THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERT FROM
"MAKE MONEY ENTERTAINING KIDS!
NO SPECIAL SKILLS NEEDED."
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(THESE ARE BITS AND PEICES OF INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MANUAL IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER AND ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTEXT. IT'S JUST TO SHOW YOU SAMPLES OF THE TYPE OF INFORMATION YOU WILL FIND IN THIS MANUAL. ALL EXCERPTS ARE GREATLY ABBREVIATED.)
WHAT THIS MANUAL IS ABOUT
There are an infinite number of ways to make extremely good money by entertaining children, without any special skills at all. Thousands of people in this country do it every day. Many do it full time. Many make over a $100,000 a year doing it too. (Plus, I'll also show you a few skills that you can easily learn in a couple of hours that will hugely expand your markets and your profitability if you choose to learn them.)
It's unbelievably easy to entertain kids as long as you love children. This manual will introduce you to dozens and dozens of ways to make money and have a good time doing it. Plus, you should be making anywhere from $50.00 to $150.00 per hour.
You may choose any one of these ideas or several different concepts to pursue for your kids entertainment business. For example, we are going to explore all the different kinds of birthday parties for which you can provide entertainment services. You may decide to provide many different services to provide a full service party package for your customers. Or, you may decide to specialize in only one single service and not try to be everything to everyone.
You may also decide to pursue a service that's not just for birthday parties, but also for other events as well. You may find that a single service such as providing Moonbounces (A Moonbounce is one of those inflatable, colorful, giant pillow type "rides" that kids jump up and down inside.) or a trackless train ride will pay you more money than a variety of birthday party services, with less planning and hassle.
I'm going to show you sources for hundreds of entertainment products and services that you can draw on to entertain kids, including arts and crafts, games, contests, prizes, equipment, supplies, educational activities, food related activities, and just plain old fun.
I'll also show you many other markets other than parties for which you can provide kids entertainment, and there are many. Company picnics, festivals, grand openings, car dealership promotions, restaurants and schools are just a few. Each one is a niche that you can pursue with excellent results if you market yourself properly. (Also, most of the events you will be working will be on weekends, which means you can pursue one of these entertainment concepts without having to quit your current job unless you wish to.)
I'll outline all the different ways you can market your services. You may have the most fabulous product or service on the planet, but if no one knows about it, you won't make any money. Marketing is the area that separates the mediocre earners from the real moneymakers in any business. I'm going to give you many, many ways that you can easily implement your marketing plan simply by following my instructions step by step. In addition to traditional marketing plans, I'll show you how important it is and how easy it is to market to your existing customers and their guests.
This manual will give you tons of practical, tried and true ideas, suggestions, sources, knowledge and real life know-how to fire your imagination. It will show you how really easy it is to make big bucks with a kids entertainment business.
EXPANDING YOUR PARTY SERVICES
It’s a pretty simple concept to expand your party services. You simply add more services to offer the customer to make the party as convenient and fully packaged as possible. The more convenient it is for the customer, the more they will ask you to provide, and the more money you will make.
You’ve already been hired to do part of the party, you’re already there – you might as well try to get as much money from that party as possible. You can do this by adding and offering more services. Even another $50.00 profit per party can add thousands of dollars per year to your bottom line. If you’re averaging three parties per week times 50 weeks per year, that’s 150 parties per year times an extra $50.00 profit per party. You will make an additional $7,500.00 per year just by getting an additional $50.00 in extra services per party. Here are some ways you can do this.
PROVIDE THE PARTY DECORATIONS AND PAPER GOODS!
Every party has paper plates, plastic utensils, napkins, cups, tablecloths, decorations, etc. The parents buy these supplies by going to a store, thereby using up their gas, and their time, as well as their money. If it’s a theme party, they may even have to go to more than one store. What a drag for the parents.
What if you could provide the parents the huge convenience of shopping for these items at home? For the same price as they would pay at a store, they could shop for all of these items at your website or through a color catalog you can provide them. Why would they go out to a store if they could shop at home and find ten times the amount of party goods than most stores would have anyway? And what if you made a commission on the price of all these supplies?
Well, you can do this. Not only do you make a commission on all these sales, but you don’t have to stock any inventory or ship any inventory. Your customer orders directly from the company that provides the party goods. There are several companies that will provide this service for you. See the resources pages for these companies.
