Business Idea Prompt (BIP) – Event fun!

Today’s BIPs Event Entertainer, requires little start-up costs, is flexible, can be full or part time, and does not require extensive skills or experience to succeed. Most skills needed can be easily learned through practice or may already be known by most.

Please see the Business Idea page for detailed information about my Business Idea Prompt (BIP) posts! Also, if this not your area of interest please explore the other BIP posts including ‘garage sale’ professional, house call canning and teaching your talent!

I hope you enjoy this BIP and you are inspired to explore your own possibilities!

Business Idea Prompt (BIP) – Event Entertainer (get paid to have fun!)

Details –Details – There is a growing demand for entertainment at children’s parties, family gatherings, and other events. Party planning can be costly and time consuming to start up, but focusing on entertaining alone, can be a very profitable business and fun.

The demand for finding ways to entertain children and adults during gatherings is growing more than ever before! Such fun entertaining opportunities include caricatures drawings, clowns, balloon art making, dressing up as a super hero or princess, etc. I spoke with a woman that is a professional face painter and balloon artist (she has attended years of training and conferences, etc.), she said people ask her if she knows anyone that can draw caricatures for parties or other unique entertainment options.I’m going to focus on two options here, but as you can tell there are many possibilities to fit many different skill types. The common skills required for most of these opportunities are enjoy being around people, outgoing and friendly personality and evening and weekend schedules, as that is when most events occur.

The two main focuses today are caricature drawings (cartoon type drawings of people and animals) and nail art.If you’re thinking you are not an artist and caricature drawing isn’t possible, keep in mind this could be expanded (with some additional costs) to picture taking and on-site printing business; using fun photo graphic programs to add backgrounds, color enhancement, etc.

If you do have drawing skills caricature drawings can be performed for any age group, any event type and even include corporate events.

What is nail art? This is a bit more limited in marketing as caricature drawings, but not much! I overheard two mothers talking about nail art parties they were planning for their daughters. I had never heard of this, but it is a growing business and in high demand! Nail ‘artists’ charge around $15 to $20 per person, with a 10 person minimum to paint designs on fingernails (sounds fun to me!). This can easily expand from girl’s birthday parties to ladies night out and adult birthday or other celebration events and even mobile pedicures.

Experience/Skill Needed – For caricatures – drawing ability; turning photos or real life into fun cartoon caricatures. I’ve seen prices range from $20 to $40 for basic one person drawings; couples and groups cost more. If you choose onsite printing of fun photos then some photography and computer skills are required. If you are not an expert at nail art, there are many online tutorial videos that can teach you the trendy designs, tips, etc.

All opportunities require some creativity and to be personable, have fun with guests! Enjoy children (most likely a lot of customers will be parents for children’s parties). Transportation to travel to and from events. Determine payment method; cash, credit card options, checks, etc. To relieve some monetary burden from parents, guests could be charged individually if it was a larger event.

Marketing – Advertise with party planners, professional clowns, face painters, balloon artists; make connections with anyone who is typically paid to go to a party or event! Even corporate events pay for this type of fun so send business cards and flyers to select corporations. For caricatures purchase quality drawing paper, pencils, pens, etc. Put your contact on each portrait via a label or handwritten contact info on back. Keep in mind people may want to frame the work so making them 5×7 or 8×10 and easily frameable will be a plus. Providing a clear protective sheet to carry them home in shows professionalism and an opportunity to share a business card in the bag for future possibilities!  For nail art, materials needed include nail polish, design kits and supplies, polish remover, stickers, etc. For all business show your work via web sites, social media, even on your business card. Create a web page with photos of your work, price range, contact information and customer reviews (as you get them). Even free sites and a unique business email are great resources to help your business grow professionally.

Additional advertising ideas include – Posting signs in your own yard in the surrounding neighborhood(s) with your talent, phone number and web site. For a reasonable price you can place sale ads in local papers or online and encourage all customers to contact you for future events and share your info with their friends (offer a discount or incentive) and let parents know if you offer adult parties; ladies night out, baby showers, weddings, family reunions, etc. Leave business cards and flyers at libraries, post offices and on other community boards. Include your website on the cards and flyers and place a magnet decal on your vehicle with contact information. Wear shirts and/or hats with website or other helpful advertising information. Be open to taking requests from customers; themed parties, etc.

Research – The only research that may be needed is to find an average price for services and to see how many competitors are out there. Read reviews of other entertainment services to see what is working and what is not and focus on creating a customer friendly business.

Even if this is not your type of business, it sure sounds fun and in demand as well. If you aren’t interested in this topic, please read over it and brainstorm your own skills and interests. Ask yourself would someone pay money for this skill? Then turn that thought into action!

I know this was a long post, but thank you for reading and please share any tips or questions you have!

As with any business please check local and state guidelines to see what licenses, name registering, and other requirements may be needed before starting your business.

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