HELP...How to get rid of an apprentice?

Hello everyone...!!
I have a lousy apprentice. She embarrased me, and can't stand her anymore. She just doesn't want to learn the "basics" I spent a year practicing before doing my first gig and she wants to compete with me already...I don't know how to get rid of her. She doesn't practice at all, just throws herself to copy my designs and wants to go with me to every single gig..and wants people to pay her my rate..
Yesterday I had a HUGE day event and needed some help, I have ask her to come with me and help me with the line. She said yes, then a day before the gig, she asked if the organizers were paying her "rate of $50 and Hr.? I was Like WHAT??? I said I'll be paying u sharing my tips and might give u something later on. She said no, she wasn't going. Then Later at night I was invited to paint at a masquerade event and she had included herself behind my back. So we ended up sharing table I had my whole kit , well stocked. She had a small basic colors Wolfe testing kit. She was using my board, using my mirror , using my wipes, Qtips. Etc. PLUS she was giving away my business cards with my name on it.She was embarrasing me, copying my designs..and the way she was dressed..so unapropiate plus she was letting some guy touching her and she would not set boundaries. They guy hunged by the table the whole night. If I don't get rid of her, she will ruin my business.. How can I get rid of her????

Fire her. Tell her you no longer require her services. Don't let her know where you are working. Tell the organizers you work alone and that no other artists will be joining you therefore no one else is to set-up in your spot.

If she shows up (if it is a private event how would she get in anyway?) tell her she will NOT be working with you, and if there is security advise them that she is NOT part of your company.

My apprentice is my 17 yr old daughter, so I can act the mommy roll if I have to(not that I need to, she's awesome).

Fire her.

Tell her you can't use her unless she gets insured as your insurance will not cover her, especially since she's working out of your kit. No one works out of my kit but me. It's my investment & lively-hood & I protect it w/ my life

Also, if she's going to work w/ you, let her know there will be a dress code & code of conduct agreement that she'll need to sign. You could also charge her a supply fee if she wants you to provide a kit for her.

I agree with Shannon. You must be firm when saying that you do not need her services anymore. Don't let her bully you. This is your business and therefore you must make the rules. YOU make the rules, set the rates, and make all decisions relating to YOUR business. Good luck my dear. Hugs Helen

MAN. I have a hard time inviting anyone to help me with anything for that exact reason. I have a friend who dresses as a fairy for some parties I do and well the last time she was there she SAT DOWN the whole time... Didn't really talk to the kids and I was so mad. I kept giving her my mom face like... GET UP AND F'NG DO SOMETHING!!! grrr!!

LOL! I had a guy I hired for a festival show up w/ a big rip in the back of his shorts. He was flashing his underwear to everyone. He ate all my snacks, talked inappropriately w/ the customers & I ended up doing line management anyway. I sent him home early paying him an extra $20 just to get rid of him.

Thank you guys for all your advices. I met her through her mom, who begged me to help her. I wasn't in need of an aprentice. I just talk to her about my business and she asked some questions about where you get your supplies blah blah. I gave her the name of a book I came across in my early days so she will have a feeling of what i was talking. After meeting her I considered the fact that I might need some help for big events, and I advised her to practice hard and do some research but that was no more than 3 months ago..and she wants to throw herself and get paid using my name...
To tell you the truth I don't even have the basics to what it is to have an Apprentice.. Do you pay them what you think they are worth?

I didn't know FPers had apprentices, but I might share my own experience working for another professional face painter as an employee, in case it helps those of you need another person to expand a bit!

My boss is the owner of the company, and she does FP and balloons herself. She has a number of people working for her who also do either balloons, FP, or both. My sister and I both work for her as painters; we saw an ad looking for face painters on craigslist. She said we did not need prior experience, just indicators that it would be a natural fit for us. She holds small jams for us and provides training mostly every week or every other week. As soon as she was confident that I was able to do her own designs in the book she gave me fairly well, she started sending me out on gigs.

