how do you determine what your rate will be

I noticed that many of you have a "call me and we'll talk" rate policy. So how do you decide what to charge larger events or parties? Is it the number of people? Do you have a set amount no matter how many people? What are your deciding factors?

$125 1-1 1/2 hours. $75 each additional hour.

I like this because I'm usually needed for more than 1 hour, but not usually 2 hours. This helps avoid painting kids multiple times.

Corporate is $60/hr

Not-for profits I use Metina's 3 scenario plan, but for straight pay I do $50/hr.

Balloon Twisting is always $25/hr as an add on to face painting(my daughter does it).

so after your 1.5 hours you stop? or how do you deal with ending.

and its the same even its like a festival? as opposed to just an event with 100 people?

and how do you handle birthday parties? Right now I'm charging $80 for up to 15 kids (everyone gets painted) and $5 each additional kid. I know I'm not charging enough, but i don't know how to work it so everyone at a birthday party gets painted.

HELP ME!!! Im going nuts over here trying to re vamp my pricing so it makes more sense and i dont feel like im floundering when tryin to figure it out.

just curious how do you keep track of "each additional kid" while you are busy painting.

do those of you that paint by numbers (ha that is funny) tally the kids. i know that you can confirm numbers beforehand. just wondering what process you use.

seems to me that flat rates woudl be easier to manage

teri

I use carnival tickets, i give the host 15 when i get there and if she needs more she buys them from me.

I want to Switch to flat rates. I just don't have any clue what would be fair.

If you go to a birthday party that haws 30 kids, and They only book me for an hour, do I tell the other kids "sorry, I gotta go"!

Ri

How many kids can you paint in an hour?

good question. I've never really checked. It takes me about 8 Minutes to do a full face tiger or a large 2 eye design. sooo....i guess since not everyone wants larger designs, like 10 people per hour?

I guess I can just tell them how many people I can do in an hour and have them book per hour keeping this in mind. hmmm...

That is what I do... I say "My rate is $70 for the first hour and $30 each consecutive hour" (which may need to be raised soon) and then I ask about how many kids they will be having... If they say 1-10 kids I say they should book 1 hour and 11-20 2 hours etc.. etc..

ok, so this is what I did compared to what I do now:
When I started, I could do about 8 kids an hour so I charged $50/hr now I know thats low, but I was begining and those that charge more could usually do twice as many faces/hr. So It basically came out the same as in $100 for 2hrs (16 kids) compared to a "pro" at $100 for 1 hr (15 kids).

I now charge $100/hr within 10 miles from my location and let them know I can do about 15/hr. I make sure that I tell them to have me come at a time where most of the guests will be there without other activities that may get in the way. I usually dont like to charge a general amount and stay so all kids get painted b/c all the kids dont show on time ex it could take me 3 hours to paint 20 kids that way and what if I have another gig afterwards? I dont want to have to deal with a parent that says I paid for 20 participants and you only did 14 so you have to stay for the rest to come or give me back some money blah blah blah.

So If I tell a client that I can do all 25 of her guests within 2 hours then thats what I do. If all the kids are there when I start and I see that it will take me an extra 10 min to finish, then I will stay those extra min b/c its my fault. BUT if there are kids missing/ coming late (and there are times when you aren't painting so I grab some adults to fill in the time) just when I'm packing up then I still have to go. If I have extra time between gigs or it's my only/last one then I ask the host if she would like to extend my time by 1/2 hour increments (usually I offer this to them when the book so they know about the option). So yeah thats me...

ok. so i added to my services page that i can do 7-10 kids an hour and to keep it in mind while scheduling. I said Birthdays are $75 first hour and $30/hr after that.

events $100 first and $50 after.

I'm so bad at charging people money. I alway want the booking so bad I'm almost like "what do you WANT to pay me."

Oh yeah, so my base price is $100 and depending on the time/distance traveled to get to a location it will go up. Say the driving distance is 30 min so thats 1hr total time traveled, my price would probably go up to $115 or so; 1.5hr =$125ish, etc...

I ask how many kids they will have so that I can let them know what how many I can do in the time requested. There is usually a 2hr min for places that are about 30 min away.

I give them a discount after 2hrs of service so say for 4 hours would be start at $75-100/hr depending on the distance.

Corporate is usually $75/hr or same as my regular rate as long as they are within 10 miles and also depends on the company.

If my price doesnt work with them, I ask what their budge is so that i can work it and offer something that works for the both of us.

Yeah I feel that way too when I have empty slots that I want to add. Thats why I ask what their budget is. Say someone who lives litterally 10 min can only pay $150 for about 20 kids, I think thats totally do-able. I give them up to 2 hours for $150 or 20 kids (whichever ends first). $150 for 2 hours 30 min away? hmmm depends on how bad I want it (ie "is it worth it?"). If yes then go for it, if not then dont accept it. it's your business so you can take on whatever job you want.

