Make a Fortune as a Clown/Balloon Artist

Here's a very unique guest post from a Free Money Finance reader. Consider the following that she'll detail:

• You can make $100,000 a year being a clown (or "only" $50k if you want to work 10 hours a week or so.)
• She's a doctor and yet chooses to be a clown. (It seems more fun and pays as well.)
• It's a pretty easy way to make some extra money on the side, even if you don't want it as a career.

Did you know that a clown can make as much as $100,000 per year and more?

I am a professional clown. Oh, well, a balloon artist.

But just to keep it simple, let's call me a clown. We'll keep in mind that a clown, balloon artist, face painter, juggler and anything else to do with event entertainment, all of them can earn rather attractive income.

My only regret is that I didn't learn about this opportunity sooner.

Now, granted, not everyone can be a clown or a balloon artist, but many people sure can. And since FMF asked me, I am going to tell you exactly how to become a clown/event entertainer. By the time you finish reading this post, you should be able to get your own event entertainment gig going and hopefully earn a few dollars until the year ends.

If anything, now is the best time to start. Why?

Because the big holiday entertainment BONANZA is officially here!

As a fair disclosure, I don't pocket $100,000 a year. I only earn about half of that.  But I only work about 10 hours per week, sometimes less than that. But if you work 20 hours per week and charge $100 per hour and many clowns (including me) charge more, you will earn as much as $96,000. It’s pretty decent pay, for a part time job, wouldn't you say?

What do I like about being a clown?

1. I love being paid $100-200 and sometimes $300 per hour. I value every penny of it.
2. I love to command attention. I love making people smile and I love to have fun with everyone!
3. I love that this job doesn't require me to report to anyone. Nobody gives me orders what to do and how to do it.  I work for myself. I do what I think is best and the freedom of doing it my way is a great plus.
4. I love that I am free to choose each event. I don't have to take it if I don't want to.
5. I love that paper work is very limited. Except for an occasional invoice, I don't have to fill any forms, write proposals, reports, and any other paper formalities that were so annoying to me on my previous jobs.
6. I love that each and every event is different. I love to travel to different locations and meet different people. I easily get bored.
7. I love that I hardly have to market my service. I am amazed how easy the process of sale is. I get most of my work by referral from previous events. Each of my jobs is a marketing event at the same time. When prospective clients call, they probably already have seen me at another event. They are most likely to book me.

Now, how did I fall into being a clown?

No, I didn't go to a circus school for that. I actually have an MD degree from Russia. Yes, I did work as a Medical Doctor, in Russia. I came to the US in 1992. I could get my license here, but to make a long story short, I didn't want to.  And as much as I love medicine as a science, I came to the realization that I didn't want to earn a living as a doctor.

Instead of being a doctor, I went through a number of jobs in tech and PR until I discovered balloon art about 3 years ago.

At the time I was a vice president in a high-tech PR agency. I worked sometimes from 9 am-9pm. I didn't enjoy the job for the reasons I stated above: too much reporting, too much paperwork, too much of the same thing over and over.

One day, about 3 years ago, I saw a twisted balloon animal on a street. I fell in love with balloon art. I went out, bought big bags of colorful latex balloons and started twisting.

Let’s just say, I am very practical. Balloon art was fun to twist, but I wanted to be paid too.

I knew I could make balloon animals for tips, so I approached a local mall to let me do it there. They charged me $75 per month rent and I still turned a profit, by twisting about 4 days a week for about 3-4 hours each day for $1-5 in tips. It lasted for about 2 months until I wizened up. That was the first and last time I ever paid a venue. By that time the word spread and I booked enough events to quit my 9-9 PR job.

How you can do it too.

Hook up with a local balloon artist (juggler, magician, face painter or a clown). Ask them to show you the ropes. Clowns and event entertainers are very helpful and friendly people, in general. When you feel confident, go out and do some events by yourself for free at your local church or for a charity event.

Sooner than you think, you will be offered paid assignments, especially now, during the Holiday season.

Now, let me tell you a bit more about balloon art, as it is an impressive skill for a clown to have.

What supplies do you needed to do balloon art?

