THREE POINTS ON PRICING

It is once again time to celebrate the things we are thankful for during the 2011 Holiday Season. It's November and I have been working like a mad man, trying to bring advanced balloon-artistry to all the people who have requested entertainment services in the Tampa Bay Area. Normally this time of year I am very busy and this year is no exception. It's always nice to be invited to do a party, but it's particularly nice to be invited into somebody's home. I want to take a minute to comment on the phenomenon that is In-Home Balloon-Artistry Parties. When a client contacts me about doing an event in their home, I am always careful to ask three things. First, I have to know what their budget is. If they are way off in their assumptions of what I will do a party for, then I try to educate them on the reasons for my pricing. I also have to know what else they are expecting other than advanced balloon-artistry. If a client has unrealistic expectations of how much entertainment they can afford, it is my responsibility to educate them on what things cost. If they still don't get it, then I have to pass and move on. Not every party is my party and sometimes there is a better artist out there who is a better fit for the event at hand. I learned this after working in the industry for several years. Sometimes, it's just not right for me to accept an event. Understanding this, allows me to protect my time and only take the events that are right for me. In the beginning we think we need to say "yes" to every event that comes along. We don't. and we are better off in the long run, pacing ourselves so that we don't burn-out along the way. The holidays are particularly suspect in this regard because of the volume of calls we receive asking us to do parties for a hundred dollars. The average price Creative Inflation charges for appearing at an event is somewhere around $300.00, depending on how many kids are there and how far we have to travel. I do not charge by the hour, instead, opting to charge by the event. It's more work this way, and I work longer hours, but the customers are equally more satisfied and we end up with more repeat business this way. It's one thing if it's a charitable organization and you can fit it in your schedule, but it's another thing entirely if you are working for a private party that simply doesn't understand what your services cost. Be fair and educate your clients. It took you years, if not DECADES to master your art-form. Clients are paying you for the mastery of your skills, not for the balloons. As an artist, there is a standard which requires you be the master of your art-form. That's why we can command such high prices. When you are the best, you should be paid like you are the best. That's how the business works, and that's how I have come to understand it. Finally I always ask what theme the party should have. Then, I look at what they say and I create characters that fit the theme of that particular party. Do yourself a favor and learn the entire series of characters in each television show. That way you can do themed parties and people will expect to pay more. Why? because again, this is a business and when you are the only one in the area that can do this type of work, you are instantly elevated to expert level and experts get paid higher fees.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Creative Inflation, FLORIDA! We hope to see you at one of our events very soon!

=RICK=