Opportunity or Stupidity?

Okay, so our accountant calls us today and is practically giving away vendor booths at a local charity event. They have a few left the week before showtime and they want to try to fill them all. Offer is $50 bucks for the booth and is going out to their clients who they feel will join in the spirit of the event. Understand we live in a city that is two degrees of separation. There is no obligation for us to this, but a little neighborliness goes a long way here. I just rejoined the chamber after five years and yes, lots of familiar faces and they all remember the time....lol...we won't go there.

Now the booth would be for my web design business - at this late stage we'd rig up a powerpoint presentation for the computer (electric included) and put out business cards, maybe do a little special offering, etc. Nothing fancy we don't have a booth set up.

But I got to thinking...would this be a good opportunity for me to FP while my partner answers business questions? I checked and was told no, there were no FP already contracted. They had tried but couldn't get one (I'm sure - as they weren't paying). So I would be doing FREE FP but provided by my own company - like Shannon and Perry suggest - put out a sign saying that the FP is provided by yada yada. And I wouldn't be jerking around local professional fp'ers.

The thing is I haven't done this yet!!! I have my kit, and I have some err - talent for what that is worth - and for an event like this I could do pouncer (daubber/mop) designs and just jump in, both feet. Do those snowman and reindeer etc. - not try anything fancy.

But I'm so scared. What do you all think? Am I being brash and silly - or should I consider this the sort of opportunity the Universe puts at your feet and says, go for it. Sink or swim? Am I dumb to pay to this the first time out?

Being a web designer I can put up a quick site at my domain and knock out the business cards and get a few last pieces - but I don't want to mock our profession. I know this won't be easy. I have NEVER painted a child before. I really had planned to finish out December practicing my menu faces, January really working on children (have friends with kids the right age)...nothing truly professional til spring.

Oh yes - event size? 70-80 vendors, plenty of local advertising (it's for a big local food bank), some sports celebs signing autographs, food samplings - festive sort of stuff. All indoors - typical booth walls, sides, table, two chairs.

Any thoughts, wisdom, appreciated. I have to decide Monday morning. There are little moments I think...I could make some kids just really happy...not be so uptight...

I say go for it. My very first event was our school carnival with oodles of kids lined up. They all Oooooed and Ahhhhed. When I look back, I knew I wasn't all that good.

Have a display with like 6 simple Christmas designs (Or whatever you are comfortable with". Print it out and put it up on one of those single page paper stands. Practice those designs until you are comfortable with them. By the time you are done that night, you'll have mastered them and gained some confidence. If a kid asks for something else, you just say "today, I am just doing these."

Your tiger face is super cute. Did you do it yourself? If you did, you have NOTHING to worry about.

Go for it.

There may or may not be that many children but it doesn't matter. Don't panic... just do what you KNOW you can, don't worry about the line, it is free for them and you owe them nothing (really, you don't!)

Just act like you know EXACTLY what you are doing!! That goes a long way to making it work!!

I just looked at your gallery. You will do awesome. Can't believe that you haven't painted longer, if those are your first faces.

I am new at all this too but your gallery is amazing for as new as you are. You should totally go for it!

Thank you. Sincerely. I want to do this. I just need some of that good old fashioned back patting and helpful advice. Right. This is free so I do what I can do, and I'm good at. No apologies. Painted Dragon - my profile is Kim Bakers tiger - isn't it awesome????? My own face, okay....

But children - egads - they squirm right? And touch things? And talk? And ask simply unanswerable questions? OMG! Shannon!!!!!!!! It's been years since I've been "Miss Dawn". Please tell me that whatever they used to like in me will come back again sort of naturally???? And kids are still kids - the same as they were - err - ah - 30 years ago????

They don't bite..........?

What happened to my post? Darn. It was so good. Ok, I'll try to recreate it...

Go for it! First of all, you're going to have to get your feet wet sometime, right?

Plus, if it's free they will not be expecting much. In fact, I'm sure they will be blown away by how good you are. The kids and parents will LOVE your work. I'd bet on it.

If their kids are squirmy, so what? Most squirmers are better for face painting and if not, well their parents know they're squirmy and usually come with the attitude of "oh, just do what you can do under the circumstances" I think it's a perfect way to start out - not so much pressure. Don't forget a tip jar for when they are so impressed, they feel they need to give you a tip!

Do you know how many people out there call themselves face painters (or offer face painting at events) that don't practice, aren't artistic, don't use real face paints, aren't good with kids, etc. ? ...and they CHARGE money for it!

