dealing with other RUDE face painters

I am not new to face painting, but new to the area that I currently live. My job was holding a charity event and I thought it would be a good way to get my name back out there, so I volunteered. They told me that they had a face painter in mind, but since I worked for the company already, I could go ahead and do it. As I was setting up my kit at the event, the "henna artist" walks up to me and says "so what company are YOU with?" When I explained that I worked for the company hosting the event, she practically sneered and said "Oh that explains it, b/c I had this gig on my calendar to face paint 3 weeks ago and they called me to cancel it." She then goes on to drill me with questions about whether or not I know whats in my paint and what kind of materials I am using. How flippin rude! I get it that she may be upset, but dont take it out on me, I didnt hire you. Anyway, not only did she insult me, but she went on to insult the sister of our marketing director who was also at the event. Actually made the girl cry. I couldnt believe the level of unprofessionalism. So my main concern is that she works for one of the biggest artists in the area. Ive never tried networking with other face painters before, but it seems like a great way to help send business to each other. But if this is the kind of person I have to deal with, I dont know if I should even bother. I dont want her bad mouthing me to potential clients, it seems like exactly the sort of thing she would do.

Wow...guess it'll be the last time she works for that client!

I think I would've prayed to be quick-witted enough to ask if she'd taken a retainer and set her back on her heels a bit,

I would not worry about the influence her negativity might carry, it speaks against itself. Just rise above it.

This happens. You are going to come across MANY nasty painters BUT you are also going to come across some of the nicest people you will meet Do not let this detour you from approaching others! Contact the established artists in your area. explain you are new , but are looking to network and develop professional relationships with colleagues.Tell them that you do not wish to step on toes, would love to meet for a coffee/tea. Trust me it is ALL about the approach I have always been SO thankful that was how one new painter approached me, now I have a dear friend.Please remember that many of us who have been at this for years have been "wounded' so to speak, there are so many unethical /negative types out there ...trust me! So you may not get a " that is wonderful . lets jam tomorrow" from everyone you approach. this does NOT mean that they are terrible people, just may be a little "gun shy" But if you approach in a friendly way, making sure you you want them to know that you do not want to take anything from them , or be yet more competition , but want to be associates and help one another.The right person WILL take you up on an offer to meet. hang in there

What Shelly said.

When I first started contacting businesses, I always backed off of the ones that already had a painter (in mind or otherwise). My situations were different from yours in that I've never offered to volunteer my services simply because I know what it feels like to kicked to the curb for a free painter..and because free begets free and so on. If I were looking to volunteer, the way I'd phrase my inquiry would be, "have you given any thought to having face painting?", that would open the door of communication and you'd be able to discern what's what without risking any toe stamping. In doing things that way you 1)avoid stepping on the toes of other area painters, and 2)establish/preserve the precedent of paying for face painting with that company/organization. Let's be honest, how many of us would be for what we could get for free?

I've had a few people pop up offering to paint for free at an event I was being paid to paint at and it was the contract and retainer that saved me in those situation. I could be that this other painter has been burned by this type of business dealing and didn't know how to deal with it nicely? I can't say that this painter was justified in her reaction; she was 7 different degrees of nasty and even if her toes were stepped on she could've handled it better. There is no reason in the world for a show of such rudeness, but then again, maybe she's feeling the pinch of competing for jobs now.

I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about her until you have to, but I would proceed with caution as you set out to reestablish yourself, that will determine the reception you receive from other painters. Of course, you've been around this block a while (from your own testimony) so I think you already know that.

Babylou.....dont sweat it.... two things for thought..
I was told by a top face painter at a training class..."Everyone who thinks they are number 1 most likely will become a number 2 because they get caught up in being number one they forget to keep up." I thought that was pretty good advice. He told me not to worry about the other guy......if you have the skills go for it...and not everyone lasts in this business.

Another piece of wisdom...(from a 72 year old lady who was a dancer on Broadway backk in the day) When that girl (maybe another face painter..) you can't stand is bad mouthing you in public and to others....be extra nice to her....why you ask? Eventually everyone will ask her...Why are you talking about her like that she has been nothing but nice to you....thus the other girl gets the "mean girl" tag. It works...I wouldn't worry I am sure there were enough people there to recognize she was not a very professional person. To actually approach someone at a venue is not the place to discuss business issues.

Its just awful people got to react to react like that.

It's interesting, because I can totally see this same situation being posted on this board, from the henna artist's point of view. "Here comes this woman who STOLE MY JOB, she's not even FROM here. She didn't even have the grace to be embarrassed when I told her about it! At least I made sure she wasn't using acrylics..."

