How to become a professional mermaid in New Zealand
1. Children’s parties– Mermaids are a mythical creature beloved by children and they are often requested as party entertainment. In New Zealand, these gigs involve swimming with kids, playing games with them, answering their questions, taking photos with them, singing to them, or maybe reading a book to them. There are many things mermaids can do at a kid’s party.
2. Beach/pool party/luxury event- During the long New Zealand summers, professional mermaids are great for captivating party guests. They add a little magic to an ordinary event. Sometimes they are there for the visual appeal and ambience they provide. Professional mermaids will do parties where they swim with guests, hang out and chat with them, and take photos with them. For a dry event, the mermaid will not be swimming.
3. Festivals– The party can last days when it comes to festivals! Mermaids will be paraded, will perform in a tank, put on a show, or just do meet and greets. Since mermaids are colorful, exciting, and often sparkly, they make a great addition to any festival.
4. Teaching mermaid swimming lessons– Teaching lessons or doing workshops on how to swim like a mermaid and wear a tail with a monofin are other ways you can make money as a mermaid. You get to swim in your tail to demonstrate, but you also can network this way. Someone may inquire about hiring a mermaid and then you can promote yourself and your other services. In New Zealand, mermaid lessons are a great activity for bachelorette parties and birthday parties. Providing tails and doing a workshop to teach about mermaid swimming creates a fun and memorable experience, with plenty of photo ops.
5. Acting/modelling- Mermaids are used in all kinds of media, from shows to ads and commercials, and for photography and art. If you have acting skills or are comfortable posing for long periods of time, then this may be the kind of mermaid work for you. For good swimmers being a stunt double for aquatic scene in a movie is a way to make great money!
6. Aquarium performer- Some aquariums have mermaids swimming in their tanks, although this part of the industry has yet to take off in New Zealand. This involves being surrounded by real ocean life, sometimes even sharks. Aquarium mermaids entertain guests by swimming around, doing tricks, waving, and blowing bubble kisses to guests. Sometimes aquariums will do mermaid meet and greet where you can take pictures and talk to a mermaid.
7. Brand ambassador/influencer- You can use your online mermaid platform to make money just by representing a brand or company. Influencers are enthusiastic individuals who use their expertise in a subject to affect purchasing decisions. This involves regularly posting to social media and keeping followers engaged on a specific subject, whether mermaids, environmental activism, a product, or a clothing brand. Brand ambassadors can make a commission when people invest in what they advertise.
8. Mermaid Boss – Running your own mermaid business is a great way to diversify your income on top of being a mermaid at events, you can sell mermaid products like mermaid tails, join affiliate programs and make commissions (check out Aquamermaid affiliate program). Build a team of mermaids and book a lot of events and mermaid swimming lessons. Renting your mermaid tail can be a good source of income.
9. Athlete/competitive mermaid – Show of your swimming skills and breath-hold at local, national, and international competitions. Perform choreography in a giant aquarium with technical moves. Check out the World Mermaid Championship. Also, there are other contests like Miss Mermaid International, a pageant competition including underwater posing, breath-holding/distance swimming, catwalk, and talent show. Those competitions offer you the opportunity to travel. Win titles and notoriety to later get sponsorship and a product endorsement contract. This helps you to build your personal brand to get more mermaid contracts.
Being a mermaid for a living might sound like a dream come true, but it takes more than a magic spell to make it happen. Being a mermaid is no walk in the park, or shall I say swim in the sea. Like anything, it requires hard work, dedication, and motivation. The first step in becoming a professional mermaid is obviously to become a mermaid at all.
To become a mermaid:
- Be a good swimmer
- Get a tail and monofin, get comfortable in it, and practice swimming in it
- Work on underwater tricks
- Practice breath-hold
- Practice posing on land and in water
- Make or buy mermaid accessories for your costume
- Ensure you hold an advanced mermaid certification through a reputable orginisation
