Face Painting Business Survey

Sorry for the dorkiness, but I'm investing so much energy in this business I just have been itching to ask these questions, I didn't want to come off greedy or rude...but right now I really need this to work out, so I want to know how you guys are doing with your businesses.

I'll do the first one :]

1) How many years (or months) have you been face painting? For practice; 4 months, for profit; 2.

2)When are your busiest and least busy times of year?
Not sure yet ;]

3)How much do you charge an hour?
50

4)Where are you located?
Howell, MI

5)How many hours do you average booking a week?
At the moment I'm averaging BOOKING 6 hrs/week or so, but I'm only attending about 4ish hours/week of events

6)What are your main sources of advertising?
craigslist and party pop

7)How many months did it take you to begin making $2000/month (before expenses)?
Not there yet

8)What type of events do you frequent the most? Birthday parties

9)Do you have a piece of advice for a new face painter?
Don't be cheap when it comes to paint. The type of paint (or brushes) is what could set apart barely reconizable smudges from an amazing work of art.


Btw, I'm not face painting just for profit...I'd say 50% because it's an awesome job and 50% for potential profit. :}


K, heres a blank one for you guys. Thanks! :}

1) How many years (or months) have you been face painting?
2)When are your busiest and least busy times of year?
3)How much do you charge an hour?
4)Where are you located?
5)How many hours do you average booking a week?
6)What are your main sources of advertising?
7)How many months did it take you to begin making $2000/month (before expenses)?
8)What type of events do you frequent the most?
9)Do you have a piece of advice for a new face painter?

1) How many years (or months) have you been face painting?

I've been a professional make-up artist for 13 years, and started face painting for pay approximately 10 years ago.

2)When are your busiest and least busy times of year?

For face painting specifically: Christmas - Late November right up until Christmas, and May/June.

3)How much do you charge an hour?

Three figures.

4)Where are you located?

Small city in Northern Alberta - cachement area population is about 80,000 within a 4 hour drive.

5)How many hours do you average booking a week?

8-12 on average (note: I have a 40+ hour/week dayjob!)

6)What are your main sources of advertising?

Direct mail, car wrap, word of mouth

7)How many months did it take you to begin making $2000/month (before expenses)?



8)What type of events do you frequent the most?

Theatre, corporate (private events) and public events where I am hired to paint.

9)Do you have a piece of advice for a new face painter?

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. And you don't NEED everything to start with.

1) How many years (or months) have you been face painting? Started doing community events more than 15 years ago, really took off about 5 years ago.
2)When are your busiest and least busy times of year? Summers are busiest, Christmas can be a busy season too.
3)How much do you charge an hour? I charge a different price for birthday parties than I charge for corporate or festival work. I haven't done a pay per face in a very long time.
4)Where are you located? In a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada. I do lots of events in my region (2 small cities are near, one is 40 minutes to the west and other is 50 minutes to the east.)
5)How many hours do you average booking a week? It really depends.
6)What are your main sources of advertising? Word of Mouth, kijiji
7)How many months did it take you to begin making $2000/month (before expenses)? That's $24000 a year on facepainting and I'm nowhere near that!
8)What type of events do you frequent the most? Small festivals, some corporate parties and birthdays.
9)Do you have a piece of advice for a new face painter? Practice, use quality products, be conscientious about cleanliness and read through these forums there is so much good information and many many questions will be answered.

1) How many years (or months) have you been face painting?
6 years this Nov. I started as a clown(not really, but I was in a costume). I took a break 3 years ago while my father had terminal cancer/copd. Last October I stated pushing it full force & went from a gig or 2 a month to every weekend working.

2)When are your busiest and least busy times of year?
Summer & Christmas Holiday season

3)How much do you charge an hour?
I charge right in the middle of what our local entertainers charge(I don't like to put $ amounts for legal reasons & my amount may be to high or to low for your region)

4)Where are you located?
I serve Jacksonville, FL & surrounding areas(St Mary's, St Augustine, Gainesville, etc)

5)How many hours do you average booking a week?
4-10 hours depending on how may gigs I get(this is based of an average of 2 hours per event)

6)What are your main sources of advertising?
website, direct mailing, yellow pages on line, local.com, partypop, partyplanner, gigsalad, craigslist, kijii, word of mouth,jax4kids(a local directory). Mostly it's the free on line party sites.

