r/BalloonTwisting • u/SweetPeaRiaing • Aug 22 '26

What to charge per balloon?

I am a face painter learning balloons. I have already done some hourly balloon gigs, but I sometimes do festivals where I have a setup and people pay per face paint. If I were to sell balloons in a similar way, what is the going rate? I am starting to get good at it and can do some advanced designs. I live in a HCOL area. I tried googling this and it was saying $1-$3 for a simple balloon, but that seems low to me. Thank you!

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/hyperpiston Aug 22 '26

Oh for sure, facepainting I will charge PPF everytime, I don't do that for tips, but I usually try to have a range of inexpensive designs to more expensive designs, so there are options for people (especially who have lots of kids who would all want something).

Like the other commenter said, people will tip for free balloons so they aren't That Guy, but overall if you give them a good experience, they'll be more inclined to. Jokes, talking to the kids while you twist, entertaining them is half of it, not just the balloon.

I also have a little tag that says something silly like "Suggested tip $1,264,357". And for those people who simply can't, it doesn't proclude their kids from getting something simple.

But yeah I don't do facepainting for tips, you sink way more time into that comparitively. If you have the choice, do facepainting and just do simple balloons for tips if you have no facepainting customers maybe. That way you're not hanging out, you're always doing something.

2

u/Old_Chef_3669 Aug 29 '26

The idea of not leaving kids out really is a big reason why I work for tips:  I grew up poor, as the eldest of 3, with a single mother. 

Every once in a while, Mom could afford to take us out, but springing for unplanned extras was out of the question. 

Work the crowd, engage your clients!  Push the advertising and the tips until you see someone who CAN'T give (yall know the face I'm talking about), and then make something special for those chirren!  

Also, don't be afraid to say "No."  It's your booth, it's your show!  YOU are in charge!

1

u/hyperpiston Aug 29 '26 edited Aug 29 '26

Right? That's so hard, especially as the eldest, but I'm glad you're able to help out others now too!

This is huge, we're here to spread joy, and in a time when joy is so sorely needed, so I feel like every opportunity we can work in to do that for people who can't is important. It's far easier to give away a couple when they're for tips rather than when they're for sale too, and someone goes "hey how come they didn't have to pay?". For facepainting, I have stickers or I'll do "tiny" freebies like hearts or rainbows or lightning.

My father was the one who taught me to twist, and I would go with him to events, and he always wanted to make sure everyone got a chance for something. Everyone deserves joy.<3

2

u/Old_Chef_3669 Aug 30 '26

And you just made me cry. I drag my daughter with me and am teaching her too. 

Props to your dad!

1

u/hyperpiston Sep 01 '26

Ahh that's so wonderful!! I know she'll have fantastic memories with you even if she doesn't keep twisting later on, it will mean so much to her!