I just got a request to do a Bubble Party......
- Thread starter Papa Deuce
- Start date
Probably. It's actually a very serious question to consider, and depending on your own business plan might represent a potential downside of a Bubble Biz.
In a more general sense, Bubble parties represent a form of under-utilization. Under-utilized means you are deliberately selling or producing at a level below your optimum capacity. You can do this for a variety of reasons, typically cash flow is the most common.
But under-utilization has some rules:
1. It is temporary.
2. It should benefit and not diminish or detract form your primary objective.
Let's assume your best customer or primary goal is adult functions that pay $500 and up.
You're weekdays are open, so you elect to sell a service like bubble parties at half that amount, just $250 and create some cash flow.
In an ideal world - you would find weekday work that is on par with your best customer or primary goal of $500+ events. But we are willing to start with booking something at just $250.
So, given that you are willing to make a temporary compromise at $250 - is the bubble party consistent with your primary goals and the profile of your best customers? Can this or will this lead you to filling that same open time with jobs at your preferred goal of $500+ ??
For me, the answer has always been no. The children do not provide me with a source of new work consistent with high paying adult jobs. The parents are typically already married - so there's little wedding potential. But most of all - the presentation of a childrens show actually undermines my potential for recognition by adults who might fit my best customer profile. Adults plannig an event aren't likely to give me serious consideration having seen me in that setting.
Not, to say I would never do a childrens show, because I have and I do. But when I'm looking to fill my weekdays - I'm more likely to look for corporate or retail work that supports my best customer profile and feeds directly into the growth of my primary goals.
Is it possible you could one day find yourself doing a bubble party on New Years eve for a modest price. ....while the parents are dancing in the room across the hall to another DJ they paid top dollar for ??
Well, Bob, I love my Bubble Parties, but I bet even John Allo would understand that New Year's Eve is not a time to be doing them.
I'll actually be working my FT job, on NYE. But if I wasn't, I wouldn't work for less than 1K..... mostly because I don't want to be out and about all the drunk folks.
I only responded via email, because I didn't know what might slip out of my mouth if I actually spoke to the guy.
I'll actually be working my FT job, on NYE. But if I wasn't, I wouldn't work for less than 1K..... mostly because I don't want to be out and about all the drunk folks.
I only responded via email, because I didn't know what might slip out of my mouth if I actually spoke to the guy.
I understand your excellent and well stated point, however the Bubble Parties we generally refer to here are a specific program performed during the week and usually before lunch. Short of going into the AV rental business, I have no "optimum capacity" on any given weekday before lunch.
For me, the bubble party business is a completely different company from my wedding dj business, with no cross marketing. The daycare centers rarely know what I do on weekends and the brides almost never know what I do with my weekday mornings during the summer.
Wayde, I'm not sure you entirely get it. For example; how can they be separate businesses if you're the only guy who delivers either service? Every appearance you make is an advertisement and demonstration of what you do.
Your best adult jobs may happen on the weekend - but the referrals for those jobs aren't so limited.
What if instead of $250 for a 90 minute Bubble party you could get $500 for 3 hours in front of a retail store during their big annual sale event?
As an hourly wage the two may appear equal, but since DJ work requires you to "block" your time in non-overlapping dayparts - it's only the days total take that will affect your bottom line.
Money aside, you also have to decide which job generates the best possibility of attractive and lucrative referrals. Which is the better demonstration of your preferred capabilities? What is it you want potential clients to remember and refer about you?
If you are and want to be a childrens entertainer than Bubbles is the better choice. If not, then you have to consider the possibility that you are marketing yourself to the wrong client to meet your preferred goals. (People typically refer you only to jobs identical to that which you have demonstrated.)
There's also other factors. Obviously if you are surrounded by day care centers and elementary schools but little other opportunity, then the kids are probably the bigger market. But if you're in the city or other major business district you could be ignoring other more favorable avenues you haven't yet identified in favor of the more obvious children's need.
Just food for thought.
