Black Tear drop request

I had a little boy in my chair yesterday about 10. He wanted a black teardrop below his eye. I quickly informed him, that I was aware of its significance and in no way would I paint something that promoted violence and disgrace. He picked a dragon.

I didn't want to be so blunt with the child, but felt like someone had to. I wasn't about to discuss what it meant to him. But in my experience it occurs within prisons and gangs in prisons signifying that they had killed someone.

I didn't post this to debate its meaning. I would never paint ANYTHING questionable. I don't paint things like the rebel flag either. I have my own personal beliefs about things, but don't discuss them with customers. I only say that I am barred by my contract to paint anything that anyone might find offensive in any way. I don't touch religion either.

I was just appalled that his parents haven't bothered to be there for that child!

Yeah, I would be uncomfortable with that. I've heard it means they killed someone. I don't really know, but if so, I wouldn't want to be a part of it.

I state in my terms and conditions that I don't paint anything that I or anyone else may find offensive. As I'm sure you know, here in Northern Ireland we have had our fair share of problems over a religious divide. I wouldn't leave myself or anyone else open to harassment or even violence by painting something that could be an incitement to some people. It is a very tricky situation.
I also wouldn't debate the rights and wrongs of it, which I think you are wise to say, Metina.

I've had to refuse to paint a teardrop too. The guy then lied and told me it meant something else, but I didn't fall for it. This was one of those times I was glad that I kept up with face painting forums and lists, because otherwise I'd not have known what it meant. We've got to keep one another informed about these things!

I personally don't do ANY blood and gore, bullet wounds, etc. Blood and gore out of preference. Bullet wounds and knife slashings because I don't want to promote violence in any way. That's just me. One of the Snaz contests once had a prenatal painting that featured a bullet hole entering the womb. I thought that was horrifying and offensive. (But that's just me!)

Did not know the thing with the black tear drop. But have never had a request for it either. I don't mind painting bullet wounds and so, but often can't help telling the kid he must be a bad soldier/warrior if he got shot ;-)

But I do have teenagers wanting designs in a more sexual genre, and refuses that off course (different if it is for a adult event, but there I still tone it down). And when I have some wanting to write a word in Arabic or something like that, I always ask for its meaning, and hope for them to tell the truth. Often it is a siblings name, or something like that.

I do find flags to be in a greyzone area, if the event is in a ghetto where I know some nationalities has problems already. What do you do there?

In any greyzones or when I know I just can't do it, I plead copyrights. Like with Disney and Spongebob. I can't draw very well and you need that talent to pull these off. I just claim that under copyright laws, these designs are off limits.

I didn't know about the black teardrop...but my sister told me that if the teardrop is to the corner of the eye, it is a gang thing relating to killing someone....

She said if they want the teardrop directly under the eye, it's a goth thing.

Just fyi incase you are painting in a club or they are vamp/goth followers.

I'd be completely lost and think it was from the movie Cry Baby with Johnny Depp. Shows what I know LOL

I just found this thread and found it very interesting. What do you do if your hired specifically for a religous event? I have several of them coming up and they have already emailed me designs of particular saints they want me to paint. I didn't have any issues with it till I read this.

I love offering the blood and guts stuff. I do the black eyes, stiches, gashes & wounds. The boys love it, especially the 10-14 year olds, generally cuz their too cool to get a spider man

If it is for a specific religious event, I do not mind painting those things, since they will not offend others there (since I guess they have the same beliefs). Especially if they deliver the motives, so I not by mistake draw them the wrong way.

If you are hired specifically to paint something, and you agree to take the job... Say I was hired to do make-up for a movie or a play involving skinheads or gangs and needed to create swastikas etc... then I would do it.

But if I am face painting the public or at parties??? No way. I won't even do skateboard logos!!

OMG, Angie!!! I am so glad I never saw that one!!! That is horrible!!! Why would anyone want to do that?????

I was a correctional officer in an all male state prison at the age of 19 -never knew about the black teardrop. Thanks for the heads up Metina. I'm in the DEEP SOUTH out in the sticks. I get a lot of rebel flag requests. I do them DEPENDING on the event.

And thanks for the info about the copywright - I got asked to paint Spongebob this weekend and was like huh?

I have two churches that hire me pretty regular. I always check with them first as to what might 'offend' the congregation....the hardest event was a Harvest Festival (Held on Halloween!) and we were trying to avoid spiders, witches, demons/devils...erm...all the stuff the kids dress up as!

Now I'm not as paranoid and worried as I used to be.... If the person that hired me 'cleared' my material...and if I do something that is offensive in one parent's mind (even though it is their kid asking for it), I can always wipe it off. Usually the parents are nearby and I just ask if it's ok to do 'xyz' on the child's face.

I don't like the idea of doing bullet holes on children....or knife wounds. That's just wrong in my opinion.

If it was for a movie role or play and the actor needed it, that's different. Or if they are an adult and want something more violent, I might do it....I did vampire bites on a man's girlfriend...and he was a vampire thing. But they were WELL over 21 and heading to a hard rock night club...

Some days ago I got asked to paint a burning house. Don't mind burning skulls and so, but the house one I was a bit unsure about. I did it, because the children there all wanting something burning (the weirdest one was a burning twistbread with a smiley on..). But what would you do?

I've painted gravestones with names... a little girl's aunt had died recently of cancer and she wanted a grave with roses and "R.I.P. Auntie" on the gravestone. Strange child - but I painted it.

I've painted some strange things but as long as I am sure it has no race/gang/or hate message I'm okay painting it.

Logos I just avoid due to "copyright" laws and licensing.

Ok, Lonewolf and Shannon, those are both REALLY out there...

I'm not sure how I'd have handled that one. As long as there were no burning bodies...and the parent's were ok with the grave...I guess I would have done it!

HAHAHA Lonewolf, I gotta ask you; what was the event you were painting at? I haven't been asked to paint anything burning before, even when I did a fund raiser for the fire department. lol

Parents? Are the parents supposed to be involved in this?? Never saw them...

Criss, it was at a campsite. It started with one child wanting a burning skull. Then the other saw it, and wanted other things burning...
There was also a girl that wanted a butterfly with moustache on her arm, with a spear through it. And a sword cutting into the wing, but I convinced her that the last thing would be to crowded *lol*

Is it unusual to not have the parents around? I find they are usually standing within speaking distance and watching the painting (taking pics...etc).

Maybe it's a Colorado Thing! I'll consider myself lucky if so! I'm too busy to babysit!

Lonewolf, those are seriously imaginative kids. I luv that!

I find that half the time the parents are not within speaking distance, 25% without seeing distance. But don't have any problems with that, as long as the children leave after they have been painted. Meaning, as long as they don't try to get attention I don't mind they are there, but those screaming for attention I don't like. I feel bad for them, that they have to get it from strangers, instead of their parents, but I don't want to give less attention to the child I am painting at the moment, for their sake.

When I am painting in public in town, there will be some parents around - I'd estimate about 4 out of every 10 have parents with them in line. When I'm at the track - no parents anywhere. At the big festival I'll be at this weekend (paid entrance - free painting) no parents usually as they are in the beer garden and the kids get dropped over in the kids area... Corporate events usually it is the parents waiting in line until it is the kids' turn!!

What exactly is the issue with copy right? What could happen if I am found guilty of painting hello kitty?