"Entertainers" Guild

Anyone have something like this in their area? We have a clowns alley and a magicians (something or other) no fp guild....honestly there are only a few doing it in my area. I have attended each...and felt like an "outsider" Anyway, I was thinking that starting a general "Entertainer's Guild" might be a good idea. Any thoughts? pros/cons?

Why?

That sounds like a great idea. What would the general purpose be? In my area, there are a few painters that like to get together for jams. If wish I could go more often. I guess they are kinda like a "guild". They bring in painters for teaching when they can. (Pashur came once). Everyone in the class just paid a fee. And... they get together to practice and share techniques. I think Denise was trying to get painters together again.

There is a "guild" in my area. I have not managed to find a meeting yet. I am kind of confused, they advertise as a "company" for hire so it kind of says to me "don't bother us" and is not all that welcoming to new artists. I have not had luck with any of the contacts on line, always come back as undeliverable, but I figured I would just go to a meeting. When I tried that, the restaurant where they advertised the meeting was closed. They have a new meeting place and day now, but I have not made the time to go seek that one out, don't want to find another closed restaurant, or be eating someplace alone with my kit.

I had thought a guild was a group of craftspeople, but maybe I missunderstand the concept?

I belong to both the magic club and the clown alley in Branson and there are several painters in the alley and are currently making it easier for new members.

I sent another email, and hope that I get a response. Found them on Facebook too, it is not the kind of page you can "like" so I don't know exactly what you do to follow it. You have to look it up every time but you can see everything, just no like button, and I am not that savy, so I am not sure if this kind of page requires a friend request...oh well, may be someday!

Sounds like they made it so someone from the group has to invite you.

Yes, it seems very "don't call us..." or that is kind of how it feels from the outside. I will keep painting. At least I have this place, and I am looking forward to Kidvention in February and meeting some of my online painting friends! I just wish I could hand over jobs to your guys when I have a double booking, or could count on one of you when I got sick!

Shannon....good question. Mainly for networking (for referral purposes), promoting entertainment overall in our area and jamming with other artists? On the one hand, Im glad there's not a lot of other painters in my area (competion wise) but, it would be nice to get together too. However, since driving down to the Plano Tx jam Silly farm was at last week, I now see what I (am not) missing

Oh no...are Jams not as fun as they sound ChaCha? I really have been looking forward to that. This is the second thread right now that suggests Jamming is not so good as it is cracked up to be.

We have fun at jams now that the 2 people that left the alley are gone.

afacepainting mom....maybe its just me. But, I was sooooo excited. It was about a 6 hr drive to the one I went to in Plano. They started late, ended early and everyone stayed in their little "groups". Mark Reid was there though, with Heather...their designs and the overall experience made it worth while....but, I did leave feeling let down. Oh well.....Still think I will try to do something in my local area. if anything else, to get the craigs list poster to stop painting for $50/hr. lol....

As mentioned above, Denise in my area was trying to get a jam together, but it seemed like no one really wanted to do it. I was bummed because I'd love to meet other painters and hang out, but I can understand how some people feel like it's awkward since we are each others' competition.

Sometimes clown conventions have face painting classes and Jams. Check if there is one in your area.

Anybody that wants to come to Cleveland is welcome to come and jam with the NEO Jammers on the first Wednesday of every month! lol!

I think the things that can either make or break a jam are legion, but the most important (to me) are trust, contribution and planning.

Nobody wants to attend a jam where the other attendees are just there to harvest as many trade secrets and designs as possibile. We once had a jam where a bunch of ladies from a local Clown Alley showed up (our jams are open to other entertainers, but we're not a teaching guild, so the moochers tend to stay at home). From the moment the brushes came out, their cameras were put into focus and all they did that night was walk around, watching other painters paint and ask questions. You could tell they were harvesting and it put a damper on the mood for the night. Once we explained to them that we're not a teaching guild and that the would have to paint SOMETHING (they didn't even bring a kit) the next meeting...we knew we'd lost them...haven't seen them since. People aren't going to want to jam if there's going to be people there who are just harvesting secrets. That's why we ask participants to ASK the artist for permission to take photos of what their painting and to not interrupt painter as they paint the restaurant patrons.

