(chanting) Go Alissa, Go Alissa!

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Posted by Lauren on November 5, 2001 at 03:18:11:

In reply to: Crafty trevails and successes posted by Alissa on November 4, 2001 at 18:56:19:

Sounda like you had quite the day! I'm proud of you, giving that
girl back her money. I'm not sure I would have, but it was the good
thing to do.
If I can suggest a couple things- take I thought of three things
reading your post.
First, take anything you don't want to do out of your design books.
If you feel like you're butchering the Kanji, you (and the customers)
are better off without them. I've had days where nobody came by for
so long that when the guy wanted the Bruins logo, I actually did it.
I packed up and left immediately after, knowing that if I was that
desperate, no amount of money would make me feel like I wasn't
selling out the art form. Of course, I'm a snob and I let that stuff
get to me. You sound blessedly relaxed, but don't do anything you
don't want to do.
Second, you may be undercharging. I charge what I feel are
exorbitant amounts and customers still tell me I'm working cheap. I
price as I go, depending on the design and the customer. If someone
really wants something, you can tell, and give them a break. I used
to charge only a couple bucks for small stuff, but since I set a $5
minimum, I get to do designs that are more fun and interesting to me,
and (in general) I get more people who are interested in more than a
temporary tattoo. It's sad that people value more what they pay more
for, but there's that as well. The first person I got after I raised
my prices was a lady who wanted a small spiral set of footprints in
her palm. It was the work of two minutes, and I was almost
embarrassed to tell her it was $5.00, but she was amazed I would do
it for that amount and went around all day showing her hand off,
totally enraptured and totally satisfied with her purchase. If you
are uncertain about it, and I REALLY was at the beginning, maybe give
it a shot for one event and see what happens, and if you find you get
fewer customers, go back to what has worked in the past. I know I'm
much happier since I raised my prices and it has little to do with
the money I make.
Third, MAN do I sympathize with the breast thing. I had a really
friendly, relaxed kid, so I hauled him around everywhere. If you can
do so, I highly recommend it. Not only will both of you be happier
knowing where each other is, but you will have enforced breaks every
few hours, which is nice even if it's for the time it takes you to
get the baby set up to nurse, you will be more comfortable
physically, and babies are CHICK MAGNETS, and in a business where
chicks are our major customers, that is a great value in itself. My
son used to goo at people waiting in line, and a crowd would form
around his crib even when they weren't around the person being
hennaed. Happy baby, happy customers, happy mom doesn't have to deal
with grumpy people who've been in line too long.

On the other hand, this is late at night for me. I'm probably
rambling. I'm glad to hear your event went so well despite all the
problems. I'm not sure I wouldn't have chickened out. Good job!
: Yesterday I spent 7 hours at a craft show for a local high school.
: Set up was at 8:30 and the doors opened at 9. Realizing I had
: forgotten my table sign and in a panic, I was still improvising a
: makeshift sign and taping pages from my design book to the table
when
: a gaggle of teenage girls walked by and descended upon my books. A
: chorus of "Oh that's so *cool*," and, "Oh man that one is phat!"
: and, "Oh that design is totally sick!" rang out and before 9:00 I
was
: already hennaeing my first hand.
:
: The paste was making me miserable from the get-go. It was clogging
my
: applicator *literally* every 10 seconds. I would lay a line, stop
and
: poke, lay a line, grit my teeth, squeeeze like mad on my napkin,
stop
: and poke. I could barely work and the group around my table was
still
: growing.
:
: Kanji Kanji Kanji - and my Forum friends I heartily apologize for
: what I did to that beautiful language yesterday, it was no where
near
: my personal standards, even if the kids still loved it. Flowery
: bracelets, a skull design, a bat (yup, the girl said she was mad
: about bats) and more Kanji. Then astrology symbols and Gothic
: lettering. Hands, wrists, the web between the thumb and hand, arms,
: necks and lower clavicles were all decorated as the steady stream
of
: questions hit me - how does it work, how long does it last, and the
: never-ending "How much does this one cost?"
:
: Nothing would help the applicator situation - I changed tips, I
: loaded a fresh j-bottle, NOTHING and my hand was shaking from the
: pent up frustration and the stress of keeping the smile on my face
: despite the situation I knew was happening. Finally, I started
: praying for Divine intervention. The internal dialogue went
something
: like this : "Please Lakshmi help me through this. Please help to
: finish this design. Please help me to adorn this person and give
them
: a positive experience. Help me find the calm, help me do a good job
: despite this situation." I used Catherine's breathing tricks to
help
: my hand stay still, my mind calm. Then Ganesha (Remover of
Obstacles)
: prayers ensued. Nothing changed the applicator from not clogging,
but
: I found the mental strength to keep going despite the frustration
at
: hand. That, and switching to the .9 tip which reduced clogging from
: 10 to 15 seconds apart. (I wish I were exaggerating).
