First event, just days away

Just mere days left before Friday - my first event. I won't be paid for it, just practice. Anticipating anywhere from 10 to 30 kids. Perhaps some adults. Sooo nervous.
I think I have everything I will need, as far as supplies go. I ahve been practicing to paint daily, and feel more comfortable with bringing the brush to people's faces now. I worked on organizing my stuff and quickly managing the various pieces. I have this shallow, quare plastic tub (bottom of a storage container) that I cart of my stuff in, and everything so far sits. I just grab it and go.
I even worked on some quick designs that I can do.
I think I am ready, but still so nervous. I might work on a word-menu board. No pictures yet! I cannot guarantee all my butterflies will look alike. lol

One you get there and do your first "gig" then you will be able to gauge what else you may need or want to change. Just make sure that you have some general things, non scented baby wipes, paper towels, your paints, brushes, sponges, cups for your water, water, a mirror, maybe bobby pins and rubber bands for hair out of the way.

Good luck, and relax. You will have so much fun! The first time I painted at a big event I forgot my water cups! LOL!

You sound prepared! Good luck!

I still get nervous, just a little bit, but now as soon as I begin to paint the jitters go away. Good luck, let us know how it goes!

Well, didn't quite go as I planned. The thing that I feared the most, actually (dealing with the kids) was the easiest one. That's the part that I actually enjoyed very much. I guess having my own helped in that department.

I'm a little bummed, to tell you the truth. I got only 5, maybe 6 kids to paint. None of them wanted to do full-face painting, just cheek art, which is OK. I felt my work was mediocre at best, but that's ok. I know I need to practice more.

But overall, I just sat there, and not too many people to paint. No adults wanted to be painted (except someone's mom wanted a simple peace sign (which I managed to screw up and her little daughter helped me lol). I was so nervous, that my hands were shaking. But I'm mostly bummed that no one really wanted to get their faces painted.

Oh well. At least i got SOME practice.

Oh forgot to mention. The only kid that I was able to get to do full-face painting was my own son, who would not sit still at all. I wanted to put it on him as advertisement of sorts, and it came out completely crappy.
I'm quite embarrassed for that too.

I am sorry it didn't go your way. Great that you got in a little practice... Keep your spirits up and keep practicing, another day it will go better!
Barbie

don't worry. The only thing you can do is keep practicing. Noone starts out as the best painter around!!

Sounds like it was just not the right venue and put you off your game a little? Peace sign...heck I wouldn't know how to do that! I better go find some examples - haha. From reading through the forum it sounds like everyone here that does this professionally has had some bad experiences. It's unfortunate yours was right out the gate. But don't give up :-) Give yourself a pat on the back for getting out there and keep an open mind about the next event. There may be some downs, but I think overall you are going to find lots more ups!

Dragonfly, my first event on Friday did not go as well as I had planned either. My problem was not not having enough kids to paint, but having way too many, probably at least 80 in 2 hours. It does not seem possible for a newbie. Today I found out that someone called the store to complain that I would not paint an 8 month old baby. Give me a break. Did that baby even miss it? I think the mom was disgruntled, but why wait 2 days to call and complain? The best thing is, we both made it through our first gigs, and we can both say they are over with and move on. I know I learned alot and I'm sure you did as well. good luck in the future.