First Fair what to Charge?

Okay so I know a couple threads already exist on here about what to charge for face painting at big events.

I got asked to do a art fair, from 10-6 pm. I have never done anything like this before, and I'm trying to practice a little each day. (I can do unicorns by memory now!) But I was curious at what you charged for your first "Big Event"? Is it better to have a lot of options for your first time or only a couple? The town I'm doing it in is pretty small but the guy running it said what I was thinking of charging was too little.

So anyways just curious as to what your first Fair, festival, public event was like?

NOTHING less than $5... I usually do $5 and $8 or $5 and $10 depending on how much I paid for the booth.

ok thank you

Just finished up one today and charged $5, $10 and $15. It was my first festival in a new area so I wasn't sure how we'd do, but we ended up doing fairly well. Made a profit of $1350 after expenses. Had rain today so attendance wasn't great.

I have a book with even $2 and $3 in it. Like the tire threads. which take no more than 2 minutes!. I wish i could charge $10 and $15 but it isn't going to happen in my county. and i love face painting...so My prices are usually $5 or less. O I try to get someone to sponser me....then i paint free...but get tips. And usually that way. I make $75 an hour or more...

There is someone in my area who feels that "no one will pay that much"... I did an event with her one time where we agreed to meet halfway on prices and I was never treated so poorly as when I dropped my prices. People were haggling with me and whining about how "expensive" it was where I hardly ever hear that kind of complaining when my prices are higher. Value your work and the public will too.

I think it's smart to stay above $5 if you hate cheek art. If you have a $3 option, then parents will usually ALWAYS make the kids choose it. (I always have a $3 cheek art option at halloween because I have perfected 8 quick cheek art designs that I can whip out in 90 seconds). So... $3 every 2 minutes is NOT bad. This works out for me at this particular Halloween themed venue, but I steer away from a $3 option most of the time. Making change is a pain that way. You end up with SOOOO many $1 bills at the end of the day also.
Whereas, if your cheek art is the same price as a half face design, then you end up painting half face designs most of the time--which is easier in my opinion. Not a tiny detail person, I guess. lol.

I agree with Perry & Kat.

Don't undersell yourself. I too find cheek art to be more difficult. It's tiny & detailed & doesn't utilize the "canvas" properly.
Take your unicorn, put it on the forehead, add a few flourishes & sparkles to create a mask & VOILA! $5 - easy!

my little unicorn is $5, the mask is $10!!

I agree TOTALLY with Perry and Kat! $5 or more. You charge $2, you get treated like a non-professional. Been there, done that, never again.

Thanks Perry! I'm working with a new painter/potential partner & she seems to be a little iffy about the prices (I'm a flat $5 for everything at this early stage).

I'm dying to transition to body painting & ready to offer wings & face/neck work for higher price points. I'm in Baltimore/DC & could certainly work the art/music/club scene!

Sorry to go off topic there.

Thanks for the input everyone, being as this is the first time I am painting for money it's really hard to think of charging anything higher than a dollar haha... But even the guy who is running the booth pretty much laughed at that amount! So I think I am going to try 3 for cheek art, 5 for masks and 8 for full face designs and cross my fingers! hopefully one day i can get up to 15 and 10 dollar amounts!

be prepared to have people complaining that $3 is SOOO expensive... and take it as a sign that you need to charge MORE. I wish I were kidding... it's so backwards.

yeah that sounds really backwards

Totally and I hate cheek art. But I don't mind hearts and stars. I did $10 for everyhing and I still had a line up. I think you gage it by location.