Chair for facepainting

I am interested in what sort of chair face painters find works well for light weight, travel, and height. What sort of brands and price ranges have you found? I have my heart set on a tall directors type chair but am confused about costs, and quality. Some are $80-100 with free shipping, others are $80 but charge $60 shipping from CA, I live in NC. Then again product reviews written by customers vary about sturdiness and durabilty...some chairs are labeled "heavy duty" and cost $100-150. I am wondering if they are worth the extra cost. I have chedked several websites adn Ebay...

I bought one of the inexpensive wooden directors chairs a little less than a year ago. It is starting to come apart on the arm-rests. I'd definitely go with one of the sturdier metal chairs next time around even if I pay a little more. This chair, I get a little worried about when a bigger gal or guy sits in it.

My chair looks like this:



It has held up really well over the last three or four years. It's super light weight and has held up many a very large person successfully. I've had a few customers need to stand because they couldn't FIT into it, but never have had anyone whose weight it would not support.

Pros: Extremely light weight (you could lift it with one finger), removable back rest that you could embroider or replace, folds up nicely, and has cross bars at ground level to keep it from sinking into soft earth. REALLY sturdy.

Cons: The backrest does come off, and could get lost. (I velcroed mine on from the inside.) Small children could slip through the hole in the back. (I always hold the child secure until they are settled.) The foot rests used to climb into the chair are now permanently sloped slightly downward. Chair is unsteady while people are climbing in and out of it. (I always place my foot on the bottom bar to anchor it.) I suspect this would happen with any tall director's chair.

I feel like you'd be pretty safe getting any aluminum chair similar to this. Mine was $60 I believe, plus about $10 shipping. Next time I need to purchase one, I will be getting one with a solid back.

I have a tall heavy duty directors chair ( like pictured above)...and I love it very strudy, supports upwards of 350 lbs., but yet very light.

The wooden chair also has sturdiness issues. I always place a hand on it when a person is getting in or out of it. It tips a bit & the back comes off. I lost mine & had to make a new one. When small children are in the chair I ask the parent to stand behind them so they don't fall out the hole.

I use the EZ-Up Tall Director's Chairs. I got it from funtasticksupplies.com. I love it. It's lightweight and easy to transport.

I would highly recommend the EX up heavy duty chair. It can be a bit unsterdy so make sure you hold on when kids are climing in.
I had a little boy yesterday who was well over 250 and he climbed in no problem. I also had a mom who was pushing 300lbs easy who sat with her chubby baby on her lap. I thought for sure my chair was going to buckle under all the weight. But, it held up well. I heard a few whimpers coming from the metal framing....but other then that....a great chair.

glitterfly and I both got our EZ up chairs at the same time and they are good.... yes, you do need to hold it steady while they are climbing into the chair or it may tip forward, but it is really good.... it also comes with a carrying case.

I wish we could get the prices that you guys get over there though... I paid about $200 for mine!!!

I got mine from Earth Innovations, and it was only 89.95. They have them on sale now for 69.95. I just may have to get a second one.

this was a perfect thread for me too! i just got my chair here: http://www.earthproductsstore.com/director-s-chairs/earth-products-store/christmas-sale-earth-executive-vip-tall-directors-chair-w-side-table-dual-side-pockets-lower-shelf/26p10076
besides the fact that it's on sale right now, the nice thing about it I think is the fact that it doesn't have the gap between the seat and the back, so i wont be worried about loosing a kid right there...
Thank you for the great Info

Thanks the one I have been wanting, Inca. Do you have to take anything off or unhook anything in order to fold it up?

I'm considering buying the Tuscany Deluxe Tall chair
http://tinyurl.com/TuscanyDirectorChair from a friend for $50 incl. tax/shipping that has a storage pocket (not the cooler shown).