PROVIDING THE PARTY FOOD
This is another easy service to provide to pad your profits. Kid’s parties are known for easy and quick foods. Actually, the kids are so excited about the fun that they don’t really pay much attention to the food. Which make your job even easier.
Develop a menu for the parents and child to select from. A favorite with no trouble for you is pizza. You can use a local pizza parlor for the pizzas. Work out a wholesale price with them when you establish your business. Order one large pepperoni pizza cut into twice as many pieces as normal, or one large and one medium, depending on the number of kids. Mark the price up to whatever is worth your time. Include drinks. Soft drinks in an ice filled ice chest makes for a quick mealtime.
For a more traditional and more profitable menu, try hot dogs, baloney and cheese sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cookies, chips, etc. Make the sandwiches at home and make sure to seal them all collectively in a large Tupperware container to keep them fresh or a tray with plastic wrap.
DROP OFF SERVICES
For example, let’s say the parents prefer to do the activities themselves rather than hiring you to do them. Or maybe they just can’t afford to pay someone else to do the activities. A great option for them (and you) is to buy or rent (or both) equipment and supplies from you.
This works great for you because you still make some money from a customer with limited funds or for whatever reason, doesn’t want your full package of entertainment. It also, let’s you still remain available to work a full-scale party at the same time that their party is going on. Everybody wins.
You develop a list of equipment and supplies that you can rent to customers or sell them outright. Equipment that you will soon learn about such as Spin Art machines, Cotton Candy machines, a Kiddie High Striker, a hot press for T-shirt parties, a button making machine, carnival games, miniature golf, etc. can be rented to your customers.
You just deliver all of these items on Wednesday or Thursday before their party, and pick up the equipment on the following Monday. If all they are ordering are supplies rather than equipment, then you won’t have to go back on Monday to pick anything up.
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(The following are a few samples of the over 56 Kid's
Entertainment businesses listed in the manual.)
PERSONALIZED ITEMS
There is a product called the Howard Personalizer. It is a hand-operated printing press that prints in colored foil. The source for where you can buy this machine is in the back of this manual under Sources. It is used to custom print such items as napkins, paper plates, place cards, foil balloons, pencils, stationery, greeting cards, ribbons, name cards, etc. (It can also custom print award ribbons that you can give away at your parties and picnics with the birthday child’s name on them or the company’s name that is having your event.)
The beauty of this machine is it allows you to print the name of the birthday child on their paper plates, napkins, place cards, ribbons, etc. This is a powerful thing to tell a customer that you can do this for their child. It’s a very classy service to be able to offer.
The machine works very well and is easy to use. This service doesn’t take long to do. You would have to set a minimum number of units printed to make it worth your time to do it, but if you’re doing the customer’s whole package of plates, ribbons, napkins, etc. then it would all add up to enough to justify you doing it.
Your upscale clients will love this service. The best way to make this machine be profitable for you is to offer this service not only to your customers, but also to every party planner in town. As well as every florist, wedding planner, caterer, baker, and other party service (clowns, magicians, etc.) in town. Give them discounted rates for your service.
The machine is rather expensive (several models ranging from $1400.00 to $2000.00 at the time of this writing), but you have to look at it as a long term investment and go after more than just your customers. There aren’t many people doing this in most cities. Expanding to all the other party related companies in town, as I’ve mentioned above, is the way to justify the expense of this classy machine. The company gives you a breakdown of what to charge, what your profit would be, etc. They will also send you printed samples with their brochure.
Another angle is to market your personalized printed items for sale on your website on the Internet. There are millions of people in the market for these imprinted items. This would be a great little business that you could run in your spare time.
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Howard Imprinting Machine Company
800-334-6943
www.howardimprinting.com
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SPIN ART
Kids love this! Spin Art is where kids squirt a few drops of paint onto a spinning card and create a one of a kind work of art. You stick the card in a frame for the child to take home and keep. There are two ways to go with spin art machines. One is you can spend about $225.00 to $395.00 for a more professional, heavy duty, electric ready-to-go commercial spin art machine. The cards slide into the holder quite easily - a good piece of equipment. These commercial grade units will also allow you to put spin art onto Frisbees. You will be told later in this book where to buy the machines.