I abhor cliques, but they are here to stay. When you encounter a group mentality at a jam, you have to take into account that the people who are grouped probably feel the most comfortable painting with each other because they've already established trust and gotten comfortable with each other. Don't expect them to come to you...their painting in a zone most likely. What you can do is introduce yourself to them (if possible, before the painting starts so that you can get to know others as people and not painters. Unfortunately, the closed cliques have become a defense mechanism against those who just come to take without giving back. As bad as it sounds, sometimes you have to establish yourself as a non-threatening, contributing entity. I know that for me, when I'm with others who are painting alongside me, I share more openly, but when you're just standing by watching me paint, I start feeling...well, watched, and I close up. I don't think anything can be done for the painters with the RockStar mentality or their groupies, but for the regular Jo painters, it usually helps to just talk and contribute.

Some artists (rock stars included) think that jamming is a waste of time and invites theft of intellectual property...I've been asked by some why I even wanted to start the formal guild wheels roling... I think that a lot can come of jams, but EVERYONE has to work at it.

Great insight Lady Jade. Thank you. I agree. I was completely shocked at the first convention I attended to see the "groupies" of face painting. I still dont really get it...but oh well. In retrospect, I should have went and introduced myself to everyone at the Jam.

It seems to me that it goes without saying that if you go to a "jam" you are there to paint, just like going to a music jam means playing and not going with a tape recorder and no instrument. I cannot imagine going to meet painters with out paints. How could you not paint? I want to find a guild and go to jams so that I can paint with other people who can't get enough of painting, because I can't get enough.

Thanks for the contact emails! I already had one...found her through Snaz usa...I wish it were as easy to find as it sounds in Cleveland! I have known about your jams for a while, since you post about them on the forum. Somebody said something about Columbus on the Forum a while back, and I about peed myself with excitement, wrote her a PM, and she was in PA...so sad

It is hard to be the new person too...when you have no bad agenda, it is difficult knowing that the others are standoffish because they fear you will be a bad person...espeically when you are not at all like the clowns with cameras!

Lady Jayde, I already thought of you as a rock star...

lol....clowns with cameras

Down here if you go to a music jam without an instrument you better be prepared to sing. We had one at the last painting jam that didn't have a kit but that's just because she's a newbe and didn't know what she needed.

Now that is a question...what do you need for a Jam? You don't take your whole kit, do you? I would feel really rediculous!

Thought about it though show off my new fatmax

I have one of those! Not new though...

I am, by nature, not an aggressively sociable person. Not that I don't LIKE people, I am just really uncomfortable around strangers.... especially in groups. I was SO uncomfortable at FABAIC at the jams, especially with it being my first time.

One of the instructors told a story about her first time at the show how she was so overhwelmed she cried... and I gotta say that's how I felt. I just hid and lurked. I tried going to one other Jam not local and it was very cliquey too... it wasn't exclusionary per sey- but everyone there knew each other- it would have been easier if there was someone "teaching" something I think.

But, I am working on my shell in those situations. It is funny how I can get on a stage and talk to hundreds of people, and be super social when painting, or doing magic or lecturing or doing readings.... but DON'T ask me to go to a party!

I know what you mean leapinglizards. I tend to hang back and wait, don't always know what to say or how to make that small talk that some people find easy. Once I know someone, it is fine, but strangers are a challenge. I don't have that problem when I am painting either...isn't that odd? I am hoping that I won't have trouble once I start to paint at a jam, but getting in the door and the introductions are anxiety ridden, for sure.

I hope you are feeling better!

Wish I had the money to go to FABAIC but we had a bad year not as many tourist because of Spring flooding so the local businesses didn't make much so not as many party's. I'm very outgoing and usually make a bee line to the wallflowers it's the former Girl Scout leader in me wanting everyone included and you meet the most interesting people that way.