Would you paint at this church event?

I just got a message on my answering machine about a church wanting to hire me for two hours for some carnival event they're having. There will be about 100 kids there. I know I can't FP all the kids in that amount of time. Should I just say yes, and too bad for the kids that can't get painted. Since the event already has set hours, I don't think they can just hire me for an extra hour. I'm unsure of how to proceed. Thinking I'll just say yes, but make sure they know that I won't get to everyone. What would you do?

Ask if they would be willing to have two painters??? Then see if a buddy painter could come along

Sadly, no buddy painters here. I'm all alone...

I painted at a church event that had a little over a hundred kids at it, but not all of them wanted their faces painted. I think I only ended up painting about 60 faces in a three hour time. There is a good chance that since it is a carnival event most of the kids will be too busy doing other things or too impatient to wait in line, so I would say go for it.

Good point, PJ. Thanks for the input!

I say do it. I feel differently about big events like this than birthday parties - I make sure they hire me for the right amount of time for birthdays so no one's left out, but for an event, once you're done, you're done. Let them know that you will do as many as you can, but you won't be able to paint them all. What more can you do?

Just make sure you cut your line off and say you have another event after, and can't paint 'just one more'!

Take the job. It is a carnival not a party... they hire you, you tell them how many you CAN paint an hour on average. That's it. It is NOT your problem if not all the kids are painted as you are hired for the TIME not the number of faces and as you said the event is a set time frame.

Like Kristal says, make sure to cut off the line and finish on time! I learned the hard way that I am not responsible for anymore than I promised - which is the time booked only, not the number of people painted!! Never promise numbers for a large or public event!!!

I may be doing the same thing for a church here....and I have no idea on what to tell them about how much I charge for events like that.....any ideas??

Yeah, I'm in the same position. I think it would be good to find other painters we could rope in for bigger gigs. Maybe you can think of a way to put feelers out and find some. Then you can let me know how to do it.

It might be best to find out if the church has a budget that fits with your quote. They might not have allotted enough for another painter anyway. At most big events, I've noticed that not all kids get painted, or want to be painted anyhow. The ones willing to stand in line for two hours waiting to be painted and forgo other activities will be the ones to be painted.

What I'd do is to put a sign on the back of the child that you estimate will be the last you can fit in during the two hours, and don't allow anyone else to line up behind him.

Kat

I do a lot of church events(including my own church). I paint who I can in the allotted time & don't do super detailed designs. Kids will be as happy for a simple swirls & twirls design as they would for an intricate 10 minute design. They just want to participate. Make sure the church provides a good, strong personality to be your line manager(if you're managing the line from your chair that's less children you can paint). The reason I say that is often they give this job to a timid teen & the line is just as chaotic....

Also you could bring some SUUUUPER fast cheek art ideas too... To get through the line faster... Like a yellow circle with a smiley face type quick

Wow, thanks for all the great information. I'll have to start planning.

Absolutely take the gig! The kids you don't get to will be those who wanted to do something else more than they wanted to get their face painted. Once your time is up, you're done. Those who are still in line should have lined up for face painting much sooner than they obviously did. The ending time for the event will have been well-known, and lining up late for anything could mean losing out on your chance. Disappointment is a good tool for learning the "hard way" that you have to make choices wisely.

Well, I confirmed the booking. The lady was totally fine with not all the kids getting painted. She said they've had issues in the past with getting willing volunteers to face paint. If they're using Palmer's, I can totally understand that. Yay, I'm excited!

Yeah!!! Good for you! I am following your footsteps....I will most liekly do this event but I still don't know what to charge.....lol

I charge 50% less than my normal cost for not-for-profits, schools & churches, w/ the stipulation that I must be allowed to advertise & have a tip jar.

oh yeah....never done the tip jar thing yet....thanks for the info!!!!

yes, non-profits and charity events get half off for me too OR I do pay per face at my REGULAR rate and they get half to raise money. But I always go in my full costume and advertise LOTS... they're getting a deal, I at least need to be able to say that I"M the one helping them.