Sample size facepaints

I have been asked to do a demo and explanation about facepainting at the market where I have a booth. They asked if I would give a short demo and then hand out sample facepaints. I told them that I won't even consider handing out crappy paints and have no idea where or even if I can get little samples that are affordable since that would be on my dime, not theirs. Anyone have any ideas about what I could hand out and where I might purchase said (very affordable) items? I have zero income other than the little bit I get from the market until our first paychq late Sept from the school bus so my pesos are extremely limited. I might have to respectfully decline but if you have any ideas I would really appreciate it.

The DFX Mini palettes are relatively inexpensive, but not something I'd hand out free for sure - even the Snaz 6 colour clam packs are $6 or so unless you can find them on sale.... would they allow you to sell these "samples"? at least to recoup your cost? maybe contact some of the manufacturers and see if they have an option they can suggest....

I would say yes to the demo but NO to the samples. First of all- how on earth would that even benifit you????

If you are set on it though, you could do a tiny (and I mean tiny) sample bagie of cosmetic grade glitter and another of the craft store stuff. That way they can compare the two and really see the diference professional product makes.

What about painting something small on their hand? Maybe a one stroke something or other with a few tear drops and a poof of glitter?

Thank you. I'm leaning towards what Geekophile said. I am willing to do a demo but not really wanting to supply product at my own expense. I think I will approach them about that and see what they say.

How about setting up a do-it-yourself section offering them the choice to use a few colours on a demo palette and seeing a quick demo from you of a small flower or snake or something. Something really basic... then they could see just how hard it is to pull off some designs as usually the first few brush strokes a new painter paints dont look anything like the picture. Makes you awesome with how easy you make it look!

My question is why they would ask you to do a demo and then send those people how with samples to practice with? I'm sorry, but in my mind it just smells of chumming the waters of competition. The last thing I would do would be to show potential customers how easy it is to do it themselves. I've never seen a face painting booth do that before but I would suspect that some of the audience takers would be other booth holders who would look to face painting to pull a little more revenue into their coffers.

I'd tread carefully, but that's just moi.

Lady Jayde wrote:My question is why they would ask you to do a demo and then send those people how with samples to practice with? I'm sorry, but in my mind it just smells of chumming the waters of competition. The last thing I would do would be to show potential customers how easy it is to do it themselves. I've never seen a face painting booth do that before but I would suspect that some of the audience takers would be other booth holders who would look to face painting to pull a little more revenue into their coffers.

I'd tread carefully, but that's just moi.

I was kinda wondering the same thing although everyone has their own style and everyone else has their preferences so??? But yeah...asking me to provide a sample is kinda strange IMHO.

I don't think I would give out samples. I would do a demonstration. If you decide you do want to give something out Wolfe has small "appitizer paints" for 3.00 a pop, and you could probably get all of one color like black??

Thank you for the input everyone. I am going to decline. There's no way I can (or should) provide sample paints for viewers nor should I be providing a free art lesson at a venue that caters to do-it-yourselfers. I think I would be shooting myself in the foot.

Britty wrote:I don't think I would give out samples. I would do a demonstration. If you decide you do want to give something out Wolfe has small "appitizer paints" for 3.00 a pop, and you could probably get all of one color like black??

LMBO~ That'll do!

I wouldn't discount the idea of a demonstration. It wouldn't be more than painting a face from the audience while others watched- which is what each parent does anyway, right? But your booth would be the center of attention for the whole market at that point. You don't have to give a step by step of what you are doing- most people will be mezmerized just watching anyway-instead, you can have a platform to talk about safe products (and the diference in cost- it justifies what you charge per face) and educate people on what to look for when hiring a facepainter (hygenics, insurance...) Basicly, why they should hire you instead of anyone else. Before you know it the demo will be done and you will have discouraged any fly-by-night competition (um.. they're not going to go invest $500 in a kit like yours!) and convince potential clients that you are the authority on the subject.

I wouldn't even entertain the idea of doing a demo. What exactly do they want the demo for???? Why create unneccessary potential competition for yourself. I don't see how this benefits you in any way, but that's just my take on it.

If you however can see this helping you further your business, then by all means

It seems in appropriate for them to ask you to provide samples of face paint, since you are not a face paint vendor. You don't manufacture it or sell it.

You are however a face painter, selling face painting services, so if you were to "give out" samples, they should be "samples" of your services --- in other words, if you think it will be beneficial, you can offer to do some quick designs for lets say, up to 10 kids (or whatever number you feel is appropriate.)

If there are more than 10 kids, do a quick raffle. Have kids write their names down on pieces of paper and have someone pick out the number of names you will do. This way you get to demonstrate your skills a bit more and hopefully generate more business....

just an idea....

Do the demo and them direct them to different websites to purchase the supplies you used. Sounds like they just want some face paint.

Party city has a small pallet of Wolf it come with white,black,gree,redand yellow for $8 i tarded practicing with that one and it was great.

I'm just completely confused...what type of "market" is this? Are other booths selling products, I assume? I don't understand why they would ask you to do this in the first place. Do they pay you per hour to be there? If so, maybe I'd offer to do a demo, but certainly not provide paint for onlookers at your expense. If it's a place where you pay a fee to have a booth to paint faces in, I most certainly wouldn't do either.

The only thing I'd give out is your business card for hire, and maybe a $5 off coupon if they hire you! Handing out free paint just feeds into the notion that anyone can get cheap face paints and be a face painter. I'd make it a point in your demo, if you do one, to note that you use high grade professional theatrical makeup, and how expensive your kit is, which helps illustrate why one would be better off hiring a professional.

Other stuff you could hand out for free...maybe magnets, stickers, or other items that have YOUR business name and contact on it (something to benefit your business), or maybe you make up a little sheet of paper that shows each step to paint one simple design. Like a little "how-to" that they can take home. (Of course with your contact info on it again, and the paints you suggest they purchase.)

The idea in general sounds a bit fishy to me though. It's like asking a restaurant owner to do a demo to show people how to make their secret recipes at home. Or asking a craft show exhibitor to show shoppers how to make what they're trying to sell.