I'm usually done by 1.5 hours. My contract keeps the client in the parameters as it states that if there's a large volume of extra children, the client will be charged for extra time. They are often pushing me out the door to avoid a fee & if I do stay & do just a few more(1-3kids), they feel grateful & often tip. I live in a large city where I usually drive 45 min. to get to a party. So, rather than charge a travel fee I've just included it in the cost of my services($25 of my $125). Now, if it's a gig 1.5 - 2 hours away I'll charge a travel fee(not just for the gas, but it locks out any other parties that day).

Corporate is a flat $60/hr(I'd love to make it more, but I've found the market just won't hold up to higher).

I charge the same for balloons across the board, because it's such a consumable product compared to face paint. Glitter tattoos are even more.

when I estimate I estimate 4 min per kid knowing some will take 2 min some will take 6 - some won't get painted. That' how I figure the time. Then I have my rate per hour. So for ex if you have 15 kids=1 hour X $100 rate per hour. You need to judge the crowd when you get there if there are more kids count them and either discuss the terms of the contract or don't take out your book and paint what's easy and fast for you. Events are a whole other ball game. There is an additional fee for long transportation etc. I need to recoup my expenses, prep time, adv, etc. and still make a profit so I can pay my bills. Treat it like a business and you will have a business, treat it like a hobby and you will have a hobby. I love what I do and am happy I can make a living doing it -some days I'm fierce some days I struggle to paint a straight line -but the business still needs to make money so I can keep showing up and make people happy. Don't down play your significance but also don't inflate your worth. I have a spread sheet of what other people charge in the same environment for equivalant services to keep my prices in line with my painting level. Just because I have my own self doubt doesn't mean what I do is below standards just means I need to look at things more objectively.

Magic, well said!

Why does everyone think corporate should be less? I work my butt off and use a ton of paint at large events. I would think if you don't have a specific head count it is more stressful not less.

I do a regulaar gig for an Art Store and they give me gift certificates (which I love) at a lower rate because I'm not stressed and I am there once a month. And quite honestly they treat me like gold so it's a really pleasant atmosphere. I have booked quite a few daycares out of there and have people that come see me when i am there.

I think you all ask a lot...no one here would pay say 50 euro for 1 hour facepainting...I charge 25 euro up to 10 kids (1 hour including getting ready and stuff)) and 2,50 euro extra per extra child and 5 euro to take the bus...that's about 35 dollar for 10 kids...

I know...maybe I don't ask enough...but I don't need to make a living out of it...i have my steady 16.5 hours a week job...just do this on the side..people tell me that I have to ask more...but I'd rather get some jobs then none...and it stays affordable for the parents to do facepainting at a birthdayparty....I ask 40 euro for a bellypaint (excl 5 euro transportation) and 30 euro per hour for a businessparty or something...for some local events...(you could say charity...although they don't see it that way) I ask only 15 euro per hour...

I was originally a jewelry designer - and there are different markets. Walmart, Macy's, Blomingdales. Nothing wrong with any of them -they all serve a market. I want to be at the high end - nothing wrong with that as long as there is a market to support it. You would be surprized how you feel about your work when you are being fairly compensated for your skill, time and talent. I do need to make a living to support my children and it's a great profession. When you are doing well in your business you stimulate the economy buying supplies, paying down debt, etc.

no one ever goes to my site unless I direct them there right now so its not a big deal, but i've changed the pricing around 4 times today.

I think I finally have what I want. phew.

OMG Bec that's so funny -I'm going to keep my mouth shut before you have to make changes again-
FYI in NY Balloon are aprox. $100 an hour.

Thats why I don't put prices up there b/c I've had to change them in the past...I know many people on here say that they are online shoppers and that if they dont see the price they skip to the next one. BUT someone somewhere said that if you put the price on there then you automatically lose that one on one conversation. By having them call you, you can show them some of your personality and get specifics about the party to make sure they get what they want. When you give them their "personal quote" you can go into details and assure them that YOU are the right entertainer for them...I too consider myself an online shopper, but when I dont see a price, i tend to call or email and ask b/c i'm a curious shopper and I like to shop around for the best price....does that make sense? lol

Oh yeah, plus I dont want someone to say, but last time i was on there it said X amount now its Z. Why the price change?

Hey, Bec, I checked out your site to see what you had and I think it looks pretty good! I do have one recommendation, though - in your gallery where you have "my brother and neighbors" I think I would change it to "other popular designs" or something like that, or it looks like you are just starting out (even if you are, you don't want to look like it!) and don't have many photos. Also, you can also just give a range for your pricing, and then you can, as BluAngl said, have them call or submit a form for a personalized quote.
Good luck!
Lyn