Would you buy a book on being a professional mer?

[AniaR]

Serious question, if I wrote a book with comprehensive details on becoming a professional mer, would you buy it? What would you like to see in a book like that? What kind of issues/questions would you like addressed?

[AniaR]

I posted this on my page too https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...83327321702019

[Blondie]

Personally I would not. I mean if you wanted to do an autobiography on being a professional mermaid. That's great. Go for it.

I feel like anyone can become a professional mermaid as long as they devote themselves to it. It's not exactly a "hard" thing to do. Just time consuming. It's like becoming an actor or singer. It normally does not happen over night. It takes years of practice and getting to know the right people.
I think that just about everyone has different ways they've started their professional mermaid career. From modeling, to parties, to being a tail maker themselves. I think it is what you make it. There's no sure fire way to get into the professional business. And I think it just takes your own time on testing the water and persistence.

[AniaR]

I think if it was that simple and obvious for everyone, I wouldn't get hundreads of emails a day on the topic I'm also sure I could provide materials and resources that aren't online, and from judging from the immediate FB response I've gotten https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...9&notif_t=like I think it's safe to say there's a market for it.

[AniaR]

I mean if you wanted to do an autobiography on being a professional mermaid

I forgot to say, it would actually be both a mix of explaining how to do things from the very basic all the way up AND include biographical points along the way. I sent a rough sketch to a few mers so far of topics to be covered in detail, I forgot I didn't actually post that point here haha

[Ayla of Duluth]

The thing I need the most help with is the business aspect. I want to appear as professional as possible to clients, because when I'm in my tail I'm just goofing off. So if your book included tips on all the legalities and such, I would definitely buy it.

[AniaR]

I can't put specific legalities as they are different in every state/country/province etc, but I can point people in the direction of where to get information on the specifics, and also give them the most common things they need to know in that area. Yes, business is it's own section

[Mermaid Momo]

i would buy it if it had lots of pictures in it of say, best ways to keep someone's attention on your website (you only have 1 second to keep them there!) good ideas for business cards (how to make them interesting but not over worked) I know that there are books and what not out there about this, but i think it's a bit more "special" for mers because you want someone to really remember you and if they found your card a few days later, you want them to know who its from and not some shop or what ever.
I'd also like a bit on good business etiquette (when to accept payment, what kind of payment is best, the best way to plan your schedule around being a professional mer, any trends you may have noticed that brung in good business, Etc)

[Mermaid Momo]

also, a part about finding photographers would be nice

[Ashe]

^ took the words right out of my mouth, Draggersprez! Yes, I would totally buy that book if you created it one! I'm really needing info on booking gigs and appropriate payment. I really hope you will decide to carry this out!

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I think a book like this would be wonderful. There are books for every kind of business, but I feel like mermaiding is currently undocumented. I also like the topics that have so far been raised. I might ask to add something about fundraising and self-promotion though. Those seem to be two areas that people have trouble with. Good idea. :3

[AniaR]

Yes, every single one of those things is in my list of what to cover It's essentially broken up into several parts:

Fins- everything that goes into making or buying tails, tail swimming, tail safety, tail care, etc also will touch on aspects of community and meets

Your Image- Picking a business/persona name, creating your persona through costume, photography (including all the legal info)business cards (comprehensive guide to what should be on them), website (comprehensive guide to what should be on it), social networking,

The working mer- important things to consider before your first paid job, practice parties, volunteering, safety (including certification), insurance, finances, your goals, your causes, permits (if applicable), gigs and specific types of gigs and how to get them, preparing for a gig, deciding what you should charge, finances (taxes, invoices, receipts, credits, methods of payment etc) fees, venues, approaching prospective venues, undercutting, contracts, emails and record keeping, having a mertender, dealing with competition (and how to make competition work for everyone), Portfolio-(what goes in it, publicity, customer feedback)

Activism-Activism networks, choosing a cause, volunteering etc, how to get involved

Resource section-, Lists of magazines, books, articles, websites etc, online shops, stores for materials

There will be a running narrative that goes through all of these topics and shares my personal experiences and stories. If possible there will be images. Everything I am using for the time being would be my own personal materials and many things will be "never before seen" type stuff.

