How much do I charge for PPF?

Here is lots of feedback on this topic on this thread:

http://www.facepaintforum.com/general-face-painting-f1/how-much-to-charge-question-t2488.htm

Feel free to post other comments as well on this topic.

Do you take the money before you face paint or afterwards?

I take it after - as they are more likely to tip you after they see the work.
But I know if it's really busy and you have a line manager then sometimes they collect it first just to speed the whole process up.

Personally, I don't paint until they pay. But I'm a newbie. There was just too much confusion at our PPF and up to 10 people in the tent at a time and two painters. My husband would get the money, and then as they sat in the chair he would use the key phrase "single" "half" or "full" so that I would know how much they paid and how much time to take on the design.

I was working so fast that I would have a hard time to stop after the fact and ask for the money...and what if they try to micromanage you after you've decided it's done..."those swirls don't match the picture exactly!"...they have the upper hand when they still have the money.

Before, IMHO.

D.

People generally hand me the money as they're sitting down as I work alone (no helper) and like colden says, if I don't take the money up front then I can get lost as to who's paid or just too busy to try to get it from them - I know that's happened in the past.

Oh, as far as how much I charge - in the past it was $3 for a little cheek/hand thing (like a heart/star/rainbow/fish/mermaid etc.) and $5 per face. After reading some of the posts in the forums I may include a half face option for the mask type (which I hadn't offered before) and make that the $5 with the full face at $8. I'll see how it goes as to whether or not I keep that concept.

I don't do PPF BUT if I did it would be cash up front. As you guys have already pointed out there are people who will pick it apart, not have the right amount, want change for $100, etc.

I'm really glad I don't work that way!

I might be old fashioned in this regard but am I the only one who likes to recieve the product before I hand over the money?
With the exception of ordering on the net.
If you think about it imagine getting any service done - like carpet cleaning or a plumber and paying before they have done the work?.... yeah no.
Or a restaraunt that wanted to know what you were going to order and to pay up front?
I know i works for speed and all for us... but they aren't going to pull their wallet out Again after they already paid you before.... so no tips....
my customers regularly over pay me after they see the work.
I have NEVER had anyone leave without paying. I make sure they pay before their kid gets out of the chair.

I take payment afterwards unless they are holding it in their hands waiting for me to take it. Usually there are multiple children and that way I can take all payments at once, plus tipping is better. Never had anyone leave without paying, though I do admit I have problems with the money-holding parent wandering off and not being present when the design is finished.

It just feels less mercenary to take the money after the painting is complete IMHO, plus people seem to expect to pay afterward. I would have to specifically ask for the money up-front, and that is uncomfortable. LOL. This is also true with hourly paid gigs. The hostess or client almost always comes over to pay me at the end of the job when I am packing up to leave. I try to avoid ever mentioning money at all in those situations.

I find some like to pay before and some after. At my market gig they are mostly all regulars so I am happy either way. And sometimes they.ll give me a tip as well. Last week two mums did before I had even started to paint their children

I don't push for it before, I'll take it whenever... I HAVE however had a couple of people leave without paying... usually more with balloons than face painting, where someone got it into their head that the balloons were free or something despite picking off of the banner that has the designs grouped by price.... :S

Happened to me today. I thought they were part of a group I was painting but no, just two who I'm I not sure if they thought it was free or just decided to try their luck. They disapeared pretty quickly.

I've worked events where they were selling tickets or tokens for the activities and I had to take them for the painting... always up front before then sat down. Some kids don't know/understand that they need to pay for it so you need to ask them before they get in the chair.

I rarely see parents with children when I work... probably because of the type of events I generally do.

I registered on this site a while ago but haven't been on for quite a while. Now that I have found my way back I am going to make a concerted effort to post. As a new comer to face painting I have started with pay per face events. However, as a newcomer who paints alone with no little helpers I have struggled to make sure that I have been paid. On several occasions parents have disappeared once the child has been seated and I couldn't say hand on heart that I had been paid. Therefore I TRY to make a point of getting paid as a child is seated and before painting begins. It seems a bit cheeky to ask upfront but until I become more focused and PROFESSIONAL I 'll continue.

Hello, newbie here and yes, I got paid after the painting and at one point in all the confussion money was left on my table and I had no idea who's child it was for and how many or if they even needed change for that matter. They didn't come back for it so I guess I could have been tipped nicely or short changed, whew......was I rattleing?

I did $3, $5 and $8, took the money before they even stepped foot in the tent, put a tip jar on the counter.