Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Sketching and Sugar Painting
Finally, everyone split into two groups.
Gu Chi’s group and Gu Ran’s group went to perform while the other two groups went to survey the market.
But before that, Tuanzi looked pitifully at the staff, "Boxed lunch, give us boxed lunch, it’s already noon, we need food!"
The other kids almost burst into tears; they were hungry too.
Luckily, there was an advertiser, and the crew could still afford boxed lunches. Of course, most of the funds were spent on various equipment.
It’s tough working on a live broadcast show; the prices of all kinds of equipment are quite lovely.
Most of the guests wolfed down their food.
Gu Ran sighed, "Mental work is tiring too!"
Ai Jie: "I feel I could eat another box."
For the first time, Tuanzi didn’t complain about the vegetables and sincerely finished the bok choy from her boxed lunch.
After eating cleanly, a chicken leg appeared in her lunch box.
She looked up in surprise to see Gu Chi eating slowly.
"No need, no need, Miaomiao can go get another box."
She put the chicken leg back and said seriously, "Later, when you do sketches, it’ll definitely be exhausting, you need to eat more, perform a lot, and earn a lot."
After returning the chicken leg, she ran like a gust of wind to the staff responsible for handing out boxed lunches, "Uncle, do you have extra? Miaomiao wants another one."
The staff smiled and handed her a box, "Eat your fill."
"Mhm mhm, eat more to earn big money performing!"
After eating, Gu Chi took out materials like sketchpads and drawing paper.
Tuanzi seized the chance to praise him, "Brother Gu Chi really knew what to expect, bringing along drawing materials in advance."
Yi Heng was about to head out, saw this scene, and smirked, "Mr. Gu, did you always plan to sell paintings?"
Gu Chi smiled with squinted eyes, not saying much.
Tuanzi tilted her head and thought a bit, why did this person talk so sarcastically? Not a fan.
She pouted, "Because it’s a zero funding makeover, Miaomiao was prepared to perform, and brother was prepared to sell paintings, isn’t that good? Little money isn’t just going to fall from the sky."
Yi Heng smiled meaningfully, "So you two siblings were prepared from the start, quite clever."
After speaking, he exited.
[Wait, why is his tone so sarcastic]
[He’s mocking Miaomiao and her brother for intentionally stealing the spotlight]
[Right, this way, the camera will be on them. Didn’t think they’d be so opportunistic]
[Learned something, turns out earning money seriously is called opportunistic]
[In that case, Gu Ran deliberately brought sugar painting tools which is also opportunistic, Ai Jie brought lots of colored paper, and her kids prepared to fold small animals to sell for money, also opportunistic]
[People who didn’t prepare clearly don’t care about the show]
The performance group arrived at the business street.
After discussing, they decided to gather and perform together.
Gu Chi set up the sketchpad, Gu Ran only brought tools, the cart was borrowed by the crew, and the money for buying sugar was borrowed by the crew too.
The two kids decided to help their parents with shouting first.
"Brother Gu Chi, Aunt Gu, how much do you plan to sell for?"
Gu Chi was prepared early, sitting leisurely on a small stool, "A quick sketch Q head for 5 yuan per person, each additional person adds 5 yuan. Normal sketch from the neck up, small paper 15 yuan, each additional person adds 10 yuan, large paper 30 yuan, each additional person adds 20 yuan. I won’t sketch half-body or full-body."
With his speed, a simple outline-only Q head that highlights main features can be done in 5 minutes. Other portraits take 10 to 15 minutes. A half-body sketch would take at least half an hour, which is really unnecessary.
Tuanzi’s mouth gaped open, "Isn’t that too cheap?"
Her understanding of 5 yuan was a bowl of noodles or three meat buns.
She’d finish three meat buns quite soon, but a portrait can be kept for a long time.
Gu Chi grinned, "It’s just a sketch, it doesn’t involve coloring, and there’s not much detail embellishment, no need for high pricing, I’m just practicing sketching casually, in case I get rusty."
Pausing, Gu Chi added to the camera, "I’m only selling usage rights, I will make it clear to customers before they purchase."
[Even so, isn’t it quite cheap?]
[Yeah, the ones I order online are quite expensive]
[No, these are different, most commissioned drawings online are premium heads, they have drafts, outlines, coloring, very refined, street sketches mostly use pencils, they’re fast, not particularly refined]
[Oh, oh, thanks for the clarification at the front]
[I just find Gu Chi quite down-to-earth; after all, he has a bit of fame and brought a few students, yet he’s willing to do street sketches without using his fame to set higher prices]
[Anyway, some artists do street sketches, it’s called observation. They don’t overprice because people here don’t know him, if it’s overpriced no one buys, low prices attract crowds]
[Suddenly I want to order a real Q head, just five yuan, cheaper than milk tea, boo hoo hoo, why am I not in Sea City]
During the chat with his sister, Gu Chi casually sketched two kids’ Q heads.
"Here, you can use them for promoting."
The two kids took their respective portraits.
"Nice, big eyes!" Tuanzi couldn’t stop praising, "Brother Gu Chi’s drawing skills and Miaomiao’s cuteness achieve this picture."
Gu Chi nodded with a smile, "Yeah, you’re very cute."
Gu Jiujiu stared at her portrait, suddenly walked over to Gu Ran, "Mom, if I help later, can I have some pocket money?"
"Of course you can."
As for Gu Ran, she carefully borrowed a phone from the staff to investigate market conditions.
Apart from some tourist spots, night markets would sell sugar paintings at high prices, generally, the street stall price was 5 yuan for small ones and 10 yuan for big ones.
And a skilled hand could complete a small one in under 30 seconds.
Gu Ran cautiously said, "Hmm, for the first 100 customers, small ones 3 yuan, big ones 8 yuan. If the price is too high, then small ones 2 yuan, big ones 5 yuan."
The two kids were stunned.
"This discount happened too fast, right?" It dropped by half!
Gu Chi encouraged, "Mrs. Gu could try making one first before setting the price."
Gu Ran only learned the simpler patterns from her father back then, not complex ones.
She straightforwardly painted a little cat.
"So cute!"
Tuanzi took it, bringing her nose close, gently sniffing, hesitant to eat it.
Soon, Gu Jiujiu got a little dog.
The two kids exchanged a glance and smiled happily.
Gu Chi also smiled and said, "Then for the first 100, small ones 3 yuan, big ones 8 yuan. Mrs. Gu’s craft is pretty good."
"Alright then, we’re off to promote."
The two kids quickly ran a few meters away, ready to shout.
[Gu Ran is truly a hidden talent]
[Her sugar painting skills aren’t too different from what I’ve seen before]
[Haha, probably practiced a lot privately to get those patterns right]
[I bet she can only do these few types]
[Even if she only does a few types, practiced secretly for a long time, so what? For the camera, so what? She’s working hard using labor to earn money for renovating the villa, I truly admire her]
[But she’s so confident, is she sure she can sell all 100?]