Personally, Babylou, I'm with you. There's way too much entitlement and territoriality in this field. Just because someone has BEEN "the" face painter in their area doesn't mean they are guaranteed that position in perpetuity. They do not have the right to harass competitors or to pressure them into price fixing. I would have been pleasant to this person, as she obviously doesn't know how to behave in public, but I think you're right to be wary of doing business with her.

Lady Jayde wrote:My situations were different from yours in that I've never offered to volunteer my services simply because I know what it feels like to kicked to the curb for a free painter..and because free begets free and so on. If I were looking to volunteer, the way I'd phrase my inquiry would be, "have you given any thought to having face painting?", that would open the door of communication and you'd be able to discern what's what without risking any toe stamping. In doing things that way you 1)avoid stepping on the toes of other area painters, and 2)establish/preserve the precedent of paying for face painting with that company/organization. Let's be honest, how many of us would be for what we could get for free?

I've had a few people pop up offering to paint for free at an event I was being paid to paint at and it was the contract and retainer that saved me in those situation. I could be that this other painter has been burned by this type of business dealing and didn't know how to deal with it nicely?

I truly do not understand this attitude. I donate my FP to non-profit organizations in the same way I donate volunteer time, goods, and cash. It's no different than lawyers donating pro bono time, and you don't hear THEM complaining that they're missing out on fees from all those traffic tickets and restraining orders. If you have a contract, fine, but how can you resent an organization that would rather use their funds to feed, clothe, educate than pay a face painter? Isn't that just responsible stewardship by the organization?

It's not my job to conduct my life in a way that provides maximum money making opportunities for other people. It's not anyone else's job to tell me whether or how to give my time, talents, and resources. If you're selling something, it IS your job to convince people that you provide value for the money you're asking. I'm very tired of this whole never-give-anything attitude, where charity is looked at as just another shady business practice.

Thank you everyone for your input! I have been painting for a few years now, but I never referred to myself as a "professional face painter". Id say it was more of a hobby that paid well and I was being hired mostly by family, friends, and acquaintances. It was only recently that I decided to try to make it into a business. This was definately a new experience for me. I would never intentionally step on any toes or "steal" jobs from anyone. It was just her reaction that really caught me off guard. I guess I am off to a pretty bad start in a brand new place. Its unfortunate, but I wont let it deter me from trying to establish myself professionally.

JennyNixe wrote:If you have a contract, fine, but how can you resent an organization that would rather use their funds to feed, clothe, educate than pay a face painter? Isn't that just responsible stewardship by the organization?

I work for a non-profit organizations (NPOs)and often are booked by others. I also volunteer time with some NPOs and for chosen few, donate 100% of my services.

I know that many of the larger ones have huge events budgets and the people booking you are paid VERY well to ask you to work for free. It's their job to acquire as many freebies as possible. Any money paid to you is write off for them as a business expense.

If you work for free, some of that money saved by them might go back into the primary purpose of the NPO but usually it doesn't because it's already been allocated for an events budget. Budgets are decided the prior year. It varies by NPO, of course, but you can assume that if a large, well known NPO is asking you to work for free, you're not necessarily putting that money back into the funds which provide their primary services.

The best way you can work the system is to have them pay you, and turn around and then donate that money directly. It's a write off for them, a tax write off for you (since you can't write off donated services), and you've actually put the money where it will HELP.

This isn't to say that NPOs are thus evil/shady, or that you shouldn't donate your time. What you choose to do and who you choose to charge are your own decisions, but I also want others to understand how their budgets work.

I don't know why you'd be off to a bad start with rational people. You work for the company holding the event, and they decided to utilize their in-house talent instead of contracting out. It's a sound business decision on their part and it earned you brownie points with your employer. The woman you dealt with sounds like a hot mess from start to finish and probably the actually professional facepainters in your area already know to take what she says with a pound of salt.

TheGildedCat wrote:I know that many of the larger ones have huge events budgets and the people booking you are paid VERY well to ask you to work for free. It's their job to acquire as many freebies as possible. Any money paid to you is write off for them as a business expense.

If you work for free, some of that money saved by them might go back into the primary purpose of the NPO but usually it doesn't because it's already been allocated for an events budget. Budgets are decided the prior year. It varies by NPO, of course, but you can assume that if a large, well known NPO is asking you to work for free, you're not necessarily putting that money back into the funds which provide their primary services.

I don't volunteer for the Shriners, or Relay for Life, or local hospitals. I volunteer for small non-profits that provide direct services to consumers and the people I paint are typically consumers. If I didn't volunteer, in many cases they just wouldn't have a face painter. My being there is a gift for the at-risk kids or teen moms or parish children, or I'm selling my services to give the money right back to the cause. I do understand that, when you're dealing with a multi-million dollar non-profit like the Red Cross, it's a very different situation. Frankly, that's why I don't donate my time or money to them.