Oh Goodness Festivals!

So I figured it was about time for me to start doing a festival or two if I could get in and branch out from my just parties routine and have people see what I can do. I thought I'd have no chance of getting in any where because I thought they'd have regulars from years gone by who would get in right away. I sent in my applications and I heard back from 2 of them today. One of them is a really good sized one! I'm so excited and thrilled and terrified.

Now I'm freaking out. I'm thinking "what have I done? parties are one thing, but festivals? I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm going to make a horses behind of myself. what if the little fair has more than just me there face painting and the other face painter gets all huffy and wants to start a turf war?(i already know that won't be a problem at the big one)" Yes I've really been thinking these things because I'm that weird.

So I'm trying to calm myself down by making lists to make sure i'm overly prepared for these things. My tent got delivered today too and i got my email the my stuff from the forum shop got shipped today so today has been all kinds of exciting. I almost don't think my little heart can take it lol

So here's my question: What is something that a festival newbie would easily overlook but you've learned you can't live without?

thanks so much. i've just got the jitters. it's being made worse by the fact that i've got a good chunk of time before they happen that i have too much time to think about it lol

Congratulations!

A couple of things spring immediately to mind - paper towel, garbage bags, water supply/source, (for drinking and for painting ) a spare hand mirror (just in case the first one breaks/gets walked off with) sunscreen, a sign saying that you're taking a break and what time you'll be painting again (white wipeable board with marker works fine - just write down what time your break will be from and until so people don't wait in line when you're preparing to stop.)

Okay, that's more than 'a couple' of things... I hope they're helpful.

Have fun!

(oh and a place to put your cash...and some change to start off with...and maybe a tip jar?)

Okay, I'll stop now

See! I never thought of an extra mirror and it never crossed my mind to use a white board to write down breaks lol our white board is being used to keep our boarder collie out of the living room when we're at work lol
thank you so much you rock!

YAY for you Mizz, mmmm well Helena gave some fab tips there. How about business cards, cause people will ask. Do you work with a directors chair? If so I tie a plastic to the arm rest & put all my used sponges & Q-tips in there. A bucket to pour your dirty water in. A sign stating your price/s. Most of all breathe....... and enjoy yourself you'll love it.

cooler with drinks and food...pillow in case your bum goes numb...lol...dont laugh but i take breath mints (dont wanna wind up with bad breath talkin close to kids faces) oh and i have a lil cosmetic case for potty runs with tissues and hand saitizer just in case.

As well as a sign to say that I'm on break and will return in a few minute, I take an old bedsheet which I throw over my table to keep people from touching my things. Even if my daughter is with me, I do this, because when she is in her zone she won't notice things like that happening over on my side of the tent.

Thank you thank you everyone!
Mandi my mom is actually getting me an early birthday present of the tall director's chair I want because I looked like a question mark after the last birthday party I did. That party was just 3 and a half hours imagine what i
d look like after a 12 hour fair! lol

Tra, I worry about my breath all the time! lol you're not alone lol I have IIH and my meds give me wicked dry mouth so I'm always chewing gum or something. I totally didn't think about tissues (or more specifically toilet paper) it seems like every port-a-potty i pick has nothing in it! Must past toilet paper.

Isabelle, thank you so much for the sheet idea. my husband was telling me last night "baby you have to make sure you take breaks" and all i kept saying was "people will touch my stuff!!"

You guys are so fantastic thank you thank you thank you

yay for you!! No tips from me since I've never done anything like this. Great words of wisdom from everyone as usual. Helps all of us. Just wanted to say YAY. So happy for ya!! Look forward to hearing how it all goes.

After years of festivals I'm just moving in to parties and I find them WAAAAY way way more stressful. In a festival you create your space, it's your time, your money. At a festival you can create a space where it is comfortable for you and you are positioned between the kids and your paints (I have a gazebo wall at the back of my paint table so they can't get in that way. At parties I have to adapt to their space and it really bugs me having dirty kid fingers in my paint. At a party if it is their kids I feel obliged to be more polite than if there is a line of 30 kids and I know that I can just send them on their way...
I also find I make more money and have more fun at a festival. So far I've found parties nerve wracking and chaotic and I don't do my best work. Festivals ROCK!!
As for what to bring? Hat. sunscreen, drinking water, brush water, snack that you can pick at every few hours when you get a millisecond to eat, a good tent, signage, business cards/postcards and a smile. And a helper to come in and watch the stall if you need to pee/stand up/see an awesome band/go spend the millions you have just made...
Good luck and have fun!

I put this together a little while back... hope it helps
http://perrynoia.blogspot.com/2011/05/festival-set-ups.html

thanks Perry! BTW you're like the cutest clown ever! i can help but smile when i see you all done up

Riana, i hope it will be fun like you say I'm so relaxed at parties (excited before i get there but once i get there and start painting i'm totally chill) because I know exactly how it's going to go down. I get there, i'm there for the time and if i stay a little longer that's my choice because I wanted to take a little extra time on a couple faces. I wind up getting a big old tip when i do that too. I'm worried about feeling all rushed at the Old Home Days and do cruddy work and having crabby parents if the line ends up long.
Which I don't get that anyway, I'm a mom and I tell my kids "we'll come back in a bit and see if the line has died down." the one time i didn't do that i waited in line for 45 min while a friend took my kids around to play and when i was one person from the front the painter said she was done and i swore i'd never wait in line like that again....which reminds me I need some kind of sign telling people when i'm ending or who the last person is so people aren't waiting in line for no reason lol

Hey Mizz, Shannon Fennell has terrific signs for the end of line etc. You can see them by clicking on her blog at the end of her signature on here.

