Rising costs of fair venues & stalls

Since late last year gigs have really started to increase the price they want me to pay for a stall fee. For example one gig charged $60 for two gazebo's because we were new to that gig, we also had to set up by 8am (due to a bike race being on before the event started) but the actual event didn't start till 10:30am (& finished at 4:30pm so a 6hr gig) so there was a 2 1/2 hr down time of making no money before the gig started. They also said if we chose to do the gig again next year it would be $200 each gazebo & they would also like us to dress in period costume as it is a centenary celebration. A FP friend of mine booked this gig so I couldn't really negotiate the deal. We were charging $5/face & whilst on average painting 10 faces/hr making $50/hr & a possible $300 for the day the $60 stall fee was acceptable. Obviously not if next time they want to charge us $200 per gazebo. Should I be charging more than $5/face? I use the best quality products Snaz, Wolfe, Paradise & TAG & regularily train/practice to always improve my skill, I just paid close to $1000 to go to Melb & do a course with Bec Anthony this amount included my airfair, accomodation, course fee etc. As Tasmania is a small place there aren't heaps of gigs to choose from so the ones that are on really have a monopoly on the stall holders.

Another gig it was $100 & next time it would be $250. Now all that the event is providing is a patch of grass to set my gazebo up on or some concrete to set my table & chairs up on 7 advertising of the event itself. I would honestly think that an event would be very happy to have professional face painting at their event as it really adds to the atmosphere & entertains the children. The local papers always love to have pics of kids with their faces painted from whatever events been on (not necessarily giving credit to the FP, though that's another gripe!).

Is this common with everyone else here???? Do you all pay huge fair/stall fees. Are parents where you are happy to pay a higher price like up to $10. I feel like printing out a sign for the next gig & saying due to very high stall fees I have to charge more /face. But I realise this would only put me in bad light to the organizers, it just makes me so I feel I've ranted enough now, phew that feels a bit better, I would really appreciate your feedback on this, thanks guys.

Full faces are definitely $8 to $10 around here. Everything costs too much money to do it for any less.

Thanks for the reply Perry

The local renaissance faire painters here have super high prices, and I know they pay a whack load in rent for their booth. I don't remember the exact costs but I think they range maybe starting around $10 up to around $25 per design

WOW Metzpah that is heaps. I think I will need to increase my charges / face. Thanks for the reply.

I think it sounds like you have to do some simple math. It's a good business decision to pass or say no to gigs that don't pay reasonably - the venues may listen and reduce their rates if you explain why and that you are a draw and "entertainment" for their event - and if they don't listen , this hopefully leaves your calendar open for more profitable opportunities to come your way. Of course we don't know your market and what parents will pay - hopefully they would still line up if you had to raise your per face fees just to cover astronomically high booth fees....is it worth the risk? Can you afford to potentially lose money? Will it generate birthday referrals and more business? .

I would not work an all day festival to lose money or make $60 after booth fees unless I planned to volunteer myself for a worthy cause (not lining festival management pockets!). Your time, gas, setup labor and materials are worth more. Here, I can work a one to two hour private birthday for $100 to $150 with no tent, table setup or booth fee - so I prefer not to work all day hopeful to paint enough people to break even, onlyt to go home sweaty and sore backed. Good luck in navigating what seems an unpleasant circumstance. Maybe start your own event or festival!!! With reasonable booth/table fees..... to show some of those unscrupulous greedy people how things ought to be done!

Anytime we come across a high booth fee we always offer 10% of our proceeds. then explain by doing it that way they will make more money from us if they advertise well and guarantee us as the only painters at the venue. This way there us no out of pocket expense and and if it is a slow day for us it won't hurt.

Thanks illusionsart great idea.
By the way I love your avatar!!!

Glad to help and thank you