7)How many months did it take you to begin making $2000/month (before expenses)?
After expenses, I've never made $2000/month. Last month I made $2241.00, but my expenses were $680.00. This is not a normal month & I average about $1500.

8)What type of events do you frequent the most?
Private parties, corporate events & the occasional festival or PPF event.

9)Do you have a piece of advice for a new face painter?
Practice, practice, practice & keep your accounting side in order so tax season will be a breeze.

1) How many years (or months) have you been face painting?
about 2 yrs

2)When are your busiest and least busy times of year?
summer

3)How much do you charge an hour?
depends... $75/hr for just face painting or balloons, parties are another story altogether ... between $75 and $175 depending on what I'm doing and how many kids.

4)Where are you located?
Windsor, ON

5)How many hours do you average booking a week?
depends... in the warmer months 6 hrs of pay per face per week, plus between 1 and 3 parties.

6)What are your main sources of advertising?
word of mouth, kijiji, google adwords (just started with this), parenting forums

7)How many months did it take you to begin making $2000/month (before expenses)?
You're joking right? Before expenses I made $4000 last YEAR... after expenses it was $2000 ... certainly not in a month and I never expect it to.

8)What type of events do you frequent the most?
birthday parties, farmers' market, occasional fairs.

9)Do you have a piece of advice for a new face painter?
Well, based on the questions, I'd say you need to lower your income expectations with this job. You won't make a fortune doing this, no matter how much you put into it.

1) How many years (or months) have you been face painting?
I've been playing with it for 2 years, but seriously got into the business side spring of last year.

2)When are your busiest and least busy times of year?
I would say the busiest is from March to Oct, but we had major snow storms last year that kinda messed it up for me, so we'll see this year.

3)How much do you charge an hour?
I start out at $100/hr and the price goes up depending on distance/time traveled plus if they want balloons or glitter tatts added. BUT i've been known to lower my price for Non profits, friends, and gigs that are down the street from me, especially if I have nothing booked that day.

4)Where are you located?
Alexandria, VA so I serve the DC Metro Area

5)How many hours do you average booking a week?
Do you mean how many hours a week i fp? well I mostly only do weekends so thats an average of 4 hours of fp.

6)What are your main sources of advertising?
Craigslist, GigSalad, word of Mouth, Google Ad, other fps passing out gigs.

7)How many months did it take you to begin making $2000/month (before expenses)?
Still working my way up there, but I say i do about $1000/month during the busy season, we'll see when fall comes...(fyi Kerri Ann Smith inspires me to achive becoming a full time business)

8)What type of events do you frequent the most?
I do mostly Private events, but getting more corporate events ( ), I do a few festivals (PPF)

9)Do you have a piece of advice for a new face painter?
Take classes, reach out to other FPs in the area, but don't get discouraged if some aren't very nice. Go to jams and learn techiniques. MASTER the art of mini and large rainbow cakes. It helps with the blending and makes your designs go super fast.

Thanks all for the info!

BluAngl83, I would LOVE to take classes, but I'm having trouble finding something close by. Guess Youtube shall be my only willing teacher... :/ I've been wanting to buy the split cakes but I hear they're pricey, would it be possible to make them with dfx cakes or does it work better with the creamier paints?

And really, is 2,000 BEFORE expenses a month really that ridiculous, Perry Noia? It's only my second month and I've made nearly 500 THIS month (now that I accept weekday bookings) and am booked for around 600 in gigs for the rest of the month, and I'm not even that great of a painter or super speedy at it. I just bought a car so I can finally do some serious offline advertsing. Of course I can't base my assumptions off of the second month, but September is looking better than August did this time last month. After a year or so of getting my name out there I wouldn't see how it'd be a problem, especially with my planned add-on options like glitter tattoos, henna, and arriving in character.

I love proving people who underestimate me wrong. I'm a true believer in if there's a will there's a way. I have no expectations; just observations, plans, and theories. Regardless of where it takes me, I'm loving the journey either way, so my heads right where I want it to be.

Perry,
What is Google AdWord & how's it work?

I think 2000 a month is really high, but hey why not reach for the stars?

Not trying to burst your bubble, but during the week bookings is not terribly common and you are possibly in your busiest month for your area. When it starts turning cold, it seems no one is looking to do face painting.

