This transcript was generated from the episode audio and may contain minor errors.
[Music]
Well, you know how much I enjoy hearing different ideas for side hustles. Got a fun one for you today. Today's caller is taking a leap of faith with a new and unique idea for a mobile adventure park. Mobile adventure park. I don't know if it's an acronym, like a map, but the idea of, well, they're gonna describe it better.
You know, essentially team building events, other outdoor activities, but in the form of, you know, bringing this adventure park to you. Now, of course, starting a business from scratch, especially something that has a lot of overhead can be overwhelming and expensive. So how can our caller Mary make her vision a reality on a low budget? Hey, I love that thinking. Welcome to Side Hustle School.
My name's Chris Guillebeau, the detailed question, and my answer coming right up. [Music]
This is Mary calling from Atlanta. I found the show from a friend who is also a small business owner. As for me, I really enjoy outdoor activities, and after organizing several successful events, I've been thinking of a mobile adventure park. I can't get that idea out of my head.
I envision it for corporate teams and other events where I bring the park to you. It's more like an RV than a park, but the point is adventure. If I decide to try it, how should I proceed? I also need to do this on a low budget if possible. [Music]
Hey Mary, great name, that's my sister's name.
So I always enjoy meeting another Mary. It's great to have you on the show as well. All right, so you are thinking of starting a mobile adventure park. Sounds like you've already got some experience organizing outdoor events, which definitely helps. So what comes next?
Step number one, as I see it, first step is a big step here. Let's define the idea a bit more. Like what is a mobile adventure park? I keep imagining a roller coaster that folds up into a food truck, but that might be a little ambitious and also kind of scary. I'm not sure I wanna ride on that roller coaster.
So I'm guessing there might be fewer big rides and more theme park entertainment, stuff that is a little bit more compact and perhaps cost less to put together. Whatever it is, I do like what a mobile adventure park signifies, I just think, let's define it a bit more. So good branding, but what are we actually trying to do? Practically speaking here. And then of course, second, you wanna know your market.
Let's identify some target customers. I think it's a smart idea to focus on corporate events or team building that is a good market or potentially a good market for something like this. So understanding who they are and where to find them, how to market your service effectively, that's gonna be a pretty critical part of the planning as well. You might want to consider partnering with some other local businesses. You might wanna partner or just consider, partner with a local hotel or an adventure gear retailer, like an REI or an REI like business that can offer packages to include the mobile adventure park.
And then, since Mary is looking at starting this on a low budget, I wonder what kind of alternative financing options might be a good idea, perhaps crowdfunding. It does seem like a pretty cool Kickstarter, IndieGoGo project, the mobile adventure park that also creates more of a story, perhaps generates more media interest. I think you definitely need to do something creative with this to get it off the ground. So I am excited to see what happens, whether this is, let's see, I think Mary's in Atlanta, wherever it turns out to be, I guess it doesn't matter because it's gonna be mobile, right? Okay, yeah, the mobile adventure park can travel.
Mary, good luck with everything. Listeners, if you've got a question, sidehustleschool.com/questions. I'll continue to feature them each week, along with updates from listeners like Mary as they launch and grow their projects. That's all for today. My name's Chris Guillebeau.
This is "Side Hustle School." [Music]
From the Onward Project.