:
: Teenagers, then adults with young children (I even hennaed a 5 year
: old who had Dad there to help hold him on his lap, and the boy did
: very good!) The steady stream of people kept pouring at me and
after
: 4 hours, feeling a bit exhausted and by then *praying* for a rest
: from the stress, the last client walked away admiring her design
and
: smiling.
:
: My mother-in-law, whose booth was next to mine, watched her walk
away
: and said in a stern voice, "Alissa! EAt something! Drink some
water!"
: I had gone nonstop, except for a few sips of water between
customers,
: for 4 hours straight. It was now 1:00 and I staggered off to the
: bathroom.
:
: Then, the lonnnng slow stretch set in. The crowd thinned out and
for
: the first time I could stop and look around me at the other craft
: booths. The older gentleman on my other side grumbled to the show
: organizier that no one was buying anything, that all the shows were
: like this so far this year. I *almost* felt guilty for doing so
well
: while others watched the parade of people go by, admiring but not
: purchasing. They agreed it was a sign of the economic times. I
: stretched my back after being bent over for so long and squirmed in
: the metal folding chair, ate a Powerbar and drank some water.
:
: At 2:45 I was ready to call it a day. Nothing had happened in over
an
: hour and a half, and my body was !dying! to nurse our baby -
: unforseen pain in the chest region there, folks. I'd never gone
that
: long before and my overalls were getting more and more puffed up,
if
: you know what I mean.
:
: Then, it started all over again. The same group of girls came back,
: this time with a few new friends and the Kanji, lettering, and
: astrology started all over. Most designs were paltry in price, a
few
: dollars at best, but even with the clogging I could get them out
: fairly fast. I gave in to the dharma and realized that I could use
: the old performer's trick in this situation as well - the audience
: doesn't know it's a mistake unless you "telegraph" that it's a
: mistake to them. Let them think this is how it's done, with me
poking
: my applicator every 15 seconds. Everybody plays, everybody wins.
:
: One girl came back to the table to see her friend who was being
done
: and was bummed b/c her mom had just chewed her out for loaning her
: friend $2 to get a design. I promptly reached in my money pocket
and
: gave it back to her, saying it wasnt worth $2 to me to know she got
: in trouble. She was so shocked she didnt know what to say, and her
: friend was all, "Oh my god that is so amazingly cool! I think I'm
: gonna cry!" And she really did have tears in her eyes. Imagine
that,
: tears over $2. The other teenage girls at the table were awestruck.
: One, who had been exclaiming how incredibly cool I was all
afternoon,
: exuberantly cried out, as only a teenage girl can, "Oh my GOD You
: totally ROCK!!!" She ran to my mother in law and told her how she
: rocked too, just for being related to me, which made Karen laugh
for
: the entire ride home.
:
: At 4:10 I turned away the last client - the show ended at 4, the
: other vendors were either packing up or already gone, & I was
spent.
: I consolled myself (thinking I hadn't made very much doing tiny
cheap
: designs all day) by reflecting on the spreading word of my
services,
: & how the teenage girls swore they would have me over every month
: until the end of the school year for their monthly drill team
slumber
: parties. (Well, in their henna-high they swore I'd be there every
: month, but if even 1 or 2 come along, I'd be glad). Then I counted
my
: money & WoW!!! I had made almost quadruple my booth fee, even if
most
: of it was in 1's & 5's. I felt blessed, especially given the paste
: situation & thanked Lakshmi and Friends for Her (& Their) bounty &
: assistance.
:
: Last night I strained the day's unused leftover henna & was
horrified
: at the chunks that had somehow gotten through the 1st straining. I
: gave thanks yet again, seeing that the paste should've caused me to
: pack it up & give up, & instead I had a trying, but successful, day.
:
: The person I most wanted to jump over my table & smack : Dumpy
woman
: walking by who wrinkles her nose at my sign & says to her
: friend, "Why would I want hot ink poured on me?" Just when you
think
: you've heard ever henna misconception, right? I gave her the I-dont-
: like-you smile and held up my applicator saying, "It's not ink,
it's
: henna & it's not hot or else I couldn't hold it like this, could I?"
:
: The person I most wanted to hug : The teernage girl, in full
ackward-
: posturing-bravado that I remember feeling myself so well,
exclaiming
: entirely too loud "Oh My GAWD You totally ROCK!!!" & running off to
: tell Karen she rocked too & then her friends that the henna chick
was
: so totally cool.
