If only the economy wasn't so bad

Several years ago when the economy was good, I would have a lot of gigs for the weekend. I was able to relax back then. Nowadays it takes a lot of struggling for me to get my phone to ring. Metro Detroit is the hardest hit area in USA.

What I found out that is very helpful is putting more into marketing on the internet. It is helping my business pick up again.

Any one else had any problems because of the economy?

My old website is down right now. I let the web host expire because I have a new web host. My new "magician" website is still being worked on. It should be up and running within 24 hours.

Later I plan to have a website up for entertainment varieties (that is how my past one was). My other future website will represent me being a clown. I was never a clown. But because of the economy, it will only help.

I've used PartyPop and Gigmasters this year to help locate gigs. Both have been very profitable for me, here in the Northeast. PartyPop is an annual fee to be listed. Gigmasters is a quarterly fee, plus a percentage for each gig booked. You bid against other entertainers on Gigmasters. You may want to look into both sites.

I missed out on an advertising opp this year, but I'm doing it next year! I found out our local Park & Rec looks for sponsors for children's teams. Here it's $100 for the younger kids, and $300 for the traveling team. You get your business name on the back of their shirts for the season. Not bad publicity for relatively cheap!

I'm down this year by about 30% compared to last year. I'm trying to make up for it with more festival work and other jobs that allow me to take the initiative as a vendor. This wouldn't work as well for magic or clowning since you can't really charge the public for those entertainments. My website does generate business from those searching for a face painter in my area. I am also listed with Decideo, and have a free listing with Partypop which hasn't yielded anything so far. I do periodic mail-outs, targeting restaurants, schools, or venues where I think a painter would be popular. I have a postcard designed specifically for restaurants, and then a more generic one for everything else. I've gotten several calls after mail-outs, but from what I can tell, no actual jobs.

I agree with Perry regarding posting your prices! Thay way you only get serious inquiries. I don't want to waste time on the phone discussing price. When people read your website, they know before they call, that they can afford you and want to hire you.

I don't post my prices... I want the chance to negotiate since 95% of my work is corporate and often multiple date/multiple painter work.

I was down a bit in the Spring, but, the Fall is busier than it has ever been. Usually Sept/Oct is a deadzone for me but I am busy weekend AND weekdays with school demos and special events.

I find it so odd to think of Oct as a "slow time" for face painting!
Maybe it's just me, but because of Halloween, I wold think there would be a ton of business...?

I'm just barely jumping into this to help out a friend and have a good time mainly (it sure is addicting!) but I wouldn't be surprised if the economy is affecting everyone. Still, you get people like 'Perry Noia' who possibly get some bookings because of the economy...

I have found that calling around and trying to get the word out there that we are available seems to work best here on the western US... I've been calling every organization I can think of that has to do with kids or would go well with face painting. (zoo, aquarium, haunted houses, corn mazes, planetarium, costume shops, independent shopping centers, etc.) to see if they would be willing to book us for one or more events. So far we've had many people interested and we just need to figure out pricing and times that work for everyone involved. Then once we're at the events, we hand out cards like crazy and seem to get at least a few calls from that...

However, I believe the web would be a very good way to bring people in who are both searching for local face painters and as a "portfolio" for those people you call to contact, so they can see what you can do.
I've also toyed with the idea of selling things like "gift certificates" on sites like artfire.com or etsy.com as an option for someone who maybe wants to purchase a facepainting event for a niece or nephew or grandchild...

There are so many things you can do to break out, just try to think outside the box and don't loose your momentum!

Manda

...look at me... talking like I know what I'm doing. I hope it works! (and I'll keep you all posted on how we're doing!)

Well... up here the weather turns and people aren't doing outdoor events in Sept/Oct, the parties haven't started for Christmas yet... and Halloween, in the past, wasn't a big thing for me businesswise. I also was travelling to the UK at the end of October in some years.

The last couple years though it has picked up, and this year is particularly busy

I think I have more jobs this year, partly because of the economy. It is cheaper to hire me for three hours, than a entertainer (magician, clown or so) for a half hour.

Had my first Christmas event this Sunday! They started out early this year =)

My first Christmas party was on Nov 14th!!