How it works is that she pays us an hourly rate for things like birthday parties, corporate picnics, etc, that is a good chunk less than her hourly rate she charges the customers. When she books them, she takes a deposit that is equal to her cut for the company. The customer then pays the balance at the event to us, and makes personal checks to us or pays in cash. Any tips at these gigs are ours to keep, as well as any money made for staying overtime, which is the regular hourly rate charged by the company, and paid on the spot.

The benefits of working under someone like this, for me, are huge. Her insurance covers the whole company, so I don't have to hold my own insurance. She handles the scheduling of gigs, the deposits, getting all the location info and contact info needed. She just sends me an email before each gig detailing where to be at what time, and I show up with my kit!
At our jams, when she buys new products, she lets us test them out so we can decide if it's something we want to buy also in the future. We are free to add our own designs to our books, as long as we keep the ones she shows on her website and advertising in there too.

It's a great situation for someone like me and my sister, who are still pushing to get better and faster, and have other things like jobs and school to worry about too! I would never have known what to do if I wanted to strike out on my own with face painting before I got hired by her.

I don't have "apprentices" ... if I have someone I hire to paint with me they are "assistants". I'm not in a union nor do they end up with any sort of certification so to me apprentice is not the right term.

I have over the years "trained" a several people through the local theatre (they volunteer to do make-up and work on shows with me) and the ones that are dependable and competent I will then hire to paint with me on the jobs requiring more than one painter (me!)

I don't hire them unless 1) I know them 2) I know the level of their work and that they work to my standards as to health & safety 3) I know that they behave appropriately for the job.

I currently have a couple of very dependable young women that are good painters and GREAT with the kids. I hire them at a flat hourly rate to work for me when I need them, they use my kit, are covered by my insurance and I even pick them up and take them to dinner after the gig.

They also both work with me at the theater - as volunteers - still on the big shows. (And one of them I hired to be my mom's care aide too!)

I've had the occasional person contact me about wanting to "learn from me on the job" or "apprentice" or even parents wanting me to show their teenagers the business (make-up generally not specifically face painting).... I will agree to talk about the business, but unless they are willing to come and volunteer at the theatre so I can check them over and see their commitment I don't put any time into them.

I'm not keen on training my direct competition. It isn't in my best interests as a business person.

It might have been by mistake calling her an "Apprentice" when she is only some girl wanting to know the business and make money , when I thought she was there to learn , enjoy it and at the same time make some xtra $.
In the beggining I went to her house a couple of times, show her the basics. She said she was going to practice and she like it..Blah , Blah..
I asked her to meet again so we can go over more details. She kept making excuses.
I brought her to a charity event to see how she was doing. She was terrible so I insisted that she needed to practice more. Then I asked her to come to yesterday's event to help me with the line, and she said no..Then At night she shows up at the other event, she contacted the organizer, and we ended up sharing tables. Beside she was dressing inappropriately, she was giving away ny business cards to people she was painting, using stuff from my kit, accepted a beer from this guys who was touching her all over. I was there to represent my business and atracting possible clients. I just want to get rid of her she is not good for my business and i'm just going to keep turning down big events when they requiered 2 artists....thats my only lost..

So she's only been on one job with you and the other time she wasn't asked to??? Tell her to get lost in no uncertain terms. You owe her NOTHING and seems like you've bent over backwards to be helpful and encouraging...

Surely there are other pros in your area you can call on to work a two person gig with you?

hear hear Shannon I absolutely agree. Don't feel you owe her anything.

wow - you know, it sounds like you are suffering from "nice guy syndrome".... you just want to be the nice guy, but unfortunately in this case YOU CAN"T...

There is no nice way to tell her to back off.... and even if there was, it doesn't seem like she would take the hint.

I think you should get over being "scared" of being mean and just tell her truthfully and honestly how you feel about the situation.

