to work under an agent or not

Hi,
I contemplate weather or not to find an agent to work under in order to get more work, then I am not crazy about not handing out my own cards when working. If you would share your experiences and thoughts on this I would greatly appreciate it. I feel like I can handle the business aspect of it, I'm just not building as fast as I would like.

Dear ninaschau:
I have worked for I Am Living Art, and I hand out her business cards. I have had people ask for MY business card, after I handed them I Am Living Art business cards.
I would rather be ethical. I am in this for the long haul. I am building my business, while I am also making some money to buy more paint/brushes/bling to feed my addiction to paint/brushes/bling.

Every year, my business increases.
Every year, I work on my painting skills.
It takes time.
I like working for others.
I get to breeze into a tent already put up, signage in place, I do not have to handle money. I just get to paint. And, get paid well. I love working with other face painters, too. I always learn something from others.

I bet other face painters will have a different take on this.

Happy Painting!

A good portion of my business last yr (1st full yr) has been my own corporate gigs, a few fairs & Bday parties. Now, I get more & more business from a local bounce house/party place where I can display my own logo & hand out my own business cards, kind of like @ a restaurant gig...so nice! Recently I've been working for a Birthday Party Co. that pays very well. (Petting zoo, pony rides, a train). Their subcontractors include a bounce house, magician, balloon artist, & rock climbing wall. They've been a local business for years & have a huge client base. They asked me not to wear my logo & to pass out only their business cards. That's fine w/me. I'm very grateful to both these companies for the $$$ to help boost my income!
Fesspainer, I still occasionally have to bring my own canopy for big events w/the older CO, but they always help set me up & take it down. I keep waiting for the indoor Bounce house family to decide I shoudn't give out my business cards. After all, I'm in competition w/them... but they're as new as I am at this, so it's still OK w/them!

thanks Lisa and Pat!

Work is work. What do you care as long as you are getting the rate per hour you want. Marketing happens in many ways, if you can't hand out your card on some gigs so what, market in other ways at other times. Besides not all agent gigs disallow you handing out your own cards. There are lots of types of agents.

You are in a pretty populated area being filled with new painters. Curious? How long have you been at this? Are you a full time painter?

There is plenty of work out there, and that same company can always call you to work again if they get the repeat client, which is the way it should work. I work for several other painters in my area when they need help, and they for me. It is a nice perk to work with other painters as well, and there is a lot of freedom in not having to do the booking, handle the paperwork or take care of the client...I would not worry about not handing out your own cards, the shoe will be on the other foot at some point!

I agree with "a face painting mom". I have done a couple of gigs for other painters and handed out their cards. I know what goes around comes around so I am happy to go in with integrity.

thanks everyone, I think ill give it a try,

BTW, Nina...cute cat Avatar! Girls always love those pink n lilac colors & yours is really pretty.

work is work as it has been said. I have worked for others , and I have no problem showing up and painting for someone else I also hire other painters to work for me, and I expect the same respect and ethical behaviour. Networking with one another is about getting work! So many people just do not get that , and instead try to screw some one over to get the job. It is very difficult to run a business all by yourself and be booked every weekend. Get paid for what you love to do, it all works out in the end when everybody behaves nicely

I worked as a team with Deyanne Holmes and Lucia Lew this weekend. This was a PPF event on Saturday, Sunday and Monday for Family Day. This was a grueling weekend.... and one of the finest, most memorable, fun teams I have ever worked with.
Lucia and I were fairly close together, and I kept backing up and boinking into her. On the third day, Lucia felt me boinking into her again, so she reached around and honked me on the behind. It was not me. She honked a clients' mother! Everybody was laughing!
I had a drunken mother plop herself into my chair and demand to be painted. Our line manager was on a rare break. I just wanted her out of my chair. I picked up my brush and proceeded to paint a large coral flower over her left eye, trailing double dipped white and coral daisies and several smaller coral flowers on her right cheek. One flower was almost on her upper lip like a mustache. Off she went. At the end of the day, I told Deyanne and Lucia that I was given that coral paint for a body painting and it stained the model horribly for five days. I like to use it as a "lipstick" for little girls, as it doesn't wipe off as easily as regular face paint. I have tried this paint on myself. I rarely have stains. I did everything to get that paint off my arms and legs and after four days, it had faded a little.
I handed out business cards for the booker left and right. When people wanted to know MY name, I would just tell them to call DJ the clown.
I learned a lot working with these very talented women. I felt like I was a part of a team.
And, if I never paint another soccer ball in my life, I will still be a totally fulfilled woman.
There are a lot of perks working for agents.
Laughing a lot is one of the side effects.

xoxox
Happy Painting!

I agree Lisa, i love working as a team with others. It is so much fun, and i love to laugh

I won't work for agents.

1) there are no agencies based here
2) I have no interest in promoting a business that is located in another region or province that has no ties to my city
3) I am the one who has built up MY reputation locally and I am not removing my signage, covering my car wrap, or withholding my cards in order to take the odd job through some agency that doesn't even know where I am on a map.

I don't pay for listings or referral services either.

Thanks Pat!
and thanks for the great responses