PRICES IN ONTARIO CANADA

Here the thing

Last September I moved to Ottawa, ON and I was blow up for the huge range of prices for face painting and twisting balloon from $30 to $125 hour, I charge $80 (these year).

I am one of those dreamers than think that there are work for everyone and we all can help each other!

No need to undervalue your job that just make the people think that our work does not have a real value and that there are not any preparation behind that, we all know how many hours we spend looking for the right product, get the training even if these is you tube,hours of practice, website, business card, and so on.

So my proposal is to create a group where we can help each other by trying to arrange a minimum rate and start educating people about face painting prices and even helping each other in huge events where 1 face painter is not enough.

People is always complaining about prices and in part is our fault, charging $30 hour for a good job is not fair for you, because you undervalue your talent and is not good for the rest of us that have these as a source our income.

Hopefully I can find people interested in these project and if you are, please send me a message.

Best wishes to all and have FUN!

While I agree undercutting is bad for everyone, realistically, getting together to set prices is called "price fixing" and is illegal.

Encouraging people to set realistic prices is fine, but if a group gets together and agrees to a specific minimum there may be an issue.

http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/h_00112.html

Well I don't really mean to fix a price, I though more like a suggestion!

The last thing that I intent is trouble, thank you Shannon for your advice.
I was not aware of these regulation! and the last thing that I need is pay $10 million or be in prison for 5 years OMG NO NO NO! thank you for rescue me on time!

And to don't get you con confuse folks exactly what I was thinking is get together to share expertise teach each others and have FUN learning for each one talents and yeap I though about prices just the same way that when we meet each other and we ask how much do you charge per hour or the time when some one told me you should not charge less than XXX because the same reasons that I expose, after all was just a suggestion.

Last weekend I was painting with others two face painters in the area and was amazing how many thing we learn from each other one though us some tricks and techniques, I share some of my works strategies to keep customers happy and inform of our timing prices and so, and the third one share experiences with her products, that was who make me write this invitation.

I now there are online groups but I love the personal contact.. way better and you can see the smiley of your friends, and hugs does not feel the same online that alive

But well I guess is not again law help each other so still the possibility to help us in other ways

we should be like the gas prices in Canada competing to see who get the most not the lowest. LOL

The gas companies have been in trouble for price issues before ...   

We all talk about pricing as it does affect us all, but it is business so being strategic in your market is also important.

And sharing is great!

Hello, fellow Ontarian here!

I charge in the same range as you ($90/ hour), and agree that anything less may be undervaluing myself and my work. Usually when clients ask for discounts and complain about the prices, I give them a big long list of why my prices are the way they are (cost of training, professional grade paint, kit accessories, gas and mileage to get to their events, driving time, I carry insurance, police check, standard first aid and CPR certified, etc etc etc!) I also give them a list of reasons another company may charge $30/hour (no training, inexperienced, craft paints, no insurance, etc!)

In the end, everything works out for me because I attract the clients I want to attract: upper-middle class private parties, who are conscious about the safety of their children, their guests, and their entertainer. I am generally treated with nothing but the utmost respect, and am almost always tipped. THESE are the clients you want to attract! It sucks that people charge $30/hour, but let's face it: the cheapo's out there aren't going to pay your fair wage of 80-120, so you may not really be losing business over it-- the discount painters are just creating business in their niche.

Want to see a real face and a smile and trade tips? I'm in Kitchener! I have another buddy nearby who paints, and is always down to hang out and practice!

We have such a thing in our area, we added all the area painters into our own closed FB group, there we discuss and coordinate jams and workshops, give leads on gigs that we aren't available for and are able to ask others that work with the same standard of business (good professionalism, quality of work and such) When people call for a quote and I'm unable to provide a service (I'm not a twister for exmple) I tell them that I am part of a small guild of local entertainers whom I can see if there is any availability. Its really nice to be able to send them to someone I know will give them a great experience, rather than leaving them price shopping and possibly feeling that since they can hire a painter at 40/hr then there's no reason to hire anyone for more than that.

Hi Melly, thank you for your comment and yeap in fact does not worry me too much losing customer that are after the $30 to $80 bill, in fact I am after other business like stores that can hire me for more hours and more pay.
My rate is just for face painting if my client wants glitter tattoo or balloon twisting that is another rate.

Andrea what a lovely group! definitively that is something that I would love we Ontarian face painter can do will be really great!

I already know two face painters that are interested on get together and help each other with tips and tricks and sharing gigs where they need help or definitively they can not make it.

Sadly no everybody that I have invited to the group is interested.

But thank you for the input and the info, certainly something to consider.