Beginner Rates

My husband and I have been clowns for almost 2 years..Well, he's been a clown all his life..But now that I'm doing the face painting with his Balloon twisting. I'm not sure what I should charge..We're both amatrers and still learning..We've done a few Benefits and freebies, mostly for exposure...However,the last few birthday events we got $75-$100..for 2 to 3 hours. I'm working on my web site and having much difficulty working on my rates..I don't want to over charge nor do I want to under charge..What do you suggest we charge as beginners ..Thanks...

I would charge pretty close to what the competition, offering the same thing as you, would charge. A little less if you aren't as experience or visa versa. This is the only way to not over or under charge. Call around and see what others in the area are charging.

Just don't sell yourself short because you are a little green. You are still offering a skilled service.

Good luck!

I would say at least 80-100 per hour min. with a 2-hour min.

-Metina

It really depends on the area you live in and what the "going rate" is there. I started out at $50 per hour, and as soon as I started feeling more confident I raised it to $75, and then to $100. I would suggest NO LESS than $50 per hour to start out. That is per person.

That's for JUST face painting... if you are doing other clown things (magic, show, balloons, etc.) I say you should charge more.

Thanks every one..I'm going to do my homework and call around..We don't have much painters on this Island, maybe 4 of us...There must be more on Oahu, which they probably charge lots more ..Not to many have a partner that does balloon twisting..Mahalo Renee

I was STUNNED when I found out what the going rates were here. One guy in tallahassee, a college student charges $50 an hour and he is really good. One girl in Crawfordville (my town and 20 miles south of tally) charges $150 per hour. She's good, but some of you guys are wayyyyyy better and charge way less. I am starting with $85.00 per hour. I still do alot of pay per face for some of the local festivals and friends business establishments. Funny thing is - I usually make out rather well on those events.

But if you are clowning too???? I know the clowns we have here in Tally charge $150 an hour for a combination of 3 things and you can choose from like 12.

wow! I guess I could charge a little more..Will see how much there charging here just for face painting..I met just one face painter..

Local clown company here is charging $400 for a 1-hour party with two clowns.... I'm getting a lot more calls about birthday since she raised her rates!!

I charge $150 for two-hour birthday parties (regular is $100/hour) and I only face paint. I give the discount on the 2-hour booking as it is "small group" and makes it more relaxed for me.

I guess I can charge less if it's a small group...The Birthday party that's coming up has 25 children..The last party was about a 125 teens and little ones

Lately I've been enforcing the 2 hour minimum and love it. Its very hard to stay for only one hour and as Shannon said it is very rushed and I feel like a robot. With 2 hours its more relaxed and enjoyable. Plus the travel time to and from and the setup time make the 2 hour min. the better option even at a reduced rate.

My parties depend on how many kids... I charge $60/hr (one hour min.) for JUST face painting or balloons (always in clown, but no show with that booking), $100 for a one hour party with 1/2 hr show and 1/2 hr balloons OR face painting, $125 for an hour and a half with show, balloons and face painting.... but, as was already mentioned, it depends on what the others in your area are charging. You don't want to be the most expensive (usually) and you definitely don't want to be the cheapest (no matter what your experience). If there aren't many children's entertainers around, then you can definitely charge more... there are so many face painters around here that will do it for practically nothing, it makes it harder. I've tried to put myself around the middle of the pack because I'm not that experienced, but I'm pretty good and getting a good reputation around here.

BTW, those rates are for 10 kids... each kid beyond that is $5 a head.... that way I am compensated for going over time.

I like the idea of $5 a head extra, cuz I have shown up at bday parties where I was told 10 kids and been met with 25

Yup, me too... Birthday party rate is a "special rate" of 2 hours for $150 for 15 kids, additional kids are $7.50 each. Otherwise it is $100/hour with a 2-hour minumum.

For birthday parties, I was thinking of charging based on number of children instead of hours because I am a slower painter. For those who have tried this, how has it worked? How do you keep up with the number of kids? For example, you advertise a party for fifteen children and 25 show up. Do you stop painting after the allotted number of faces and ask the host if they want more faces painted at the additional price per face? I have only painted at pay-per-face festivals.

If there are more than 15... and in my case that has only happened ONCE, yes folks, only once!!... I charge extra and this is stated on my terms and conditions. What happened in that case was that some kids didn't want to be painted anyway so I only ended up painting 14 of them.

