My first face painting gig is coming up

So my first face painting gig is next week... a birthday party for a 7-9 year old who is having a slumber party with 7 friends.

I'm excited and yet nervous that I won't be that good.
My problem is I'm a perfectionist, but allegedly the kids aren't so much like that... hahaha....

I've got my kit, my glitter tattoos, my wipes, cotton tips, brushes, sponges, clothes, spray bottle, paint brush holders etc etc

Any advice, help or ideas for designs is very much appreciated!!

Thanks and wish me luck

Relax, don't be such a perfectionist with the designs and make their face painting experience simply fantastic, that's all that counts ; )
Everything washes off except the smiles!
Happy Painting,
Susan

I can agree on the perfectionist part, I am the same way, but I grew up not being good enough for the people around me, the wonderful thing about this biz, is that we have the best clients!!!! The kids are very forgiving, even if we think its horrible, they are amazed with the experience of being painted how it tickles, that we can usually make something that they request, and that their parents that are usually don't get the paint on yourself, only on paper (for crafts) let this happen. You need to make it more about them and less about having every little detail in its proper spot. On top of that sometimes that little "mistake" makes the piece more unique, or even better, something that you might not of thought of in the first place. So take it from a fellow perfectionist, concentrate on the kiddos, and if it does turn out to be something that they don't like, you can always wash it off and start again, (mostly for parties). We are almost ALWAYS harder on ourselves than the kids and parents are!!

Anyway, Good luck and have a really great time!!!! cuz if your having a great time then more than likely the kids will too.

Good luck! have fun

Hope it all goes well for you....sounds like a fun way to get the ball rolling.

Good luck on your 1st party

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and good advice...

The 1st job will always be remembered! It's exciting! Congrats!

What a lovely start, a small group and a delightful age. I checked your website, they will love your designs. If you need to get rid of nervous, shaky brush to start, paint a quick and pretty design on your own face or arm. Take your time and just enjoy the party, you will probably be treated like a rock star! Good luck, have fun and enjoy the ride-welcome aboard!

Enjoy the painting and listen to their wishes. I remember painting a boy at my sons school. He wanted a tiger with big teeth, so I painted a tiger with teeth. It was a nice and clean tigerface. But... another boy painted by a mother that had never painted before (too wet sponged, dripping all the way, big heavy lines) had much bigger teeth, so he was not satisfied and liked the other tiger better. Ofcourse I made him another pair of really big teeth, so he was happy after all. But I had my lesson learned. They don't see the imperfections we see, they just want their expectations fullfilled.
I think you will have a great party. Good luck!

AND DON'T FORGET THE MIRROR!!!!! That's the best part!

Be sure and eat a little something light before you go. (helps with the nerves) The little girls seem to like crowns, butterflies, anything with rainbows, cats & puppy dogs. The little boys seem to like spiderman, batman, skulls, tigers and sports. Just make each child feel special, especially the BD girl or boy. The children usually have other things to do at the party so time will fly fast and you will be done before you realize it. Don't forget your camera and good luck.

You are going to be AWESOME! That is the PERFECT environment for the first time. Your hands will shake for the first one (so lay off the caffeine), and then you will enjoy the rest - I promise. Let us know how it went and what you learnt!!!!

Wow I hope it all goes well for you. I find that if I am playful and have fun it covers a world of "sins". Parents love it when you get down on the kid's level and have fun. If I am doing little ones I always always try to make the kids look smart and me (the adult) look like the dummy when asking what they want. That way they explain it to me and have fun doing it. (its a throw back from my clowning days)
If you just relax and have fun so will they. Just remember...YOU ARE GOOD. We all know it and soon they will too.

Thanks everyone... Nervous, excited and must remember I'm my own worse critic...

I'll be sure to post how I went

Happy Painting

Don't forget your CAMERA!!!!!! And ask the mom to take photos of you painting!!

Ok.... So I'm back from my first face painting gig... OMG! No matter how much you practice, prepare or plan, as soon as you walk in the door and set up, it is on! Those kids are racing and eager to go!! And wow do they go!! Hahahaa...

So luckily it was a friend of mine's child who was having the party and there was only 7 of them... but here in little old Adelaide (South Australia) it was stinking hot and humid, so I was hot and just a little flustered (it didn't last long though)

I took a "cheat sheet" along so the kids could pick something from it, or a variation of something. You know the stuff I practiced, the stuff I can do well, the more complicated stuff... The first person to be painted was the birthday girl... she wanted a roller skate with balloons... hmmm... never practiced roller skates or balloons before... surely it couldn't be that hard - a shoe with wheels... right?! If I was drawing it perhaps it would be easy, but with a paint brush a little bit of a different story.... Anyway I did hers.... and from that all the kids wanted balloons.. How do you make balloons look cool??!?!?! Because I personally thought mine were less than average.... Although one of the other kids did ask for the same design as the birthday girl.... so perhaps it couldn't have been that bad..??? hahahaa... I don't know....

Basically I did 7 designs... but they all wanted balloons on their faces as well...
Being critical, I was a bit disappointed in myself but I picked up a lot of things from this first time so it was good... and hopefully the next gig I will be more prepared I think the kids were happy... I mean they were still laughing and playing etc and they actually made me sing Singstar with them at the end... Which I took as a positive sign...

Anyway, here's a pic from my first gig... with balloons... :/
Again, how do you make them cool?

hey shelly. i am a south aussie girl as well!!! i'm in murray bridge though.
hmmmm as for balloons try a pouncer or mop sponge super quick and easy. all you have to do is add the ribbons i also like to make mine overlap a bit. and use all different colours hmmm what else lol

Yay! a fellow Aussie

Thanks... yeah I was doing the balloons free hand at the start, until i remember I had the round moppers... (Idiot! hahahah).... but i just can't get the ribbons right... to me they look plan...

Shelley, congrats on your first gig. Sounds like the kids and you had a great time. Success all round. Well done. Love the pic.

ok did my party today only ended up painting 4 kids and the rest had glitter tatts as it was so muggy and hot here today. mum was so happy she tipped me $30 on top of my fee yay!
here are some pics
i took all the pics after i had finished so some a bit smudged!







and the last is me

Well done Synni... quick question, do you get them to choose what they want from a book/list or do you let them pick whatever they want??

i didn't take any pics with me totally forgot hehe so just asked them what they wanted worked out well also made me remember how i did my cats without looking. :p was also my 1st camouflage face. i did around 20 people all in an hour gotta luv those glitter tattoos even had the mums lining up.

Yeah glitter tattoos make things move nice and quick

Shelley... Congrats on your first gig!!!! Sounds like everyone was happy!!! Tips always say you Rocked it!!!!!

Synni... Your gig looked like a big success!!! Congrats!!!!

And as for the "hot" weather... I am really jealous!!! lol.... I would like spring to be here!!!! This cold weather is for the bears... polar bears!!!!