Honestly, if I was the event organizer and I saw some guy touching her and giving her a beer I would give you a warning and if it continues, kick you both out. Especially if this was family event.

Simple Solution: Tell her your insurance simply does not cover her services and that by her painting under your name she is a liability to you that you just cannot afford. It's a very easy way to let her down easy.

..and then tell her mother, so she has the story from you also.

Is she a minor or adult?
Also, for the big events, see if you can find other face painters in the area & get to know them. The ones you feel comfortable w/ are the ones you work with. I have a few painters in my area that I'll refer to & would work beside because their artwork, cleanliness & work ethic is a good match for me. There are some people in my area that don't have all 3 qualities & I won't refer or work with. If my name is on it, I only want people who represent themselves & therefore me well. As far as people asking for training, they can always come to the jam.
Praying for you & your tough conversation.

My heart goes out to you hun, she sounds like one of those people who's so thick skinned and annoying that they misunderstand on purpose!!! Boy, do I know all about these kind of crazies!! It's very manipulative behaviour. There's no getting around it, you have to be super straight with her, but big warning..... don't let it get messy!!!!!

Talk to her like she's special needs when you explain to her your boundries, you know, all 'kind but firm and clear'. I'm not kidding with this, some folk refuse to 'understand', let there be no misunderstandings.
Don't make it personal, just state your boundries ....' Please don't turn up to my gigs uninvited, I don't drink on my gigs'. If you dont' invite her on another gig, then you won't have to deal with her again.

1) Stop asking her to gigs. How did she find out about the one she gatecrashed?? Don't tell her about gigs either
2) If you need help use someone else you've used before
3) Don't pay her, because you didn't ask her to do the job
4) If she gatecrashes another gig make it clear to her that she's on her own, representing herself to both her and the organiser.
5) Keep your cards to yourself, and if she asks you for one for someone, give the card directly to the person requesting them. You can point out to her you like to give cards directly so that theres 'no misunderstanding' (notice that word again!!?)
6) If you have the opportunity after a gig like the one she gatecrashed, say to her you're not happy with her turning up at gigs you've been booked for/you know she's not been booked for.
7) You could say "I've taught you everything you've been willing to learn, you're on your own, good luck".

If it comes up, you could say to her Mum, 'look, I tried to help her, she's not taking the gigs I give her and she's turning up randomly to other gigs. I dont' think she's listening to me, you know youth... blah blah..

These type of people know the kind of suckers they can latch onto. The look out for them and blur boundries so they can get away with murder. In your behaviour and tone show her your not one of these types, shift gear to end this relashionship. She sounds immature arrogant and disrespectful at best, toxic at worst.

Fire her. Do the insurance line, tell her mother then inform your clients you work alone or she is not with you if she shows up. I agree with all these wonderful ideas. Just get rid of her. She will be mad at first and lash out but will be on to something else in a few months.

I agree, you need to go solo unless another "pro" is available.

I got rid of her FINALLY. The organizer of the event called me about a week ago and shared his concern about her. He asked if she was my business partner or my employee, I said neither one. He said: "Glad to hear, because I am concerned about her conduct and how she might bring you trouble on your way" He told me that what she was wearing was not appropiate, He saw her drinking, and the worst part..MAKING OUT WITH THE GUY. I didn't see , It might have happened when I had my restroom break. The organizer of the event is a business consultant also. He invited me to a small business workshop today and WOW he opened my eyes and help me create a business plan..and all for free..YAY.
Sorry just wanted to share !

OMG, How the hell can you act like that when you are WORKING????? SO glad you gave her the boot.

Good for you. I hope she didn't make a scene.

Wow & YIKES! So exciting to see you have help w/ a business plan! I'm glad you finally got rid of her.

I have to agree with the former postings. You are not doing her any favors by letting her think that this behavior is ok. You are not being mean. You are being appropriate and she obviously has not learned that lesson yet. Pro FP and performing is not just about your results. It is also about being professional when we are doing it. That is what really separates us from the "crafties".