just balloons, no party, pricing?

We were asked the other day what our prices are. She wanted my husband to do balloons for 2 hours, but the hours would be split up between 2 preschool classes. I gave her our price for a 2 hr party, but then she asked what it would cost if he just made all the balloons ahead of time and dropped them off! Do any of you do that? If so, how do you figure the pricing? My husband is saying that time-wise it would probably be close to the same amount of time as if he actually went, but I think it would be less time and perhaps we should charge per kid/balloon instead of per hour. There are 40 kids. The lady hiring us saw him making cool stuff like ladybug bracelets, dinosaurs with teeth, alligators with teeth, etc. I think he would choose to do flowers and maybe butterflies for the girls and don't know what yet for the boys.

Hmmm, that is an interested question. How would it work if the started popping are deflating between the time you made them and you dropped them off?

I agree with your husband that the time would be essential the same since you still have to drive there and back. Plus they really are loosing a bit of the entertainment value for the kids. Part of the fun is interacting with the twister and the magic of watching the creation emerge. Just my thoughts.

-Metina

I would charge the same price. You still have the time. You still have the gas. You just don't HAVE to shower.

yeah I can foresee a lot of fighting or unhappy kids...... " he got a crocodile hat and all I got was a sword!"...... and the whole popping issue.
My man says $3- $5 per balloon/kid....
I would tell the client it works out the same but if time was an issue I would show up with some balloons to hand out and I will make some on the spot.
I agree that seeing the twisting is half of the entertainment, sounds like this client is trying to get a lot for a little. let us know how you go.

This is what we do and it usually detours people from wanting to do it single like that. When we do each balloon out PPB, then we are charging $3 to $5 each and in some cases tax if at the mall. So take your highest balloon at $5 and say that it is $5 each x 40 for $200 and then you have to come pick them up.. we do not deliver. So, if you are charging $100 and hour it is totally a better deal for her to just let you work. And if you travel with balloon deliveries then you know that sometimes that vibrating motion in the car gets to them.

Or you could simply say...I am sorry we don't offer our services that way.
( Which is what I do) Because, who really does in your area? If you don't have to compete with someone else that may do it and you don't want to then....but, if you don't want to lose the gig I guess you could acquiesce and charge. But, I would recommend that all the designs be uniform like all boys get whatever and all girls get whatever so that the kids are happy.

I use the prices I set for PPB - so each ladybug bracelet is $5, each monkey headband is $10 etc - and tell them that is my pick up price. If they want me to drop them off it's $___ extra. (I usually base that off of whether they meet my rate for a 2.0 hour minimum event, since when I add travel that's my base.)

Balloons are in great condition upon pickup - after they leave, while I WANT them to still be nice, it's not my concern anymore, kwim?

Haha, and what Terina said.