[AniaR]

fundraising and self-promotion though

Awesome, I'll add that to the list!

[Bellasea]

I really like the idea. I would also probably buy it if I saw it while just wandering in a store.

[telzey.amberdon]

Rania, if it was your Bio, then I would buy it.

[Ayla of Duluth]

Yes, every single one of those things is in my list of what to cover It's essentially broken up into several parts:

Fins- everything that goes into making or buying tails, tail swimming, tail safety, tail care, etc also will touch on aspects of community and meets

Your Image- Picking a business/persona name, creating your persona through costume, photography (including all the legal info)business cards (comprehensive guide to what should be on them), website (comprehensive guide to what should be on it), social networking,

The working mer- important things to consider before your first paid job, practice parties, volunteering, safety (including certification), insurance, finances, your goals, your causes, permits (if applicable), gigs and specific types of gigs and how to get them, preparing for a gig, deciding what you should charge, finances (taxes, invoices, receipts, credits, methods of payment etc) fees, venues, approaching prospective venues, undercutting, contracts, emails and record keeping, having a mertender, dealing with competition (and how to make competition work for everyone), Portfolio-(what goes in it, publicity, customer feedback)

Activism-Activism networks, choosing a cause, volunteering etc, how to get involved

Resource section-, Lists of magazines, books, articles, websites etc, online shops, stores for materials

There will be a running narrative that goes through all of these topics and shares my personal experiences and stories. If possible there will be images. Everything I am using for the time being would be my own personal materials and many things will be "never before seen" type stuff.

I would certainly buy a book with all that information, no matter how much it costs. Information like that is invaluable.

[spottedcatfish]

I would buy a mermaid autobiography (or biography, if that's the case) as soon as one was released. Another factor to add into your auto-biography would be the challenges of daily life and reality. I want to be able to relate to the person I am reading about, or be inspired by their story and hardships, and I'm sure many readers would want that too. So, intertwine the story of your life, which seems already very interesting with mermaiding and I think you'll have a very solid, and sell-able auto biography. Keep us updated!

[Nykur]

I would buy, only if there is a section about underwater moves, you know: tips for front- and back-flips, help with breath holding tricks, bubble heart kisses like Mermaid Melissa :/???
I'm not really in it for business I do it for fun, but it would be nice to do events for a bit of extra money.

[roamingmer]

To be honest - consider the time you will take to invest in writing a good book and how much return of investment you might get? What new information do you want to provide which cannot be found freely; quickly; on the net? OK a lot of your pests are clearly not interested in reading free stuff; so why would they spend money to read a book?

Personally I think there is more merit in an auto-bio but then; how much unique stuff do you actually bring?. I would rather suggest you pitch to 'Travelers Tales' by the O'Reily brothers... with an under-water book. Various short stories from the various professional mermaids. From swimming with whale sharks (Hanna Mermaid) to being landlocked in a glass box (by Raven). Through to designing your first tale (from AniaR) to first gig. The fact finding information can be added at the end - as it is for their other books.

[AniaR]

Well, I've already started and sent a few pages out to a few mers to get feed back and it's been great so far, It's auto-bio with comprehensive information as well. I've had a HUGE response on my facebook. So even if it's not really mernetwork mers who want it, that's fine, because others seem to realllly want it. As far as investment return, I've actually looked into several ways of publishing that would require very little, I have a few professional writer friends who have already offered help, and really, I'm not looking to make money so if I don't make much that's fine I'm really stoaked actually so I think at this point it's a do-it-anyway type of thing. I seem to be told the most people would prefer an e book and from reading several comprehensive articles online it looks like those are the things that sell easiest, and less impact on the planet. So it'll likely be ebook format and then printed from a company that only prints when people order.