paying a percentage to a business? Y or N?

Hi. Im new. Ive just set up and started taking bookings. A soft play area has asked me if i would do some weekend work - i can sit in soft play and charge what i want, but owners want a % of what i take. They are not going to pay me to be there, i'll just make my money back from the faces i'd paint. It is a very busy venue so im certain it would be ok. But whats the right % to pay them?? Im in the UK

Others might have different feelings about this but I NEVER liked the idea of paying others when I'm providing the entertainment.

Do you ever hear of a venue getting a band to play then saying "ok but we want a cut of any CD sales you make".
NO WAY! That band is there entertaining YOUR guests and YOUR festival. Their payment to you is that people are less bored and your festival is more entertaining because of them.

Many of us don't even like 'table fees' because of this reason. We are an attraction, and we are a draw to the event (or play place).

But if you REALLY want to paint at this place then here are your best options.

Option 1. Put a cap on it. 
Many many venues have asked me if I could paint for them but also pay say a $100 to sometimes $300 space fee (larger more popular events are crazy expensive). But here's what they don't get - how much money I make is directly related to TIME. I don't keep a bunch of 'pre-painted' faces under my table in case some one wants to buy many at once. All my artwork is created live on the spot! I can only paint so many faces per hour, thus I can only many so much per hour. So I tell the organizer rather that I'll pay 10% - 20% of what I make to them NOT exceeding the table fee. After I make $400 after going strong for a while, and they only get $40 - $80 they tend to get that picture that paying a huge table fee might put me in the red.
What I propose to you is similar. Offer her say 10% - 15% of what you make not exceeding X-amount per day. Like say $25-$50, which is a reasonable table fee. If the space is as popular as you think and as she says, and the people will pay it, then she should have no problem with this.


Option 2. Offer to do the face painting "By Donation".
(which is a fancy way or saying you'll work for tips)
This way you are not setting 'hard prices' for their guests, but rather busking. The deal here is they don't charge you for using their space and you don't charge their guests your full PPF prices (nor do you charge the venue your booking fee!). I do this at the farmers markets I attend in the spring, summer, and fall, and it's surprisingly good money if you know how to work it. It's also ok to ask if you can have a 'minimum donation' as well. Mine is Min $1 for something small, and min $5 for something full face. Totally fair and affordable, AND you can tailor how much detail you put into your work depending on how big of a donation you get. Great for being creative too!

Over all I recommend the 2nd option. More money for you, more cost effective for the public, and she gets a darn good deal on, from what I've seen, a darn good face painter to entertain at her venue.

Also I hate the idea of the entertainment PAYING to entertain guests and some one else's venue. That cheeses me off.

Thank you!! I'll go back to her with option 2. Makes more sense x