Anybody else work with zoos?

So I got an email today from a local zoo, and they are considering hiring me to face paint there once or twice a month on their family fun days and discount days. I think that this would be a really good way for me to get my name out into the community; however, I have no idea how to go about working with them. Do I charge them a flat rate and let them collect the pay per face rates, or do I collect the pay per face money and then split it with them?
Does anybody else have experience working with zoos? If so, how do you work these type of things out?

I am soooo jelous!!!! I would LOVE to work my local Zoo. I love animals more then children - what a dream job!
I'm not experienced in this so I will just tell you what I would do in the same situation -
I would send them an email or call them and ask them what they would prefer, they might not have a budget to pay your hourly rate and want you to ppf with a percentage split. Or they may have had every intention of paying your hourly fee just to offer this service to their visitors.
If you really want this regular gig, I would considering dropping your hourly price as a curtesy to them. I don't know what you charge so this may not be possible.
I charge $75 an hour, that way I can offer 20% off to clients of my choosing without any real problems, $60 an hour is still good for me and they think they are getting a substantial discount for staying with me and not shopping around.
Would they be giving you a place to work? otherwise supplying your own tent table and chairs can be difficult, and you will need to charge them accordingly.
Can I ask did you send them anything or did they just contact you out of the blue?
Hope this works out for you.
Sorry I can't be of more help.

I would ask the zoo what they want to convey. Do they want to offer complementary face painting to their customers as a draw or do they just want to have it available.

I work with a zoo for the two big three day weekends of memorial day and labor day. I give them a great hourly rate and they offer it free to their customers.

To start I would try and get paid, if they shy away from this, offer to do a discounted rate to see how it goes. If it goes well, tell them they will need to start paying if they want to keep seeing the results.

A HUGE thing though is how close is it to your clientel. If this has a lot of customers coming through that are close enough to do parties and such, keep in mind the value of your cards walking out in their hands.

-Metina

Metina, they would set me up right near the two show areas, which is close to both the entrance and the picnic area, so I don't think attracting people will be a problem. As far as rates go, I was thinking about just doing it pay per face and then giving them a large percentage of whatever I bring in.
Tash, I actually emailed them. Less than an hour later they responded saying that they had just been discussing bringing in a face painter. I guess it was just a lucky coincidence.
I probably won't be starting until the summer, so I have plenty of time to plan it out. I just wanted to be able to present them with a business proposal that they would accept.

oooooooo I'm going to email my zoo now!
I have to say I've been a bit intimidated, I live in a city of over 4million people so applying to the big fun parks and zoo had me thinking I couldn't handle the crowds on my own. But it would be worth hiring and training someone to help out if it was a regularly occurring gig. I notice you are from Florida which is probably just as populated where I am, this gives me hope.
Good luck!

Tash, the great thing about my situation is that since I was the first person to contact them, they want to hire me and have me train people. So I would say that you should definitely go for it. My mom has always said that it never hurts to ask, and this is especially true for us. The worst thing that can happen is they say no. The best thing that can happen is that you get a good regular gig.

Do you have a set email that you use to promote your business to large companies or corporations?
Do you send examples of your work attached?
I was trying to word something out that sounded professional, but I'm abit lost as to where to start.
Self promotion is my Biggest problem...... I've never been one to toot my own horn, so telling people how great my work is, is almost impossible for me. I let it speak for itself and just try to come across as really family friendly, but this is not very professional.

Zoos vary - I 1st started painting in a zoo as I was their education officer and it was considered part of our job. The others were all awful at it, (as I was to start) I was the only 1 with an arty background before my teaching degree (and the only 1 to get hooked).
Most attractions in the UK just make staff already there, or hired teenagers, do it so the standard is low. Like MacDonalds (shudder).

A few I know now hire pro painters; it depends on the setup. Some demand a % of the ratings, others a set rent and set hours.

Its very hit and miss but can be a good one.

The thing to think of is the days you work and the clients - if you see it mainly as a way to advertise yourself, I know from experience that peak days at my zoo 95% of the paintees were tourists. In that case handing out cards was pointless as I wouldn't travel to their county to paint if they did hire me!

Work out if it works for you; if you turned down a paid job to do ppf, etc....

Cat x

To clarify, I mean close to where you live and work. Is the zoo close enough to where you are comfy traveling to do other jobs. Not close to the crowds at the zoo.

The tourist thing is also something to consider. If they are all tourists, then this an only be judged on the profit for the day.

-Metina

Metina, the zoo is only about five minutes away from my house, so I don't think the distance is a problem.
Cat, the days I would be working are on the discount and family days, which are usually filled with locals, as the discounts only apply to Florida residents. So I think it will actually be able to get me a few really good gigs.
As for the standard, they said that since I was the first one to contact them, they would hire me and let me train the young people they hire to help me. Hopefully they will let me pick the young people as well, because I know several very talented and artistic teenagers that would be perfect.
Tash, I actually just emailed them out of the blue, but I am working on a general promotional email/letter that I can send out in mass. The basic things to think about when you write a letter are showing them how they can profit from your work, whether it be actual money or simply fun; describing your experience; and making them want to choose you(show pictures, offer discounts, add a link to your website, etc...). I write a lot of letters for my church youth group when we are working on donations and stuff, and this is very similar to the format that we follow for those. If you want to pm me with your business information and what you want the letter to say, I can write out a draft for you.