Fundraiser Help!

[Ayla of Duluth]

So as many of you know, I have ordered a tail from Finfolk Productions. I had payed off over half of it, I only had around $1,000 left to pay on it. However, I just saw their new scale upgrade, and decided to go for it because the one thing about my Merbellas tail was that kids were always trying to peel up the scales, and once they saw they couldn't, they stopped believing I was real. Some kids were even picky enough to find the nearly invisible seams on the side of my tail where the scales overlapped, and it's very hard to convince a group of children that I'm real when there's someone pointing out all my flaws. It's happened enough to where I decided the $1,000 upgrade would be a good investment, so I sent Abby and Bryn a message asking for it.

Now this means that I've no longer put a 50% down payment on my tail to secure my spot. I need to send them $150 to get back to that mark. I can cover that in my next paycheck, but after that I will owe $2,067 on the tail, which is going to be a bit more difficult.

So I would like to do a fundrasier to help me reach my goal. I do have merchandise available on my website, but it hasn't sold at all. So I'm wondering if you guys have any ideas on how to raise money. Perhaps some sort of thing where I sell tickets to some sort of event I can do? But I wouldn't know what kind of events would qualify to sell tickets for.

So I'd like some ideas from you guys on how I could raise some money for the tail. I'm not too worried because once I get my student loans in I'll be a lot better off money wise, but I would like to start sending Abby and Bryn some payments. Any suggestions would be appreciated! :mermaid kiss:

Edit: the fact that the kids didn't think I was real was just the tipping point for me in deciding to go with the realistic scales. They are not the one reason why I'm doing it, they were just the point I made to myself that made me think it's better to go wit it than without.

[Merman Arion]

because the one thing about my Merbellas tail was that kids were always trying to peel up the scales, and once they saw they couldn't, they stopped believing I was real. Some kids were even picky enough to find the nearly invisible seams on the side of my tail where the scales overlapped, and it's very hard to convince a group of children that I'm real when there's someone pointing out all my flaws. It's happened enough to where I decided the $1,000 upgrade would be a good investment, so I sent Abby and Bryn a message asking for it.

I have mixed feelings about this...
While I'm very happy for you to get the individual scales (which are amazing), for you to let very spoiled kids get to you and putting yourself in more financial troubles so you can look more real to them is just very wrong to me. What about the things that YOU wanted in the first place? You had to sell your first performance tail to get the one from Finfolk Productions and now, to satisfy them, you have to pay more?? Honestly, Ayla, I'm not sure if it's gonna be worth it. You will ALWAYS find some smartass kids who will try to find your flaws and tell that you're not real.
Raina has a merbella tail with the exact same scales and she always managed. Maybe you could ask her for some advices.

[Ayla of Duluth]

Yeah, when I sold my merbellas tail, I sent abby and bryn like $1800 from it and decided to use the rest to cover some bills. Looking back, I should have sent them more. But alas.
The kids nitpicking about my tail was just what helped me make the final decision on this, I've always dreamed of having a completely seamless tail. One of my major character flaws is that I really am a perfectionist, and the upgrade will offer me that perfection I seek. I think maybe I wasn't happy with having seams on my tail, especially since the seams kept the tail from fitting quite right, which is one of the reasons I sold it. In my eyes, the upgrade has a ton of perks to it. A better fit, no seams, the more realistic scales adding more dimension, etc. and I really do think it's worth the money. I'm looking for my forevertail, and I think abby and bryn will offer me exactly that. but I do understand your concerns Arion, again the kids were just the tipping point for me, they were the last thing I thought about before I was like "yep. upgrade it is."

I'm willing to work as hard as I need to, I've always been that kind of person who sees something, makes it a goal, and works towards it. This is one of my bigger goals, so I'll do what it takes. <3

[Echidna]

I know this is not the point of the thread, but if it's only to appease certain kids and not because YOU really want it for yourself, I'd advise against buying another tail, as


You will ALWAYS find some smartass kids who will try to find your flaws and tell that you're not real.


Take a real fish.
I dare you try to peel up an individual scale, especially if it's a smaller fish.
Fish are not pine cones!

I doubt the kids inspecting your tail and saying "if it's not like this or that, you're not real" have ever had a real live fish in their hands.
Besides, who's to say mermaid scales are the exact same?

If avoiding this is your main reason for getting a new tail, I fear you'll be disappointed when during the first gig, another kid comes up starting to point out whatever things just the same as before.

I have done a few gigs in fabric tails, and none of the kids complained.
they either want to go with the fantasy, or they don't.
and if they don't, no manner of tail will make a difference.

Edit, I was writing when you made your second post.
nevermind then, and goodluck!

[Ayla of Duluth]

The kids thing was just the final point that made me decide to go with the upgrade. I like the raised scales because they offer a truly seamless tail which is what I've always wanted. The merbellas tail I had didn't fit quite right because the seams popped out from my hips and calves, so I feel like these individual scales will give a better fit. They also add dimension to the tail which is always a plus.

[Mermaid Galene]

Ayla, I think you should do whatever your heart tells you. If the scale upgrade makes you swoon with delight, then you should do it. But I agree with the others that a few Doubting Thomas children shouldn't force you into spending all this extra money. If kids want to believe, they will believe. As a puppeteer, I saw kids totally believe a puppet was alive in spite of seeing it was stuck on my arm! And there are any number of creative answers to kids who try to peel up scales on a slilcone tail. "When I'm out of the water, my scales seal up tight so my skin doesn't dry out." or "It hurts when you try to peel my scales! Ow! I'm holding them closed because you're hurting me!" etc

As for raising money, could you rent a pool and throw a pool party for all your past clients, letting them know it's a fundraiser?

[Mermaid Galene]

Ayla, do you have a direct link to your items on Etsy? I couldn't find Twinkletail Emporium there.

[Ayla of Duluth]

Yeah, I took the shop down because no one was buying my stuff and it was charging a fee every month. But if you go to my website and check out the merch section, I have all the stuff available that was in my etsy.

[Meilyn]

Personally I'm a firm believer of not spending money that you don't have. And as everyone's stated, it seems you're wanting it more for appeasing the interest of others than yourself.

What if something bad happens and you NEED money for an emergency? You shouldn't sacrifice necessity for vanity. You should weigh out your needs and wants with how much you actually worked in the past and have made with your previous tail when you're in need of finances before making a decision on a big purchase. Always have a safety net :) no matter what you do

[Ayla of Duluth]

I don't have any emergency money because I really don't need it. I'm actually quite fortunate in that my parents take care of most of my bills or emergency needs. I probably would have talked myself out of the upgrade if I didn't have their help on all of life's necessities. I think the only "emergency money" I have is the savings account I opened for my dog in case he needs the vet, and I don't touch that money because it's not for everyday use.

[Meilyn]

I don't have any emergency money because I really don't need it. I'm actually quite fortunate in that my parents take care of most of my bills or emergency needs. I probably would have talked myself out of the upgrade if I didn't have their help on all of life's necessities. I think the only "emergency money" I have is the savings account I opened for my dog in case he needs the vet, and I don't touch that money because it's not for everyday use.


You are a very fortunate and a very blessed girl :) and I do the same for my dog lol.
I'm not used to relying on anyone or any family for help so I pushed my view only this I guess. Been on my own mostly since I was 15'ish so not having any back up plan (financially) is an alien thought to me.