Laura the Mermaid on the news- talking about Mercademy!

[LauraLWatson]

http://www.wfaa.com/good-morning-texas/Laura-the-Mermaid-Helps-Under-the-Sea-Dreams-Come-True--272034621.html

[Odette]

The video won't load for me, but i'm very happy for you! What is meracademy?
The screen shot is cute!

[LauraLWatson]

Sorry it won't load! It was a little news segment about Laura the Mermaid (how I do birthday parties, tradeshows, festivals, etc.) I employ 2 pirate handlers and I have a mer-apprentice as well. She is just getting started as a mermaid, but as a singer and actor, she is learning fast how to apply those skills to the water. Mercademy is a training program for children and adults, male and female who would like to learn how to transform int merfolks. (From folks to merfolks!) Currently, we only offer a mini-academy in October and a the full program will be available next June. This is all in Arlington, TX.

[Odette]

Great job! I'm putting together a school myself sometime after December. It's a lot of work. I'm so happy you are giving the kids of Arlington such a great opportunity. I really think there should be schools in every state. So many kids want to be a mermaid! Congratulations! :clap:

[LauraLWatson]

We should compare notes and resources! I'd love to chat sometime. We're having our first planning meeting on Wednesday to set our curriculum, guest lecturers, etc.

[Odette]

Sounds fun!

[AniaR]

we;d like to do a school too but hard to buy kids tails here with all the extra fees gah! I'm really happy for you though, way to go.

[AptaMer]

we;d like to do a school too but hard to buy kids tails here with all the extra fees

Just wondering, Raina. Are tails more expensive in Halifax, or Canada in general? Is it because of shipping costs, or taxes & duties?

[AniaR]

Yup in CANADA
USD to cad makes us pay more, then shipping, then customs. A 25$ kids monofin ends up costing double

[Blaze]

Very cool and right in Arlington! :)

[Sherielle]

Of course there is this in Arlington when I no longer live there, lol.

[LauraLWatson]

Hey Blaze- I intend to call you after we set our curriculum about how you can be a part of Mercademy! And Aurelia- this makes a perfect excuse to come back and visit!

We are trying to keep the cost of Mercademy as low as possible by finding a tail sponsor who will provide the fabric tails at a deep discount and on time for class. Then, we are also working with the venue about rentals and lifeguards- all of which add up. We're trying. We're blessed to be in an area where the cost of materials, venues, lifeguards, and teaching equipment are all very reasonable and available.

[AptaMer]

Yup in CANADA
USD to cad makes us pay more, then shipping, then customs. A 25$ kids monofin ends up costing double

Hmm, too bad nobody's making monos or tails here in Canada. Well, that lady in Vancouver is, but her prices seem very high to me.

BTW- I found out from a friend that under the NAFTA, if an item is manufactured in the USA or Mexico, it can come into Canada duty free, and anything manufactured in Canada can be shipped duty free to the US or Mexico.

I wonder if anybody, other than Dol-Fin, is making fins in the USA or Mexico?

Also, anyone in Canada who orders a tail from a US manufacturer like MerTailor or Rubenesque Latex, should make sure they mark "Manufactured in the USA" on the packing slip- and insist that it be allowed in duty free when you receive it.

[Princess Pearl]

Hmm, too bad nobody's making monos or tails here in Canada. Well, that lady in Vancouver is, but her prices seem very high to me.

She doesn't actually make her own mono fins, they're modified Rapids. So even if you don't have to pay customs on the shipment of the tail, she paid it for the monofin so that will be factored into the price.

Edit: well, that's embarassing. I was thinking of fun-fin (the "in no way associated with the American company 'Fin Fun'" tailmaker), not 3-fins. So I guess there are at least two Canadian tail making companies.


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