I'm wondering how it compares the the EARTH EXECUTIVE VIP TALL DIRECTORS CHAIR that has been mentioned here? http://tinyurl.com/EarthDirectorChair

The shape, size of the side table is a bit different and it looks to me that with the design of the "legs of the chair" the tuscany is less likely to sink in the ground on grass or other non-solide surfaces -- but other than that they seem to be similar.

Does anyone have the Tuscany who can share pros/cons?

http://www.makeupandglow.com.au/Makeup-Chair-Aluminium-p-16783.html

This is the one I have & I love it.
It's so light to carry
Folds up nicely for easy transport
Has a full back to it so no chance of a little one sliding through
I also use a cushion that I made to help the tiny ones sit forward for me
It is an adults make-up chair so holds a fair weight

I do have to steddy it when they get in but that's no biggy.

Great reviews guys....thanks so much I was looking for the same info

this is my favorite chair

it has a little side table...that i like

http://www.calcamp.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=78

ttfn

rebecca

I like that on Rebecca because of the side table & that the back attaches at the bottom(no little ones slippin' out the back). There's one that comes w/ some pockets on the side too.

Angie,
all the parts are integral and there is nothing to unhook! (the net on the bottom can come off though)
you don't have to use the side table if you don't want to, you can keep it unfolded, but i like it, on Sunday i am going to try it out in an event, i will let you know how it went
Inca

Hey THANKS for all the info. I ended up purchasing a tall directors chair from Hayneedle, for about $80, free shipping and weighs about 10 lbs. I will try it out tommorrow at the dreaded "craft fair". Now all I need it a sturdy step stool that folds up.
Below is the heavy duty chair with good solid leg bases and closed back. Good price but shipping looks like $30.

http://www.amazon.com/Director-Chair-Hevy-Aluninum-Included-Designed/dp/B002PJ6XIM/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&m=AIMGNG5XA4FRY&s=generic&qid=1291441858&sr=1-7

So what chair do you sit in while you are painting

I stand. I like that I can move around the person in the chair. It keeps me from getting stiff, sitting & leaning forward all day.

I'm in the market for a director's chair too. I had some experience using one while I was working for another woman's company and used hers. I liked it, however I found myself still bending over to reach my paints (I have a small folding table that I set up all my supplies on). Even when I used the fold-out table attached to the chair, I was bending over to reach the paints and water. Those of you who stand and use director's chairs, what is your paint setup? Do you have a taller table that you put next to it? I know lots of you use FatMaxes--are these tall enough to reach from standing without bending over?

My current setup is one folding chair, and I either have kids stand in front of me or I use an extra chair if the client has any. I really would like a director's chair, I just don't want to spend the money if I'm still going to be bending over to reach my paints.

I stand with my Fatmax and use a tall directors chair........if you go to the Fat Max thread I have a couple of pics posted. I sat for my first 3 years of painting and it literally killed my back every time. I am 6ft tall and I just could'nt take it anymore. I prefer to stand while I paint.

I use a director's chair and stand, and my set up is a tall rolling cart. The surface of the cart is just below my elbow in height. It's perfect for me.

AngieAnders wrote:I use a director's chair and stand, and my set up is a tall rolling cart. The surface of the cart is just below my elbow in height. It's perfect for me.

ANgie - I would love a pic of your rolling cart! I jsut bought a Fat Max and yes it is low...but I also can easily pick up my FX Paint Pallet and continue standing. I bought a tall directors chair from Hayneedle and its working great.
As for the comments about the foot rest bar that flops around when transporting...I simply loop a THICK rubber band around it to hold it in place. I also use the rubber band to loop around the little hook the bar rests on to keep it in place while working.
I may swap out for a tiny bungie cord with a bit more durability.

un4gettableshells wrote:So what chair do you sit in while you are painting

I stand. Found sitting put me too low. I have a tall director's chair and so far its working! Now it is SO much easier to paint little ones!! I have a parent hoist them into the chair for safety and to save my back. I may bring a folding canvas chair to sit on for a break or for a parent ...so they can watch and rest a bit.