about ready to give up

I'm so frustrated. I've been practicing face painting a lot. Bought a lot of good paint. Passed out and mailed out over 100 flyers, told everyone I know, and practiced on neighbor kids, made a website, posted my pictures on facebook - and yet nothing. No bookings. I've been a full time volunteer for five years so I can't keep paying for paint just to practice. I love seeing the smiles on the kids faces when I paint them. Its great. I feel like giving up - but then another part of me says to keep going, you're almost to a booking. How long did it take you? Any advice? I really enjoy the smiles I help make.
thank you everyone[/justify]

All the flyers in the world never bring in the amount of business that it does when people see you work. Try to find a large festival with a low booth rate or a charity and work for free. People seeing you in action books more gigs than anything else in my opinion.

It took me a few months of doing EVERY market/festival/family day/event in a 100km radius to start getting regular birthday party bookings. Then once I did 1 party I got follow on bookings from parents that finally twigged that I do parties. If people see you working enough they will remember you when a birthday finally comes around. Keep at it. It will happen for you Oh yeah I just printed a new banner for events that has "Now available for party bookings" written pretty big under the pics.

Do not give up keep going It was frustrating at first to find business then I just kept getting busy, I now moved to Florida and have to start all over again. Yes lots of free events more exposure. I had no luck with flyers either. Keep posting everywhere online just don't give up facepainting is FUN!!!

It's just my thoughts but I steer clear of all free events. I'd rather pay a booth fee that I can make back and have people see that it is a service worth paying for. I think when people see you working free they assume it is just a hobby not a business.

Make sure you always have a sign that says "YES!! I do parties!! When you are painting. I assumed that people would know that if I am this good at a fair or festival, I am probably more than a volunteer LOL But they always ask!! And anytime someone compliments your work, nicely smile and say "Shamless self promotion time! I do parties if you are interested, I have cards or flyers here for you" They always take them. Good luck! And I agree, never do free...people will not respect you. I did a few free events to 'give back' and I have never been treated worse or disrespected more.

Right about the 11th hour,,it happens.. Dont give up!!! I agree with all the advice above,, do the festivals.. regular markets people need to see what they are getting. Word of mouth is by far the most powerful advertising.
IT WILL HAPPEN..praying for you..HUGS.

I totally agree with what's been said above. I'm on the side of going to a fair/event pay a booth fee & charge for the face painting. I've done both PPF events & events where I'm paid to be there. The events where I'm paid to be there so it's free to the public there's definately a different vibe from the public.

wmeventservices wrote:All the flyers in the world never bring in the amount of business that it does when people see you work. Try to find a large festival with a low booth rate or a charity and work for free. People seeing you in action books more gigs than anything else in my opinion.

I was where you are now and all I did was look up my local craft/farmers market and whether or not they had a face painter. I visited it to see what type of people went, did they have kids? what was available to the kids etc. Then I set up shop and even if I didn't make site rent that day, I got people walking by and seeing me in action and I prepared a flyer specifically for birthday parties in my immediate area for a reduced rate. Then the bookings started coming and really if you have a good presence and you get regular kids its thier parents that do most of the refferal work for you. Word of Mouth is a powerful marketing tool

Thank-you very much everyone. I really appreciate your advice. I'm looking into the advice. Cheapest event to rent a space is $200 for 2 days. Ugh. cant afford that. We'll see what happens. I'll keep you happens. Will keep you posted.

As others have said try painting at a weekly market. Site fees will be cheaper and you will build regular clientale. I get all my paid work though painting at my local market and paint most of the children regularly.

I'm not a professional painter..I just do this as an aside thing to earn back some of my investment in my paints..

but I got asked by a friend to do a party and that was my first job..after that i put up a flyer in my kids' school and did some parties..

I know some people who do social work with kids and I've been asked by them..(they cannot pay a lot unfortunately..)

and I'm on hyves..a dutch social network page..and people have found me there for belly paintings..

also I sent my pictures to a make-up/facepaint supply store and they have asked me to do work for them as a freelancer...

this works fine for me..not too many gigs..I really don't want to do big festivals..