PapaDeuce: The closing NYE question is not a dig (on you or John's idea) - its' just meant to illustrate how you can lose out on the better job solely because the person who referred you didn't even consider that you might be more capable.
Your best adult jobs may happen on the weekend - but the referrals for those jobs aren't so limited.
What if instead of $250 for a 90 minute Bubble party you could get $500 for 3 hours in front of a retail store during their big annual sale event?
As an hourly wage the two may appear equal, but since DJ work requires you to "block" your time in non-overlapping dayparts - it's only the days total take that will affect your bottom line.
Money aside, you also have to decide which job generates the best possibility of attractive and lucrative referrals. Which is the better demonstration of your preferred capabilities? What is it you want potential clients to remember and refer about you?
If you are and want to be a childrens entertainer than Bubbles is the better choice. If not, then you have to consider the possibility that you are marketing yourself to the wrong client to meet your preferred goals. (People typically refer you only to jobs identical to that which you have demonstrated.)
There's also other factors. Obviously if you are surrounded by day care centers and elementary schools but little other opportunity, then the kids are probably the bigger market. But if you're in the city or other major business district you could be ignoring other more favorable avenues you haven't yet identified in favor of the more obvious children's need.
Just food for thought.
PapaDeuce: The closing NYE question is not a dig (on you or John's idea) - its' just meant to illustrate how you can lose out on the better job solely because the person who referred you didn't even consider that you might be more capable.
Gotcha...
OK, he returned an email... I guess he didn't understand what a bubble party is, though the link to my bubble party business is on my website, and gigbuilder listed a bubble party.... he wants a regular party for 20' and 30's crowd... WITH BUBBLES.....
Now, maybe we can talk.
Bob I was laughing with you. Have you done any of those Foam parties? I havent had the chance thus far. Now that Im full time ya never know.
None. But I think Bobby K in New York State does them.
I wouldn't want the liability. The big users are colleges, especially fraternities.
If you've ever seen what happens with high school kids and some of the inflatables - you can just imagine how many times you'll need an ambulance when you mix drunk college kids and foam. :sqembarrassed:
Not to mention the opportunity for some inter-gender trouble.
Did you know that the original design of the foam is to mimic snow for the motion picture industry? You can cover a whole neighborhood with the stuff to shoot your winter scene in the warmth of San Diego.
I wouldn't want the liability. The big users are colleges, especially fraternities.
If you've ever seen what happens with high school kids and some of the inflatables - you can just imagine how many times you'll need an ambulance when you mix drunk college kids and foam. :sqembarrassed:
Not to mention the opportunity for some inter-gender trouble.
Did you know that the original design of the foam is to mimic snow for the motion picture industry? You can cover a whole neighborhood with the stuff to shoot your winter scene in the warmth of San Diego.
! EUREKA !
There ya go Papa !! There's your new
twist on the bubble party:
Get a giant bath tub (injection molded plastic) large enough to have a door you can walk through on each end !!
Fill it with foam and rain buubles all around it !!
Open the party with "Splish-Splash" by Bobby Darin.
For the most part.
Had 1 heart attack victim at a Bar Mitzvah, the buffet table went up in flames at another, and there's always at least one High school kid leaving the school dance in an ambulace. (If there's an inflatable on site it might be 2 or 3.)
Foam would be cool if you could get the big hose guns (they look kind of like fire hoses with small snow making guns). Then you could use them at outdoor parties pitting one team against the other in a good ol' fashion hose-down !
OH so they could play Crank Dat over and over
[While they SUPER SOAK THEM ..............OH!!!
QUOTE=Proformance;115657]For the most part.
Had 1 heart attack victim at a Bar Mitzvah, the buffet table went up in flames at another, and there's always at least one High school kid leaving the school dance in an ambulace. (If there's an inflatable on site it might be 2 or 3.)
Foam would be cool if you could get the big hose guns (they look kind of like fire hoses with small snow making guns). Then you could use them at outdoor parties pitting one team against the other in a good ol' fashion hose-down ![/QUOTE]
[While they SUPER SOAK THEM ..............OH!!!