I've used these & honestly some people just won't or don't care to read them..grrrr

I know this may sound like a stupid question but here it goes
when it comes to the sign, should I have it in both English and French? the big Old Home Days I'm doing is during peak beach tourist season and we get a lot of people from Quebec and while i know a lot of people from that area speak English there are some who don't (or pretend they don't in some cases lol i've met those ones too)
If i have it in both English and French would people wonder why it isn't also in Spanish? I just want to cover as many bases as possible

People from Quebec can read English... they just choose not to!!

For me festivals need an extra person - whether they are your line manger or just a go-fer. I like to take company on the long drives and have someone who can tell people the line is closed, get me food and drink, watch things when I need a potty break.

I only do festivals where I am hired so taking money is not something I do (other than tips!) so pricing etc. is not something I've bothered with.

oh Shannon I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt that not all of them were pretending. Way to shatter my little delusion lol

My husband is pretty much refusing to leave my side bless his heart so I guess he has volunteered himself to be the line manager. He thinks I'm some delicate flower who needs protecting (which one of us was a Marine..oh yeah i was not him lol) It's sweet.

I would post english only, however if you expect some people might not understand (or be even the slightest unclear), having a written copy in other languages (in your box at your table) gives you something to show them to make certain they understand (ie that you won't paint those who are visibly ill etc). I think if they don't understand at least some english they will have more problems traveling to your area than just at your booth. That said, I know enough french to get myself into trouble when I go to Montreal, so I'm always glad when something is written in english so I know we are on the same page. If you *do* post signs in other languages, you will attract those who find it familiar, however they might also expect you to be able to speak it. If you do, I would definitely post, if you don't, I'd stick to something not posted (but available - if you can get it written and proofed beforehand).

Mizzzard wrote:(which one of us was a Marine..oh yeah i was not him lol) It's sweet.

Boo-Yah~!

I was in the Army (Canadian of course) and Lady Jayde was in the Navy (yours)... how may other vets are on here??

Thanks Noella! I thought about the fact that people might then think that i speak French but then thought that i was over thinking again lol i do that...a lot. I don't speak it so I think I should stick to my English signs and go with your idea of the available but not posted bit and have my sister (little Miss Fluent-in-4-languages lol) help me with that one.

I knew there must have been another reason I like you so much Shannon I bet we have our fair share of vets on here and if people knew that maybe they wouldn't get so uppity in line lol My MOS school when I was in was multi-service and international so I had the chance to meet some Canadian service members, the men in the group were like kryptonite for me because they a) were in uniform and b) had accents! double whammy! Them and the Scots...ah memories..oh now look what you started! lol

I second the vote for prefering festival work. I do parties cause they are year round, but I'd rather work all day than show up for 8 kids LOL
My tip, don't worry about the line. I mean, don't take 15 minutes per face, work reasonably, but remember, they CHOOSE to stand in your line because they LIKE what YOU do! If you dumb it down or worry, you are taking away from what drew them to you in the first place. Just give all of your attention to the guest of honour...that child in your chair. For 5 minutes, they are all you worry about. The line will be there...or it won't...but that child deserves your focus. As for ending a line...other than for breaks...why end it at a PPF event?? $ $ $ $ $ LOL
Also, bring your thick skin, it doesn't happen often, but be prepared to deal with the difficult customer, don't take it personally because it isn't. Some people like to complain, and often times it gets them discounts or freebies...
I think we've discussed it before, but if the line is long, and someone complains "Gee, we've been in line for 45 minutes!" I'll diffuse it by either saying "Wow! Only 45 minutes? I've been here for 6 hours already!!" Or...I'll smile and say "Wow! Thank you, I'm glad you appreciate my art and are willing to wait for it!" You can't let them frazzle you! Most of the customers appreciate you and what you do I actually had people in line run off a cranky customer this past weekend for me...that was nice Last thing...take breaks!! you will feel guilty, but leave the booth or they will stare at you until you cave in LOL That 10 minute break you take will increase your comfort, speed and quality immensly!! And stay warm! A little chill in the evening will wear you out!!! I'm sure I could type a novel here...but that'll get you started LOL Best of luck! I LOVE fairs and fests!!

Mizzzard, you are going to have so much fun. It is long hours and hard work. You have so much wonderful advice. There is one thing I want to offer about other face painters. I say greet them, make friends, compliment and encourage them. You will have to do this early in the morning because you will be busy, but I'm always so grateful when someone else is there. I find the more children there are that are painted the more people are looking for the face painters. It's wonderful to find face painting friends, you can have jams,and if you end up over booked sometimes you can help each other out. It's a win/win.

Good luck and have fun.

Reading and learning with you, I have a huge festival coming up as well! Never thought to bring a sheet to cover my precious kit during potty breaks - thank you so much!

Take a roll of toilet paper as well, they always run out!

Just so everyone knows I'm compiling a list lol
I'll post it as soon as I get a chance than we can see what's missing and list freaks like me will have a nifty little check list

I'd love to read the list. I've had DH and my toddler at festivals so it seems my list is always centred around toys, snacks, nappies and I forget stuff I need. It would be nice to have a list for me.

A good way is to think through your activities for the day(s)
Setting up.
Painting
Eating and drinking
Bathroom breaks
Child
then go through each activity and add everything you need for that activity