:
: It's fun to be cool, and to be considered cool, ain't it?

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: Sounda like you had quite the day! I'm proud of you, giving that : girl back her money. I'm not sure I would have, but it was the good : thing to do. : If I can suggest a couple things- take I thought of three things : reading your post. : First, take anything you don't want to do out of your design books. : If you feel like you're butchering the Kanji, you (and the customers) : are better off without them. I've had days where nobody came by for : so long that when the guy wanted the Bruins logo, I actually did it. : I packed up and left immediately after, knowing that if I was that : desperate, no amount of money would make me feel like I wasn't : selling out the art form. Of course, I'm a snob and I let that stuff : get to me. You sound blessedly relaxed, but don't do anything you : don't want to do. : Second, you may be undercharging. I charge what I feel are : exorbitant amounts and customers still tell me I'm working cheap. I : price as I go, depending on the design and the customer. If someone : really wants something, you can tell, and give them a break. I used : to charge only a couple bucks for small stuff, but since I set a $5 : minimum, I get to do designs that are more fun and interesting to me, : and (in general) I get more people who are interested in more than a : temporary tattoo. It's sad that people value more what they pay more : for, but there's that as well. The first person I got after I raised : my prices was a lady who wanted a small spiral set of footprints in : her palm. It was the work of two minutes, and I was almost : embarrassed to tell her it was $5.00, but she was amazed I would do : it for that amount and went around all day showing her hand off, : totally enraptured and totally satisfied with her purchase. If you : are uncertain about it, and I REALLY was at the beginning, maybe give : it a shot for one event and see what happens, and if you find you get : fewer customers, go back to what has worked in the past. I know I'm : much happier since I raised my prices and it has little to do with : the money I make. : Third, MAN do I sympathize with the breast thing. I had a really : friendly, relaxed kid, so I hauled him around everywhere. If you can : do so, I highly recommend it. Not only will both of you be happier : knowing where each other is, but you will have enforced breaks every : few hours, which is nice even if it's for the time it takes you to : get the baby set up to nurse, you will be more comfortable : physically, and babies are CHICK MAGNETS, and in a business where : chicks are our major customers, that is a great value in itself. My : son used to goo at people waiting in line, and a crowd would form : around his crib even when they weren't around the person being : hennaed. Happy baby, happy customers, happy mom doesn't have to deal : with grumpy people who've been in line too long. : : On the other hand, this is late at night for me. I'm probably : rambling. I'm glad to hear your event went so well despite all the : problems. I'm not sure I wouldn't have chickened out. Good job! : : Yesterday I spent 7 hours at a craft show for a local high school. : : Set up was at 8:30 and the doors opened at 9. Realizing I had : : forgotten my table sign and in a panic, I was still improvising a : : makeshift sign and taping pages from my design book to the table : when : : a gaggle of teenage girls walked by and descended upon my books. A : : chorus of "Oh that's so cool," and, "Oh man that one is phat!" : : and, "Oh that design is totally sick!" rang out and before 9:00 I : was : : already hennaeing my first hand. : : : : The paste was making me miserable from the get-go. It was clogging : my : : applicator literally every 10 seconds. I would lay a line, stop : and : : poke, lay a line, grit my teeth, squeeeze like mad on my napkin, : stop : : and poke. I could barely work and the group around my table was : still : : growing. : : : : Kanji Kanji Kanji - and my Forum friends I heartily apologize for : : what I did to that beautiful language yesterday, it was no where : near : : my personal standards, even if the kids still loved it. Flowery : : bracelets, a skull design, a bat (yup, the girl said she was mad : : about bats) and more Kanji. Then astrology symbols and Gothic : : lettering. Hands, wrists, the web between the thumb and hand, arms, : : necks and lower clavicles were all decorated as the steady stream : of : : questions hit me - how does it work, how long does it last, and the : : never-ending "How much does this one cost?" : : : : Nothing would help the applicator situation - I changed tips, I : : loaded a fresh j-bottle, NOTHING and my hand was shaking from the : : pent up frustration and the stress of keeping the smile on my face : : despite the situation I knew was happening. Finally, I started : : praying for Divine intervention. The internal dialogue went : something : : like this : "Please Lakshmi help me through this. Please help to : : finish this design. Please help me to adorn this person and give : them : : a positive experience. Help me find the calm, help me do a good job : : despite this situation." I used Catherine's breathing tricks to : help : : my hand stay still, my mind calm. Then Ganesha (Remover of : Obstacles) : : prayers ensued. Nothing changed the