Family Fun Nights - At Restaurants

Found one!

http://www.vikingmagic.com/?key=1490&nd=full

I bought DJ Elhert's Restaurant kit and I hope to be implementing it soon.

Reviews to come shortly!
~Michelle

Michelle Heffner wrote:Found one!

http://www.vikingmagic.com/?key=1490&nd=full

I bought DJ Elhert's Restaurant kit and I hope to be implementing it soon.

Reviews to come shortly!
~Michelle

I would love to hear what you think of the book as I am taking on the ten resturant challenge.
Susan

I wound up doing the 10 restaurant challenge by necessity when quite by accident, found out that after I worked, as usual, to a packed house Thursday nite Fuddruckers, (where I was painting every family night for well over a year) closed the next day on Friday!

I found out six days after the fact on Wensday when I went to drop off cards to an empty restaurant and my Woodbridge Jam was scheduled for Sunday!!!

Panic set in, but determination took over and lead the way to my quest for a new Jam location. So.... altho it began as a quest, here is my 10 restaurant challenge!

I know that God closes doors and opens windows but the next day was a real revelation!

Thursday I left the house at 2:30 to visit the Famous Daves resturant and as I told him about how I worked for Fuddruckers on a paid weekly basis and held a free Jam for fuddruckers (with free face painting their customers) that also benefited the restaurant I worked at, the manager seemed more interested in having me on a weekly basis and hope the general manager feels the same.

Hmmn, that was nice! So, since a Face and Body Art International Convention will be held at the end of the month, I went to where there is lots of living canvas - Hooters! The manager said 'OK!!!" (the resturant is small and the stools are high but still in the running as a choice for an occasional special event jam location).

Most encouraged, I went to South of the Border for a Jam location and Cinco de Mayo entertainment but found the resturant is too small and will be packed to the hilt May 6th. The manager felt it was too small for face painting too, altho he really wanted it but couldn't figure how to create the space for me & the line of kids.

Then onward & upward to Unos where I was very well received for both the jam and weekly painting, so I will talk to the general manager.

On to Old Country Buffet which is huge with a seperate open room off the main room, has lots of familys with kids as customers and talked to the general manager who will host the Jam but said he couldn't afford to pay me for a weekly gig.

On to El Charro and Los Amigos & will talk to both managers which are hard to catch when they are in, even tho I was told what time to come back. Guapos was too small and Chilis was sorta interested and wanted my card for Cinco De Mayo and weekly painting >Whew<

It was 5:30 by then, so I went to Fuddruckers to hand out my cards to my regulars that came to be painted every week. To my surprise only a few of them showed up. I wonder if there was an article in the paper or on the news about Fuddruckers closing?

I saw the general manager Tim at Bob Evans about weekly painting but said he could only afford special events and kept my card, because we had talked about this before, almost a year ago.

So, the challenge of going to ten restaurants has been most favorable, the first day of the quest Praise God!

The next day I talked to Eric the general manager of Unos, who approved hosting the jam, treated us like royality, complete with appetizers. Monday he wanted me to paint on a weekly basis as Unos is starting a family night. He wanted it on the same night as Fuddruckers had to bring in my regulars.

I am on a trial period we agreed on and the regional manager will be watching me, hearing all about it from he managers, to approve my painting services at the other northern Va locations, too. >whew< That's a BIGGIE!!!!

I went back to Famous Daves at the time setup by the general manager and he said that his and Alexandria's locations are too busy for weekly painting but the other one wants me, so I will call the general manager today ; )

Needless to say it has been a hectic five days, so far. Today (tuesday) I have three others to to follow up & check out today. Gotta get ready & will let ya know how it goes ; )

Susan

awesome! how exciting when things flow like that, even if half of those places follow through it will be great!

OK, I'm inspired to do the same!

I only found this thread.

With summer I have hit up cafes, nightclubs with outdoor areas and ice cream places as well as restaurants. One of the things I am offering with the restaurants is to set up outside since that's where a lot of people end up waiting so their kids can run off some energy.
We also have two drive ins and a grocery store, all of which have weekly classic car shows that attract a lot of families.

