Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 07:34:06 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jack Porcello <jackp@balloonhq.com>
To: balloon@balloonhq.com
Subject: Re: Professional vs. Amateur

----- Original Message -----
> calls himself a clown.  Here's how he looks:  Grateful dead tye-dyed 
> T-shirt.  Grey, frizzy, unkempt hair (his own- NOT a wig) with an old 

There is a company of jugglers in my area whom I have had the good fortune
to work with a few times, and their costumes aren't too far off of this
(except the nose and shoes!).  I know, they don't call themselves clowns
so it isn't the same, etc.  However, just looking at them would give you
the perception that they were unprofessional.  These guys are great, the
crowd loves them, and they work in coopoeration with other entertainers so
well that I look forward to working with them.

> And oh yeah, I forgot...  His "patter" was telling people how much Jesus 
> loves them, and encouraging them to "Praise the Lord". 

Some individuals use balloon sculpting as a means to draw attention to
specific causes, as is demonstrated by the artists involved in Balloons
Around The World.  As sharing this message was apparently more important
to this individual than getting paid, he pursued his choice.  If his
balloon sculpting was substandard, it would only make you look better in
the long run.   

> Unfortunately, THIS is the kind of guy that MOST commonly gets hired for 
> these kinds of events all over the country.

I've found that the best way to avoid having that bother me is to avoid
"these kinds of events" altogether.  There are several of these sort in my
area as well.  I just don't bother.  If the customer is happy simply to
have a warm body twisting balloons, then they aren't looking for me!

Not too long ago I was at a school event.  My performance, which is a
combination of storytelling and balloon sculpting, does not generally
include balloon handouts.  About an hour into the event, a young man
arrived with a balloon hat, and started making balloons animals to hand
out.  He knew about 6 different things.  Kids swarmed him at first, but
after a while it was just more of the same, and they came back to me.  

The event organizers thought it would be nice to have something available
to give the kids.  He had offered to do it for free.  After thirty minutes
he lost control of the crowd.  They were actually rushing and crowding
him, grabbing at his uninflated balloons, to the point that he couldn't
even perform.  I took him aside and gave him a few tips about crowd
control, but he told me it was his first and last attempt!
 
> Garcia the Clown was giving balloons away for "tips only".  Guess whose 
> line was longer?
> 
> And guess who the festival organizers will call next year to come 
> back?  You guessed it, they'll call him, because he doesn't charge, and
>I do.

Looks like that would be the best favor they could do for you, actually.
Why bother with this type of customer?  I'm not the cheapest in my area,
by a long shot.  Not the most expensive either, mind you.  But I get work,
and it's work that I enjoy doing.  I used to work harder for less, in
order to compete with the lower end performers.  Then I realized that I am
an artist.  I decided what I wanted to get paid, how much I wanted to
work, and how much I would need to charge to make it work.  I keep busy,
but I don't work harder than I need to.  I don't do much in the way of
"freebies" (no more than 4 a year, and only for a good cause).  I arrive
when I am supposed to, and I leave when I am supposed to.  My work is well
worth what I charge, and my customers know it.

Jack Porcello
Air To The Kingdom
www.airtothekingdom.org