applicator from not clogging, : but : : I found the mental strength to keep going despite the frustration : at : : hand. That, and switching to the .9 tip which reduced clogging from : : 10 to 15 seconds apart. (I wish I were exaggerating). : : : : Teenagers, then adults with young children (I even hennaed a 5 year : : old who had Dad there to help hold him on his lap, and the boy did : : very good!) The steady stream of people kept pouring at me and : after : : 4 hours, feeling a bit exhausted and by then praying for a rest : : from the stress, the last client walked away admiring her design : and : : smiling. : : : : My mother-in-law, whose booth was next to mine, watched her walk : away : : and said in a stern voice, "Alissa! EAt something! Drink some : water!" : : I had gone nonstop, except for a few sips of water between : customers, : : for 4 hours straight. It was now 1:00 and I staggered off to the : : bathroom. : : : : Then, the lonnnng slow stretch set in. The crowd thinned out and : for : : the first time I could stop and look around me at the other craft : : booths. The older gentleman on my other side grumbled to the show : : organizier that no one was buying anything, that all the shows were : : like this so far this year. I almost felt guilty for doing so : well : : while others watched the parade of people go by, admiring but not : : purchasing. They agreed it was a sign of the economic times. I : : stretched my back after being bent over for so long and squirmed in : : the metal folding chair, ate a Powerbar and drank some water. : : : : At 2:45 I was ready to call it a day. Nothing had happened in over : an : : hour and a half, and my body was !dying! to nurse our baby - : : unforseen pain in the chest region there, folks. I'd never gone : that : : long before and my overalls were getting more and more puffed up, : if : : you know what I mean. : : : : Then, it started all over again. The same group of girls came back, : : this time with a few new friends and the Kanji, lettering, and : : astrology started all over. Most designs were paltry in price, a : few : : dollars at best, but even with the clogging I could get them out : : fairly fast. I gave in to the dharma and realized that I could use : : the old performer's trick in this situation as well - the audience : : doesn't know it's a mistake unless you "telegraph" that it's a : : mistake to them. Let them think this is how it's done, with me : poking : : my applicator every 15 seconds. Everybody plays, everybody wins. : : : : One girl came back to the table to see her friend who was being : done : : and was bummed b/c her mom had just chewed her out for loaning her : : friend $2 to get a design. I promptly reached in my money pocket : and : : gave it back to her, saying it wasnt worth $2 to me to know she got : : in trouble. She was so shocked she didnt know what to say, and her : : friend was all, "Oh my god that is so amazingly cool! I think I'm : : gonna cry!" And she really did have tears in her eyes. Imagine : that, : : tears over $2. The other teenage girls at the table were awestruck. : : One, who had been exclaiming how incredibly cool I was all : afternoon, : : exuberantly cried out, as only a teenage girl can, "Oh my GOD You : : totally ROCK!!!" She ran to my mother in law and told her how she : : rocked too, just for being related to me, which made Karen laugh : for : : the entire ride home. : : : : At 4:10 I turned away the last client - the show ended at 4, the : : other vendors were either packing up or already gone, & I was : spent. : : I consolled myself (thinking I hadn't made very much doing tiny : cheap : : designs all day) by reflecting on the spreading word of my : services, : : & how the teenage girls swore they would have me over every month : : until the end of the school year for their monthly drill team : slumber : : parties. (Well, in their henna-high they swore I'd be there every : : month, but if even 1 or 2 come along, I'd be glad). Then I counted : my : : money & WoW!!! I had made almost quadruple my booth fee, even if : most : : of it was in 1's & 5's. I felt blessed, especially given the paste : : situation & thanked Lakshmi and Friends for Her (& Their) bounty & : : assistance. : : : : Last night I strained the day's unused leftover henna & was : horrified : : at the chunks that had somehow gotten through the 1st straining. I : : gave thanks yet again, seeing that the paste should've caused me to : : pack it up & give up, & instead I had a trying, but successful, day. : : : : The person I most wanted to jump over my table & smack : Dumpy : woman : : walking by who wrinkles her nose at my sign & says to her : : friend, "Why would I want hot ink poured on me?" Just when you : think : : you've heard ever henna misconception, right? I gave her the I-dont- : : like-you smile and held up my applicator saying, "It's not ink, : it's : : henna & it's not hot or else I couldn't hold it like this, could I?" : : : : The person I most wanted to hug : The teernage girl, in full : ackward- : : posturing-bravado that I remember feeling myself so well, : exclaiming : : entirely too loud "Oh My GAWD You totally ROCK!!!" & running off to : : tell Karen she rocked too & then her friends that the henna chick : was : : so totally cool. : : : : It's fun to be cool, and to be considered cool, ain't it?
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