So far, I have one restaurant that is a yes, and it goes along with their car /motorcycle show.

Also two of the cafes are interested in body painting, full body paint demo's *squee*

This is just from phone calls. I haven't even walked in the door to my full list yet.

I took the restaurant challenge and happened to run across a manager like the one at Fuddruckers who realized the win/win draw of Face Painting. I'm on the payroll as a vendor with the opportunity of getting the other four Uno resturants, too. Now I go thru the agony of the first few slow weeks and may start a new topic for advertising FP services at resturants.

I put my two lawn signs & banners out, but just for the day and took the banners home the night I painted. The county seems to love taking down & trashing lawn signs, so mine are rite next to the restaurant door as you walk in but the banners are tied to the trees facing two heavily traveled streets.

I designed my signs & banners at Vista Print, altho they were on sale "free" the mounting for the banner was $3.99 and the stand & double sided printing for the sign were 3.99 & 2.99 but for what I paid & what I got, I'm a happy camper. Result; The manager said "This is the most kids we have seen in here Sunday (Jam nite) and Family Nite, so the advertising did its job.

An 8x10" laminated poster of my company name website above & below my nine photo display is attached to a free standing clear business card holder in front of the register at Unos front desk ; )

SO, my question is: what kind of advertising do you put up when you are painting at resturants, etc, on a weekly basis?
Happily painting,
Susan

Since I have four other area Uno resturants watching what I am doing, I just ordered these to attract more customers for Family Nite;
2x3' Banner that will be permanently tied to the trees out front facing the busy Hwy

Weather proof Lawn sign that goes by the door - protected from county removal!

This one is a general double sided lawn sign for Garden area where people are coming from two directions to the door that I already have and will go permanently near the door when the ones above arrive.

I would appreciate any suggestions or see the signs you put out to advertise your restaurant gigs.
Special thanks,
Susan

Lynnie wrote:I only found this thread.

With summer I have hit up cafes, nightclubs with outdoor areas and ice cream places as well as restaurants. One of the things I am offering with the restaurants is to set up outside since that's where a lot of people end up waiting so their kids can run off some energy.
We also have two drive ins and a grocery store, all of which have weekly classic car shows that attract a lot of families.

So far, I have one restaurant that is a yes, and it goes along with their car /motorcycle show.

Also two of the cafes are interested in body painting, full body paint demo's *squee*

This is just from phone calls. I haven't even walked in the door to my full list yet.

Lynnie,
Congradulations, that's fantastic prospecting, esp over the phone netting a restaurant and two cafes for body painting! Simply Awesome!!! I would love to see your phone script ; D
Can't wait to hear what you get by walking in the doors!
Susan

Metzpah wrote:awesome! how exciting when things flow like that, even if half of those places follow through it will be great!

Thanks, it's so encouraging but I'm still working on a few more, then make the rounds for weekly FP day work ; )
Here it is, the wee morning hours when I get to catch up on forums - eech, off to bed!
Susan

Winger thanks

Ummm...phone script? Uhhhh.... I don't have one. I just speak honestly.
I get a manager on the phone.
I tell them that I recently visited their venue, and when I did.
That when I was there I noticed (a certain demographic) was missing/very present.
I would like to make an appointment to come in and speak with you about reaching (that demographic) through offering (which ever aspect of my business fits).

I then follow this with an email, including attachments with samples of my work.
It's been very well received. I do have appointments set. There are some that I know have car nights, so I specifically state that offering face painting will encourage more family participation in their events.

Interestingly, I was at my salon today setting up one of these appointments and the owner over heard me (I was also sporting a painted bracelet and a glitter tat) and has booked me to come in on busy Saturdays to do henna and glitter tats.

I'll keep you updated!

I just got Zaxby's Family Fun Night!!!!!

Awesome lady!!!

Rock it out!!!

Psalmbook wrote:I just got Zaxby's Family Fun Night!!!!!

Congradulations, Linda!!!
Restaurant weekly gigs can be the lifeblood of the business, supporting it on a regular basis, which is why getting them is so wonderful!
You Go Girl,
Susan

We have a Zaxby's.......I didn't think they had a family or kids night.
I will have to see about talking to the manager there.