Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
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DeannaB
WickedBA
Perry Noia
MelindaT0813
Painted Dragon
9 posters
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Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
So I got a fatmax. Loaded it all up. Looked great! So organized! Then I took it to two shows. OH MY GOSH! It's so stinkin heavy and awkward. Hard to get in and out of my car. Wheeled it to the person's house and the wheels got all muddy. Luckily, the person was like.. "No biggy." Couldn't even imagine showing up at a house with white carpet. And then the lady wanted me to set up downstairs. Had to lug it all the way down and back up again. Then lift it in the back of my Acadia, which was a pain in the butt too.
So I love how organized it is. Love you professional it looks. But my goodness, it is not worth the pain of transport. Think I'll keep my one carry on and one tote bag. Would rather make two trips in the house than lug that faxmax in and down stairs.
So you all don't mind lugging it around?
So I love how organized it is. Love you professional it looks. But my goodness, it is not worth the pain of transport. Think I'll keep my one carry on and one tote bag. Would rather make two trips in the house than lug that faxmax in and down stairs.
So you all don't mind lugging it around?
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
I don't have a fatmax, i just have a regular big black rolling box.
I live on the second floor (UGgggggg) BUT I have my private entrance.
As a result I leave my big'ol heavy box DOWN stairs at my front door and take my brushes/sponges ect. up when I get home to clean them.
To answer your question....
Yes, lugging it around can suck............. but only when going up and/or down lol.
When I go to gigs I can carry ALL my supplies, 2 chairs, a foldable table AND a lamp in one trip.
There is NO way I would be able to carry all of it without the rolly box.
Yea it sucks to get it in the trunk ( have a van so I scoot it in the passenger seat that I have stowed away) but I would rather do that then go back and forth leaving hundreds of dollars of paint/tools unattended.
I live on the second floor (UGgggggg) BUT I have my private entrance.
As a result I leave my big'ol heavy box DOWN stairs at my front door and take my brushes/sponges ect. up when I get home to clean them.
To answer your question....
Yes, lugging it around can suck............. but only when going up and/or down lol.
When I go to gigs I can carry ALL my supplies, 2 chairs, a foldable table AND a lamp in one trip.
There is NO way I would be able to carry all of it without the rolly box.
Yea it sucks to get it in the trunk ( have a van so I scoot it in the passenger seat that I have stowed away) but I would rather do that then go back and forth leaving hundreds of dollars of paint/tools unattended.
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
I roll it up and down stairs (unless they are shiny hardwood) and in and out of the trunk isn't so bad if you bend your knees and grab it in the middle to lift it. A couple of times it was kind of wet on the wheels in the winter time, but I brought a little towel with me and wiped off the wheels before leaving their front hall. I can't stand making multiple trips, so I'll take the weight.
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
I dont have a Fat Max yet but have really been wondering about that. I am looking in to diffrent cases and I cant find one I like. I just got a tackel box ( i use a bead case for my paint) and thought I would love it but it is too Bulky and it cant be used as a table like the fat max. How much does it weight full of your stuff?
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
I've had lighter things before, but they were not as sturdy and I destroyed them all. I've never gotten it onto a scale, but if I had to guess, I'd say it was 50 lbs-ish
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
Which is why after all my years of doing this I've DOWNSIZED!
In all honesty... do you, any of you, used EVERYTHING you have packed in those things on every job?
I used to clear my old toolbox out every so often - anything that hadn't been used in the last three/six months got removed.
I now use a shopping trolley, it is light, has big wheels and holds everything.
In all honesty... do you, any of you, used EVERYTHING you have packed in those things on every job?
I used to clear my old toolbox out every so often - anything that hadn't been used in the last three/six months got removed.
I now use a shopping trolley, it is light, has big wheels and holds everything.
Guest- Guest
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
Shopping trolley? Do you have a picture, Shannon? Or at least a picture of something similar?
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
After reading everyone's posts on using the FatMax - I finally convinced my husband to drive over to Home Depot to visit the toolbox section. I brought my chair in with me and we pulled a FatMax out and I gave a quick demo on how handy it would be to have one. I am happy to announce that I went back last week and got my own FatMax (and L-Brackets & wood base extra support, 3 foam core boards, 2 rolls of red duct tape, & several bungies.) My Husband (Doug) was like - all your stuff isn't going to fit into that... it looks so small. But I proved him wrong.
The FatMax and I had our first live run on Friday evening at the Fort Hood Earth Fest event. And on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) the FatMax beats the wheels off my old setup and we give it a confident 8. (The old setup was about a 4.) We went from having 1 large rolling duffel, 1 large zip bag for the table, 1 bag to carry my sponges & brushes (safely.), and a final bag for all the 'business' side and water bottles. Holy Smokes did we cut down!
The only problem we had was figuring out a way to secure the display board (PVC frame & fabric w/ photo holders) but I'll fix that when I order the Double Pole Kit from http://www.clipsigns.com/products.html
Considering how heavy all of the other stuff was - lifting the loaded FatMax was much easier. I'll have to post Before & After photos some time this week.
