Odette
08-23-2014, 01:32 PM
As a full time mermaid, it really takes a toll on you if you don't get enough gigs especially if you are in school (Business Degree). Fortunately, I have been getting enough this summer, but with this amazing event and the
large amount of exposure I have gotten, I should be able to make enough profit to do more tail and prop work! Here are some tips that i use that really came into effect for this event.
23652
The turnout was bigger than expected with what we assume was maybe 3,000? It was packed in my area even before we were supposed to start!. We agreed on having my 10ft pool and shell chair for the event and had no problems with getting paid in a timely manner. I had to have 3 mermaid helpers to keep the kids (and me) safe and we had to get the kids photos real quick so one helper would plop the kid next to me, picture, get the kid out and hand a card out.23655 (my main mermaid handler was doing an amazing job of keeping everyone engaged. Awesome guy!)
I strongly urge every mermaid performer to have A mermaid handler. I call mine "mermaid handlers" as it makes more sense to me. Many mers have told me that they don't have one and it blows my mind because they are extremely useful. They further promote you by handing out cards, repeating your name so everyone can hear it. your name is usually your business name as well so saying your name often is vital for recognition. Also carrying you around and making sure no one can see you change. Trying to do that by yourself is difficult.
Make use of this large crowd too. I talked back and forth to my pirate friend in character and I splashed around but it was so crowded that you can hardly to anything but stand still and take pictures or let them touch my fin. I also made everyone that took pictures of me get a card (your helpers should do this).
23653 (In the picture, I gave him my mermaid comb and told him it keeps my hair shiny. lol)
Push the cards on them or they will think you are only a mermaid for that
event on that day. When they see you there posing for photos, a persons first impression is that you are only a person in a costume. They have no idea that you are a professional performer with years experience (or maybe just starting. Its ok to be new =) ) and are a legitimate business registered and insured and ready to be hired. They have no idea whatsoever. You need to emphasize that to the crowd while still being in character so once again, your mermaid handlers and cards are all very important. The event had costume contests and all sorts of adorable little girls that already had fabric tails and one person was trying to put his daughter in the pool with me. Another example that no one knows that there is such thing as a mermaid performer. Of course i can't let anyone in the water for insurance reasons so i felt bad that she couldn't hang with me, but we gave her dad a card so maybe we can swim together in the future! =)
I got a lot of exposure for this event. I was in the newspaper 3 times, on the news twice apparently, and mentioned on a little show segment.
I hope some of my tips will help you in the future( i'll give some tips here and there,but you need to also go out there and figure out things on your own because you truly become a better and more unique performer that way). 23656
large amount of exposure I have gotten, I should be able to make enough profit to do more tail and prop work! Here are some tips that i use that really came into effect for this event.
23652
The turnout was bigger than expected with what we assume was maybe 3,000? It was packed in my area even before we were supposed to start!. We agreed on having my 10ft pool and shell chair for the event and had no problems with getting paid in a timely manner. I had to have 3 mermaid helpers to keep the kids (and me) safe and we had to get the kids photos real quick so one helper would plop the kid next to me, picture, get the kid out and hand a card out.23655 (my main mermaid handler was doing an amazing job of keeping everyone engaged. Awesome guy!)
I strongly urge every mermaid performer to have A mermaid handler. I call mine "mermaid handlers" as it makes more sense to me. Many mers have told me that they don't have one and it blows my mind because they are extremely useful. They further promote you by handing out cards, repeating your name so everyone can hear it. your name is usually your business name as well so saying your name often is vital for recognition. Also carrying you around and making sure no one can see you change. Trying to do that by yourself is difficult.
Make use of this large crowd too. I talked back and forth to my pirate friend in character and I splashed around but it was so crowded that you can hardly to anything but stand still and take pictures or let them touch my fin. I also made everyone that took pictures of me get a card (your helpers should do this).
23653 (In the picture, I gave him my mermaid comb and told him it keeps my hair shiny. lol)
Push the cards on them or they will think you are only a mermaid for that
event on that day. When they see you there posing for photos, a persons first impression is that you are only a person in a costume. They have no idea that you are a professional performer with years experience (or maybe just starting. Its ok to be new =) ) and are a legitimate business registered and insured and ready to be hired. They have no idea whatsoever. You need to emphasize that to the crowd while still being in character so once again, your mermaid handlers and cards are all very important. The event had costume contests and all sorts of adorable little girls that already had fabric tails and one person was trying to put his daughter in the pool with me. Another example that no one knows that there is such thing as a mermaid performer. Of course i can't let anyone in the water for insurance reasons so i felt bad that she couldn't hang with me, but we gave her dad a card so maybe we can swim together in the future! =)
I got a lot of exposure for this event. I was in the newspaper 3 times, on the news twice apparently, and mentioned on a little show segment.
I hope some of my tips will help you in the future( i'll give some tips here and there,but you need to also go out there and figure out things on your own because you truly become a better and more unique performer that way). 23656