From: "Daisy" <balloondiva@home.com>
To: <balloon@balloonhq.com>
Subject: quoting prices over the phone
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 14:53:37 -0700

When someone asks me what my rates are (when I'm working a gig) I say, well
that depends on what you need.  I like to customize each event, so give me a
call and we'll talk particulars.  Sometimes then I'll describe one of my
parties, but I almost never talk price at a gig, because I'm concentrating
on the kids.

I learned this next thing from Bruce Kalver's Professional Portfolio for
Balloon Artists (thanks Bruce!).  Now when they call me on the phone, I just
get a few answers from them first.  In his business book, Bruce has a
checklist he keeps by the phone which includes date, time, type of show,
city, age range, number of people,  and length of show.  I also add how they
heard from me, because sometimes I work with an agent who lets me hand my
own cards out at the gigs if I promise to give her a commission on any work
I get through her (informal arrangement that works well because we're
friends).

If I have all of this information I can decide what the price is, and then I
give two or three choices.  I have a bare-bones thing where I just twist,
and then I have two other packages that are bigger.  People almost always
pick the middle package with the middle price.

Hope this helps - it was a lot of trial and error on my part to get a system
that works for me.  :)

Laura Dakin (Daisy)
Balloon Diva of Denver

http://www.balloonhq.com/artists/daisy