A professional?~

I am putting together wording for my website and other marketing stuff and wondered - can I call myself a "Professional Face Painter"? I have considered using the words "Hire a Professional Face Painter for your event... Your guests will LOVE it!" but can I say that? I have mostly been self taught and also have been working as a contractor for a company which taught me some but I am not what I would consider professionally trained. I have a BA in Art, though if that counts. I look forward to the day I can take some training but today is not that day. I'm aiming mostly at children's events and feel my skills would work well there. I do only use pro quality paint. I have yet to book my own first paying gig but I have gotten paid for this work in the past with previously mentioned company. Ugh.

If you have been paid to do the job, then you are a professional. There is no official "professionally trained" standard in this business. But if you want to have some of that professional training, Mooseburger Camp is next week in Buffalo, MN and last I heard there were still a couple of spaces left

At least come see the show so I can meet you? http://www.mooseburger.com/camp/clownshow.html

I hope to go the show too but it is my daughter's 10th birthday party. Hopefully everything will be wrapped up and the guests all picked up and gone in time. And hopefully she will think this is a fun thing to do too. It would be fun to meet you both! :-)

Lol I saw that. Looks like a blast! I can't go - no money and no one to babysit. In fact I've agreed to do my own gig that Saturday. Going to Siren (my family has a cabin there and connections) so I'll be at the Lions Club BBQ setting up my tent for the first time! A bit nervous about that and hope I make a little money or at least get my name out a little - maybe book a party or two???

If you don't own that label, don't use it. You'll find yourself apologizing for it if you don't. Perry is right, you are a professional when face painting is what you do and you get paid for it. However, people do expect that a professional is someone that treats the business as their career. If I were a mom hiring you that would mean the right professional products, skills to do the job properly in a timely manner (I don't want to pay for you to play with paints), insured and will behave in a professional manner (on-time, clean, well mannered, good with kids, clean up afterwards.)

Those are the kind of things I expect from contractors that we hire to do work for us. That's what made us so mad about the guy that said he'd been laying vinyl tiles for 15 years and starts laying it against an outside wall!!! but that's another story. We should have checked his credentials and called past clients. I'm actually surprised I don't get ask that more...I guess reviews are the new background check???

I would say you might want to wait for the actual title and say something like "I use professional paints and techniques..." until you feel comfortable.

D.