how to deal with fp addiction

I think face painting is like a drug for me right now. Its all I want to do and think about- trying to get more gigs, practicing on kids and myself, thinking about my next order, reading the forums...I pull my paintbox out everyday and am soo happy when I get to paint even the neighbor kids. I know I can get better!
It hit a head last night when J brought home his work picnic dates and things there were looking for. They WANT an entertainer for the kids department and are asking for ideas and such. Oh of course I jumped at it and started talking about putting in a paper for them to pick me. I mean, what better way to get my name out then his company picnic? Bunches of people with families and a bright sunny day with indoor activities to all focused on family fun- right?
Well J thought otherwise. He wants me to go to enjoy myself, and he wants me to meet some of his coworkers without 'stuff' on my face. I crack up when ever I think about it. Evidently the past two times Ive met someone Ive been painted with some odd design on my face. He dosent say anything about when I go to the mall, or to other local festivals, or even to the store- mostly because he is not with me when I attend these things.
Im just starting out for this business frame of mind and trying to make it work. Then again we only moved here last Nov and it would be nice to know the people he works with. I just know if I go 'unpainted' I will be imagining me painting people the whole time! Probably grumpy that I couldnt do it either.
I also have turned down one gig alreadly for a chidlrens museum here in the area )Carnival day) in order to go to this picnic and (what I thought at the time) to paint. He said the main reason was he wanted me to socialize and he didnt want to get stuck with LB the whole time. It wasnt fair.
Yes Im venting and thinking about detoxing myself, does it ever seem like a drug to you? I believe Im going mental

Yes it does. I'm absolutely addicted. I would feel like my right arm had been cut off if my hubby said similar to me. Luckily he knows just how much fp means to me & would never stop me from doing what I love. Cause that's what relationships are about supporting each other in doing what we love. If I were you I'd go from the angle that yes I will be painting, also meeting the mom's as I paint their kids giving them my number & making contact with them as they ring me to paint at their kids parties. Hence going to their houses & perhaps staying for a cuppa after I've painted at their kids party. Getting to know them & in turn them getting to know me as wonderful person & also a wonderful face painter to boot!!!!

When I started I breathedddddddd face painting, tons of orders, tons of paint, different set ups, painting everyone so much that my family and friends run from me... Now I just try to keep certain hours. Plus the excitement wears off a bit. I also am at a point where I don 't have to try so hard to get gigs... I get at least 10 calls a week and my calender books itself. Word of mouth starts to spread and it takes less and less work on your end... So, it will get better

Why not go to the picnic with some painted jewelry on? When people ask about it, you can whip out a business card. You might get their kid's party next month...etc.

debranewmanart wrote:Why not go to the picnic with some painted jewelry on? When people ask about it, you can whip out a business card. You might get their kid's party next month...etc.

Great suggestion.

Debra that is genius

I love loopholes. I just wont put any jewelry on my face. lol
thanks for the comments, ill try to process what I want to do and then go from there. He can learn to deal, Im not much a socializer and the only people I would be interested in talking to is other moms/dads with kids because its what I do. Im a stayathome mommy, so why not paint to get things started? I wont get to enjoy picnic games because J will be busy playing them and Ill get LB the whole time. I think its time he watched her all day.

I would also make sure you have pictures of your work either on your phone or maybe even a small "purse size" photo album. Those people you are going to introduce yourself to will inevitably ask you what you do or what your interest are...and we all know you CAN'T leave out FPing!!! Nothing wrong with a little shameless self promotion .

aha HA! I love that, purse size album! LOL nice! Im so doing that

I would be crushed if he said I couldn't paint
If anything it is something he should be proud of (and an explination to the previous face designs lol) he can show off his wife to all his co-workers. After all, it takes talent to paint!

Sorry to be devil's advocate here but I can kinda understand your hubby's side of things :p

I'm ADD and part of that is I can be.... slightly obsessive. I'm also a little quirky. Now my hubby is really proud of my painting and brags about me all the time, however there is a time and a place too.

