The Side Hustle Show 676: This PE Teacher Started a $150k Side Hustle
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Jun 12, 2025 Tim Carstensen, an innovative elementary PE teacher, started Foam Party All-Stars, a unique mobile foam party business in the Chicagoland area, earning six figures during summer breaks. He shares how he transitioned from gym activities to organizing fun, interactive events for kids. Tim reveals the clever marketing strategies that brought him initial customers and explains the logistics of scaling from one to nine foam setups. He also discusses the benefits of his business model over traditional bounce house rentals and the importance of community support in his entrepreneurial journey.
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Pivot from Bounce Houses to Foam Parties
- Tim Carstensen transitioned from teaching PE to starting a foam party business after researching the saturated bounce house market.
- He discovered foam parties were a niche with lower insurance costs and less competition around Chicago.
Start Small with Quality Equipment
- Start with one foam cannon setup and test the market before scaling your equipment.
- Use professional-grade foam cannons and create a branded, professional setup including barriers and tents.
Use Targeted Postcard Marketing
- Send targeted postcards to nearby daycares, summer camps, and schools to generate leads early.
- Segment your mailing by recipient type for improved response and collect deposits upfront to fund equipment.