How do you handle INDECISIVENESS? or wait I change my mind....

At a festival, had a line, kids wanting pirate, then a skull (not even on board) and then a character I have never heard of....These sweet boys could NOT make up their mind...I had people waiting behind them.....How can I handle this tackfully?
Do you skip them?
Do you dis them?
Do you even try to do something you have never heard of?
ARGHHHHHH

"ok, you have to pick... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." That's what you get. If they really kick up a fuss, NEXT!

"Sweetie, how 'bout you and the kid behind you switch places and while you make up your mind I'll paint them".

I love teh counting down and ....sweetie....
THANKS!!!

I use plenty of power of suggestion... sometimes you just have to be quick on your feet (or in my case, my butt) and just come up with a combination of what they're indecisive about... for example, you mentioned he wanted a pirate, then a skull...that could easily become a skull with a bandana or eye patch...

The last few gigs I have had to use the "sweetie........" technique and have the kid switch places while they decide.
I like Perry's countdown idea though!

I just have the kid stand over to the side while they make up their mind... once you start painting other kids the parents usually make them make up their minds pretty quickly after waiting so long! LOL

I usually just make a suggestion for them, and they go for it.

"How about a Spiderman? I can do a REALLY COOL Spiderman!!"

It just depends the circumstance. Is it shyness? Then I offer them an option so they can nod. Is it the kid that wants a demon riding a dragon while shooting his neighbor (yes this child sat in my chair & I still pray for him...). "Sorry hon, nothing to scary at a church event. How about just the dragon?" The kid that is frustrated & can't decide (these are the hardest)... I let them take their time while their friends get painted & keep asking, "Are you ready? Do you know what you want? Do you like his? You do? How about a tiger just like his?" I had one girl that didn't want to ask 'cause she wanted a "boy" design & was afraid her birthday friends would laugh.

I kick them out of the chair and call "NEXT!" they usually decide quickly.

How 'bout the little girls that lean over your paints, during the painting...say, as you reach for something & point to more paint saying"...& I want THIS & This &...)!!! I just say the same thing I use for the child that wants BOTH arms or face & arm. "No, Honey, only one thing. There's too many others waiting in line."RE: the count-down, I love it. I've tried the countdown but it didn't help. Maybe I should say "...or I'll decide"??? Naw, you're all right. Ask them to stand aside 'til they decide!

it doesn't always work, but you can always have switch to taking the next person if it doesn't work and you gave them a chance to not miss their turn. As for the kid that wants some of every colour you own... Let's just pick two for today and we'll use the rest next time.... then when they narrow it down to 3 or 4, you can pick the 3rd and ignore the 4th

Is it the kid that wants a demon riding a dragon while shooting his neighbor (yes this child sat in my chair & I still pray for him...). "Sorry hon, nothing to scary at a church event.

LOL @ Linda. So glad you shared that. I have done that before at church events. Sometimes turn demon boy into dino boy as in my current avatar. Last event I painted, I was able to introduce the term "Artist's Choice". Everyone that asked for that got something unique that no one else had and I got a little creative freedom. Loved it (although I still had to do a ton of butterflies and three Spideys. LOL)

Shannon Fennell wrote: I kick them out of the chair and call "NEXT!" they usually decide quickly.

OMG, Shannon! You are an evil one!!!!

I have them switch places with the child behind them until they decide. Sometimes they want something but don't realize they can change the color! If they are leaning toward something but seem hesitant I remind them I can do it in whatever color they want, not just what they see in the picture. My husband is great at reminding people that when he is with me!