Requests for things you just cant do

Hi everyone!
So other than posting an intro in the intro part of the forum this is my first real post - so sorry if its in the wrong place :/

My question is, how do you deal with kids that reject every design you have in your book, and keep suggesting designs that are way beyond the scope of your talent?

I have a wide variety of designs in my books, and Im confident with all of them and adaptations of all of them - but I get really thrown when someone asks for something strange (usually it seems to be that parent suggesting things to their two year old who really just wants glitter lol. Like the mum who wanted 'captain hook' on her wriggly baby - not a pirate mask, but an image of captain hook - um sorry lady, Im a face painter, not a disney cartoonist! Geez! Or the boys that want star wars. I dread that request - Im working on a book of designs to offer them though).

I usually end up caving in, painting something Im not happy with, and from then on Im completely thrown off, and I lose all confidence in my painting abilities, and write down the request so that I can come up with something for next time, and dwell on it until I get it perfect. Damn perfectionist brain!

What do you guys say to the kids/parents that just will not stop suggesting things you know you cannot do, and reject every suggestion you give them? At a ppf I suppose you could just say no, sorry, cant help you, go away lol. But at a birthday party (my main source of income), I feel obliged to do whatever is requested! And how do you get your confidence back up after you do a design you are really unhappy with?

By the way - you guys are amazing, Im always so inspired by the designs I find on here, some of which have become staple offerings - my most requested design is this one, which Im sure I found on here, and feel I should credit the designer (if I know, I usually write it at the bottom of the picture in my books. Dont know what the etiquette with this is - so theres another question for you lol!). So thankyou all for being so damn amazing!!

I always always will attempt a design at a private party. I just tell them "I will try my best to give you what you want, but I have never painted an alien cheetah before and I can't promise that it will look good. If you want, I can paint something I am a pro at, like a *insert random face* and I know you will look awesome". Usually kids will change their minds and pick from my book, but the few that stick to what they want are usually happy with what you paint, since you let them know you have never done it before. I sometimes cringe inwardly as I am painting, but it usually looks halfway decent xD. I just hope parents don't take pictures of those designs and credit me, hehe.

At a pay per face event, or corporate event in general, I pick about ten to twenty designs I am really good at and I will not deviate. I will tell them "I would love to paint Van Goghs Starry Night on your face, but I am only painting from my board today. I would love to paint that at your next birthday party. Here's my business card". They get over it.

I don't think there's anything wrong with saying "Oh, I will have to learn that one so I can do it next time." Then redirect them to what you ARE good at, but offer personal touches, like matching their outfits.

If I don't feel comfortable doing something, I usually won't paint it. I don't want to mess the kids face up! Plus I've had experiences in the past where I have obliged and saw the kid back in my chair 10 minutes later begging for a new design. Ill usually just tell then that that design was actually one I just started learning, so I'm not too good at it, but if they want to pick something from my choices, I can make it perfect!

Thanks girls, Ill have to keep some of those lines in mind I had a star wars request disaster on the weekend, it was horrific lol (Boba Fett. It was awful). The kid loved it, but the parent was with me on agreeing it was a disaster. At least they found it funny. Ive done a little darth vader cheek art design that I found on here now, so I think that will be my go to when they ask for star wars. Boy designs are so tricky!

Eek! I need to watch Star Wars now to see what Boba Fett looks like (or just Google)... I am so thankful that I haven't had any requests that were artistically advanced (Like a Transformer *shudders*)

I think if I had an image to work from I would have been fine, as it doesnt look that hard (its like a grey/green helmet, with red and a black T shape). However, all I had was a half inch tall image on the kids shirt, and we couldnt work out what colours he was meant to be (even the boy didnt really know). I really must learn to just tell them to get mum/dad to google me a picture, I always forget to say that!

Beautiful kids have beautiful painting...

Just a wild idea but how about a "*insert desired character here* Themed" tiger face? For example a tiger with the Boba Fett colors.