Obviously, you need twisty balloons. The industry standard is Qualatex balloons. They come in all sizes, colors and even different shapes. Start with the balloon model called Q260, the most common. They usually are sold in bags of 100. I also suggest a hand-held Qualatex pump. The Qualatex balloons and pumps are sold all over the Internet. One bag of mixed color Q260 balloons and a pump should cost you about $ 15. And most big cities have actual stores where they sell balloons and pumps.

What is the best way to learn to twist balloon art?

There are books and video tapes on how to make balloon art. You can find them in your favorite book store, on the Internet and even in your public library. But the best way to start is to find a local balloon artist and tag along for a while. Most clowns nowadays do balloon art, so if you can’t locate a balloon artist, find a clown.

How can a beginner event entertainer market himself?

If you feel you enjoy event entertainment, make yourself business cards. Now, carry balloon animals with you when you do your grocery shopping. Better yet, wear a balloon crown and juggle apples in the produce section every time you shop at your local grocery store.

Well, seriously, entertain for free at charity events and you will see that people start asking for your business cards. 

You can always work for tips in a restaurant or other venue. But I suggest keeping your work for tips to a minimum.

Always remember, being an event entertainer is not a minimum-wage-job. Big budgets for entertainment are out there, so claim your share of the pie.

Myself, I graduated from working for tips to charging up to $300 per hour for my balloon art entertainment. My clients today are luxury hotels and clubs, such as the Ritz Carlton and Mar-a-Lago, West Palm Beach, corporate event planners and upscale families. I have been called the Russian Queen of Balloons. I have been flown to America's Got Talent TV show in Los Angeles. I only work 2-3 days a week.

...and you can do that too, if you want. I wish someone had given me this idea 10 years ago. But now you can have it.

I think I covered everything important, if you still have any questions you can contact me.

Comments

[Kevin]

Thanks for sharing. Always interesting to me to see how others make a living doing non-traditional things.

[Sue]

Thanks for the great article. When I clicked on the Qualatex link an error came up, it looks like you have part of two different URLs together.

[Curtis]

I used to make some money part-time as a juggler. It took many hours of practice to get a solid routine I could perform regularly.

While it was nice to be able to charge $300 + for a half hour show, there was a lot that went into that. Not to mention the travel to and from (built into the rate) and the time spent setting up and tearing down. All in all, that $300 was really for about 3 hours of work. Still $100 an hour is pretty sweet though.

However, even living in the Chicago area it takes time to get a steady flow of gigs lined up. There's not exactly people beating down your door. That said, I do have several friend who still do this for a living. It does involve a lot of travel nationwide though.

Wouldn't mind doing some more paid gigs nowadays, just need to practice more again.

[FMF]

Sue --

Thanks. I fixed it.

[beastlike]

Doesn't sound that tough to start it... However, putting in all that time at charities may be hard but it would pay off in two ways; getting future business and making others happy.

I would just love a job like that where I can claim only half my earnings (if that) since the government is stealing my Social Security contributions!

[irina]

Does anyone understand what postie Beastlike means by saying 'where I can claim only half my earnings?'

It never occur to me to claim only a half of my earnings.. It is not what it is all about!!! I think he missed the point of my article.

I also know a couple of professional clowns who were caught by IRS claiming half of their earnings and paid fines, penalties and back taxes. It is very easy to catch. My 0.2 cents: Don't try to under report your earnings you are almost guarantee to be caught.

[Lazy Man]

Grrrr, I had an article 80% completed about your site, Irina. I thought it would be a nice surprise since you come to my site and comment from time to time. I've got another idea though, and I think you might even get more readers than if I did my post :-).

[Nini]

Hello. Thanks so much for the informative article.

I have many spread talents and it gets hard to focus on one. One of them is balloon twisting. I love making kids smile. I was searching for more information on this and I am glad to have found this article.

[Clayton Sawyers Santa Clayton]

I liked your statment about being a Doctor and could make more money being a clown. I have been a auto repaier for 40 years and now having more fun being Santa Clause. Finaley found my calling and all so wanting to be a ballon clown.

[Linda]

I would like to do clowning for children's parties. Do I need to get a license? Do I need insurance? How do I do taxes-do I deduct expenses and add earnings at the end of the year? So many things to think about! Does it really pay with the gas,taxes,insurance,and expenses? I live in the country outside a small town. There are no clowns listed in yellow pages. Thanks