First real gig and shaky shaky hands!

I finally had my first real, paid gig yesterday. It was for a friend's sister, so I kinda knew a few people, but I was sooooooo nervous. I was sweating, and shaking and my hand was quivering so badly I thought I was going to stab the poor kids in the eye!! I was really unhappy with how I painted, kept having mental blocks and freaking out about what people would think, and I didn't want to look in my 'inspiration' folder as I thought that might look unprofessional! Anyway, the parents and kids seemed happy, but I was miserable afterwards and felt bad taking money!! AHHHHH! On a happier note, I did another party today (for a friend) and I didn't shake at all and was much more relaxed. I'm guessing the more often I paint the less stressful it will be?? We are all our own worst critic, I suppose??

Good on you for getting back on your horse and giving it another go..I look in my book quite often,, esp if I'm havn a mental block, would want to mix up a couple of designs,, Congratulations on your paid birthday's you'll be a pro in no time.

You are right - we are our own worst critic. I agree with freedspirit...I look at my book, esp. if it is a new design. The kids are usually more than happy to point to it again and sometimes even ask me if I need to look at the picture again. They don't think it unprofessional or ANYTHING!
I think my hands were still shaky on my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gig - so BRAVO to you for being settled on your 2nd.
Keep going and you'll be an "old pro" in no time!

I think you have already realised that the main trick to avoid shaky hands is to stay clam but I also avoid caffeine beforehand. The other thing is to remember to breathe. I know this sounds a bit obvious but nest time you are painting take note... When I get to my line work I can sometimes hold my breath and it just makes them look awful. The last thing I do is to stop now and again and just shake out my arms and relax my shoulders. The closer they get to my ears the worse my hands tend to shake.

I shake more if I know the people! LOL After the first face or two, I'm usually in the zone and relax I see nothing wrong with opening your inspiration book

It will get easier the more comfortable you get with the designs over time.

Just keep painting, and practicing, and painting

wtg!

Yay for you. I use to get butterflies in my tummy on the way to gigs. I don't anymore. The more you do the better it feels.

I always think the first person I paint looks awful, but after that it is smooth sailing. The kids and parents never seem to notice if something isn't perfect, and they find it amazing that you don't have to look at the picture while you paint them. I'm sure they would not have an issue with you looking in your folder

Oh my I was SOOOO shaky on my first semi paid gig...I was working with my trainer and even the kids commented that I was shaky, so embarrassing and yes I thought I was awful too, even when a little girl who's hand I did brought her sister back to get the same thing (when i thought I did such a horrible job they loved it)

I just completed my FIRST gig bymyself without any other painters, and I am no longer shaky, nervous or anything.....it is true, the more you do, the more confident you get and even when you think somethings not quite right, the kids still send their friends back for the same designs!!! LOL

Thanks guys. You will note that I still don't have the guts to post photos up as I find you all waaaaaaay too talented (slightly intimidated! ) But I promise I will soon as I would love your feedback. Hope you're all having a lovely day xo

Oh darling, me too, plus I don't know how to approach the subject in order to get permission to take photos either....

Gravenkiss....so far any photos I've taken have been of kids who I know and their parents are friends, so I haven't really asked anyone to take their photo and use it for promotional things either. Do they have to sign a form or anything? Or is verbal agreement enough do you think??

I was super nervous and shakey on my first gig, I had to keep taking deep breaths to try to sucumb my nervousness. No one could tell i was nervous though so thats a good thing and all my designs came out good.

If it's someone you don't personally know, a photo release is a good idea. Do a search here on the forum, and I'm sure you'll find several of them Rose, you shouldn't be worried about posting your photos. The people on the site are super helpful, and will even give you tips on what you might be doing wrong, or what you could do to improve

Can I just say that I totally empathise with the OP as this happened to me at the weekend. It was my first gig (which was free) for around 40 children. Another mum volunteered to help out, but I felt such an amateur as I could not get my hand to stop shaking. The very first child was the birthday boy and he had the worst looking spiderman ever. The lines got thicker and thicker and it was truly awful. I just wanted to pack up and run away at that point. After about 5 kids, I calmed down a little, but it was the worst feeling ever and my line work was just hopeless. I just hope that it's pure nerves due to lack of experience and will get better with time. I would hate to go through that again.

