We want to send a big thank you to all of those who participated in last month’s contest! It is time for a contest that I have personally been looking forward to all year long. In fact, this one is so BIG we will have 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place prizes to give away! How about gift certificates to the T Myers Web-store! Now . . . that puts me into the holiday spirit.
 
    To enter this contest, just send us your best Christmas/Holiday creations labeled with a title! The merrier; the happier; the holidayier (ok, so that’s not a real word, but you get the picture); the better. And, of course, flattery with your entry never hurts. All entries will be judged and enjoyed by the entire T Myers Staff, so remember to send a picture of your titled entry to photos@tmyers.com no later than December 15, 2008.

  Keep sending in photos of your creations to post on our MySpace page to photos@tmyers.com. This is just one more way for you to share your passion and creativity with other twisters, and even potential clients.  Also, while visiting our MySpace page, be sure to check out the Blog section where all past articles by Vicky Kimble and others are posted. These articles offer a multitude of valuable information meant for not only twisters, but entertainers in general.  To view these past and present pictures, contest entries, read blogs and connect to other twisters and entertainers, be sure to visit www.myspace.com/tmyersmagic.

 This month, I would like to talk about the idea of taking tips.  For many in our  industry, it is the tip that makes up the bulk of our capitol from our entertainment  business.  I have many friends who are AMAZING street performers.  Many of these performers have the science down pat of gathering and working a crowd in order to get the most tips possible.  This is an art form, in and of itself.  For instance, my friend Mike Meadows spent some time working the famous Faneuil Hall in Boston.  This is a street performer’s paradise, but in order to perform there you have to buy a city permit, and are only allowed to work for tips.  This means you can make a fortune, or lose your shirt.  Either way, you will learn the fine art of making a living off of tips.  Mike, can look at a “mark”, i.e. potential tipper, and instantly know what way he should entertain that customer based on subtle cues they are giving off.  For example, if it were a mother and daughter, you would first politely address the mother then quickly get down on the child’s level.  By doing this, you are telling them you are non-threatening and also good with children.  This also increases your chance of a much higher tip.

 Some in our industry will work crowds of children for tips.  Depending on a  few factors, this can be both painful and profitable.  First, you have to set the expectation that the balloons are of value, and should be received as such.  Just wearing a “Tipping-It’s Not Just for Cows” pin (or one similar) on your apron, isn’t going to be beneficial enough to make up for the time you were out with your balloons.  However, having a few different “gag” pins all suggesting “tips” will help to hammer the idea home (see our RF pins $3.15 – $4.25).  Some entertainers will put a tip bucket on their stool, while some even throw a couple of bucks in it to get the ball rolling.  This method can even be improved by setting up a board behind you stating “Suggested price = $1.00 per balloon”, and using lots of $$$$ signs around your board. This instantly lets customers know you are there to make money, and not to just hand your artwork or creations out for free.  Finally, use the family dynamics to your favor.  Kids do not provide the tip on their own - it comes from the adults.  By talking or including the parents in your conversation while twisting for the kids, you are going straight to the source.  To the child, you provide laughter, entertainment, excitement, choice, and a piece of art they will treasure.  To the adult you provide a show and a chance to see their child happy for so little a cost . . .

 I also want to talk about tips and restaurants.  It is my opinion that artists should  never work at restaurants or other venues solely for tips.  By working strictly for  tips,  you are sending out 2 major signals that could work against you.  First off,  people will think you work for the restaurant, but for free.  I know of a lot of experiences in the restaurant industry where an entertainer was expected to follow the dress code, take drinks, help with a backed up kitchen and in some cases take back wrong orders! Your job is to be a novelty that puts the restaurant a step above their competition, by keeping the customers happy and coming back.  Your job is NOT to be a free server who only gets tipped for doing balloon art or table magic.  There is a saying we use at our summer magic camp, “People do not respect something that is free”.  This concept is especially true in the ballooning industry.  You either make silly animals out of balloons as a novelty, OR you decide that you are selling your skill as a twister and an entertainer.  The second signal you give off by working only for tips is that you HAVE to hustle your clients to get tips, i.e. make cash.  There is nothing wrong with this if it’s in an environment where they come to be hustled, like at Faneuil Hall, but, if customers are at a restaurant to eat, they can be put off by an entertainer trying to get a tip out of them.
 
 The best way to avoid these particular pitfalls is to present yourself as, what I  like to call, “an entrepreneurial entertainer”.  Go to the restaurant with a portfolio  highlighting a variety of creations you make for this type of work; tell  the  manager that for X number of dollars you can increase there Tuesday night traffic sizably; and, you would like a 6 week trial period which can be renegotiated after that time.  This tells the General Manager, or whom ever you are interviewing with, that you will do everything you can as an entertainer to help them increase their business. This would also keep them from sidetracking you for other in-house jobs, as it would hinder you from helping them accomplish their goals. Secondly, it will give them a definitive time to decide if they feel your service is working out or not.  Nine out of ten times, the reason an entertainer is asked to do servers and wait staffer jobs is the restaurant wants to get the most for their money out of you.  You can prevent this by simply defining your role, from the very beginning, as an entertainment and a draw for their business.  Lastly, by having a set salary, you no longer have to mark each customer for a tip.  In many ways, big tips usually come when clients can tell you are there to entertain them - not just to get money out of them.

 I am very aware there are exceptions to every rule and, many people are able to  make a great living by going against conventional wisdom.  These are just tactics  that have worked for me and others in the past, as well as situations I have seen others get themselves into.  If you have any comments or tips you would like to suggest, PLEASE email them to me at Gus@Tmyers.com.  I will be glad to add them to our Blog on www.myspace.com/tmyersmagic.com.
 
I wish you all a safe, productive and Happy Holiday Season.
As always ~ Happy Twisting.


Gus Davis
T Myers Magic

By emailing your photo to photos@tmyers.com, you are agreeing that T Myers Magic Inc. has permission to post your picture(s) on their websites listed above.  T Myers Magic Inc. will not use these photos for any other purpose without the written consent of the contestant(s).
International customers are encouraged to participate, but they will be responsibility for all shipping costs on prizes awarded to them.