Chair solution for tall face painter?

I have the Earth Executive VIP tall director's chair, and it works really well for painting teens and adults, but when I've got a little kid in that chair, I have to slouch and my back will start cramping up. I'm 5'10" - kinda short torsoed, all legs (36" inseam, ridiculous).

I've tried propping wedges of foam behind the smaller kiddos, having them sit on pillows... that helps, but the pillows and foam slide around and sometimes the end up in a foam sandwich. Arg. Nothing works.

At smaller parties, I sit on a normal chair and the little kids stand in front of me - this works really well for my back, but I think they are way more wiggly when they have to stand.

I loooove the idea of a tall chair, I think standing during longer, all day events, is far more comfortable for me, but I was wondering if any other long-tall-sally's had a different solutions.

Hmm, we have the same proportions, inseam and all.

I've done both ways-standing while they sit, or sitting across while they sit. Never tried your way of having them stand while I sit.

My only solution is to do planks and build up your back muscles. I was looking at a tall stool type chair, but ditched that idea when I realized I'm usually set up on grass....not worth the risk of a falling child.

I'm interested in other solutions

I have a tall directors chair and I stand when painting. I'm 5'9" and I know what you mean about the tiny kids. Probably the best is to sit across from them in your own chair. I always have those Wedge things with the arms behind kids because before I had that, the kids used to lean further and further back with their heads and so would I while I was standing and concentrating and not noticing. I almost put my back out a few times before I got that wedge thing.

Thanks you two.

@nikkili26 I bring those saucer things meant to help you slide furniture around, and slip them under any narrow legs if we're setting up on grass. The VIP chair is super stable though, I just wish it were a smidge taller. Also, ha ha re: exercising. No really, I should probably try. I had hoped Yoga would help me work my back muscles, and I think it does, but maybe planks (bleh) would be faster.

@TinafromNY Oh man, that wedge thing is brilliant, one of those pillowed arm things you use in bed, right? I did an 8 hour festival sitting across from the kids and though I didn't really notice until the end, I was in so much pain that night when we were cleaning up and going home. I couldn't even move, my husband had to ice my back, it was terrible.

There is an extender that can be pug on the bottom, but I can't remember what if was called. I will have to scour for it...

Kaboost

roxyfoxy - YES! Exactly that! It's made a HUGE difference. I have two herniated disks in my lower back, plus Fibromyalgia. Before I got that armed wedge thingy, when I got home, I had to line in bed and ice or heat MY back too! Not any more. I'm achy but not crippled now! I also, sometimes at a long gig, wear one of those back brace things around my waist, like they wear at Home Depot, to save my back - that helps too. But I don't always wear that, it's that chair pillow that's saved me!!! If an adult sits to be painted, I just pull it off and throw it on the ground - hard for an adult to sit with it because it doesn't leave them much room. Added bonus for the little kids. Sometimes I'm painting fine lines and I tell the kid just to rest their head back on that cushion, then it doesn't move!

@eva - oh I used to have two of those when my two youngest were smaller, dang! I wish I hadn't gotten rid of them. I wonder if they stretch wide enough for the director's chair? That would help....

@TinafromNY, I am going out to look for one today, that sounds perfect!!

I have seen other painters have pics using with with the directors chair. I am also thinking of investing, I am about 5'8" and the bedinv is killing me

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