Another route is to buy a non-commercial toy spin art machine at a toy store that is battery operated. There are several brands on the market. You will find them in the catalogs you will be ordering or at toy stores (Toys R Us, etc.) They are about $16.00 to $20.00 each and you definitely need to get three, using two at a time and one as a backup spare. For larger crowds, use as many machines as is warranted.
Whereas the commercial machine mentioned above has a card holder that the card slips into easily, the non-commercial toy version has little tabs that the corners of the cards have to slip into. This slows down production. You also have to clean each toy machine before putting them away being very careful not to get even one drop of water down in the hole with the spindle in it in the center of the machine. One drop of water will rust out the tiny battery driven motor and you'll have to throw the machine away.
The pros and cons are: The commercial versions are bigger than the toy version, which is a major consideration in the startup phase of your business. It's also heavier and mildly cumbersome by comparison, depending on whose version you buy. Some are the size of a large toy box or a footlocker type trunk. You don't have to clean anything when you are done because the paint splatters against a cardboard insert or garbage bag that lines the insert. It certainly looks more professional. You don't have to worry about getting water in the hole. It's twenty times more expensive than the toy version. It has much faster production because the card slips in and out of the card holder so much faster and it spins faster because of the more powerful motor.
The toy version is far less expensive, twenty times smaller and more lightweight, is more of a pain to operate because of the tabs the cards have to be slipped into and is a pain to clean after every use. They are certainly not going to last nearly as long as the commercial version. They are slower production than the commercial model. They look less professional, but do the job just fine. This is what I started with. My vote would be to start with the toy versions unless your budget and transportation/storage situation is no problem. Either way will work fine.
You are only supposed to let a child squirt a few drops of each color paint (red, blue and yellow) onto the card. You have to tell this to the child before they squeeze the paint bottle and make sure they adhere to it. If they squirt too much paint onto the card, it creates several problems.
As children approach, have them form a line in front of each of your two operating machines. Turn the machine on before the child squirts their paint. After children have squirted their paint onto the card, turn the machine off. The toy versions take a while to slow down. Don't wait for it. It slows down the whole process. To slow it down right away, put your finger on the edge of the spindle to make it stop. Remove the card and put it into a frame. Staple the frame. Slip another card into the tabs on the spindle and let the next child take their turn.
Your startup spin art supplies consist of the cards and frames and the paint. The cards and frames are sold by a company that sells them in sets of 1000 for about $125.00 at the time of this writing. You can get them for less if you order 5000 or more. The paint usually costs between $3.00 and $5.00 per quart and is available at craft stores and school supply stores. You have about 15 cents invested in each finished card and frame. Two dollars for this at festivals is an easy sale and a huge mark up and profit!
Too many colors slows down you production because the kids will take forever to make up their minds what colors they want to use. (This also applies to flavors of snow cone syrups.) The only reason I might expand on this is if your are having individual customers pay for the spin art themselves. At company picnics where everything is already paid for, stick to four colors. One quart of each will get you through several events. (Unless they’re large events.) Always take extra paint, and extra everything, for that matter. The paint is safe, non-toxic and water based.
Spin art is very versatile for almost any kids event. I would heartily suggest this activity for any kids entertainment business. You just can't miss.
Sources for Spin Art Machines:
www.gmpopcorn.com
Gold Medal Products
800-543-0862
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www.huffermfg.com
Huffer Mfg
888-640-3337
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SAND ART
This is a "can't miss" activity for any event. Sand Art is where kids fill small bottles with different colors of sand in different layers. Each bottle is a one of a kind work of art because each child selects different colors in different sequences and depths. You can also tilt the bottle to put in the next level of sand and that creates a unique look also. You put a plastic cap (or cork) on their finished product and it's theirs to keep. Have enough bowls for each color of sand you use. (For birthday parties and company picnics, I'd use only four. If you're selling them at a festival, carnival, etc., you should use more colors.)
Fill each bowl with one color of sand and set them on a table. You will fill eight or twelve bowls with sand, depending on the size of the crowd. Have equal numbers of each color of sand. Put one plastic spoon and a small plastic funnel in each bowl of sand. Have another empty bowl with just a little of any color sand standing by. Put a spoon in this "slush" bowl also. This sand is sand that the kids have spilled while filling their bottles. The attendant will brush the spilled sand off the sand table into this bowl periodically throughout the day. This should be done as the sand table becomes covered with spilled sand on an ongoing basis. Save as much of it as you can. This bowl of saved spilled sand is call the "slush" sand. Every time you brush spilled sand off the sand table into the slush sand bowl, put the slush sand bowl somewhere handy. You will use it later.
