At what point do you consider yourself a professional?

I think that's pretty cut and dry. I get tongue tied when I start to think of myself as a professional FP and there's a degree of safety in just telling people that I doodle here and there. I know I may be selling myself short, but I don't think I have the skillset to be considered a professional...per se. At what point/milestone do you consider yourself a professional face painter? Can you be a professional without having a bonafide business with cards and everything?

It is two-pronged. Strictly speaking if you get paid to do it you are a professional. But it is also an attitude, way of presenting yourself, method of conducting your business, and your dedication to improvement.

The moment I became professional was the first time someone paid me to apply make-up - I've got the $20 bill framed in my office! (My mom made me do that )

Just having the cards and a sign doesn't really do it. But it is a start!

Vista Print www.vistaprint.com is an awesome site to get business/advertising stuff, relatively cheap. Right now they are having their summer sale and lots of things are actually free. I used their pre-loaded images of the face painted kids to get started, but you can download your own design, if you have one, and the business cards are really professional looking. No more running out of color ink for your computer or those nasty edges from being ripped apart.

I just started face painting in June and thought what the heck, get some business cards and pass them out like candy. How else are people going to be able to find you again?

Put the directions for removing the face paint on the back of the card and then you don't feel like an awkward goof (I felt very awkward anyway ) for giving everyone you paint your card.

I started considering myself a professional, when my income came mainly from makeup.

And vistaprint is great. I have to make some new cards today, I'm soon out. But use that little extra and have your own picture on it. It is not cool having the same one on, like five other people have meet.

I agree with Lonewolf. Try something eyecatching but different than all the ones they show you. When I started I met 2 people with the same ones as me. I'm in the process of changing my business cards now.

Glenda

Just in case you don't decide to put anything on the back of your cards, you may want to pick up from Staples the magnets that stick on the back of your card... I know I keep fridge magnets up for ages and if they ever had the need to find you, they won't have lost your card.

I've always had my cards professionally printed locally. Yes, it costs more than "free" but they are my images and completely unique. Plus I am supporting local business - that counts for something too!

We are all part of the global village ;-)
But I agree: cheap cards could easy send out the message: cheap (bad) painter.
Still, I like Vistaprint custom made cards, the one with coating.

I love my Vistaprint cards..I'm ready for a banner...and they also make those too at Vistaprint

global village yes, but by walking into a store to get your stuff done, you can make some contacts you wouldn't have before... the last time I got my cards done, the lady that did them for me asked if I had an "extra" Why of course! Local business people like to support the people that support them, so they might think of you first the next time they have a need.

I went to my local Staples to get my cards done...the lady saw my work and has referred a few clients my way now!

They also did a great poster for my sidewalk display...I just used MS Publisher and put together a 2x3 foot design, and they printed and laminated it asap. Turned out great!

I love gotprint.com - they have an editor to download and the cards are thick and glossy. I got them fast! and LOVE THEM!!! I want to do new ones now that I have better art to put on them.

Vista's "free" is never really free after the shipping and the gazillion emails they keep sending you. I would probably use them for the banner or do like some others and just hit the local print shop biz. Vista still is one of the most competitive for banners and car magnets I think.

I was wondering about the car magnets. Don't people just take them off?

I get my cards at club flyers.com i designed them and they are thick and glossy and inexpensive.

I had a couple of car magnets when I used to sell Pampered Chef and they were stolen from my car. What anyone would want with a 4 foot magnet with my phone number on it is beyond me, but I was out $200.

LoneWolf wrote:I was wondering about the car magnets. Don't people just take them off?

All the time I've been told...

Shannon Fennell wrote:

LoneWolf wrote:I was wondering about the car magnets. Don't people just take them off?

All the time I've been told...

Thank you, I will not buy them then! Even though they would have been practical covering that scratch someone made with their key over the front door...

I have a car magnet, but I try to take it off so that it doesn't fade/bubble, but I ALWAYS forget to put it back on! Maybe if I had nicer ones, I'd just leave them.. I don't like the ones that I have now anyways because they are just a pic of a paint palette and and brush and my info.... LAME... I'll have to work on getting some nicer ones.

You could have a window decal made with your website and no one could get to that.

LoneWolf wrote:I was wondering about the car magnets. Don't people just take them off?

I've had the large magnets stolen from my car too. Or else they came off by themselves when I wasn't looking?