Screening potentials customers

I recently had a party with a pretty naughty group of kids. Naughty to the tune of cursing and threatening each other while in line. There was no adult supervising the line (the adults were just as raunchy ). I tend to be very sensitive to that type of environment & it was super hot so I wasn't painting very well either. How do I screen out these types of clients? I got some clues during the booking process but I thought maybe she was just young & busy. Any ideas? I know there probably isn't a way to "know" but how do you deal if and when you have a similar situation. I probably couldve talked to the chick that booked me but she reeked of "attitude".

I hope this isn't the party that I referred to you

I tend to get this problem a lot with parties on the north side and nowhere else. The kids are poorly supervised, loud bumping music, parents swearing and fighting, one smoking weed and blowing it in my face... and the list goes on. That being said... I have had some great parties over there as well. It is very hard for me to tell what the parties are going to be like before hand and some of the locations have been pretty scary. One time I saw a guy at a party with a gun in his shorts. I had considered not doing any parties on the northside but for the most part since that incident they have all been good parties... I would hate to turn down a whole side of town because of a few rotten apples!!

@ Suzy I've had similar experiences as well. I have in my contract that I will leave but I just don't want to upset the kids because the adults are stupid. I've donated my services to various orgs. on the N. side and never have problems, its usaully the private parties. Not sure how I'm going to handle this in the future.

Side note - this city particularly the N. side is out of control. I've talked to my husband several times about selling our house and moving to the suburbs, but we wouldn't be able to sell it for the $$$ we want. I even had to pull my kids out of MPS because of the naughty kids, I just don't want them influenced by the extra drama, there are problems in the private schools as well but not as many!

Remember how you said you 'got that feeling'? I listen to that feeling and can honestly say I have had almost no bad gigs. If I get that niggling feeling of discomfort, I become very 'busy'. I don't take any client I feel may be a problem. When you consider the stress that comes from awful gigs that can be avoided, it's rarely worth the money. Plus the gigs that may have come out of it are usually just as bad.

When a client leaves my private appointment, I give them my card and tell them. "here are some cards, only give them to people you like! Good people know good people - so if you like them, I will like them too! If you make it too easy for unpleasant people by giving them a card, they will just call. If they really want my services and had to search for me, they are more likely to behave. So only give these to people you think are worth it!" They feel empowered and they know I like them. They are now on an important 'mission'! They are my most powerful advertising. And they know I mean it. If they got through my door, I got the happy feeling from them.

I do well enough I don't need problem customers and unless you are one gig from not paying your heating bill, you don't need them either! I love my job and I don't like downers messing with my paint or henna time!

Just my two cents! You get what you pay for!!

I never had a bad face paint-job but once I had a horrible Tupperware party (remember them? I used to be a Tupperware-demo-woman) and that specific party was really horrible; board women, horney teenagers and they even stole some of my stuff.
I did this party for my boss then, because she wanted to do one of mine. Result; she sold a lot, I ended up with nothing and went home with less then I arrived with.
This was a tough lesson to be learned so now I always listen to the litte voices in my head; if they are quiet, it's oké. If they shout don't do this then I won't!

i have not had a bad party of gig yet..but like Kim said i would go with my gut feeling....

I'm with Kim. If I get a bad vibe or something is bothering me I pass on the gig. I give myself an out on "checking my availability" for any date/time given and if there is something not setting right with me I will not be available.

I like Kim's business card power grab!! Great idea.

I don't know what I would do in a situation where there was constant swearing and misbehaving. I guess just paint as quickly as I could to get out of there! I would definately leave immediately if there were a gun or drugs though.

I've been at parties like this. It's just part of the job.
Having a booking fee has helped. If people pay it, it means they're serious about hiring you & usually much more considerate.
If the job is just horrible I just don't hand out the my cards.

I had a job where the grandma was drunk as a skunk, dancing provocatively & shoving her very large chest into all the boys faces.... I wanted to call the cops...