QUOTE=Proformance;115657]For the most part.Had 1 heart attack victim at a Bar Mitzvah, the buffet table went up in flames at another, and there's always at least one High school kid leaving the school dance in an ambulace. (If there's an inflatable on site it might be 2 or 3.)
Foam would be cool if you could get the big hose guns (they look kind of like fire hoses with small snow making guns). Then you could use them at outdoor parties pitting one team against the other in a good ol' fashion hose-down ![/QUOTE]
No, no I get it. Perhaps I should have better implied that I am following a specific business plan that works for me at this point. Besides the bubble parties, I only (currently) do weddings, therefore there is no option (by choice) to do retail work during the week. Besides the fact the I can't imagine getting many wedding referrals from doing a mattress sale, that to me is marketing yourself to the wrong client because of perception. How seriously is a bride going to take your $1000+ price when she saw you standing in front of Sleepy's playing Crank Dat for 3 hours.
Well, hopefully you'd be playing somethig more customer friendly than Crank Dat, and you'd be doing some really impressive mic work that would make her and her mom pick up your card and inquire if you do weddings.
How did you arrive at the conclusion that wealthy and moderate income Brides don't sleep on matresses?
6 of 1...Half Dozen the other
How seriously is the bride going to take your $1000+ price when she saw you playing duck, duck, goose at the day care center?
You can imagine the prospect to have whatever disposition you want. But, the only thing you can truly be sure of is the image that you present.
Personally I have found better succes convincing people I can go from polished retail spokesperson to classy wedding emcee than from nursery school teacher to upscale wedding entertainer. Short money kids jobs only got me more short money kids jobs.
Don't get me wrong! I know plenty of people who thrive on kid biz because it feeds directly into their Bar Mitzvah business. I'm just sharing an opinion with you based on PapaDueces original proposition of Bubble party requests coming in for prime Holdiay dates.
How did you arrive at the conclusion that wealthy and moderate income Brides don't sleep on matresses?
6 of 1...Half Dozen the other
How seriously is the bride going to take your $1000+ price when she saw you playing duck, duck, goose at the day care center?
You can imagine the prospect to have whatever disposition you want. But, the only thing you can truly be sure of is the image that you present.
Personally I have found better succes convincing people I can go from polished retail spokesperson to classy wedding emcee than from nursery school teacher to upscale wedding entertainer. Short money kids jobs only got me more short money kids jobs.
Don't get me wrong! I know plenty of people who thrive on kid biz because it feeds directly into their Bar Mitzvah business. I'm just sharing an opinion with you based on PapaDueces original proposition of Bubble party requests coming in for prime Holdiay dates.
thanks Bob for the above because it saved all of us a LOT of typing.
That said, "Bubble Parties" are a great business plan for a DJ who is retired, or someone who has very low overhead and loves children and loves to work for peanuts!
That said, "Bubble Parties" are a great business plan for a DJ who is retired, or someone who has very low overhead and loves children and loves to work for peanuts!
Typical.
Or, like me, has his mornings free, before his FT job, and doesn't mind making $200 for 2 total hours work, including drive time and setup, usually, M - F, when my equipment is just sitting there anyway.
Had I not had my heart attack, I would have added an additional $5000 to my income this summer that way.
Good call. That's $200 bucks you otherwise wouldn't have.
Me, I don't have that full time job later in the day. So when I finsihed the bubble party I'd be standing there thinking "now what?"
So my angle is to look for things that will link together in a more consistent chain of events. I can often make more money elsewhere backstage than I could fronting a bubble party, so it's not typically something I would pursue.
Me, I don't have that full time job later in the day. So when I finsihed the bubble party I'd be standing there thinking "now what?"
So my angle is to look for things that will link together in a more consistent chain of events. I can often make more money elsewhere backstage than I could fronting a bubble party, so it's not typically something I would pursue.