-tail

[Mermaid Caspiana]

26 days left! Please back and share who ever possible! :D

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Okay everyone, well no one has even looked as far as I know from here, so to anyone listening, there are only 16 days left, please, I really need help. I really want to start my business this summer. But I need YOUR help first, all help is needed from backing to an/or sharing! Thanks anyone or everyone! <3

[Meilyn]

It looks like you already have a beautiful tail though.

Why not just use your current tail now for events and save up to start this new venture? Why not just work really hard during your vacation and make the 500$ needed? I've tried sewing sequins before and it takes forever. I got frustrated with myself and gave up after an hour. And threw everything away..... Not sure when your vacation is but I know, because I've done it, if you want it bad enough, you'll make 500$ within 2 weeks time. :) I had 3 jobs once, 1 full time, 2 part time for over 2 months to help me get what I wanted.

For this current venture that I'm in, I've saved for over a year and am still doing research on my probable future. And I need another 1,700+ to go, which I'm still saving up on as the days go by. I'm up to another 850$ already within this last month.

Maybe it's age and generation, and I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but why not help yourself as well? Contribute to yourself, help yourself before asking for help. You say you want to get into an actual mermaid business doing parties and events, why not do it not with what you have?

I think if you were making tails for the community, it would go better. But in this game, I feel everyone is on their own as most of us aren't very wealthy or we're barely scraping by to begin with.

500$ is actually not a lot of money at all. It's 2 weeks pay working part time at a minimum of 25 hours a week...

My best advice would be to use what you have now to get what you need later :) and when you're not doing that, get a part time job or two ^_^

-former weekday part time Tea shop, weekend coffee shop barista, full time home care aid in the spring-fall of 2013
Full time soldier 2009-2011 (I couldn't walk for most of 2012)

[Mermaid Caspiana]

I actually only have a goal of $400. And even then that was just bumped up for tax reasons. It is actually only like a $200-300 project, the rest is for the camera and taxes. And I knew I was going to get someone telling me to get a job. The problem with that is, I'm not old enough yet. And my mom doesn't want me to start my business for myself until I have a more permanent tail. And I know of a lot of other mers who have gorgeous tails and still get more. Mine is only a little less than a year old and because its fabric and crappy glue it's fading and sequins are popping off. I wasn't planing on sewing, I am using E6000, the really strong awesome stuff and neoprene. But I'm just asking for help now, or else I would help myself. There's just a lot in the way of that. I'm glad at least someone checked the thread out though. :)

[Meilyn]

Oh gosh, I didn't realize how old you were >_< I'm sorry.

I think it would be rather much more of a challenge trying to start something like so at such a young age dear, but I'm glad you're passionate about it. Hmm, I don't know how much you get as an allowance or if this would help but... Something like a lemonade stand :) but with Italian sodas! (If you can) they're rather cheap to set up if you have a busy location like a lake on a hot day or the beach. You could try selling stuff to get your needed items :D FARMERS MARKET stand!

I know America's no longer free and we have "laws" on selling food products but I doubt anyone would say anything if you were to sell drinks at a public location unless they're a really low individual...

With 20$, you could easily flip it out to 60$ within an hour :) and in no time, you could have enough for your tail!
Ice, half and half, club soda, a flavored syrup and plastic cups ^_^

I hope this helps somehow. If you'd like to learn how to make Italian sodas or other summer day drinks, let me know :)
(Accessories are more expensive to make and more timely, food's the way to go for fast cash!)

[Ayla of Duluth]

Well, I wouldn't say it would be a challenge to make a sequin tail at such a young age, I mean look at Jazz, she's pumping out silicone tails left and right for Weeki Wachee. I can understand her shortage of funds, I don't know anyone at that age who had enough money to even make a simple neoprene tail. And I hate to say it, but a lemonade stand might not cut it. You'd have to sell 800 glasses at $.50 each. It might be easier to open an etsy store or sell at craft fairs.

[Meilyn]

No, I meant a business at a young age lol. There's lots of stuff you have to get into to actually be like, moving and making enough/breaking even.

Here in Washington, people become millionaires from little lemonade (coffee) stands by the side of the road lol.

5$ is average for an Italian soda here due to how awesome they are hehe.

Don't sell lemonade, it's too cheap. But 16oz Italian sodee's, yes please.
Or if you know coffee like us from the coffee capitol of the world, your golden.

I'm planning to do just that on the big event weekends here around me. Dress up and sell redbull Italian sodas, regular Italian sodas, and cold white chocolate/regular mocha's down by the water. You'd only have to sell about 140 cups to break even with product purchases in my case, in hers though, probably 115.

Plus crafts, you really have to find and adverse r yourself to get your customers.
Drinks = sit and wait or pull people in that are already walking by :)

[Meilyn]

*my old coffee stand made a good 4,000$$ without trying monthly. In a really shady place/location

^_^ v

Or even 12oz drinks for 3$ would still do you good :D

OH! And don't forget a tip jar ;)
I used to average 40$ an hour in tips alone selling drinks

[Ayla of Duluth]

I don't know how much drinks are going for, but you can't overcharge for them either, because you'll deter buyers when they realize they can go to the gas station and buy them cheaper, so it's about finding the peak of that parabola. And 115 drinks just to break even is quite a bit, I still think selling crafts are cheaper. I get a pound of sculpey clay for like $3, and each charm I make with it sells for just a bit more. That way, I've broken even just by selling one charm, and its harder to overcharge because each one is OOAK and you can't just go buy one cheaper somewhere else.

[Meilyn]

It's not necessarily over charging when you consider it's a specialty food item and you're within an area that doesn't have competition. Gas stations don't carry little cute girls making your drinks :p

16oz mocha at Starbucks is about 4.50$, but there won't be one at a lake. Also you'll be giving them a supply, you should just have to create a demand. And use the herd mentality to your advantage by selling it in your tail :) convenience charge ;) and convenience is a luxury

I don't see it as much considering the amount of people out on sunny days. But that's me and personal experience.

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Yeah, I have considered making an Etsy store. And I also have thought about putting a sign at the top of my little road for later in the summer when our garden is booming. We will have a surplus of veggies this year hopefully. But that's too late. I would like to have this project done by the time we go to Myrtle Beach probably in August. Trust me, I've considered many things of making money and saving enough. But so many things have gotten or are always in the way. I'm not the best location either. Hahaha