I Started a Business

 

I have felt for a long time that I would like to be more entrepreneurial. I have read a bunch of books on starting a business but I never felt like I had the right idea or the timing didn't seem optimal. When my dream of living in Japan was shattered, I started thinking more seriously about what I wanted to do when I moved back to Canada. It's been fun teaching the last 8ish years but teaching in Canada has never really interested me so last year during the pandemic, I started mapping a return to Canada plan.

I started with what I thought I was good at. (That brainstorming session didn't last long) I like teaching but I don't love giving kids homework or grading their tests. I like being outside. I like making people laugh and I also like to party. Where does that leave me? I also had to consider something with a low startup cost and something I would enjoy doing every day. I began thinking of jobs that I could still be around kids but not have the responsibility of being their full-time teacher. Another thought I had was this:

What do people spend a lot of money on? I came up with their pets and their children. 

Ok, so I'm looking for a job that is similar to teaching, a little more laid back where I can run a business that parents will pay me money for. So I started looking at birthday party businesses in New York and Los Angeles. I felt like those places probably have fun and unique ideas that might not have been brought to Canada yet. I found a lot of princess party businesses, bouncy castles, superhero-themed parties, STEM-related activities, and lots of cooking-based birthday party classes. Those are all fine ideas but they didn't grab my attention until I stumbled upon birthday parties that involved kids playing with bubbles. Everyone loves bubbles. I discovered that kids were being put into bubbles, kids were playing, making, and popping their own bubbles and it seemed like everyone was having a great time. There were a few of these bubble performance birthday businesses and it intrigued me. These parties can be done in parks, in someone's backyard, or even in their homes.  This seemed like a good way of not having to rent out a physical store and being outside is way more enjoyable than being inside; seems better for kids to be able to play around outside and get kid wild. 

After having a solid lead on wanting to bring bubbles to Canada, I searched bubble performers in Ottawa and Toronto. There are a few in Toronto but none in Ottawa; I was onto something. If it worked in other places, why not Ottawa? I reached out to a few people online who already had this job and asked them for advice and to meet me on Zoom. One lady agreed and I asked her many, many questions. After a few meetings and paying her in Amazon gift cards, she referred me to another bubbleologist who has been active in this career for over 40 years. At the end of our first meeting together, I asked him, "Do a lot of people message you and ask you for advice on how to start a bubble business?" His response was, "No, nobody has ever done this." I'm either a genius or an absolute idiot. 

Now that I had met with two people, I had the confidence to think this was a good idea and that I wanted to start my own birthday party business that focused on bubbles. I looked on Amazon for every type of bubble toy, the best solution, and any other supply that could help me make my new business a success. The purchases began in the fall of 2020 and has been going pretty steady since then. Coming home was like Christmas morning will all of these unopened Amazon packages. Since arriving back in Ottawa, I have been experimenting with the best bubble solutions, best toys, outdoor tricks, putting a kid in a bubble, and learning more about the science behind bubbles. 

I have done a few shows in Ottawa by messaging people via Instagram. I have done a couple of outdoor birthday parties and it seems like people have enjoyed it. Now that the weather is getting cooler, I am working on my indoor shows that involve different bubble tricks, bubble arts and crafts, and other bubble-related activities. My goal is to keep doing shows this winter, grow, eventually hire people to help me and build a bubble empire. If you are in Ottawa and need some birthday entertainment, I am your guy. Or if you know anyone that might find this interesting, please let them know. You can follow me on Instagram @bubblebirthdays or check out my website www.bubblebirthdays.com

"This is better than a magician." Random kid at a park.