The Official "How to Become a Professional Mermaid" Index

[AniaR]

So, I'm taking the liberty of starting an index to put all the relevant threads for this question. It gets asked a lot on mernetwork in one form or another, and I also get it constantly. Some of these links are off site, but are all relevant. This is meant to be the bullet form. If you want in-depth information you NEED to click the links.

Disclaimer: Please remember that this majority of this information is contributed by current professional mermaids, and brainstormed by the current mermaid community. As a whole "we" do not endorse swimming alone, or trying anything at home that may cause you injury. Always have a swim buddy present and USE YOUR OWN DISCRETION. We are not responsible for any harm you may experience when following these suggestions.


How to Become a Professional Mermaid

1. Choose or Make a Tail + Costume
Can't be a mermaid professionally if you don't have a tail. First you need to decide if you're going to buy one or make one. If you want to buy one first you should head over to the Tail Maker Reviews and discussions, you may also want to check out the classifieds

If you want to make one you SHOULD FIRST READ THIS REFERENCE GUIDE you may also find it helpful to look at the monofin guide before asking questions.
You can make your own accessories and see examples here, or buy them from here

If you need to fundraise for a tail please read THIS for some help

2. Practice your swimming
Before you set out professionally, hone your craft. Check out the thread about underwater tricks here are some tips on breath holding, and be sure to checkout the section of the forum on swimming.

3. Do these very important things!
On page 20 of Tail Flip Issue #2 we compiled the most important things you can do to start and help your mermaid career into an article as submitted by the community of professional mermaids. It touches on a variety of important topics like business cards, insurance performance, professional attitude and more.

4. Decide what types of gigs you want to do
Here's an index of types of gigs you can do as a mermaid (some) with photo examples and Q&A

5. Get Online!
Use this handy dandy index of social networking sites to promote your mermaid persona!

6. Learn about your photo rights
Are you going to be posing for photos? Are you going to be taking photos? Learn your rights!

7. Make Sure you're Prepared
Make sure you're prepared for your professional gigs. Here's a video example of me getting prepared with tips for you.


Other Pieces of Important Information

• If you're a "guest" reading this on mernetwork, or reading this on another site, consider joining mernetwork so you can talk to other mers and ask questions and get ideas!
• Here's a few questions people have asked me on tumblr
• Don't forget these other helpful mer-related websites such as: The Merfolk Co-Op or The Mernetwork on FB or the DeviantART group
• Read published articles about your fellow mermaids for ideas!
• Still have a question...? Still not sure? Post in this forum or ask me specifically on tumblr and I'll answer!
• You might enjoy my book: "Fishy" Business: How to be a Mermaid
• Don't forget to check out the threads in the Professional Mermaiding Index

I hope this will be helpful to you. I will continue to update it with links from around the web.




Edit: some updates!

Just wanted to add, I make two tutorials a while back regarding FB that are important for running your mermaid fan page:

1. How to use your FB fanpage (including how to show who owns the fanpage publicly, or disable that [since you know, apparently I made that up? *rolls eyes* lol], managing admin settings, and retaining copies of communication) http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...n-page-A-GUIDE

2. An article about "buying" "fake" likes: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...ny-look-Stupid



Also if you have questions that are not answered here, you can ask me in this thread: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...bout-going-Pro!

Here is also a post about mermaid accounting: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...OUR-ACCOUNTING

Edit #2: More updates!

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...ighlight=risks is a link about the health risks you can face while swimming in a pool

You may also want to buy my book from www.makemeamermaid.com to see all the info I've collected, plus follow this thread for discount codes: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...o-be-a-Mermaid

Consider this for how to get new likes on facebook http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...es-on-Facebook

Join the linked in group: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...up-on-LinkedIn

Edit #3 More updates!

Using your anayltics to help your websites: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...050#post123050

Consider attending one of my workshops! http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...eing-a-Mermaid

What to pack for a mer gig http://mernetwork.com/index/showthre...-for-a-Mer-gig