I hope to one day get paid for bodypainting as advertisement for a company or something...

but hang in there..you will succeed eventually!

Hey Terina,

What are you doing to promote your website? I found that having a website isn't enough, you have to actively work hard to keep in the top listing for your city as well as cross-post the listing on link exchange and gig sites. Once I did that, the calls just kept coming in.

Good luck!

Big hugs, it's understandable to feel so discouraged at this point. I bet you have brought so much happiness to so many children and families! I am new and am learning not to keep working for free as well.... (((((hugs)))))

Would you like to show us your work/website/etc. so maybe we can help you tweak some things?

Put some signs up in your local park - letting people know you are a local and maybe even consider offering a discount for local clients.... I did this at the begining and it scored me about 5 jobs.... which was enough to get the ball rolling.
Make sure you are listed on all the free sites like HotFrog etc
It will happen for you - hang in there!

Interesting advice and it just made me think of something. Has anyone ever had someone videotape themselves working to put on your site or to send out as a marketing tool. I agree that seeing you in person in action is the best, but a vid. showing you actually painting, dealing with the kids along with the kids reaction(5 or so kids) might be an effective tool. You could do an intro and closing with all your business information and make it like an infomercial(maybe only 1-2 kids to keep in short). Just a thought.

I might do it as a gimmic myself!

I have a video of faces.... like a fancy slideshow a friend made for me on my site... he has been hasseling me to do a working one... one for kids and one for adults.... so it's funny you should bring this up.... it's a good idea, I was a little wary of giving away my tricks......
The video brings a lot of people from youtube to my site... but wether they are Australian or not or want to hire me is a different thing.... I get a lot of asking for help contact.

A video is a great idea!

My husband has his own business (a magician) and says that having a video on your website is one of the best things you can do to drive traffic to your website. Get yourself a little flip video and video away!! It's pretty easy to embed them within your website.
As far as marketing, if you are out doing a fair or market, why not make up some flyers or postcards encouraging kids to go to your website and sign up for a "Birthday Club" - you could give them $10 off their next birthday party...I have found that people love to get a coupon and it could give you a great mailing list!

I agree, don't spent more money on flyers, I used to go to a Saturday Market, every weekend, (It is good when they see you permanent in a place) for a year.At the beginning some times I didn't do much, but later on I was on big festivals (because the other vendors told me about) and get a lot of work, sometimes when I got to the park there were people waiting for me. I didn't get any job volunteering at schools, church or day cares, sometimes they didn't say thanks, look for artists associations. I am in another Country now, but I got myself a spot in a mall, I have to start over again but the mall it is going to be my Saturday Market.

Everything that has been suggested are good, it kind of depends on the area you live in. There are so many factors that come with starting a business. The other thing that you need to know is that the first 2 years are the hardest for a new business. I can't remember the website at the moment, but it gives new business owners facts, and suggestions about the first 2-5 years of a business. If I can think of it I will post it. Just remember if this is what you want to be doing stick with it, and get your name out there as much as possible.

A Birthday Club is a WONDERFUL marketing idea! I never seem to stop learning and feeling inspired by everyone here.... Also Skidzz I love your website and how your joyful personality really shines through.

Awww!!! Thank you!!! I need to go and update some pictures, and stuff, but thank you! I think about it alot, I got an email from someone saying that it was horrible, and that I should just take it off the net... but I could really care less about his opinion... I think he was trying to get me to "buy" his web design services. LOL... real wonderful way to get business...lol.. anyway... You made my day!!!

About the birthday club, that is a awesome idea!!! I think I am going to incorporate that somehow!!! Thank you for sharing it!!

Thanks again everyone. I decided to put in an application for face painting at an event. Hopefully they'll approve it. If they do, it'll be for four days. I'll incorporate some of your great ideas. Thank you all so much.

Aw Skidzz, that is horrible, shame on him! You're right about BAD marketing on his part! I almost paid for web design (well more like waiting months more before I could even get a website) but Bumblebee here had a gorgeous flash website and mentioned she made it herself for free on wix.com which I wound up using as well. Anyway, your love for people and what you do really shines, mama.

Terina, hang in there and good luck with the event application! Let us know how it goes! (((((hugs)))))