Yes, kids are the same as they were 30 years ago! Yes, it will come back to you.

I AM CRACKING UP! Go for it! You should SEE some of the work that gets taken for "FACE PAINT" IT actually HURTS MY EYES!! Your gallery shows you have NOTHING to worry about. Keep it simple! Here is a design someone recently posted, that I used in the freezing cold tonight. I just did the same design over and over til the whole tree lighting ceremony was wall to wall reindeers ... and this was the KIDS choices, not mine!

My face is older and craggier but the kids were all sweeties!

That is the cutest reindeer, Sparklinglady. And Pixieface, I think you should do it too. Once you do, you will be absolutely hooked and not be able to look at a chld without wanting to paint them. I have been doing this a short time, but kids remember you the next time they see you. It is so worth the anxiety now for the reward later.

Oh I love that reindeer! That is so cute. And it's perfect - thank you! I can avoid the eyes and it's unisex - that and some little cheek /arm art - snowman, holly, lights and a santa claus and I think I'll keep it at that.

Thank you all for your encouragement! I'll make sure to put updates here.

This morning I'm up stressing as our server went down and it's taking quite a lot of time to get it back up. Nothing I can do but wait - talk about hating my existing job right now. Sigh.

Oh I have a question - stickers. I know from reading the forums it's good to have a supply of stickers on hand. But, can you just use any stickers? I have never found any that say they are for sticking on the body?

Here are a few other simple designs you can use if you want. One of them I "borrowed" from one of Lisa Joy Young's videos. (I did these last year, so my painting has improved since then.)








And I LOVE that reindeer one.

Stickers? For what? I do have these ones I made with my logo that I print off for times I need to cut off the line.



And I have some temporary tattoos on hand for kids that are just too young, too nervous, or the parents won't let them cause they have skin sensitivity.

That was really big!

It goes on a small round label. lol

I keep tons of stickers in my pockets for the kids that last minute decide that they don't want to get painted afterall.... you don't need special ones and you don't have to put it on their skin if you don't feel comfortable with it, it can go on their shirt or something.... or you can give it to them on the paper and they can do what they like with it.

How ya doin' Perry?! You have been on my mind ...

I agree! stickers of any kind!!

You can also put a sticker on your last 10 kids! (I give mine 'gold' pieces) I tell them that they are the most important children of the WHOLE day because they are the LAST! Most others who see the coins will ask where they can get one and are told by the kids online that there are no more today! That cuts down are arguing with parents when you need to cut and run!

I love the Christmas branch and other simple designs that were suggested!

YOU'LL BE TERRIFIC!!

Be sure to search the forum for other simple ideas and look on YOUTUBE for tutorials as well!

We all started a bit at a time!

Go for it!
....and don't worry about the line, because you WILL have one....it's free right?
remember to smile!!!!
.....I tend to go "into the zone" concentrating on my painting and forget to smile and interact with the kids & parents.
You'll do GREAT!

I say go for it! Fake it till you make it
Kids are very easy to please, they'll love anything you do & your work is so awesome, you'll do fine!
When you make your business cards, put paint removal instructions on the back. Then you have a reason to give your card to everyone. I'll PM you what I have on one of my display signs & you can condense the wording to fit the card.
I just bought Dollar Store Stickers for the last few in the line. I love Painted Dragon's Stickers & might some day go that route!
As far as squirmy kids goes, a gentle hand on the top of the head or a finger holding up the chin goes a long way to steady the squiggles.

My biggest piece of advice... keep your mouth closed while you paint.

I let mine go a little slack - or I used to. Then the kid sneezed directly into my mouth... I now keep my lips firmly together!

I didn't die... but it was touch and go on whether he would.

Shannon Fennell wrote:
I didn't die... but it was touch and go on whether he would.

I can't quite laughing about this!! Hahahahaa...

definitely go for it! if you are doing it for free, you dont need to worry that you are letting anyone down if you are not as good as you would like. they will honestly be so happy that they got free face painting that they will think you are great! it will probably give you the confidence to go out there and start getting paid jobs. what better way to practice than actually doing it on real live squirmy kids?!
good luck x

Shannon - I am still on the floor!!!! I think that MUST deserve some kind of reward for forbearance or maintaining your composure or something!

LOL! Shannon, I can't stop laughing!!!
When we were 1st time parents my hubby & I had a heated discussion on if our 4 moth old was ready for french fries. He let her gnaw on one & then picked her up & held her in the air above his head... he ended up wearing french fries & from then on he listened to me about the dietary requirements of babies

Note to self... Keep lips tightly closed while face painting...