At the risk of taking the thread in a family-unfriendly direction, are these mermaids clothed above the waist?
If not, I think I can imagine where some of the mermaid demand might be coming from...
Otherwise, not to discount mermaid performance artistry, but I just don’t get the point of the “profession”.
Fishing pole dancers?
Decorated bikini tops generally. And as for the point, it’s an entertainment profession, they’re kind of all pointless but the world would be dull without them.