10 thumbs, no fingers

Anybody else ever have a birthday party gig where you were so "off" that it felt like you couldn't even paint a simple heart? ...my work was so bad I was embarrassed for myself. My line work was atrocious... and it lasted the whole party...meaning I NEVER got better the whole party!!!
Not looking for words of encouragement here... just wondering if anyone else has had that happen before?

Sometimes after long event where we're very busy mine do too but that's just the RA telling me it's time to stop for the day.

It happen to me when I have 2 parties in a day, my second one or my kid #20.

Are you sure it was you and not the weather? I've had gigs where my linework paints were sticky and awful for some unfathomable reason, in spite of being the same paints I use for every job! I assume it's the humidity or temperature. (Couldn't be me! I'm perfect! )

Yes. I do a gig once a year where I paint 3 days straight (Thurs Fri Sat) for 13 hours. I had a good 2 hours on one of the days where I felt the same way. I kept looking at my partner like, "what is WRONG with me?!" It did go away.. thank goodness. I may have quite after 3 hours otherwise...

ohwww.. poor girl... i had it once but i didnt feel comfi at all... i was having a cold my nose was running then it was warm cold/ and well im not good at kids anyway i dont like when they are so wicked that you look at them being bouncy and exited..... and im thinking .... wish i didnt came here... it was horrible... the butterflies were more butterspots with some dots... but the kids were all happy and smiling its more yourself feeling embarrassed.
so wipe away that day it happend and paint a new one!

Yeah, wish I could blame the weather, but it was inside.... It's all good, though, 'cause some days I have painted some things that came out so fantastically good that I amazed even myself... must be the universe is keeping me in balance.

hmmm i done a party this weekend.. the birthday kid always goes first right..well im always a tad nevous and havnt picked up my groove yet. the birthday girl looked the worst all the other little girls looked great. i hate this.. it seriously has been bugging me ALLLL weekend. although she was super happy with the outcome it just wasnt to my best. it happens its all good, chin up and soldier on.

It happens to everyone. The days off, something else is on your mind, etc.

My worst off day was when I got to the party & discovered the dad wanted me & the mom didn't. I felt so uncomfortable being caught between them(even though I'm sure it was a running issue that was around long before I showed up... like years in the making). I just wanted to face paint & get out of there. The birthday child was on edge & I couldn't paint well at all. The kids were happy, but I knew it was not my best work.

I've also painted till I was worn out & couldn't see straight. Sometimes the last few faces at those weekend long festivals are very hard to do. There's not much left in you & you are ready to shut down(physically & mentally).

gorjessfaces wrote:hmmm i done a party this weekend.. the birthday kid always goes first right..well im always a tad nevous and havnt picked up my groove yet. the birthday girl looked the worst all the other little girls looked great. i hate this.. it seriously has been bugging me ALLLL weekend. although she was super happy with the outcome it just wasnt to my best. it happens its all good, chin up and soldier on.

I have the same issue w/ the birthday child. I'm just not in the groove yet, my paints are not yet wet enough to give the best results, etc. I've fixed the issue for the birthday girl(still looking for the upsell for the birthday boy...). She's the only one that gets a blinged out design. I add gem clusters & glitter gel, to set her apart. No matter how simple the design, it always looks better to her & the parents.

I had an off day yesterday. Don't really know why. The weather was kinda cruddy, the space was cramped, they set me up with the table on the wrong side, so I had to reach across to the paints in an awkward way...
And I REALLY just wanted a Sunday afternoon nap.
All these factors made for a "not my best" effort.
But they were happy.
And I got paid.
(family rate, but better than free, I suppose.)
And there was cake.

Psalmbook wrote:

gorjessfaces wrote:hmmm i done a party this weekend.. the birthday kid always goes first right..well im always a tad nevous and havnt picked up my groove yet. the birthday girl looked the worst all the other little girls looked great. i hate this.. it seriously has been bugging me ALLLL weekend. although she was super happy with the outcome it just wasnt to my best. it happens its all good, chin up and soldier on.

I have the same issue w/ the birthday child. I'm just not in the groove yet, my paints are not yet wet enough to give the best results, etc. I've fixed the issue for the birthday girl(still looking for the upsell for the birthday boy...). She's the only one that gets a blinged out design. I add gem clusters & glitter gel, to set her apart. No matter how simple the design, it always looks better to her & the parents.

thats always a good idea... but lets face it some of those other kids are adorable and i want to do my best work on them too so i can hopfully get a photo lol. maybe i just need to take a deep breath and take my time on the birthday girl/boy and then worry about the rest later. i dont know still lacking the groove... i need to shake my silly's out!

Getting into the groove (and getting paint wet etc) - what about doing the birthday child siblings/parents first? While the birthday child is greeting friends and then make them the star when everyone gets there.....