Clowning as a Business: Tips from Those in the Biz
But those making a living at clowning are also good business people. They developed a business plan, checked into their city laws, and settled on an accounting program through which they could easily track their income. Some even hired CPAs to set up their books, ensuring that they were taking every deduction offered.
Here are some business tips for you to consider:
1.Decide the venues in which you are going to operate. Know which environments you're most comfortable in. Can you deal with the long lines of kids wanting their faces painted at corporate picnics? Or do you prefer the more controlled setting of birthday parties? What age groups do you enjoy? Are you interested in donating your time to non-profit organizations, or will you only accept paying gigs?
2.Educate yourself on any and all tax loopholes. Take every tax deduction you can on mileage, costume cleanings, consumable products (such as balloons and makeup), reusable products (such as props), and your participation in conferences and camps. One clown told me he always charges his clients travel time, instead of mileage, so that he can deduct his mileage on his taxes. Who said clowns weren't smart?! Again, we're talking about only taking what's yours, not cheating the government. Rule of thumb: Keep Good Records.
3.Come up with the "magic number." By this, I mean decide how many hours you're willing to spend on clowning. Because while you're out there entertaining America, you won't be with your own family. A balance of work and family time is critical for clowns. If you're also keeping your full-time job, make sure your clowning doesn't take over so much of your free time that you start to resent it. An overwhelmed clown certainly isn't going to be able to inspire cheer in others.
4.Write up a 2- or 3-year business plan. Where do you want to be skill-wise and salary-wise? Having a plan will help you to stay on track.
5.Consider setting up a business banking account that is separate from your personal checking account. The upside is that you can deposit your earnings directly to the account, as well as write checks off the account for any expenses. And ask that any checks given to you by clients is written to your clown name (which you would have already tagged to your business account), so that that income is easily traceable.
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 are quite reasonable.
11.And last, but not least, don't forget to send a thank you to anyone and everyone who helps you along the way. Coming up with a giveaway, say a bookmark featuring your clown face and your phone number, is a great way to thank people AND do a little marketing.
Be a clown!
Sincerely,
Contributing Editor Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt ("Piper" the Clown)
*Check back at least monthly for new articles*
Visit my writing site: http://www.Rehwoldt.com
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