Have the kids fill their bottles with sand using the spoons and the plastic funnels in the bowls . With larger crowds you may have another attendant inside the booth assisting the kids. When children are done filling their bottle, immediately give a new bottle to the next kid waiting in line. Let the new kid begin filling their bottle while you are helping the last kid who just finished with their bottle. This will be the procedure throughout the day. As soon as one kid finishes, let the next kid begin.
A variation on the above procedure is to use plastic squeeze bottles (like restaurant ketchup squeeze bottles) to hold the sand instead of keeping it in bowls with spoons and funnels. These squeeze bottles come with caps for easy transportation without spills. Children fill their bottle from the squeeze bottles. This is less messy, and faster, but you must keep refilling each squeeze bottle when it's empty.
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Sources for Sand and Bottles for Sand Art:
Sand Art Supplies
800-697-SAND
www.sandartsupplies.com
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(Here are a few of about twenty different marketing areas listed in the manual for you to pursue.)
MARKETING
CORPORATE EVENT PLANNERS
Event planners are basically co-ordinators who subcontract most of their entertainment activities. They can hire you for their events where children are included such as company picnics, conventions, trade shows, etc. where entertainment is needed to keep the kids occupied while the adults are busy. This is where nice, professional brochures and a video of your services comes in handy. Meet with these planners, show them what you can do and how professional you are. Show them the wide variety of services you offer. Stay in touch with them with postcards (with a picture of your services on the front) every six months. Always thank them for hiring you with a call or thank you card. They can be a source of ongoing business for you for many years.
PICNIC GROUNDS & FACILITIES
Picnic grounds are an even better possibility for being hired to entertain kids. They do nothing but rent their parks and maybe provide the meals and drinks. They are tailor made for your services. Offer to provide picnic services to their customers. Explain that you would not want to compete with the services that they already provide, but merely supplement what they don't provide. Since you will be providing picnic services at other parks and locations, they may or may not consider this to be a conflict of interest. You might also try to work out a commission arrangement for when you bring one of your customers to them. It may not work out, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Print up some inexpensive flyers for the management of the park to distribute to new customers. In exchange, you distribute flyers for the picnic grounds to your potential customers. Explain to the picnic grounds people that you may also be listing other parks as well, though. Only offer a commission arrangement if you have to.
List all of the services you provide. You will get bigger bucks from these customers because they can use you for the whole day doing a large variety of services. Picnics are a gold mine for you. Especially if you can hire some other people to assist you with the larger number of kids. You can have several activities going on at the same time with extra help. This all means you make more money.
There are tons of other picnic services that will not be mentioned in this book, however, I do sell another manual specifically for company picnics. It's called " How To Start and Operate a Company Picnic Business". Many items in this book are mentioned in this Picnic Manual (about 352 pages) as good activities, but there are tons of activities that are not suitable for birthday parties and small kid’s events that are perfect for picnics. It's much easier to make larger sums of money with picnics.
I made anywhere from $1500.00 to $7,000.00 for each picnic I did. One year I made a net profit of $61,000.00 only doing 22 picnics and sending out other entertainers to smaller budget picnics as Mini Packages. This is all from a four month summer season. For picnics, most of your services are for kids, but you can also make a lot of money providing extra services for the adults as well.
Much of it is from merely subcontracting other performers, caterers, etc. to do the job for you as a sub-contractor at a reduced price. You make money while they do all the work. Providing soft drinks is easy. Providing adult games is easy. Providing a sound system is easy. It's all easy money. It's just an extension of what you are already doing.
(SEE EXCERPT OF PICNIC MANUAL BY CLICKING "BUS. MANUAL EXCERTS" ON HOME PAGE.)
HOW AND WHERE TO USE BROCHURES
Drop off services are products or equipment or materials that you "drop off" at the customer’s house, but don’t provide any personal services at the party yourself. Usually, Mom and Dad will just rent your equipment and buy materials from you. You "drop off" these items at their house a few days before their party. Depending on what they order from you, you may or may not have to go back after the party and pick up your items.
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