It should be illegal to have this much fun! (a.k.a.: jam Report, SCPA FP'ers)

Oh we had such fun! Our first South Central PA Face Painters jam... read on for details!

We only had three members, but it was a HUGE success: myself, RMPLEMNTZ (Deb), and Melissa/Missy (who is still trying to log on here for her first time). From 4pm to 5pm we did a meet-and-greet, a game involving toilet paper, discussed why were setting up a jam and what we wanted from it, and did a "round robin" where we each set up our birthday party kits/setups and then shared and explored each other's kit. What an eye opener! We could have used more than one hour for all of this, but we got it done. In the meantime, we learned some fascinating things about each other. For example, did you know that:

1) more than one of us is a cancer survivor?
2) one of us is a phlebotomist?
3) one of us adopted 2 little girls as infants?
4) one of us grew up overseas (Belgium) and one of us lived in Germany for a few years?
5) two of us have been painted for only a few months, while one of us has been at it for 3 years?
6) one of us had a terrible tragedy in the family recently, but is rebuilding and hopefully FP'ing will be a big joy for her in the months/years going forward?
7) one of us works in a natural foods store?
one of us wants to do this full-time, while the other two want to focus on weekends?
9) one of us already handed off a gig to another, for this Saturday?

If you want to know the answers, you will have to attend our next jam (oh, that is SO mean, isn't it?). Our jams will be the 1st Sunday of every month at 4pm at Bogey Macaws (the one at Springwood golf course). BUT, we had so much fun and learned so much from each other (and the restaurant enjoyed us so much) that we are actually doing this again in 2 weeks... I think that is the 21st?! Shoot us an email if you would like to attend, and we will email you with what to bring. All levels welcome Our mission is to learn, to stimulate our creative juices, to bring us out of our respective comfort zones (we sent each other home with stuff to try out from our kits), to give each other gigs (which we already did, for this Saturday!), and to support each other (which we did - gave each other motivation!).

Anyway, I just wanted to write this so that anyone too scared to set up a jam - DON'T be! Just do it! And seriously, we had a *major* jam with only 3 painters. We took up a whole cabana room, made a huge impact on the restaurant, so you do not have to have many painters to jam successfully.

My camera decided to rebel, but luckily Deb had some super complicated monster Nikon with her, and she might try to figure out how to post the photos in this thread. It was really, really dark in our cabana (we are bringing our own lighting next time) but I'll bet they still turn out!

Warm regards,
Barbie

Barbie I am so jealous!! But as you said before I can get this going in my neck of the woods
But really I am happy for you all. Sounds like a great time. No doubt you will be learning so much from one another painting and otherwise
Looking forward to the pics!

Im in CT would love to make it down

We had an awesome time!!! It was so much fun meeting Barbie and Melissa and sharing info. The restaurant was terrific, the people there so nice, I already learned so much and best of all, I feel excited about going back!!! Thank you so much Barbie for getting the jam together....I will try to post the photos tomorrow. Can't wait for the next one!

Barbie, If I'm ever in Central PA I'd love to come

Barbie...Please contact me next time you want to do this, I'd be happy to come. I currently split my time between Philadelphia and York Pa. Thanks!!

That so awesome - when I first started my medical career before going back to school I started out as a phlebotomist and that is a fascinating line of work. I'm so glad the Jam went well for you guys...that's what it's all about.

OMG I am soooo jealous. I may be hosing our first jam in my neck of the woods this Sunday. Maybe 4 of us altogether. I'll see if more are interested.
I can't wait to see pics.
BTW - you are a very good writer. You drew me into the entire thread. Usually when I open a long read, I skip it. haha, yep too lazy.
But, yours is very entertaining.

Oh and what the heck is a phlebotomist .
I can't even say that word.

a phlebotomist is a person who takes blood for blood work right? My sis in law was one!

Yes a phlebotomist is the person who takes your blood when you need lab work. And yes it is a wonderful profession!