I would say go for it, but keep in mind that most of us sit idle for a several months of the year.

-Metina

Since I took down "weekends only" on my page 4 of my 7 most recent bookings have been during the weekday and I don't know if that means anything for future bookings, but that's just my initial experience. I have some great ideas for the chilly season so I'm very hopeful.

You can make your own cakes using DFX or Snaz or Paradise or You get the picture i usually prefer buying the splits already made b/c its easier, unless i have my own color combos that I like.

I get a lot of calls for doing stuff during the week day, but most times i cant . I can do evenings and I will start working at restaurants this fall, so hope that helps the slow season.

Metina: This is my motto (and its on my page): Reach for the moon, even if you miss you'll land among the stars. Ever since i kept saying that to myself, i've done so much more business then i thought i could. If Kerry Ann Smith can make 6 figures AFTER expenses, then why cant we?

Google AdWords.... go to the google home page and at the bottom, click on "Advertising Programs" you'll find it there. Essentially, it is a pay per click form of advertising that will put your ad in the "sponsored ads" section of websearches. You dictate your budget (I have mine set for $1.00 per day) and if it hits your budget, it stops showing your ad until the next day. You only pay when people click on your ad and you can dictate what geographic area you want to target as well as what keywords you want to come up with.

Hey, if you wanna prove me wrong, go for it.... I'm not one to discourage your drive. I'm just pointing out that if you are expecting to make the wages of a "normal" job with face painting, you'll most likely find yourself rather disappointed... only the best of the best of the best even come close and it's usually from selling products, teaching classes, etc. not just painting.

Thanks Perry Noia, I appreciate your input. It makes me all the more motivated. ;]

I tried adwords as well when I got a $50 coupon with my website hosting and I just broke even, but that was when I was in my first month and charging a measly $25/hr. I think I'll try again now that I've raised my rates and when I get some more pictures up and see how it goes, let us know how it works for you! :}

BluAngL83, I love your motto! Btw I tried googling Kery Ann Smith, but didn't find much other than a website and a directory listing, do you have a link to her story or whatever; it's always nice to see those who've made a living out of this.

I'd love to be in the teaching category some day.....
I loved it when I taught art classes for about 3 yrs(I did that b4 face painting) & was very good at it. It would be so much fun & rewarding to get to take my 2 loves & marry them into a business...

1) How many years (or months) have you been face painting? I spent 3 months practicing and it will be a year I have been making money at it in December.
2)When are your busiest and least busy times of year? I thought now would be the quietest time of the year cause it's our winter but I've been booked solidly - our christmas is our summer so I'm expecting it to be pretty big this year. I also have my hubby doing airbrushed tattoos, so we think we will be touching the $2000 a month this summer. Fingers crossed.
3)How much do you charge an hour? atm $60 p/h face painting more for body painting. Prices going up to $80 p/h in Oct. I have a 2hour min booking time.
4)Where are you located? Sydney Australia - population about 5mil.
5)How many hours do you average booking a week? between 4 hours and 12 hours. Mostly weekends.
6)What are your main sources of advertising? My website, gumtree, hotfrog, - the free sites encourage people asking for free work!
7)How many months did it take you to begin making $2000/month (before expenses)? I made my first $2000 a month in May - thanks to a job with the Cinemas, most months I make about $600 - $1200 before expenses.
8)What type of events do you frequent the most? Birthday Parties, Corporate jobs come a close second.
9)Do you have a piece of advice for a new face painter?
To dream is to believe, to create is to succeed.
Do your research, do your practice, feed your passion and it will reward you.

1) How many years (or months) have you been face painting?
I did my first "gig" last July but really began in earnest in November.

2)When are your busiest and least busy times of year?
So far, spring was my busiest time- it's just too hot in summer here. I'm hoping when it cools down here in October outdoor events will pick back up.

3)How much do you charge an hour?
I have different packages- check my website

4)Where are you located?
About an hour from New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

5)How many hours do you average booking a week?
2-4

6)What are your main sources of advertising?
My website, word of mouth

7)How many months did it take you to begin making $2000/month (before expenses)?
Haven't done it yet... I only work this business on the weekends... I have another business I run during the week.

8)What type of events do you frequent the most?
Birthday Parties, family reunions

9)Do you have a piece of advice for a new face painter?
Practice, practice, practice!

