From: sirtwistalot@juno.com
To: Balloon@balloonhq.com
Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2001 15:23:16 -0800
Subject: Getting your name out there

Hello everyone~

Last nite, I went to a jam hosted by Lori, it was a good jam! I met some
people, I have not met before, we jammed and had a great time! After
talking with some people, it became apparent, that some people need ideas
on how to get their name out there. I am no expert (!!), but I thought I
would sit down an offer up, my advice and maybe point some of the newer
twisters in the right direction. I myself turn down a lot of work, either
because, I am not a clown (good for the clowns I know) or because, I have
school work/class, but I seem to be doing ok on getting work when I need
it. You can take this for what it is worth, use what it useful and
disregard what is not.

The first advice, I would offer up is read the guide. I know that we here
that all the time, but that is the first place anyone should check. The
guide has a whole section of marketing, topic include:

Balloon Care Cards 
Business Cards 
Flyers 
Miscellaneous 
Photographing and Filming Your Work 
Newspaper Ads 
Sell yourself! 
Yellow Pages 

So, start there.

Ok, so you have read the guide and you still need some, "more."  Well,
the next thing, I would do is Buy, Professional portfolio for balloon
artists by Bruce Kalver. I really can't say enough good things about this
book! The book is $25.00 but is worth far more than that. The whole book
is ready to photo copy, just add your name and details. The pre made
party planner, is great, do these up, place them at Dry cleaners, party
supply stores, day cares, where every, they work! His book is great!!

Something  I took from the guide which says, "The more people see you
twisting the more work you will get. The more you work, the more you
work." I take this to the extreme. I carry balloons with me every place I
go. I make a multi- balloon (not one of the 1 or 2 balloon items), I give
it to a NICE kid along with a balloon pet care card (which has my
information on it). I do this at the mall, the park, waiting at the
hospital, in book stores, where ever, people know my name now because, I
been doing this for about 6 months, it has paid off, now! I will give far
warning on this, "I have much better luck if I am with my daughter doing
this. I have been stopped by security more than once, when I was by
myself. I have never had a problem, as I make sure to carry my insurance
paper work, and I never charge, so be careful."

I also would suggest getting some business cards made up, and put them on
ALL the local bullet tends boards you see. I know some people do not like
doing this, but I have had a few calls from this, so  to each his/her
own.

I have a 5 year old, so I tend to spend a lot of time in areas with kids
and their parents, one of the places you would LIKE to have your card or
flyer is at kids clothing stores! Make friends with these people. Up
until they close the store, at my local mall. I use to drop off a few
rather large balloon items off at the store, for the employees to take
home (drop them off early in the day, on a sale day..hehehehehe) along
with my information on the balloons(for these I write the information of
in ink, that way, they have it unlike a card which can be ripped off). I
have had good luck using this method.

Coffee shops! Need, I really say more! I twist while in a coffee shop in
the mornings, you would be amazed how many people ask, for my card. I
have good luck at the Barnes and Noble, and only fair.  luck at say, star
bucks, but that is just me.

These are some of the things, I do and I seem to get my share of calls
for work. They may not work for you, but give it a try. Again Bruce's
book is OUTSTANDING and worth the $25.00. I also have the birthday party
book, which has a lot of good information, I recommend this book as well,
but Bruces, is ready to Photo copy, so you will have to read the write up
in Tmyers catalog, to see which one you like best.

lastly, I believe, people won't hire you, if they do not know you are out
there, get your name out there. Yes, I do a lot of free one's while I am
out, but 24 cents worth of balloons (at 4 cents a balloon) is  about the
cost of a good business card, and people see your work. So. I try and
make it count.

I know this is not a complete list of things you can do, but I hope it
helps some of you, in a small way.

Just me, 

Sir T

The unexamined life is not worth living.