Hi Guys,

I am a newbie and been training like hell, filled my house up with practice balloons and was dying to try my new hobby out on the public. So I decided to go to a park in Marlow, Bucks and set up by the Thames and catch the sunday strollers. As soon as I got up on Sunday, the nerves kicked in. Now in my past, I have been a kick boxer, given presentations to upper management for companies such as BT, I even had a market stall in Wembely where I painted t-shirts live for customers, none of these were as nerve racking as going out busking!

Well my first suprise was that Marlow was having their carnival, so that was a good thing. I walked around and decided to setup outside of the stalls and slowly moved into where the crowd was.

This is how I was prepared;

- 3 x 100 bag of 260Qs
- my sharpie
- my clowns wig & red nose (totally bottled it and they stayed in my bag)
- a hand written sign that said "Free balloons, I work for tips"
- a bottle of water
- 2 x £1 coins I put in my hat, by the sign, next to my feet

I made a few balloon hats, dogs and flowers and gave them out free, of which two people gave me a tip. Then the intrest grew, then the crowd and BANG it was non stop for 5 hours!

What I was not prepared for!;
- Up until now, I was making a few models at a time, I did not expect to suffer RSI from 5 hours of non stop twisting! This was HARD WORK!
- What I thought would be popular design, isn't what the kids find popular, and kids still do like the simplest of designs (suits me better)
- I had read about crowd control, putting it in practice is another thing.
- Patter, again need more practice, as twisting, remembering designs and keeping eye contact with the customer, was differcult.
- Doing a complicated design and getting 20p tip! (have to take the bad with the good)
- Balloons for free, is all the kids read and many didn't understand the tips bit, this was my fault and better signage and wordings I think would help this matter.

Summary
It was a long hard day, but loved it! For my first ever attempt I earned £47.00 for 5 hours and learnt lessons that was priceless. I now have the confidence to grow my act and also approach businesses, knowing that my skills can entertain. The feedback from mothers was great too, asking if I do parties.  If anyone is thinking of busking, I would say just do it!

When i go busking i do 2 hours at a time i would say get rid of the sign as you dont want to stand there for silver you want gold so tell them dont be shy tell them if you dont get any money you dont eat this is your living and you need money if you like what you get pay if you dont like it dont pay and ask the do you like the balloon and they will pay you
and as for the clown thing i would stand there like that it might push people away
BUT WELL DONE FOR DOING IT

Well done Popsie - there'll be no stopping you now  

I did a charity fun day at a pub a couple of weeks back and I put a sign that said

'There is no charge for a balloon model but if you would like to make a donation to Cancer Research we wouldn't object'

 with a big smiley winking underneath    and a few pictures of balloon models around the edge - it worked I got over £200 for 2 1/2 hours twisting - obviously it makes a difference because we're talking donations  and not tips but I think the wording could be adapted

I would consider using a menu board with pictures of the twists that you prefer making.  I found that it makes the lines move faster faster.  
It's probably best to make your own, but TMyers has a book of clip art which is very good for making the boards up.  I've used it and like it a lot.  The only drawback is that most of the figures are basic, but there are enough of them to give you plenty of variety.

Which designs were the kids asking for?

Congrats and well done, its just what I'd do if I could find the courage!

Henry

Henry,
how about doubling up with someone local & go out together to get some dutch courage up? Just a thought

Popsie, Glad you've got some positive thoughts & memories from your experience. Onward & upward as the saying goes

Graham Lee

if it werent for the legalities i would definitely be out there busking  :cry:

Hoping to double up with Tony Twist and hit London.

To my suprise, loads of kids asked for dogs, I guess you can't beat the classics! Wearables were popular with the girls, you know the bracelets and some asked for something to put on your shoes. I did hats, but didn't seem to be a hit. Parrots and butterflys were also a hit.

I agree with your comments, a board showing available designs would help a lot, thinking of making myself an A board. Have one side with a permanant advert and the otherside painted with blackboard paint. I could then chalk on specials for the day.

Popsie

yes can't wait to team up with popsie we should do well I will be making the bigger sculptures with 646's

Quote from: "Graham Lee"Henry,
how about doubling up with someone local & go out together to get some dutch courage up? Just a thought

I'd love to but doubt I ever will. I have this internal shyness thing in the extreme. Even the thought of 'doubling up' with someone scares me - I don't want to put myself in the position of possibly letting someone down.

There is just a chance I might pull it off one day and believe me I've tried. I've got as far as walking around a seaside front on a sunny sunday a couple of weeks ago. The intention was to make a few simple models, give them away and scarper - as a kind of an introduction to hopefully put a dent in my shyness. I was completely togged up, in position and ready to go but simply couldn't work up the courage to whip one out and blow it up in public.

Wrestling 'gators I can do but the public scares the life out of me. :-(

Henry

BTW Graham, it was nice to meet you at Eastbourne last weekend and has just reminded me of my latest attempt to perform.

After having worked up the courage to speak to you and even admit who I was (kind of!), I took my gear up to Beachy Head and hung around for a while after the close on Sunday afternoon and came sooo close to making something!

I recall some advice I read on the Buskers cafe once which went something like this: If you're nervous to perform, take your gear and hang around the spot you'd like to busk for so long that you feel at home there and so at ease that you feel like you own the spot, then you may be easier about performing on YOUR corner. It sounded decent advice to me so I guess I'm trying something similar.

Maybe one day, maybe not.

Henry

Henry the Hat, I hear where your coming from!

I would consider myself as shy, although I've come along way from when I was a child. I tackled it as though it was a phobia and met it head on, I did everything I could to face my fears, including public speaking. I'm telling you, you only have to do it once! Once is enough to break that mental leash, because once you have done it and came out the otherside, you can go and do it again. And it is right, the more you do anything, the more it becomes second nature and you fear it less.

I have been in the IT industry for 15 years and although worked on and off as an artist, ballooning has really let out the performer in me, something I never knew I had. Now I am no way a "good" performer, I think some people are born with it, and people like me have to work hard, just to make eye contact and keep a conversation. But each time you interact, you learn more and get a bit more confident.

Just remember, when you meet a person or walk into a room of people, no one knows you are shy, until you act shy.

And do what Nike tells you... "Just do it"

Regards,
Popsie  :geek:

Thanks for the encouraging words. I'll keep trying! :-) No sign of any breakthrough yet, though. I went to the Goose Fair in Nottingham a couple of nights ago. Thought I might be able to catch a few folks going home after the event and give them a model to go home with.

I didn't manage to do anything, but this time I could find a good excuse. After all the glamour and glitz of the fair. I couldn't imagine anyone would want a balloon animal!

I was quite surprised at the fair, they were doing helium metallic balloons at £1 - which I thought was quite cheap. There were a lot of balloon hawkers there.

Henry

Henry I've done a few carnivals and fairs and believe me people will take a balloon model before they buy a helium metallic - probably because it has been made 'just for them'

It was a bit nerve wracking the first time - even though I'm used to public speaking and doing discos - I was walking in the parade on that occasion and just making flowers or heart wands and swords the odd teddy and dishing them out to anyone.

When I walked to where the parade was gathering I felt very self conscious with a balloon apron but I got busy as soon as I arrived, people were calling me over to make something for them, even the truck drivers had hats - I think I made about 30 models before we even moved off  

I'm not too far from you, any time you fancy teaming up I'd be happy to help