Help for a lurker

Hello - My name is Sally Hansen, Genii Blue the Clown. I have been a member for a while now, but haven't posted much ---because---I haven't got a creative thought in my head regarding face painting. When I'm at an event and the kids (and parents also) say, "Wow, you're an artist" I tell them No, I'm just a copier. If someone can locate the push button that turns creativity on in my head, please tell me where it is?

The reason for this post is that a fellow face painter and I have volunteered to paint faces at a party for the children of deployed service parents that I just found out will be attended by about 1500 kids. We have 6 hours, and have pared down our choices to masks, half faces, not wanting to do just cheek art. With that many kids and no line manager, and not wanting them to stand in line all day so they can do other stations at the event, HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE THEM? I thought maybe have a large sign-in sheet on the wall and make them responsible for checking how soon their names will come up. I'm thinking it will be too noisy with that many kids to call out who's next in line.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance. I know from reading your posts that someone has an answer for me!

If it were me I would just get them to queue, there is not a lot else that will work. if I had set designs of my choice I think 15 - 20 hr at a push (3 min faces) , remembering 4hrs in you will be tiring and probably slowing slightly. So I would say 100 kids at a push. Make sure you close the queue on time to allow you to finish. Be prepared for the moaning from parents whose kids hae not been painted.

You are not being paid so the organizers should have a system in place. Get them to sell give out x amount of tickets on first come basis, and make sure the have queue control in place. As non paid artists it is the least they can do.

Can you find anyone else to help, when we do big events like this we will have a team of 15 - 20 painters.

good luck though and make sure they help you manage the queue, you don't need angry parents shouting at you whilst under that presure.


ps. Is the face painting free for the children ? If it is then expect to be inundated Takes plenty to drink and snack on to keep you going too

Please, hon--do NOT drive yourself nuts with sign-up sheets...they will not be there, miss thier turn, expect to be next in line in front of those who patiently waited, etc etc. Ask for help with line management from the venue--preferably the same volunteer the whole time (or hire in one of your own!)...and you concentrate on slapping color on those wonderful faces!

We do about that many at the Boo Bash at the YMCA. Last year they only let us have 2 painters and even with a line manager we went over. This year their paying for 3 painters so it will go a lot faster. Unlike festivals at these events they are much better about staying in lines. If all your painters paint at the same level there shouldn't be a problem. If one painter is a lot better you might have some uneven lines.

I have heard some people say that they have their line manager paint numbers on the kid's hands... to make sure everyone is in line awaiting their turn... Maybe that would help? I wouldn't even bother with a sign up sheet... It will be more hassle than it is worth. Good luck!

First, they should have more painters, obviously.

Tell them THEY need to provide the line manager/s.

The best method I've ever observed is at one of my annual large Christmas parties... hundreds of kids who would lineup and refuse to leave and therefore miss all the other things (including Santa!)... after a few years the organizer figured out a system where they have "Dads" with a microphone who give out numbered tickets to all the kids who want to be painted.

Then they page them over the mic in groups of 5 or so, so that we have the next kids waiting as we finish up the ones we are doing. They keep an eye on us, and call more numbers when they see where we are at... it works great.

I've done this particular company party for about 10 years now ... first time it was just me... totally swamped! Next year the kids were lining up before I got there 45 minutes before the party even started! Then they booked two painters... that helped, but then we went to three for the last three years, and this year they've booked FOUR... which means I have to locate someone new to be my fourth painter!