Face painting is a very seasonal thing here and I rarely get asked for weekday gigs. But I have theatre season which is Sept - May where I do 6-9 productions that each run 3-4 weeks to keep me occupied.

On a busy week where I have opening week of a show and three bookings (which happens often enough!) I can be working 15-16 hour days.

I can go months without an actual "day off"... family has learned to write in on my calendar any family events or outing they want me to participate in.

If I could face paint on a fulltime basis I'd be doing very well thank you!! But even parttime it is a good second income... not enough to live on as the hours aren't there. This is a small market and won't support it on a fulltime basis.

1) How many years (or months) have you been face painting?

6 years since the first time!

2)When are your busiest and least busy times of year?

Summer and Fall are the busiest.. January-March are the slowest.

3)How much do you charge an hour?

$80 at the moment, about to be $100 soon.

4)Where are you located?

Mid-Atlantic

5)How many hours do you average booking a week?

parties- 2 to 5, restaurants- 7-8
6)What are your main sources of advertising?
internet, word of mouth
7)How many months did it take you to begin making $2000/month (before expenses)?

It doesn't work like that for me. Some months I'll make $5000, some months it's $500.... it's feast time in the Summer and Fall, famine in Winter, and snack time in early Spring.. but I make enough to survive on it

8)What type of events do you frequent the most?

birthday parties and restaurants.

9)Do you have a piece of advice for a new face painter?
don't forget to have fun and RELAX, they aren't judging you as harshly as you might think!

I didn't want to sound discouraging, it just always makes me fearful for those starting out thinking they could make their living on this, but hey why not? Maybe it is because we have always been told it can't be done and if we start off thinking it can, the you will.

I do live by the philosophy of "the secret" and maybe my own thoughts have been holding me back!

Since it is getting to the time to start thinking of the 2011 marketing campaign, I will give it all I've got as well!

-Metina

Kerry Ann Smith: www.aboutface-2.com She teaches, does private, corporate, and restaurant gigs. She does the sports stuff too!

Beautiful work!

That's the spirit, Metina! :}

Ashley, that's awesome; I'd love to try resturaunt gigs, just need to get some more pictures taken, postcards printed, and see if anyone bites.

Oh and when I put $2000/month I meant average over the course of a year, sorry.

1) How many years (or months) have you been face painting?

I first started painting for an event company, about 4 years ago. I left and have been on my own for 2 years, and have really been going 'hardcore' for the last 1.5 years.

2)When are your busiest and least busy times of year?

I don't things are steady enough to really answer that properly, if that makes sense. June and August were/are crazy, and you'd think that Halloween/Christmas would be insane, but they weren't as crazy as I thought they would be.

3)How much do you charge an hour?

$200 for 2 hours + travel for birthdays/non-corporate events, $250 for 2 hours + travel for corporate - yes, I have a 2 hr minimum. $100/additional hour for either. I do have a charity/non-profit rate, and will give friends deals, and sometimes small parties that are super close, I'll negotiate the minimum time.

4)Where are you located?

Surrey, BC - about 45 minutes from Vancouver.

5)How many hours do you average booking a week?

Erm...it all depends. I generally work at least once a weekend (2 hrs). This past week I had 10, plus two contractors working 3 hours each, so 16. I do balloon art too, though, and including my contractors, that was 10 hrs of balloons and 6 of face painting. This sadly isn't the norm - yet!

6)What are your main sources of advertising?

I honestly haven't done any advertising in months - I keep meaning to update my ad, but never get a chance to - not complaining, since that means I'm busy! I do Craigslist and I have a Facebook group, although that's not an ad, per se. Most of my work is word of mouth, repeat customers, them seeing me at another event, and apparently I'm coming up on Google.

7)How many months did it take you to begin making $2000/month (before expenses)?

Well, on an average, not there yet, haha. I can't remember how much I made last year - I'd have to dig my tax stuff out - but this year I'm so far averaging just under $1800/month. It totally fluctuates - I have been aiming for at least a grand a month - sometimes I barely make it, and sometimes, like this month, I'm making just shy of $3500. This is definitely before expenses, haha.

8)What type of events do you frequent the most?

Mostly birthdays, but I'm doing a good chunk of corporate events too. I do PPF/B about twice a year, and look at them as my marketing events,

9)Do you have a piece of advice for a new face painter?

Practice line work and smile when you talk on the phone