I don't have this issue. I use boards, and it is pretty simple to just tell them that this is what you are painting today, and you don't want to disappoint them with something you have not practiced. Most kids will choose something and not worry about it. Never had a parent get bent out of shape either. I feel like I am in charge of my image, what I paint, and what it looks like because that is my work product, my calling card, and if it wont be professional, I just don't do it. If the client wants something other than what I can paint, then I am probably not the painter for them anyway. It works for me. I push the envelope when I am not being paid to do my best work...on my own kids, or on kids at jams.

In a birthday party if I have the time I will try, on busy events no way, every kid is gonna ask for the design just because is not in the board.

Here is my star wars chart of mask if you find it helpful, My try of half face Darth Maul didn't look good and I haven't had the chance to do it again I am just not a full face fan.

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I just smile and say "I'm sorry honey, but we're very busy today so we're only painting what's on the board". No kid ever argued with me on that, they just accept the answer. If it's an easy request and I know I can do it, I might, depending on the circumstance. But you have to be careful, there's usually a lot of kids watching you paint....if you do a special request for one, the others will start asking too. Here's the only time I really go off the board.....for adults at more public events, especially where drinking is involved. I find that if you have the time to accomodate them, there's usually a REALLY BIG TIP if you do it and make them happy, lol!!!!! I've painted several things while a person holds up their phone with a google pic of something!

So true...drunks tip well! Just don't leave your sponge bucket in reach...

LOL, yeah, Martha, they definietly ARE the best tippers! I had two drunks once, at a bar, came for two $8. faces...they were so happy, they gave me $50. and told me to keep it. Later they came back for quick touch up. Before I was did, it one said , laughing "we think we might have given you too much before!". I said "hey, sit down, I'll touch up your face perfect", so I touched them up. When I was done, they went "Wow, you are GREAT...I think that deserves another good tip" and they gave me $10 more hahahaha Love them!

PrairiePainter wrote:Just a wild idea but how about a "*insert desired character here* Themed" tiger face? For example a tiger with the Boba Fett colors.

That is an awesome idea!

When I run into the no, no, no kid, I usually say How about an awesome surprise. Then I mix a couple things together- elephant with butterfly wings, skull with flaming hair- you know . . add some swirls or tribal and call it good. Almost always beats doing something I am not comfortable with.
What usually gets me are the sports teams- I want a viking,- well into hat with horns and a bushy beard, I learn it is a foot ball team. . . Uh- oops?

LOL, Fairyfox. That sounds like something I'd do. Was doing a PPF, using my board. They pay 1st. Both one Dad & his 4yr old were SO uptight! He wanted Capt. America, not on my board. "NO-NO-NO...I want him!" I'd done it once last year..so checked my Iphone & did it but all above the eyes. "NO-NO-NO...I want it down to here!". Line was getting longer, so I did what he wanted. (No thank you from either parent or child). Next few parents rolled their eyes & said guess who's in charge there? BTW, the next boy wanted Capt America, too. I did it but told him just above the eyes. He loved it & said Thank you. If I have the time @ a large event, I'll stray off the board, but it DOES take more time. When you look at your line again...it's now a lot longer. Private parties are easier. There's more time to spend w/each client. Some people are just more difficult than others.

Prairiepainter that is an excellent idea, thank you!!! And luz those are great, I'm also not a full face fan, as soon as they eat or drink its ruined and I keep seeing them back in the chair for touch ups.
Lol chinujhon yeah that's my theory too, naughty kids certainly get less detail and far less glitter, good kids get extra everything
Oh facepaintingmum I read your story, how horrible!! I haven't encountered any drunks yet luckily.
Fairy fox - that combined with prairies idea could work well for me I think, thankyou!!
Facemagic omg how rude, I hate it when that happens. It's as if the parents don't realise they have a horrible monster child, or they just don't care :/
Seems theres lots of poorly parented kids in the world - my oldest is only 2, so very much at the no no no stage, but he would never do it to a stranger. Hopefully he doesn't grow up to be one of these obnoxious kids, I'd be horrified

facepaintingbydanielle wrote:Prairiepainter that is an excellent idea, thank you!!!

Thanks! It occurred to me (I'm sure someone else has thought of this already) that you could easily apply the same idea to sports team colors. Purple and gold for the Minnesota Vikings would make an awesome tiger!