Would you work 7 days a week?

Hi All!

Things are really moving quickly for me, which is good but I don't know where I should draw the line? I work full time out side the home, have two little ones and a husband and have now this face painting business that is taking off. I am so excited I have landed a corn maze farm gig, but here's the catch- it would be both Saturday and Sunday in addition to my M-F job for the whole month of October. He seems flexible, so if I really couldn't make it one of those days, I think he'd understand. But I think the $ is too good to pass up, and it's only one month, right?

Has anyone ever done one of these type of gigs- farm fall fest maze's? Would love some advice from a more seasoned person.

I have my first real festival on Sept 9 &10, so I am excited about that and am trying to build a display and also a "fun" way to show off my birthday party packages, so I can hopefully book some for the winter months.

I am so excited, but yet a little worried about juggling it all!

Tia

I'm just out of the gate as far as painting... since last Mar/Apr-ish with a slow start.

I am hoping to be recovered enough to contact a few local farms as well.. it's a great idea!

it's short term, and, you're going to meet TONS of people/contacts!

What does your family say?
I'd ask them, mention your concerns, and go with what they say.

I used to work in a factory (a decade or so ago), and one year, had to work 7 months, 80 hours a week. (I was support - so, I had to be there before and after the other shifts arrive/leave). That, I'd never do again... unless we were going homeless and hungry. *s*

But, this.... as you say... it's a great opportunity!

Best of luck in this... I hope that whatever you decide to do works out for you and your family!!

If you think you can handle it for a month...do it! However, you might consider taking one day off every other week from either your day job or the farm gig. I know I'd need it.

I worked all summer 9-5 Monday-Thursday(as a Kid's summer camp leader) & face painted most Fridays & Saturdays(and some Tuesday nights at my restaurant). I served in kids ministry on Sundays. I did not get a break from mid June to Mid August. I will tell you... I was wiped out by the end of the summer. I didn't see my family or do anything fun with them & I feel like in some ways I lost out.... I'm ok w/ doing it & know that it was a blessing as our finances would have crashed & burned, but I am glad it's over.

On a bright side, I did go down a pant size from playing so much dodgeball w/ the summer camp kids

Id say Oct is one of the most, if not THE most important month for face painters. Least I have always felt that way. I agree with taking one or two days off, but otherwise Id do it!! Your in a fantastic position to be juggling all these, so lucky on the FP front! =0)

I don't work much outside of the house( I work in fine jewelry at a dept store 10 hrs a week) but face painting is fun for me and has never really felt like work. I've def had weeks where I barely see my family due to gigs and the lil job. It doesn't feel too bad since I know it's temporary. Try it and see how you feel. If it feels like work, maybe scale back:)

Do what works for you. It is a balancing act. My little girl asked me not to book on her B-day, Oct 8, I just turned down a gig for that day because it makes her happy. Sometimes you have to bend a little. However,this is the only day I won't work in October! October is a huge month for all of us and winter will probably be slow. If you get anyone fussing (hubby included) Just remind them that although this is a busy time, it will slow down a bit later.

I've gone about three months without a "day off" at times... and a lot of days I worked two jobs... But I don't have kids or husbands. Family knows to make appointments so I don't double book.

WE ARE WOMEN! HEAR US ROAR!!! (well, for those of us who are actually female anyway... to the men, you're cool too! )

You can do it! If it's only for 1 month, I say take the challenge! There are many benefits to this: Exposure, Cash, Practice, Cash, Pics for your portfolio, Cash, oh, and did I mention Cash??? These are tough times, and we have to rake in the moolah any way we can! Congrats on the gig! YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I would! Make sure you rest during your down time--let the house be messy for a month, (it's a good chance for everyone to see what you really do!)-- take long bubble baths with a glass of wine when you come home, cuddle and read with the kids rather than worrying about everything else..It's just a month. And have fun! (Be sure to take your vitamins!)

Thanks, everyone! Yep, I am going for it! I know it will be a rough month, but I also know it is a really good opportunity and I can't let it go by! My husband says he will be supportive, but I know it will take it's toll. I agree with you anniel- let the house get messy, and focus what time I have with my kids as quality time. I am excited and nervous, but my new favorite quote is: "The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it." This will be my motto for at least the month of October! on the plus side, My husband and I will have just returned from Mexico for our 10th wedding anniversary "honeymoon" so I should be well rested and ready to go for it![u]

I do a corn maze for the month of October and it's my favorite gig of the whole year. Yes, it's hard work and long hours to work 7 days a week, but it's only for a month and we have such a great time! The corn maze actually has people calling and asking if the face painters will be there that weekend as they won't come unless we're there. Really makes us look extremely valuable to the owners!

To those of you that do these corn mazes, do they pay you by the hour or do you charge PPF? Just curious. We have one local and I am interested in this idea my self. Never thought of it before.

At the one I do, I charge PPF and give the owners 20% of what we make. They do all the advertising, sign-making, setting us up, etc. They also give us employee discounts on all food, gift items, etc. and let us do the activities for free. It's such an enjoyable experience. My family comes out several times throughout the month and they also get the same discounts I do, so it's really worth the 20% that we pay for the benefits. Some weekends are more prosperous for us than others, but if we make little money, we also are not paying that much, either. This is a huge operation with a western town, etc. and they get around 30,000 people throughout the month. You can see a video of last season (which includes a small segment on us!) at http://www.mscornmaze.com
BlueJack Ridge Corn Maze

Dawn,
That music on the video is a hoot!

Oh, my that was a cute video! Looks like a fun time!

My daughter and I have been doing a pumpkin festival/corn maze for the last 4 years or so for the whole month of October. (That's part of how I got back into face painting; at first I was just doing temp tattoos and line management but the lineups got long for facepainting so I started to do simple designs.) Anyway, we were doing full weekends and I work full-time too and yeah, it was reallllly tiring!! But as everyone says, it's only for a month and you gotta take the money when you can!

Last year the farmer suggested that we work only on Sundays; she wanted to give someone else she knew the opportunity to paint on Saturdays and frankly, I was okay with that. It gave us a break, it let me do the farmer's market on Saturdays, and if for some reason we couldn't (or she couldn't) make it, there was a back-up person who could. As far as I know that is the plan for this year as well, and I'm happy about it. I've been getting some Saturday afternoon party bookings lately so it's all working out great.

Is it all outdoors or is there a barn you will be in? Does it get very cold where you are? We used a propane heater a couple years ago but it made me nervous - it got very very hot. I'm trying to think of a safer option for this year if it gets really cold. Last year was very mild but unfortunately rained some of the time.

I am in colorado... so it could get cold or it could be nice... just never know around here. I will be out side as far as I know....still have to iron out those details. But I am glad to hear from you all that it is worth it. I just don't think I can pass up the oppurtunity or $$$. I am hoping it will drum up business for my bday parites too.

Linda Adams wrote:Dawn,
That music on the video is a hoot!

Isn't it? I love, love love it! The owners are such fun! They're all very down-to-earth. It's a family operation... grandparents, kids, grand-kids, in-laws, cousins... you name it! They all work very hard to make it a success but they love what they do and it shows!