That first party is ALWAYS the worst.. you feel soooo nervous.. but there is nothing to be nervous about. The kids will be happy with polka dots and hearts.. we are the ones that insist on them being only happy with only the best. Just remember to breath, and remember that it's just face painting.

Thank you Ashley. Fortunately two things went in my favour. Firstly, it was a free gig as I'm pretty sure everyone would've wanted a refund..lol. And lastly, but more importantly, the mums were all lovely and very supportive and the kids seemed happy enough.

Just so you know if it happens again its normal. It took a while for that feeling to leave me .

My hands still get shaky before a big, important gig.

xoxox

Thanks Lisa and Sue (I just noticed your names signed after your posts. I think that's why I don't yet feel confident about advertising my website and charging any money. I really need more practice with a bunch of kids to get over the nerves and to feel the mums will think I'm good enough to pay as a face painter.

We have a chart that the kids choose from - it is on our table all the time and we refer to it often. No one has ever said anything about us checking it out!

It will get easier, I promise! Just take a deep breath and do the best you think you can.

Remember - they have you there to paint because THEY CAN'T. They will be thrilled with anything you do!

I get nervous with the first one too here and there. I hate it. I make sure to take take an caffeine before gigs. Once I was painting a model at Starbucks when I started out. Big mistake and lesson well learned. Another tip I try to remember is to do quick brush strokes. If you move your hand slowly your brushwork will probably be less smooth.

cath03 wrote:Thanks Lisa and Sue (I just noticed your names signed after your posts. I think that's why I don't yet feel confident about advertising my website and charging any money. I really need more practice with a bunch of kids to get over the nerves and to feel the mums will think I'm good enough to pay as a face painter.

this is me at the moment, i am trying to get photos together for my personal facebook page, so i can show my friends what i can do and hopefully grab a few victims so i can take some more photos of kids , but i get so nervous just thinking about posting the photos, you know "what will people say, they are going to compare me with so and so and what if i really suck and its just all in my head that i can do this???" I dont know why some us are born to doubt ourselves and others just go for it and jump in. , i saw a facepainter the other day, set up outside a large retailer and she was dressed impeccably, hair, nails, shoes, her setup was immaculate, and I know I am new but honestly my 5 year old niece could of done a better job. i watched as she copied every design out of a book and tried her best to recreate the design and then hold up the mirror to the child and say "dont you look beautiful?" with a huge smile on her face. I had to walk away in the end because I would either get arrested for stalking, or I was going to go and grab her brush and help her out.....
the stupid thing is I did a party about a month or so ago, the hostess said lovely things to me and my friend said the people she worked with who were at the party were saying good things at work the next week and yet I still get so nervous.
Guess there is nothing left to do but jump in and see if I sink or swim.

I get nervous for a big event but i haven't been painting very long. My first event was huge, needed 8 facepainters (i was freaking out) there were quite a few that i did and thought they were horrible but the kids loved it. i was so glad a company paid us to be there instead of the kids. i'd feel too bad. My friend who was there hadn't done much facepainting but she done other types and she was awesome so that didnt help.

All these post about shaky hands makes me feel so much better! I had my first party yesterday and my hands started out soooo shaky! On top of it my stomach felt upset and stressed me out even more. I didn't know how I would get through it. Finally after 3 or 4 faces I relaxed and was able to do a better job. I didn't feel like I did the job to my best ability, but everyone went on about how great everyone looked. Even some adults started getting painted. I guess I am harder on myself. My husband kept telling me not to worry because people will be impressed by my worst job. lol. Guess it's hard to see it that way when you see what experienced face painters are able to do. Anyway, thanks for all the posts! I am relieved to see it's not so unusual:)