The FatMax and I had our first live run on Friday evening at the Fort Hood Earth Fest event. And on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best) the FatMax beats the wheels off my old setup and we give it a confident 8. (The old setup was about a 4.) We went from having 1 large rolling duffel, 1 large zip bag for the table, 1 bag to carry my sponges & brushes (safely.), and a final bag for all the 'business' side and water bottles. Holy Smokes did we cut down!
The only problem we had was figuring out a way to secure the display board (PVC frame & fabric w/ photo holders) but I'll fix that when I order the Double Pole Kit from http://www.clipsigns.com/products.html
Considering how heavy all of the other stuff was - lifting the loaded FatMax was much easier. I'll have to post Before & After photos some time this week.
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
I love my Fatmax and I don't mind taking it along. I do not take it on all jobs tho, because not all jobs really require it, especially since receiving my new table.
I always make a point of asking where the party is being hosted and if stairs are involved. Most times for whatever reason they change the location to accomodate me.....lolol On the rare ocassion that I have had to deal with steps in the house.......the husband or S/O has always stepped up and carried it for me so there ya go.
I always make a point of asking where the party is being hosted and if stairs are involved. Most times for whatever reason they change the location to accomodate me.....lolol On the rare ocassion that I have had to deal with steps in the house.......the husband or S/O has always stepped up and carried it for me so there ya go.
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
My theory is that I don't want to have to count on "the kindness of strangers" to help me with kit.
If I can't carry it easily myself, up/down stairs, drag it across a muddy field or walk three blocks from the parking IN THE SNOW dragging it behind me, then I have no interest in it.
If I can't carry it easily myself, up/down stairs, drag it across a muddy field or walk three blocks from the parking IN THE SNOW dragging it behind me, then I have no interest in it.
Guest- Guest
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
Yes, I use everything that is in mine, BUT face painting is one of the least things that I have in it... Two parachutes, balloons, balls, props, colouring books, crayons.... I'm a clown. If it were JUST face painting, the thing would have hardly anything in it.
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
Exactly! I also didn't like my back feeling all sore, BEFORE I even started painting!
Shannon Fennell wrote:My theory is that I don't want to have to count on "the kindness of strangers" to help me with kit.
If I can't carry it easily myself, up/down stairs, drag it across a muddy field or walk three blocks from the parking IN THE SNOW dragging it behind me, then I have no interest in it.
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
I have a fat max, which works out quite nicely for festivals. Most everything fits in it that I might need, so no need for multiple trips.
I found a rolling scrapbook tote at Tuesday Mornings for cheap, and now use that for smaller events and parties. It has four nice sized pockets around the outside for miscellaneous and my two laptop cases, water, sponges, wipes, towel, apron, and book fit inside.
My brushes I carry in a small bag.
I found a rolling scrapbook tote at Tuesday Mornings for cheap, and now use that for smaller events and parties. It has four nice sized pockets around the outside for miscellaneous and my two laptop cases, water, sponges, wipes, towel, apron, and book fit inside.
My brushes I carry in a small bag.
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
I can see that you need it Perry... all those props and games! For you it must be great.
But... the average face painting ONLY gig does not in any possible situation require the amount of stuff that fits in those things!!
I agree they are cool, it is neat that you can open it out to work from it, but... not for me.
But... the average face painting ONLY gig does not in any possible situation require the amount of stuff that fits in those things!!
I agree they are cool, it is neat that you can open it out to work from it, but... not for me.
Guest- Guest
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
Liz Caswell wrote:I have a fat max, which works out quite nicely for festivals. Most everything fits in it that I might need, so no need for multiple trips.
I found a rolling scrapbook tote at Tuesday Mornings for cheap, and now use that for smaller events and parties. It has four nice sized pockets around the outside for miscellaneous and my two laptop cases, water, sponges, wipes, towel, apron, and book fit inside.
Me too... only fill up the Fat Max for festivals. Paint, lighting, duct tape, snacks. Otherwise, I use a tote bag or my rolly scrapbooking thing.
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
The only thing that makes me need to take a second trip at times is my chair. I love my director's chair, so it is hard to get around it.
Re: Fatmax: Love and Hate relationship
I too bought mine after reading others rave reviews. Yesterday I did my first "big" festival. I have only done birthday parties and corporate events where I knew roughly how many people would be there. When I researched this festival, I read anywhere from 500 to 5000 children would be there! I also was not permitted to use my facepaints because they had a young girl doing it. So I emptied ALL of my lovely collection of face paints, etc from my fatmax and loaded it with balloons. Wow! It was sooo busy from the minute I got there that I didn't have time to empty the fatmax properly or setup. Instead I just opened it and worked right out of it. I stayed almost an extra 2 hours to take care of everyone in line. Without my fatmax it may have been pretty crazy!
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