Multiple designs at one event

Today I did a gig at a at a summer camp for their last day celebration. Many of the kids received full face designs and loved it. Towards the end of the event a little girl with a butterfly on her face asks me for a baby wipe. I didn't think anything of it. I thought she was just wiping her hands off. Then I hear her tell her friend, "I'm going to wipe this off and get what XXXX has." I thought to myself "What?!!!" Then other kids starting following suit. They were wiping their face off and getting back in line for another design. I was floored. After ahwile, I just said, "I'm about to leave and I may not get to paint you again so you should leave that on."
I'm trying to figure out if I should take this as a compliment? Were they just happy to get painted over and over or what? I was trying not to get offended but I put in some real work on those designs and they didn't give a second thought when they just washed it off and then picked out a new, detailed design. This has never happened to me before. What should I do in the future if this happens?

I actually had this happen once at a ppf event, but the girl used her hands and spit. I would take it as a compliment, and you handled it correctly. Just letting them know they may not get repainted should be enough to stop them.

Tell them NO! If they remove it they don't get another one (unless of course it if PPF and they are paying for the second one) Bunch of lemmings, that's all.

And I don't let them have my wipes. If they say, for what ever reason, they want to remove the painting I tell them to go find their parent and/or wash it off in the bathroom with soap and water. Only exception is possible distress from reaction to something, then I will remove the painting and send them on their way without one.

They're kids... They don't think. At least not about much more than themselves most of the time. I have kids come up at private party gigs all the time wanting two or three things... I always tell them that no one gets seconds till everyone gets painted once first. And then if I hear a kid say he wants somethig else then I tell them I can put something on their arm since I already painted their face. It usually works.

I have that happen all the time. One child always starts it. If I don't have time to re-paint everyone, I don't re-paint anyone.

Unless it's PPF...
Sure honey, I'll take your money again...

If I have time.. then I don't mind, but if I have a line, then that kid just lost their painting and their chance to get painted again. I've never had a parent disagree with me over it... usually they are upset at their kid for wiping it off.

I wouldn't do it. No way, unless it's PPF. I get paid by the hour for X amount of kids. Repainting everyone might as well mean doubling the amount of kids I am painting for the same price. Not me. Not in this lifetime.

I always end up painting several designs on each child at birthday parties. They don't wash off the first design, but they do keep coming back for more and more (arms, other side of face, whatever). As long as I don't go over my time I let them have as much fun getting painted as they want -- and it's good practice for me. Plus, they get a balloon hat or sword from my hubby (my moral support) as well. Good time had by all, and the more painted-up they are, the happier everyone seems to be.
~tricia

Today I did an event (company picnic) where the agent ask us to put up signs stating to "be careful with their art, & that there would be ONE per guest." That limited most of the children coming back into line.

Of course here, there are a lot of bi-lingual kids/parents that pretend to not understand...untilI switch languages on them & they realize the jig is up with their "private" discussion in front of me...

And then there were the ladies who took my new laminated signs to fan themselves...I explained firmly that they were for people to read, that's why they had the tape on the back!!! to prevent sign migration....(Blank stares, I smiled & laughed, they taped them back...)

Experience is such a good teacher. I'm glad that there are others out there that have experienced this so that you can teach us rookies. I recently went to another event and a kid asked could he wipe his batman off and get spiderman like his friend. I kindly told him no and I would not have time to do another painting on him.
@Shannon....so glad I took your advise on that one.
@thefacepaintlady...I never even realized that I would be working twice and using double the amount of products. I'm glad you pointed that out. It makes it sooo much easier to tell a kid NO! I usually feel bad afterwards but hey..a girls gotta make money..right?!!!!!!

Thanks again for your responses!

I agree that it would be a rip off to the party host, if you are being paid by the hour, then you might go overtime. Likewise, if you are getting paid by the event, you had an estimate of the number of people you were going to paint, so if your rate was based on that number, then you are shorting yourself for both the supplies, and your time.

I may start sitting on my babywipes!

Hm. I did a charity event this weekend and wound up painting multiple designs on almost all the kids. I made them get back in line if I had a line before I'd do more than one, but attendance was spotty and there was nothing else to do and I didn't really mind.

It never occurred to me that I was using up twice the product. D'oh! Next time.

I did a charity event and also painted more then one design on some of the kids. As soon as one child ask for another design everyone else wants one too!

I agree with Ashley. To expand a little, if there are other activities going on and that child wants to wait in line each time (and isn't causing a scene), then I will paint them again. I find it hard when I've been at a gig for hours while other activities are going on and right at the end a child who has done every single other thing insists on getting painted. I learned a trick from Marcella about having something small set aside to paint a quick design after everything is packed up.

I agree with Amanda. If I'm paid by the hour, I will only paint them again after every child (who wants to be painted) has had their chance to be painted and I will usually only paint their arm as well.

I'm also closing up the babywipe shop! Thanks for that tip!

On a similar note...I once had a child in my chair, who was not only very fidgety, but half-way through the design, starts tearing up and wiping her eyes...I hadn't gotten any paint in her eye so I didn't know what was going...her dad comes in, grabs some of my wipes and starts wiping all the make-up off on that side....!?!?!

I interrupted by saying "if you'd like you can take her to the restroom and come back when she's feeling better", but in truth I was appalled that half the work was gone and it was kind of a detailed mask. The mother finally comes in and removes an eyelash from her eye and props the kid up again so I can paint her all over again!

In a case like this, what would you have done? I was tempted to charge more $$ for the re-do, but wasn't sure how to approach the situation. Plus, i was slammed and didn't really want an argument in front of a line of customers....any thoughts/suggestions?

I have kids wanting to come back for an arm design, etc. I'll also have kids who 1/2 way through the gig will want to be redone because they melted in the bounce house, etc. I generally say, "Sorry, we probably won't have time for 2nds or re-dos. I'll only fit you in if there's no one who hasn't been painted. We want everyone to get a turn." I don't want a child to go unpainted because a pushier one got "body painted" from head to toe by coming back for more
Now if it's PPF.... I'll redo just fine if they pay. I will touch-up if it's minor, for free.
I also don't generally hand out my wipes. Once you give one away, the kids will use up your whole packet.

tinyfairies6768 wrote:On a similar note...I once had a child in my chair, who was not only very fidgety, but half-way through the design, starts tearing up and wiping her eyes...I hadn't gotten any paint in her eye so I didn't know what was going...her dad comes in, grabs some of my wipes and starts wiping all the make-up off on that side....!?!?!

I interrupted by saying "if you'd like you can take her to the restroom and come back when she's feeling better", but in truth I was appalled that half the work was gone and it was kind of a detailed mask. The mother finally comes in and removes an eyelash from her eye and props the kid up again so I can paint her all over again!

In a case like this, what would you have done? I was tempted to charge more $$ for the re-do, but wasn't sure how to approach the situation. Plus, i was slammed and didn't really want an argument in front of a line of customers....any thoughts/suggestions?

I think in this case I probably would have helped the parent w/ the clean-up & just done the 2nd design without a problem. The amount of lost money compared to how an argument would have looked wouldn't have been worth it. I want the parents & kids to know I'm just as interested in them as I am in the painting & the money.

I have given parents wipes if asked(as long as they ask, I don't mind & it's not too many). It's when they just think it's a wipe free for all that I get mad.

Linda - That was kind of my feeling as well...didn't want an argument and wouldn't have minded offering, except Dad never gave me a chance before helping himself to my supplies.....and this painting, which should have taken only about 5 mminutes ended up taking about 20 because of the fidgeting, tearing up, cleaning up and re-do....ughhh...gotta love it!
:/ THANKS!