From: "Mathieu" <uubald-AT-magma.ca>
Subject: PUPT: Re: What Price Puppets
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 11:51:05 -0700


Thank you Liz, very enligthening. Makes a lot of sense.
Always easier to relate with real-life examples.

I have already started to program myself to raise my prices for my
commercial masks, since I could sell those in galleries. In this case,
people wouldn't consider buying them if they were at a low price...Ooh, high
price! it must be valuable art!

I have to do the same for my puppets and services. I'll find the bottom
line, reach it and ask for quite a bit more. I read somewhere that there is
a customer for every price range.
Mail order puppet making seems to have its place on the net, although I
prefer to work live with the puppeteers and director, to achieve the
physical properties they need...
Maybe mail order puppetmaking for collectors instead.

Anyhow, lots to think about and work on!
Thanks to all!










Mathieu René Créaturiste
Marionnettes, Masques, Etcetera...
Puppets, Masks, Etcetera...
uubald-AT-magma.ca
http://www.magma.ca/~uubald/demino.jpg
(514) 274-8027
----- Original Message -----
From: "Liz Evans" <liz-AT-etherboy.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 4:50 AM
Subject: Re: PUPT: Re: What Price Puppets


> Hi Mathieu ,
>
> I've been off the list for a while because of a busy summer, but this
> caught my attention this morning.
>
> As a new artist you do have to gain a reputation, but from our companies
> experience I can honestly say "You get what you market for".
>
> What I mean by this, is that if you market to perform at birthday
> parties
> for $50.00 a piece, then that is what you will get.
>
> We are an artistic industry so all of us, hopefully do it because we
> love it,
> but there is a bottom line.  We all have to have a roof over our heads,
> food
> on the table, and yes, most of us like  a few creature comforts.  This
> takes
> money.  So, I guess the question you have to ask yourself is
>
> "Do I want to
> do this part time for fun, or do I really want to make my living at it".
>
> Making a living at it means learning a about marketing your work and
> looking outside your immediate community.  Thanks to "Avenue Q" and the
> "Lion King's" success, more and more theatres are looking for ways to
> incorporate puppets into their productions.  Sometimes they don't want
> to keep
> the puppets, they just want a Custom build rental, as with our last job
> for
> an Off Broadway show.  Don't be afraid to market your product for a
> decent
> price. Low balling prices hurt everyone in the industry.
>
> If you and another more experienced puppet builder are bidding for the
> same
> job and your price is several thousand dollars lower than the more
> experienced
> builder, the "unknowing" Theatre rep or Joe Smoe is likely to take your
> price, but
>
> (And this is not a slur on your work, I like some of
> the characters I have seen very much, but you yourself say you have much
> to
> learn, so your puppet's manipulation abilities may not be as smooth or
> clean
> as someone's who has been building for a long time)
>
> At any rate, Joe Smoe is not going to know that you are less
> experienced. If
> he doesn't feel that he got what he wanted, or if the puppet doesn't do
> what he thought it would do, and chances are he isn't going to call you
> and
> tell you, he simply won't take a chance on puppets in his shows again.
> Where
> as if you charge a hire rate, there is a certain amount of mentality
> that goes
> with that for a client.  Don't ask why, I truly believe it is human
> nature,
> but if you charge a real price as opposed to what you think you have to
> charge to get the job, your work is respected and so the client
> respects your ability and advise and will call and ask about
> manipulation difficulties that you can then walk them through.
>
> O.K. a long winded answer.  But, the real point is, we used to charge
> what
> we thought we could make in our community.  The Out come: not enough
> jobs,
> few return clients, and a company that almost went out of business.
>
> Now for both our work and our shows we charge on the mid-high end of the
> Philadelphia, PA market and we market as such and to a wider area.  The
> Out come:  Renaissance Artist Puppet Company is finally, after 10 years,
> looking like it is turning the corner into a successful business.
>
> Some of that is time, no question, but much of it is attributed to the
> last
> year of a new marketing strategy and yes, being more aggressive in our
> pricing.
>
> Then if a project crosses your desk that really peaks your interest and
> you
> want to work on it, but the client doesn't have much money, it is a
> choice to
> take the job, not a financial necessity.
>
> Well, that is my two cents.
>
> Liz
> K. Elizabeth Evans, Artistic Director
> Renaissance Artist Puppet Company
>
> Puppeteers of America
> Mid Atlantic Regional Director 2001/03
>
> http://www.RenArtPuppetCo.com
> We provide Puppet Theatre performances and Art Residency programs.
> We can build your Puppets, Props, and Mascots.
>
>
>   --- Personal replies to: Liz Evans <liz-AT-etherboy.com>
>   --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
>   --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
>   --- Archives at:         http://lists.village.virginia.edu/~spoons
>



  --- Personal replies to: "Mathieu" <uubald-AT-magma.ca>
  --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Archives at:         http://lists.village.virginia.edu/~spoons