Word board verses Painted Designs for events

[JennVenn]

Hello all! I have enjoyed reading all of your wonderful tips and tricks. I am scheduled to paint at a free to the public event for several weekends in a row and am in need of display board advice. The client doesn't know exactly how many guests are attending so I don't think I will be super busy. I worked for them prior and I had a slow day and then a pretty busy day. SO all that to say what are your preferred methods in displaying your work for guests to choose from? Word board, Painted faces, or other? Thank you again

[fesspenter]

I prefer working from a Word Board.... then, if I am working with other face painters... we are not stuck painting the same design as everyone else. If it is quiet... I can make it more elaborate.... If it is busy, I can skip a few extra dots and starbursts, and swirls.

xoxox

[Facepainting by Tina]

same as fesspenter, I prefer a word board, especially for free events..then I can let my creativity flow!

[Kal]

I use a picture board with my work on it.

[anniel]

Word Board here...(I had fun with fonts & ding bats to make it more interesting..).

I they want t see a sample of my work I have them look up my website on their phone...

[jlirie]

pictures, i work best with reminders..

[amylady222]

I prefer a word board still because my work isn't consistent enough to do a face close enough to what I posted over and over.

Maybe one day when I get better/work consistently I can take pictures of my work and use those.

That way my clients are not disappointed if their face "don't look like what you posted!" (Even if ALL I posted was my own work--NEVER post anyone elses work)

[anniel]

Amy- for me, it's more fun not to be locked in!

[Denise Cold]

If I'm painting by myself I like to use pictures and I offer a lot of choices. I have even my quick designs painted on faces now. There are a couple of reasons...it saves time with the "what can you do" question. I know how long the designs take me and only offer ones that are about 2-3 minutes and I feel that I get more variety this way (instead of just spidey eye if I use a word board.) I don't like off the cuff illustrating.

Here's an example of what I used with my DIL...it's the few designs I had her learn...all super quick...6 boy and 6 girl. They are pretty classic and we changed up the colors if requested (they are laminated sheets we passed out to the line):



When I'm working with other painters (not one I've trained doing my designs) I like to use a word board so we can all do things a little differently:

[JennVenn]

You are all great thank you for the pros and cons of both Word Boards and Pictures. I like the variety the word board gives but it hard to describe a certain design to someone if they can't see it.
Denise- Love your boards! Thank you for the tips. I have painted faces too but not of my fast faces. I was getting nervous using some of my full face designs in case the event gets slammed last minute.
It is just me working this event each day so I don't have to coordinate with another painter.

[jlirie]

denise - nice spidey eye!

[Denise Cold]

Thanks...it's composite of my favorites from other painters.

[Sweet Loretta]

Word Board is my preferred method.

[Creabella]

Up till now I used a picture board.

[Forest-Fairy]

I have both! though I only ever use one or the other at an event.

When I do Pay Per Face events, I use my picture sign because it's more impressive and I can show off my work a bit more. Some times if I'm doing an event for a new company I'll bring my picture board to look more impressive.

Generally at large events I'll use my word board because then I can scale down my designs to work with the crowd expected and how long my line is.

I can also get more creative if I like and change things up with no expectations from the model on exactly how it should look.

If I'm feeling more generous I'll put the options of "surprise me" or "(your idea here)". Also I can easily change it up for the seasons and had 'themed' ideas, like "fall fairy" or "jack-o-lantern" with out needing to have a picture! Or if there is a design I want to try out, practice more of, or add to my photo sign, then I'll add it to the word choices for that event.

It really is pretty versatile, though it doesn't have the same wow factor as the photo sign. So not suited for pay per face events imo.

Funny story, the last time i had my word sign out a mom criticized my it saying "it's funny you don't have pictures you know, because kids can't read."

My retort? (because you know i'm the queen of snappy come backs  )
"Yes that's some times true, but luckily the kids I paint are with their parents, and most parents know how to read.  "

[LittleMonsters]

Maybe she didn't know how to read your "kids must be accompanied by an adult at all times" sign

[facetheart]

I definitely like the word board. I am normally working with others. So it is the best for we have our own style of crown, mask, princess, kitty, dog they are all different.
Its the easiest, plus then you won't hear I wanted that swirl there.

[vinnie]

It took me forever, but Ive completely done away with displaying my pictures for birthday parties and corporate events. I do maybe one festival a year, I use pictures for that. But there are so many pros when using a word menu! 1, I can choose, depending on how the event is going, to paint as simple or as elaborate as I want without anyone knowing the difference; 2, I can be as creative as I want. I'm not stuck painting the same design over and over again; 3, as my designs change I don't have to worry about updating my board!

[jlirie]

word boards with face paint "clip art" to highlight the type of design is a good idea, best of both worlds.

[pattyofurniture]

Love your board Vinnie! Beautiful!

[Forest-Fairy]

Totally agree with the advantages to word signs. I still keep a book of designs and large photo display signs for festivals. Mainly because the are more eye catching and tend to sell the service better. But word signs are where it's at otherwise. ^.^

OMG Vinnie!!!

PLEASE post the rest of the sign! That is SO cool!

[vinnie]

I'll have to take more pictures of it.  Was really fun putting this board together too. I used a black presentation board from Michael's, chalk markers for the words, and my face paints for the drawings. ☺️ I love that it looks like a chalkboard, and the kids and parents love it. When they realize that I painted it they trust me and get super excited. ☺️

[Forest-Fairy]

totally inspiring!
cant wait to see the entire thing.

i'll have to post photos of my word sign too!

[JennVenn]

Love the Word board Vinnie! Great idea. Quick question, how do you protect the board from the elements if you are painting outside?

[Forest-Fairy]

I bought fitting plastic covers for mine, though I'm not liking how scratched they are getting in transport.

But I change up my sign, I suppose if you had a static sign you could spray it with crystal clear, and maybe even put a coat of Water-based Polyurethane on it for extra measure.

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