Other Companies Contacting You

I've had several companies contact me wanting me to paint for them. Some are face painters, one runs a singing telegram business & some are party planning companies. I really don't know how to answer them. In my opinion, they need me, but I really don't NEED them as I'm doing quite well. Does anyone have any experience with this & how they work with them without getting burnt? Things to look out for? One company wanted me to pay them an agent fee. I said no:-)
The problem I'm seeing is if I work for another company I will be working potential jobs that would have been mine. I refuse to work where I can't promote my own business & I won't sign a no-compete contract as it would shoot me in the foot(again, I fell like they need me, not the other way around).
I also, don't want to work w/ someone who runs their business poorly as that would reflect on me. I get a call a month looking for a last minute face painter because someones backed out on a party or event(I'm not sure who's doing this, but it makes us all look bad).

If you are doing quite well, just stay with your terms.

But just keep in mind that we are in the busy season and things might start drying up. Having good contacts is always a bonus. If they did get the business, they do desearve something for finding it. Just think of what you would want if you started "needing" another painter.

Be fair, be honest and be nice and all will be well.

-Metina

I work for other artists in the area, and I have several artists in the area that work for me.. so I don't see how it can hurt you. If you show up, are professional and courteous, do a good job.. it can only reflect well on both of you. If they want an agent fee, forget that... Tell them that you want your full price and they can put their agent fee on top of that and then quote that number to their client. No one loses.

There is one company I used to contract for and gave out her cards, but I "quit" - it was great when I was working for an event company and the contracting rates were better than what I was getting, but now that I'm on my own it's just not productive.

The only other company I might work for if I'm free and it's coming up quickly is owned by my old homeroom teacher (random, I know). His girlfriend sometimes contracts for me, and I will occasionally for him.

Recently another company saw me at an event, raved about my fp (his painters were doing 'free painting' and using the Klutz book as their design options - and I was still as busy as them even though I was charging) and took my card. He just sent me an email yesterday asking about dates...wrote back and said I was already booked on those days, and that I had to tell him I wasn't interested in taking on bookings unless I A) got my rate + travel and B) could give out my own cards. I told him I realised that wasn't ideal for him, but as I'm building my own clientèle, it didn't make sense for me to take on his jobs and give out his cards when I could be giving out mine.

No reply yet, but I only sent it last night

I work for several other artists or entertainment companies, and have other artists that work for me at times - it all depends on who gets the call, and how many are needed doing what, and getting all the jobs covered as best as possible. When I'm working for others though, it is *their* card I hand out - and I don't have many identifying labels (I can't say I don't have any since some of my kit has labels we use for productions). I have some relationships I've developed for years, it is quite worth it for me at this point to continue them. Once or twice I've wished I had a card of my own with me though - when coming across another artist or entertainment company, but for the most part this has worked well for me.

I had a very bad experience doing this. I thought we were helping each other out by me taking his overflow, but I had to hand out his cards - paint to his cataloge and wear the ugliest looking shirt you've ever seen... I found out he was charging DOUBLE my rate and keeping half. My good painting was promaoting his crappy business. When people wanted to hire me at those gigs - couldn't tell them anything - just call the number on the card - they'd ask to speak to me and he would say you can't have her. It was terrible.
He gave me all the jobs 50kms away that he didn't want to travel too, and he was rude with me when I told him I thought his set up came off unprofessional.
I'm sooooooo glad I don't do any work for them anymore. The money wasn't worth not being able to speak to the clients before hand - not knowing what they were charged - not being able to speak to them afterwards and not being able to book any jobs for my own business.
It hurt me to hear people say "oh insert name of company here- has the best face painters - look at what this girl can do - I'll be telling all my friends"
It was terrible.
On the other hand I work for a productions company that sends me to all the really huge shopping centers, I can hand out my own cards and they pay me my hourly rate - where what I want - I do have to paint my face though - it's all good.
As you said psalm keep your best interests in mind - don't compromise and always keep in mind they need YOU, not the other way around, if one comes along that ticks all the boxes - then go for it - more work is more work after all.

I did it, but on my own terms and as I became more successful, ny terms began to change and the person I worked with understood that.

Thank you for all the advice. So far I had one awful experience w/ a company when I 1st got started & recently I've worked side by side w/ one awesome painter, but she's moving away

The rest that have wanted me I've not felt comfortable with. I've not heard back from anyone when I've answered, no agent fee, no "no compete" agreement, I get paid my normal rate & I get to hand out my business card. I'd love to find a production company that would except all that, but for now...

Don't feel surprised when most people want you to hand out their card. Just saying.. When I hire other painters to work with me, they hand out my cards. I would never dream of handing out my card at another agents job.. that person booked that job, did the paperwork, and has a relationship with the client. Not me... If they want to ask for me by name next time(when booking through the agent) then they can do that. Otherwise I am just there to paint and earn my money.

It's like if I hired another painter to come paint for me, they are painting for Team Pic-N-Paint... not their company. I don't have my subcontractors where any kind of uniform or anything, they are allowed to come in their usual gig-garb, but I do require a level of skill to be one of my painters... I don't require that they work out of a book, and I always get them their rate.


Anywho... don't let the card thing get ya. I'm actually surprised that so many of you demand to hand out your own cards at another agents' event. You can always just not accept the job. It's the best part of being your own boss. I like someone else taking care of the paperwork for me once in a while ;-)

It's just a preference. And I know that chances are very slim I will be able to hand my cards out at another person's gig, in which case I am ready to decline. If I'm really desperate for work I might make an exception, but it really pains me when people rave about my work, and I can't give out my card, lol.

On the one hand, you get your rate. On the other, you won't get spin off clients from that event.

I actually really like being the one the client talks to, books with, and knows is going to be at their event. I don't mind the paperwork. If I do go out for someone else, I still ask for contact name and number, location, and notes anyway.

I guess I just have a bad taste in my mouth from the beginning w/ a dishonest company. They gave me all the far off, troublesome gigs or the most dangerous sections of town. Changed policy for their clients & made me look bad. Asked me to lie & say I was them to a client(I refused). Got me gigs that didn't exist & called the day before to cancel, etc, etc.... I worked for my kit & then when we parted ways, they came & took everything saying it was theirs(it was all clowning stuff). Now I just have trust issues(and a contract