How do you get jobs, advertise, market, etc?

Hey guys! I have been a clown for about the past three years, since I was fifteen. I was working for an event company who did party rentals and also did entertainment services. I was considered an "In-house Clown" and I was their main entertainer. Recently I've decided to go independent with my services (because of being treated unfairly). When I worked for them, they booked all of my jobs for me. Now that I'm on my own, I have no idea how to get started. Where do I advertise? Who do I promote to? I have a GigSalad account which I've been getting several jobs from and also a Facebook business page I just started. I just received the business cards I ordered and hand them out at jobs. I'm just really desperate for more work because this is my only income, and I'm 18 and in college! Haha please help! Thank youu!!

Denise Cold wrote:I think working festivals and fairs is good for getting your name out there. Now is the time to sign up for them. You'd be surprised how early the registration starts. Also, one of our local news channels has a great free classified section that EVERYONE uses. You might check and see what kind of free online advertising you can use. It's good because you can upload pictures or put a link to your sites.

By the way...you are gorgeous! I wish I had a face like that to paint on!

Those are such great ideas! I totally forgot about the classifieds Thank you soo much! and thank you for the compliment ❤❤❤

If you check out my blog I'm actually running excerpts from my book about marketing and business for face painters (the link is in my signature).

I get most of my business through my personal Facebook page. I have at least 1 gig a weekend and some two in one day. I have a lot of friends and family who advertise me through their facebooks, too.

I do 1-2 town festivals a yr and a few church VBS or fall festivals. I have gotten at least a dozen gigs from those.

I also face paint 2 or 3 times a yr for a Tropical Sno business near by. I've gotten a few gigs from that. The owner found me through Facebook.

If there are indoor party places near you, or places that host parties such as bowling alleys, indoor mini golf, etc. drop off a few cards there.
I got hired at one locally from dropping off a card.

A lot of my work recently has been from my Google Adwords going to my website. I've also had a recent influx of bookings from kids at previous parties asking for me (woohoo), but that comes with time. As a clown, if you can also find a few events looking for a stage show, it's a great opportunity to be seen with only 30 to 60 minutes of work put in. During spring break, many places around here look for stuff to do for the kids when they are off school. I don't know when they do that for your area, but around here that's next week.

try dropping your flyers into a kids day care centre and community house type places.
What about all those jobs your were booked for in the past is there anything stopping you contacting those people?
Do you have yourself a catch-phrase, you know like "sarah - the funkiest clown in the west" (just something people will remember you by)
The other thing is to expand your abilities like adding face painting and similar things that you can offer people as well as being a clown
Does your college have any events coming up you could offer your services for?
How about offering a beginners clown class?
Hope things pick up for you soon!

Network. Your competition can be your best referral source. Contact whoever is on the top in your area, they may have excess gigs to refer to you, esp during the peak busy season.

I love festivals and fairs....I have 21 weekends booked with some kind of Festival and a week at the County Fair. I prefer to do fairs and festivals over birthday parties. Unless it is like a four hour birthday. I always hate setting up for one hour but I got me a new umbrella holder and a funky cool 8ft rainbow umbrella instead of bringing my canopy . I will have to post a pic once I figure how to upload a photo and the weather breaks I also advertise in a "whats happening in Our County" The first week of every month I get about 9 bookings...so it pays for itself. I spend most of Jan and Feb..googling local Festivals...I booked 6 extra in one day. And as long as the vendor fees are low I will book anything...I have 6 festivals that are 30.00 for two days....and in the boro they are booked I don't have to pay the extra 30.00 vendor license fee since I am a Veteran. I have had other festivals call me this year and ask if I could do theirs.

I know the situation, I'm 18 and I actually left college to pursue the face painting a few months ago. My main income is a part time (16 hour) job in a local supermarket because it's my first year as a business and I know the income isn't going to be enough to live on.
However the main problem I'm facing is getting Saturday's off so that I can do parties! I'm currently looking for a new job (teaching assistant in a local school) so I can get Saturday's and school holidays off!

Anyhow, the best advice I can give you is:
- Come up with a brand and a logo. This is so important!
You'll need a catchy brand name and an eye catching logo. Your logo will ensure that you're easily recognised.

- Next make a website, just get some good photographs of your work and upload them to a website. I use blogger.com to make mine because I used to be a beauty blogger so I'm familiar with the format but you can use whatever you're comfortable with. Just make sure you have photographs and contact details (email, phone, website)

- Now you'll need business cards. Mine have one photo on the front and one on the back. My logo is on either side as well. On the front I have my main contact information, name, email, phone and website. It also has a facebook and a twitter logo on it so people know I can be found there. The back has insructions on how to remove the face paint (it's a great excuse to hand them out at events!) It also has suggestions on why people would hire me (birthday parties, fetes, carnivals, etc). Hand these out everywhere and at every opportunity.

- Make a facebook business page. This is great for keeping people updated with photographs and where you'll be painting...

- Go everywhere with your face painted! I had to visit someone in hospital last week and I happened to have my face painted and three nurses asked for business cards!

- Get people to blog about you, it's fabulous publicity!

Anyhow, good luck with it!