I have received quite a few emails these last few weeks
asking why I am not out at more public events.
I don't have an exact answer for that; there are a couple reasons.
I have reached out to some events that have been using the
same face painter for years, so they stick with them. This may seem odd, but that makes me
happy. Loyalty is hard to come by and
it's good to know that events and businesses show that respect. While some parents have come to enjoy my work
most, (and I appreciate that) others do a nice job and have loyal customers
just the same.
The main reason I am not involved in more public events is
money. This may seem harsh but I'll
explain...
·
A lot of events want free services
·
Most public events charge a "vendor"
fee anywhere between $50 - $500 to be part of their event. I don't consider a face painter a vendor; I
am not selling an item.
With this there are usually two options:
We paint for tips
Even though some people give generous tips, some people don't/can’t tip at all and most tips wouldn't equate to how much it would cost to paint a face
or
We charge a fee to
customers to paint them
I don't like this because I decide
a price based on time and supply cost - some people don't want to pay or can't
afford to pay the amount
In both cases there is still a big chance the event isn't as
busy as expected and I spend hours sitting and taking a loss. Or the opposite can happen, it is so busy that is overwhelming. Even if I was able to break even or make a
profit I didn't enjoy this type of arrangement, so I decided I would no longer
do them.
I have asked several artists the reasons why they do events
for free or a cost...
Most
said they do it for the exposure
Exposure, this is a word I am hit with a lot in this
business. Event planners contact me and
try to get a fee or free services and always offer exposure. Artists die from exposure! It's not worth it to me. There is no guarantee you will increase your
business. It's more likely that most
people lose your card or forget your name when they end up looking for a painter.
Others
said they aren't in this business for the money
Don't get me wrong, I got into this business because I loved
it - but I intend to be successful and make money. I invested thousands of dollars in my
business when I started, I claim all income (and pay taxes); and I have a lot
of expenses. I spend most weekdays marketing
and improving my skills and most weekends and holidays working. I don't expect to be rich but I do hope to be
able to provide for my family while being able to do something I am passionate
about and enjoy.
My family is the most
important thing in my life; and time is precious. To take away from them I have to be able to
have something to show for it; I need to feel it’s worth it. You can always make more money, you can’t get
back time you’ve lost!
So actually I guess it's more about time than money but you get the idea.
If you would like to hire me for an event or private party please visit Premo Designs' website and don't forget to follow me on other social media! Pinterest Instagram Twitter Facebook
If you would like to hire me for an event or private party please visit Premo Designs' website and don't forget to follow me on other social media! Pinterest Instagram Twitter Facebook
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Memphis, Arianna, Me, Jake, Jacob, Ashley |
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Apollo |
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Cuda |
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Jax |
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