Hi all,

Now you saw my puppets, and I can add more story characters anytime. My question to you is how should I approach daycare centers and kindergartens I have in my neighborhood with my puppet characters. Should I sell them to schools, parents or do a show in front of children with my own puppets.For now I have Goldilocks and the little pigs ready.I also have my own characters, Max and Zenaida and Gigi.What is your advice?
I think I would charge 1 dollar per child for the show. Is that fair?
How much should I charge for a set of caracters in a story? The three little pigs and the wolf for instance.
I plan to make new story puppets by order only.
What do you think?
I am very eager to see the reaction of children to my puppets.
My MA is in Modern Languages. I taught French and Spanish from 4 year olds to adult age. I have experience with small children as I worked in a Montessori environment, preschool, kindergarten.
Do you think is a good idea to teach French or Spanish with my puppet characters?
Here is Gigi.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?2i5HFW_LlpU" target="youtube">YouTube Video</a>


and the bears
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?F183DEC8ekI" target="youtube">YouTube Video</a>


Your experience and  advice are very important
to  me; please be honest and give me your feedback. Thank you.

$1 per kid sounds *very* cheap. Don't forget, you've got to cover your costs first, so if $1 per kid will cover you, then that's a good price (remember, you have to also cost it out: how many kids per show, how many shows per year, the likelihood that you'll get any bookings to begin with, etc etc). But also, I think the lower the cost, the less likely people will be convinced it's of good quality. Do some price comparisons of companies near you, many puppeteers post info about how much it is to hire them on their sites and flyers, so check out what they're doing and raise your price as necessary.

I think approaching schools, kindergardens, parents, libraries, etc would be good. As you're just starting out, it's better to try them all and then if one turns out to be more profitable than the other, you can narrow your marketing strategy.

I love the idea of teaching other languages, especially if you do it in combination with a traditional story. Goldilocks in French or Spanish - that would be great! (PS. It also means you get more audiences, because you can do shows to people who have English as a second language/immigrants, so it's also cross-cultural that way too)

Thank you, Na. I will consider all the suggestions that you made.I really appreciate your feedback.

No worries, glad to help!

I will add that you should probably wait until the others reply too. I'm not a performer, I just made comments based on what I've read other people have done. I'm sure the others will have some better/more specific responses.

I guess I am still waiting for some answers but no one gives me a clue. I can take criticism well. Just try me:))

I'm sure someone will respond eventually, they could just be busy

Thank you, Na.

No worries

MissElly,
As Na mentioned $1 per child for a show is very reasonable.  It does sound like it would be difficult to make any real money at the price but I like the idea of a show being reasonable in price for the consumer. I would think that at the price even smaller groups could afford your shows which is nice. For example a small daycare with only say 10 to 20 kids would be able to afford you.  The thing you have to think about though is if you would need to add some type of limits.  For example if a daycare that is 50 miles away that has 10 kids calls and wants a show is it going to be worth it to you to drive that far for only $10. 

I think you would receive more joy out of doing the performances with your puppets instead of selling them.  When you start selling things it can  become a chore to keep up on making the inventory.

The performances I do are paid for by the facility and free to those who attend so I don't know anything about charging a fee per person. I perform for schools, libraries, churches and community events (as well as birthday parties) but they are all paid for by the hiring client and free to those who attend. This works out best for me because I have a set fee and I get paid that fee no matter how many turn out. I also have a mileage fee that kicks in for locations outside of a 50 mile radius of my home.

I would think that at the price even smaller groups could afford your shows which is nice. For example a small daycare with only say 10 to 20 kids would be able to afford you.

This is very true too but you could always have a set fee and then give discounts as you determine necessary. This whole area of pricing is a very touchy subject and it also depends SO much on the area you live in. I know that if I charged the "going rate" for performers in California, I would never get hired here in the Midwest! You have to know your clients and then it is a bit of trial and error.  Sorry I can't be of more help, but like I said, charging per person is not something I have experience with.

This works out best for me because I have a set fee and I get paid that fee no matter how many turn out. I also have a mileage fee that kicks in for locations outside of a 50 mile radius of my home. 

This is interesting - not something that's done here in Aus, but thinking about it I feel like it would work well as a marketing strategy here. It also means you can simply price a show, rather than cost and re-cost it out for a per/person fee. We have a very small theatrical market (despite the size of our country) so setting a fee per show + travel costs would be very sensical.

I've done price comparisons before, and here we charge about $6-10 per person for a show or workshop. I personally think the price is too low, costing my own workshops would have been around $15 per person depending on the type of workshop being done.

Thank you guys, I will probably have to see in person how this develops.I don't drive. But most preschools are within a walking distance from my home.Also teaching a foreign language with the puppets adds a plus element= my education in this case University degree in Spanish and French.Will see.

Good Luck Miss Elly........................ you will do just fine.


Billy D.

Thank you so much Billy.

Miss Elly - are there aother puppeteers in your area?  If not, how about clowns?  Check to see what they charge and charge accordingly.  If you are too cheap, people will think the show won't be good, and too expensive will not bring business.

In the metro area that I am near, one puppet group charges a minimum of $200 for a 15-20 minute show.  This is a one person show, using small puppets with mouths that do not open.  They have been in business for years and have no problems staying busy.