Classes at Michael's? Anyone else annoyed?

Maybe I'm alone in being miffed at this....but not only does Michael sell face paint and glitter tattoo supplies now, it is also giving classes in it. I keep thinking that for every kit they sell, I'm losing a customer or two. For their birthday parties, it sure would be cheaper for a mom to just go buy a kit and do the FP themselves, rather than pay my hourly rate. I know there's nothing I can do about it, but I can't help but die a little inside every time I see the huge display at my local Michael's.

Doesn't bother me too much. Do you know how many times I've been hired and rehired by a mom who tried it once, determined it was a terrible idea, and never did it again? Tons...

Totally agree with Whitney... I guarantee those moms try it once, realize how difficult it is... not to mention the fact that they're tied down struggling with face paint, rather than keeping an eye on kids and all those other birthday party duties... next time they'll call the professional.

Face painting is easy to do.
Face painting is hard to do well.
Most birthday parties I have done in the recent past, the mums have all been artistic, attempted face painting unsuccessfully. Then, they call me.
I say to those "Michael's-Schooled Face Painters" Keep'em coming"! They make me look really great.
xoxo

Thanks, that makes me feel better! The folks in my area are really cheap, and I've had a hard time getting them to book me....and my hourly rate is low. I know they'll all try it first.

Ill be honest.. I am a mom who likes to dabble in the face paint on my daughter who is 3 and would love to make an extra dollar or two to support my habit. BUT if its my daughters birthday you can bet I would definitely spend money on a face painter rather than spend her special day painting faces and not spending that time with her on her special day... The people on this site have such immense talent and creativity and professionalism I really dont think you have anything to worry about...

I have tried doing the clown thing for my own daughter's party and I don't really want to do it again (I may have to though, to be fair to the other one)... being mommy AND clown AND face painter AND balloon twister AND host .... yeah, it wasn't fun... like at all.

Just face painting at the party without all the rest isn't quite as bad, but if anyone after ONE class at a craft store with whoever they happened to find to teach it, thinks that they can do even close to as good a job as I can after almost 4 years of doing this multiple times a week and taking repeated classes with some of the best in the business... they can GO FOR IT.... and call me to do it next time. Painting a bumpy and moving target is a little different than a canvas no matter how artistic you are.

I don't think it's the moms you have to worry about because of all the birthday party duties everyone else mentioned. However, the grandmas and aunts who are taking the classes, that's a different story. I know several aunts and grandmas who are giving their face painting skills as presents for their grandkids, nieces, nephews etc. It saves the families money and it's fun. It doesn't bother me because I understand where they're coming from and if I don't do what I do, I may try the same thing.

I couldn't paint at a party after only one class! It's taken me years of practicing and practicing and ...yes... more practicing! The best that could happen is they master one single design. Who wants 15 kitty faces running around? We all know how you can prepare special designs and then the kids want something totally different. Last Easter, I did only one bunny! I practiced that darn bunny so many times and only got to do it once. I'm doing an event tomorrow and I haven't bothered with learning Easter designs cuz I know the kids will ask for what they like.

Oh... it is annoying to see that and I hate seeing the little face painting and glitter tattoo kits. What we do is specialized and artistic. We have to relealize it for what it is...art. I can buy steak and scallops at the grocery store but I can't make the magic that my favorite restaurant chef can! I'll pay dearly for that magic, any day (I can afford it)

!

The professional cake makers hate that they have fondant classes and stuff there too, but there will always be demand for the real professionals in all of those areas and the do-it-yourselfers don't want to pay for us anyway.

thanks,. everyone. thought provoking answers. I appreciate it!
You're the best....and that's why you are professionals!

LoriSamson wrote:I couldn't paint at a party after only one class! It's taken me years of practicing and practicing and ...yes... more practicing! The best that could happen is they master one single design. Who wants 15 kitty faces running around? We all know how you can prepare special designs and then the kids want something totally different. Last Easter, I did only one bunny! I practiced that darn bunny so many times and only got to do it once. I'm doing an event tomorrow and I haven't bothered with learning Easter designs cuz I know the kids will ask for what they like.

I feel you on the bunny. I only painted one bunny this Easter season and I did two egg hunts.

Yes, thanks for this post. I was annoyed (I'll admit) to see the glitter tattoo kits at Michaels. I think the face paint was sold out. I bought a little glitter tattoo brush set because I was in a jam. I hated it. The brush hairs kept coming out. I have a love/hate relationship with Michaels. It's gotten worse since their brand has gotten so cheap (poor quality). Oh well.

Those brushes are the worst. But I like the glue they sell (tulip brand, I think). I'll buy it with a 40% off coupon.

I just lookedup our area about classes. All I saw was about a 2 hour event hosted by tulip this month.

I just saw something about it here too... I'm hoping most of them take the class, realize how hard it really is and value our talents even more afterward

Well, the glitter tats are so easy, a monkey could do them. LOL

granted, but it is a big investment to get as many stencil and colour options as most people have who do them professionally.

TRUE!

yeah I saw that our michaels was having a 2 hour class on glitter tattoos also

I don't concern myself with those products or the classes. Most people taking those classes are no where near the skill level most seasoned artists have reached. I can't tell you how many times clients booked solely on how much they loved my work, and no concern as to what my rates were.

This too shall pass just like the products being sold. The places here most of those products are discontinued and in the clearance bin.

I have noticed the classes at michaels, and the photos they use for just the advertising to get people to sign up makes me cringe.

I almost want to contact them and offer to teach it, but ALMOST is the key word. Why train people to be my competition?

I'm not worried about it.

One of my friends who works at Michael's told me they were looking for someone to do the face painting classes and thought I should apply... but I decided not to for several reasons.

First... I work full-time, so I'm not even available on weekdays. And I'm sure not going to turn down weekend gigs to teach a class for $10.60 an hour!

Secondly... I don't think I could teach using Tulip face paints without completely bashing the product (after reading about the terrible staining).

And of course there's the whole competition thing.

Overall, it seems like a bad idea.

If they do the face paint class with the tulip paint there's going to be some angry moms when their daughter asks to be painted in purple and teal and it takes DAYS to wash off!

I also tried to be face painter and hostess for my own daughter's birthday party. Not only was it stressful for me, but my hubby was getting awful annoyed that he had to do everything because I was painting all her friends! Like the others said, it may give them a taste of what we do, but without the passion to pursue it as a career, those one hit wonder moms will never put us out of business.