Giving Up!!!

im trying to make my business work full time, i dont know if this is even possible, i hope it is, but time is running out as my son starts school in sept and then if i cant get week day work thats it gotta get a proper job so to speak, and i cant do both as i would never see the kids. how can i make this work on week days??? im really heartbroken that it may come to this, i want to make a career out of face painting and body art, is it possible?

I'm sorry to be discouraging, but it usually takes years to make a money-making business out of this art. Lots of us do it for side income, but even more of us do it because we just love the art.
Do you have a website, or even a facebook page? How are you getting yourself out there?

Even well established artists don't do this full-time. I've been a professional for almost 17 years and while I earn a substantial portion of my overall income from it, I still have a full-time day-job.

Reality it that it is a weekend job.  Even doing make-up services if you freelance tends to be weekends, and some evenings.  And it can also be feast or famine... ton of jobs one month, nothing the next.

There are some who are full-time but the majority are offering more than just the painting - they are offering retail shops, acting as agents for other entertainers, have inflatables, etc. etc.

I plan to do it full-time ... when I retire from the day-job! LOL

Find out which restaurants in your area have “kids night” and try and get a regular gig. I’ve heard of people that do three different kids nights every week, at various restaurants on top of their weekend work.

I do think that it will be VERY difficult to do this full time and expect a decent income. But that doesn’t mean it CAN’T be done. I think it depends on so many factors, like location, etc.

BTW I saw that you posted EXACTLY the same post on the UK Face Paint Chat.  Are you based in the US or UK?

I'm in the UK. Thanks for the advice xx

Hi. Im i the same possition. But i still have 3 years until my baby goes to school full time. There is an excellent class on FABATV with Kerry Ann Smith. Its called 'Fulltime in No time'
Some of the things she says are:
-hangs flyers everywhere you can
- send post cards to business to get coorporate gigs
- get restaurants gigs
- train other artist to work for you

And a lot more.

Good luck!!

Jennifwr

I had to take a PART TIME job, working three days a week, and I can pick my son up from school, so i don't have to pay for afterschool care. It takes WORK. but it's up to YOU to make your business endeavor successful. Yea a lot of painters do it on the side or whatever, but I also saw a inspriing video on FABA tv, a women from Penn, who makes 6 figures running a facepainting business, but she HUSSLES, and she's running a business. It takes making contacts, relationships.. for ex she got in as the offical facepainter for the big football team stadium. She went in knowing nothing of football, but she became a fan, she learned the positions, everything. She made sure to put the numbers of the players who were playing that day, on people's cheek. She branded it, made it a thing.. her facepainting was used for a billboard advertising for the team.. so now, her and her crew KILL it during a game. Now in my area, we don't have anything sports related worth persuing, but we have plenty of other things. It does take a lot of hard work, and building, building, growing. but it can be done. I've been doing well, and I have a painter who has a full time job, and she LOVES that I just call her, and I made the arrangements, and happy for me to take a percentage for that work.. but i'm taking advantage of the leads, and bookings that my company name has created.. and I'm needing an additional painter.. I;m also branching out to offer Kids area festival coordinating..so I'm learning what else can I do to add on to what I love to do... but to reduce stress, and not feel like you have to take any job, even if it doesn't pay well, you might want to get a part time thing.. just to get by for the meantime

I think that training other artists to work for you is the best way to be able to pursue your business full time. If you do that AND increase marketing to start getting more calls, you will be able to make enough income for sure. Good luck!

Shannon and I do this full time as our sole income. but I have been in the business as a pro for over 25 years. it takes a lot of work but it can be done.