Big events - DO NOT charge £1 per go.
The Big Shows: A Showman's Domain
Generally speaking, most of the prime events are already claimed by seasoned showmen. These grand national shows, such as airshows and renowned fairs like the Great Yorkshire Show, attract upwards of 10,000 attendees and are often planned well in advance. These events are a cornerstone of the traveling showman's lifestyle, providing substantial and predictable income year after year. However, this model does not suit the modern hire company, and it’s certainly not something I would encourage local hire businesses to pursue, especially when it comes to school fetes or county galas. Even then, the event organisers usually have a "commitment fee" or "redundancy fee" to pay in the event of failure of cancellation"
The Reality of Local Events for Hire Companies
Local event organizers often seek an easy, risk-free way to make their events successful, usually with a very small or non-existent budget. This can often come at the expense of a respectful, professional hire company who haven't been around long and are yet to value there own time as a business But I assure you its no longer the done thing and hasn't been for number of years.
Many smaller and newer companies fall into this trap do not understand the significant liability and responsibility that they take on from the committees and school PTA's ect and the lack of earnings they are leaving on the tables. For myself and my hire company, I would not be willing to take on these risks. Instead, I prefer to position myself as a professional outfit from the start and capitalism the risk management.
It really is only the newbies that tend to take the risk and hence the number of requests in the first place. Its our job as hirers to educate the hirer into making a more informed decision and not chancing the children's safety.The organisers know exactly what they are doing and are just chancing it.
To maintain professionalism and ensure fair compensation, it’s crucial to charge standard rates for your inflatables and services. For example, our pricing would be as follows:
- 15ft platform slide: £195
- 2 Part obstacle: £225
- 18x18 castle: £175
- Generator hire: £90 + £6.50 per hour for fuel
- Staffing: £35 per person per hour, with a minimum of 2 staff members for a minimum of 4 hours per event
- Total : £997.50+vat (£1,197)
You will notice thats 50% of the bill is very likely to be made up from professional staffing fees and as such, there is absolutely zero chance that I would ever be able to provide the service free of charge or risk the income for an undersold event or bed weather for example. My hire company used to provide hundreds and hundreds of this types of events in any one year, many resulting as a result of the "freebie for exposure/advertising initial inquiry"
Understanding the Costs and Risks
Owning, maintaining, insuring, testing, and ensuring safety paperwork and staff training for inflatables is not something to be taken lightly. Many newcomers to the industry underestimate these factors and fall into the trap of undervaluing their services. While some may make a small profit, the vast majority fail the hard way. It’s definitely not something we as an industry should be encouraging.
Professionalism Pays Off
My advice is to hold tight, stand your ground, and demonstrate ultimate professionalism in all aspects of your business. Consider the pitfalls that showmen sometimes face, such as being offered better events on the day or not turning up in the event of bad weather. To put things into perspective, in my last year of trading as a hire company, I turned over well over £140,000 from local events of this nature.
Value your company and act accordingly. By maintaining high standards and professionalism, you can ensure your business not only survives but thrives. Don't fall into the trap of undervaluing your services or taking unnecessary risks. Instead, focus on building a reputation for quality and reliability, which will pay off in the long run.
I hope this helps and wish you luck for the coming season.
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