I want to try to market myself in a restaurant as a twister. I see that many twisters have restaurants listed on their schedules and I would like to work with one here in Columbus.

Any good tips for seeking out a good one to appear at? Also, I don't know how the financial dynamics work with restaurants. Obviously we're there to market our audience - kids - but what should a good restaurant do for me?

By this I mean specifically two questions:

Should I try to get an hourly wage and should I try to get them to feed me too?

Thanks in advance for any advice you pro's can offer!

Luke

Most entertainers that work restaurants try to work for a base pay, plus tips.  The base pay can be almost anything that you feel is fair. One of the advantages of working a restaurant is the visibility.  Every week you are in front of 100 people or more.  These are all potentially new clients, and this is also a great opportunity to gain experiences. 

Getting a restaurant is difficult and easy.  You can walk in to some restaurants and they say “yes” right away, while others say “no” just as fast. 

I wish I had an exact formula to tell you how to get them to say “yes” every time, but maybe somebody else in the forum will have the magic formula.

Dale

Hi Luke,

Re-restaurant work/wages Rates average $50.00/hour-$75.00/hour in the Chicago area.  Restaurant competition is very stiff.  Restaurants are always looking for an edge.  Chain restaurants like Denny's I-Hop are usually happy to work with you if you can bring in the business.  Having a show case like a regular gig at a restaurant can benefit your Birthday Party business because you always pass out your card and are always promoting yourself.  Be patient with your entertainment catching on as it always takes a couple of months to get word out.  If your restaurant has a sign our front that has changable lettering, be sure they announce a day or two before when you will be there.

I work in restaurants 4 nights a week.

How can I help.

Jane

So far a lot of good ideas!

I've looked at some of your websites' too and there's a part of me that doesn't feel as confident as I'd like 'cause I can't make the really cool sculptures that you guys can!

Should I let this intimidate me?

Luke

Every entertainer starts out with the basic heart, sword, and dog.  You have to remember your a balloon entertainer.  Steve Martin – The wild and crazy guy, did a silly balloon routine in his standup years.  He wasn’t a balloonist, he was a comedian.  Many magicians do balloons, but there can only do a basic dog. 

So what I getting at --  don’t look at what we do, but look at what you can achieve. Stride to become better entertainer.  If this requires buying books, talking with other entertainers, going to local clown organization, juggling clubs, or sitting up all night to make a better dog, than this is what you need to do.  If you are a serious entertainer, otherwise you become a hobbyists.

There are many avenues to entertaining and balloons are just a part of the whole picture.  Remember, you first have to crawl, before you can walk, and running takes even longer.  Once you can run, go for the marathon.  So have fun crawling around the floor.

Dale

Don't forget that you are more likely to speak with the manager directly during the slow times, like 2-3:30 on a Tuesday afternoon than you are at 6 o'clock on a Friday.  Stop in when they have time for you.

Of course, if you happen to patronize the restaurant and do a little twisting for the people you are with, you might get a little visibility before your sales call.

Impossible Man

www.impossibleman.net

Here are some ideas about restuarant work.

Make sure you know what the GM wants.  I have two restuarants that want as many custumers served as possible, and are not all that concerened about table turn over. 

Other establishements are very concerned about table turn over and will not let you balloon at a table after food has arrived. Usually you can serve these kids in the waiting area after they have left the table.

remember that old saying "If mama aint happy aint no one gonna be happy."

This is even more true about GM"S

Jane

I do wear a tip badge, but I don't just stad at the table waiting for a tip. I will stand for about 2 seconds and if nothing - I just move on to another table! If they are willingh to tip, they will have it ready for you, if not, standing will only aggravate the situation! If there is a restaurant where they don't want me to wear the tip badge, then I will bump up the hourly cost to cover the loss (the average of my tips per hour).

The GM is the one to talk to at the restaurant because they are usually the one who makes the decision. Be professional when you talk to them - this is business - and be congenial. This is the person they are entrusting their clients to.

Remember:

If you are bad to the guests, they will complain, not come back, and you will lose your venue! And a lot of bad words will be spread about you! Making it very hard to get more work!

When I started at my first restaurant, I maybe knew about 8-10 things! Very simple. Very amateur-looking, but had a great rapport with the guests and they forgave my newness and kept coming back for more!

But I think the key is, that I am constantly improving my skills and choices to get a wide variety out there!

This is a personal choice but I feel that the more variety going out the door, the more that the other guests will stay interested! Seeing the same 3 things going past thier table gets boring fast! But remember, it is entertainment as well, so if you only do three things, then the entertainment part of the job needs to be carrying the whole weight!

Doing your best is the basis of the whole thing no matter how you feel! Personal problems between you and the establishment, or how you feel is just that; PERSONAL! Keep it to yourself! The guests don't care or need to know! They just want the balloons!!

Well, I'm off to the jam! So I will talk to you there!

All the best

Rick

Hello All!!

    A good way to market yourself to the prospective restaurant manager that is "sitting on the fence" with regard to hiring you or not is to offer him an audition....tell him you will come on one of his/her busiest nights and entertain the masses for 2 hours in exchange for a gift certificate for his restaurant.....so that he can see you in action and guage what the customer response is.....don't ask for a wage on the first try.

     After you get your face out there, and make a name for yourself, then "go for the juggler" (heheh) and tell the manager what you would like to receive for your services. Just remember to bring tons of business cards and give 2 cards to each table (a great tip I learned from some twister named Dale...heheh) One card for them....and another for Auntie Sue or Uncle Bob or the manager at work who is organizing the kid's Christmas party....

     As far as getting the restaurant to feed you....you will probably get a lot more mileage out of the situation if you take your family in there for dinner with the gift certificate he/she  gave you for the audition or one of your paychecks....

hope this helps!!!

Dan the Balloon Man

Dan

Excellent idea on the gift certificate.   Will have to try it

Dale

This was given to me at a seminar by Steve Kissel.

Try for a flat rate if this fails go for a small pay amount plus tips. If this fails then go for tips or for a gift certificate with no name on it and expiration date.

The reason for no name on it you can give it to a prospect customer for a bigger job as a little helper to get the Job. You can say I do twisting at _______ resturant and would like for you to come out and eat for free and watch me in action to see if you would like to hire me. I think this is a clever idea.

Of coarse if they turn you down no matter what  the idea to work for one night so the owner can see if they will higher works great to get yourself in the door.  I am sure you know not to be to pushy.

Hey don't  forget to tell the customers to give themselves a hand clap for letting you perform for them. They clap and the owner hears the sound of laughter and fun you get the Job.

well that is all take care and God Bless you all!

At one of the restaurants that I do, I get a free meal ticket. I'm not crazy about Itallian food, so i get a free meal ticket instead! I can use those any way I want! So it is possible to hand those out to prospective clients to get new jobs!

Nice resource!!

Thanks for the idea!