I offer Birthday parties two options; My birthday party/small group special for up to 15 faces (extra $ for each additional over the 15), OR my Medium group rate (16-30 faces) which is a sliding rate scale $xx for the first hour, $XX for the second hour, $XX for third hour on.

Hello all:

When I first started clowning I know I did not charge enough and therefore was making almost no profit for my time and supplies.
I have now set up a fee chart that I keep in my booking binder and post by my phone. This makes it easier for me to quote a accurate price when a potential client call.
This helps me to sell my self as a performer without trying to calculate fees in my head.
Currently my fees as a full service clown(fave-painting,balloons, craft, games with provided prizes, puppets, storytelling) are $140/hr for up to 8 children. After 8 children I charge $7 a head. My rates are a little lower than my competition but in line.
I try to keep current to what area clowns are charging. I feel you do not want to undercut other clowns in the area. You never know when they may call you to fill in for a job and if you are bringing down rates well that will not happen.

Shannon Fennell wrote:Yup, me too... Birthday party rate is a "special rate" of 2 hours for $150 for 15 kids, additional kids are $7.50 each. Otherwise it is $100/hour with a 2-hour minumum.

THIS is just one of the reasons this forum rocks my little white socks! This is brilliant and yet so simple! I sort of do this for my henna, but unsure if my brain would have made this leap with facepainting. I had not even considered the number of kids!! Thanks guys!!

I charge by the hour to corporations and big gigs but for birthday parties I charge a flat rate of $100 (I do a story, a song, paint faces and if I have time I twist simple balloons) I do offer a clown character for the same price. It is for 12 or fewer children and I charge $5 more per extra child. I live in a small town (1200 people) so most of my business is in nearby cities with a minimum added mileage charge of $35. I base my prices on other choices people have in my area for birthday parties for example adventure in the museum with a guided theme tour and crafts or a swimming party with room rental and cake at the aquatic centre cost about the same amount.

Oh, and there are no other clowns in my area, the nearest professional twister and painters are 2 hours away.

I've read the posts on this thread and all I can say is WOW!!! I must be doing something really wrong, or living in the wrong place.! If I were to charge anyways near an hourly rate like some do, people would laugh at me in the face..in fact, I haven't had a painting gig since August of last year. The economy here is terrible! I'm trying to think of things I can do to get more gigs,, because if something doesn't happen soon I'm afraid I'll just give up face painting, and I really don't want to do that, but I'm at a loss of ideas.

The suggestion I have for you is to check what your competition is charging. Perhaps to are too far UNDER priced and people aren't taking your business seriously. There HAS to be some competition around, so just because you haven't seen it, doesn't mean it isn't there. I can't believe how many people haven't heard of some of the biggest names in my area.

Haven't read the whole thread.... But there is no such thing as BEGINNER RATES. Don't do it!!!!!!
When we first opened our restaurant, we didn't offer we're just trying it out - menu prices!
Are you painting kids faces? YES
Are the kids happy (even if you aren't)? YES
Do you have the right paint? YES
It sounds like you're already in the business of making kids happy, you're professional in your business and this is another part of it. Start off right with a professional fee that is in-line with the market. Once you start off cheap in price - it becomes the norm!
Good luck to you Face painting is fun, exciting and different all the time. AND you can make good money! Keep the expectations high for the market.
(Wow, I really am a business person first and everything else follows)
Thanks so much for reading, Lauri Strandell

Mehndi Masala wrote:

Shannon Fennell wrote:Yup, me too... Birthday party rate is a "special rate" of 2 hours for $150 for 15 kids, additional kids are $7.50 each. Otherwise it is $100/hour with a 2-hour minumum.

THIS is just one of the reasons this forum rocks my little white socks! This is brilliant and yet so simple!!

So true -- This forum does rock big time! Thank so so much to everyone who added to this topic. Hopefully once I can get my speed and confidence a bit I'll be ready to book my first "real" gig.

Mehndi Masala wrote:

Shannon Fennell wrote:Yup, me too... Birthday party rate is a "special rate" of 2 hours for $150 for 15 kids, additional kids are $7.50 each. Otherwise it is $100/hour with a 2-hour minumum.

THIS is just one of the reasons this forum rocks my little white socks! This is brilliant and yet so simple! I sort of do this for my henna, but unsure if my brain would have made this leap with facepainting. I had not even considered the number of kids!! Thanks guys!!

love, love, love this idea and it seems reasonable for some one who is not as fast