Justin drags around my equipment, hangs out with me and keeps me company when things are slow, encourages me to practice and improve my skills, however if he asked me to leave the paints at home I gotta say I would probably do that.

Sounds like your hubby has been pretty good about not saying anything most of the time it's not unreasonable to request once and awhile we leave our obsessions at home :p Especially with his coworkers, where he's new to the job and wanting to get to know people and make a good impression.

Absolutely bring some business cards and *talk* about what you do, it's a great conversation piece, and next year paint the picnic

Painting is fun, for us.... but it's also very time consuming, and at least for me, I get very tunnel visioned. It's a horrible way to "get to know" people, cause who the heck has time to talk??

I painted a charity event yesterday, six hours straight. Justin came along and kept me company, painted some simple things, fetched food and drinks and kept my water clean, and gave up *his* afternoon of BBQ and drinkin beer for Canada Day with the boys for my hobby, so I know the next time something comes around I'll be less inclined to take a gig and more inclined to spend some time with him

Compromise, don't look for "loopholes", be honest, tell him how much painting means to you, tell him you're willing to sit this one out and not bring your paints, but that you'd like to do such-and-such (like the painted jewellery) Sounds like there's alot of bitterness there, but maybe stop and look at it from his perspective and maybe just talk it out and see if you can reach an agreement instead of getting stubborn and fighting about it that never gets anyone anywhere and doesn't do the relationship a whole heck of good.

JMO, can toss it out if you want :p but you asked for opinions. We ask our partners to be supportive of our hobbies and obsessions, but there has to be some give and take. He might be okay with going out in public with you painted with something weird, but formally meeting his coworkers for the first time is out of his comfort zone.

Trina

I can see both sides. But I also see the absolute brilliance of painting - at least part of the time at this event. You would be the most-loved 'wife' of all of the partners that were brought to the picnic. If he wants to make a great impression on his company with his family... surely this is the way? If you limited painting to half of the time you are there, and he can have the other half of the time to socialize and play games without LB (assuming this is your child?) that also leaves you with half of the time to 'socialize' and talk to all the parents of the children you just painted. If you are shy or find it difficult to socialize in those types of stranger-settings, then what a perfect ice-breaker! I can see the lure.

I love the painted jewelry idea. I can't see a reasonable person having a problem with that. Marriage as in all things is about compromise and it sounds like these ideas are about that. It would be a bit of a win-win.
What about painting LB (again, assuming that is your child)? If it's a toddler then them running around wearing your art is a great advertisement too - and surely he can't argue paint on a little one? And if it's a baby, (is FP safe for babies??...if so) you could always do something on their hand/arm, etc. instead of a whole face.

It certainly warrants another discussion with him for sure, as you both feel so strongly about it. See if you can find out what his fears are, because his reluctance certainly appears to have undertones of worry. Maybe some of his worry is valid, but maybe it isn't. I'm sure a happy compromise can be reached though.

LOVE the jewelry idea! I know I said that, but it needed to be said again...and again.

Hi Tara, Has the picnic taken place yet? Wondered how it went.

oh thats a sour spot! it did take place and I agreed to go without paint, LB to and turned down a paying job for that day. We would just hang andgive him his day with his normal looking family. Turns out he didnt really even WANT to go so he didnt sign us up and get our tickets. So we didnt get to go. at all.
After all that!!
So I ended up calling the place the day before and seeing if they still wanted me and they said yes very happily! So I got to paint there instead. I still get a bit bubbled about it when I ponder on it. So I wont. =0)
Thanks for asking and sorry I forgot to post about it. I was pretty livid.

Oh Tara, I'm sorry it turned that way. Good that you could do the gig after all. Can you talk with your hubby about how it affects you. or is it a no go?

Men!!!!

Glad I don't have one.