Clowning as a Business: Tips from Those in the Biz
6. Know the going rates. If you're going to be successful, you've got to be a savvy marketer, and you've got to know what the market will bear. Won't you be ticked if you find out, six months from now, that other area clowns are charging $20 more an hour? Another clown I know shares this tip: never refer to yourself as a clown, but as a "professional entertainer." For many, the term "clown" brings to mind some rather uncharitable feelings. If you stress your professionalism, and back it up by the way you interact with clients, you'll find that respect coming back to you.
7. Be very mindful of the services you give away. A third clown I spoke to couldn't stress this enough. "If you give it away," she said, "people will assume it's not worth having." She was referring, of course, to the numerous requests you'll get from service clubs (such as the Rotary Club), your kid's school teachers, and even non-profit organizations. At the least, see that you get some kind of free advertising in kind, if you're willing to forgo your normal fee.
8. NEVER, EVER, quote prices in writing. Why? Because once you distribute a flyer with your hourly fee, that flyer has a life of its own. It's not an easy task to turn down a customer who calls you two years later, outdated flyer in hand. Another bonus for not listing prices: people will actually have to pick up the phone and converse with you, which gives you a chance to close the sale.
9. Use contracts for every gig. As soon as you get off the phone with that person, drop two copies of the contract in the mail, and ask that they return one copy after they've signed it-along with half of the fee. It's up to you to decide if that fee will be refundable if they cancel, but the clowns I know say it's better to put in writing that they have one week to change their mind-and then the money is yours, no matter what happens. Some clowns even state in their contract that if the event is cancelled within a month (or two weeks) of the event, that the customer will be billed for, and expected to pay, the full amount.
10. Consider purchasing insurance from the World Clown Association (www.worldclownassociation.com). It's better safe than sorry in today's society. Association membership is required, but the annual fees
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