How to price a day long, multiple day event?

I just received a request for a quote for March 16 and 17 from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Do other face painters give a discount on their hourly rate for these types of events? Or do you quote them your normal hourly rate?

Thanks!

Yes I do give a pretty sizable discount for this, but MAKE SURE to build in breaks! At least two 30 minute ones per day.

I don't know what you normally charge, but I normally charge $100 per hour with a two hour minimum.

The lowest I would go is $60 per hour for this event, but I would recommend giving them what your normal two hour rate is, a 5, 7 and 9 hour quote so they understand HOW large of a discount they are getting. If you just give them your rate for 9 hours, they still may balk.

Also, if price is of a huge issue, offer to charge the attendees as well and return the money to them. This works REALLY well.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice Metina. This is the second request for a long event I've gotten within a week. I haven't heard back from the other one I quoted, so we'll see if I get this one. I hope!

I've gone as low as half price for large events like this. If it's that many hours (mine have been around 30 hours each) you'll come out ahead. I'd have to book 10-15 separate parties to equal that amount, and that's a lot of travel and set-up time saved by doing it all at one 3 day event. Those are my favorite sorts of gigs. Good luck!

I have an hourly rate (2 hour minimum), a half-day rate (4 hours max which gives them $75 off what it would be at the straight hourly rate) and a full-day rate (up to 7 hours WITH three breaks included for the price of 5 hours). I worked it all out to be a "deal" for them to book me for the day and a lot of my events will book me now at the day-rate PLUS mileage.

I will be working a festival this weekend - 5 hours each day, and they paid the full day rate.

If the booking is for multiple dates - for example, every Sunday for two months, etc. I will "negotiate" a discount for the multiple bookings. Usually it is a sliding scale - Full rate for the first hour, 85% for the second hour, 75% for the third hour on...

Thanks for this information, everyone... it's been really helpful! I'm still not sure if I will end up getting this. I'm waiting to hear back. How much do you normally ask for up front as a retainer fee/deposit on a big event like this? Do you ask for a percentage?

My deposits are usually $100 or $150... not a percentage. More of a token to confirm the event.

I asked $500 for mine and they didn't blink an eye. If you do charge a larger deposit, keep it around one fourth of the total and you should be good.

o.k., great. Thank you!

I'm so lost....
I'm starting my business in Vegas
I'm charging $100 for the first hour $85/hour for more than 2 hours....
People are not accepting those prices, they prefer to stay w/ the crappy cheekart artist that I don't even know what kind of paints they use and I had some critics about it...They say I should put fixed prices per parties for example $150 for up to 15 people etc etc.....
What you guys think about pricing? Charging per person is good or never works out?
And also fund raising people are calling me craaazy to do face painting for free I mean FOR FREE, but I think the fairly is cover the costs of the paints, what you guys usually do in fund raisings?

I wrote an article about working for free - you can read it here http://www.shannonfennell.com/Illusion3article.pdf

It is posted on my free resources page with you can get to from the link in my signature - there is lots of other stuff there you can use too.

Thank you Shannon!
Your resources page is awesome.
That's what I did with one fund raiser.... I charged them something to cover the cost of the paints and etc, they're giving me 7 months of advertisement in a newsletter that goes to more than 200 families.
I think it's pretty fair...

If you think it is fair and you feel compensated, then it's all good!

camilinhaw wrote:I'm so lost....
I'm starting my business in Vegas

What you guys think about pricing? Charging per person is good or never works out?
?

I started with my hourly prices around the same as the people already in my city, but then I realized that I was at least as good as they are, I am investing in more training and better products and making this a business not just an occasional weekend thing. I felt bad doing birthday parties for so little. I took time away from my small children and no matter how good the party familly treated me, I walked away unhappy. So, I raised my prices, I actually almost doubled my price. Now, I am happy when I work, I am charging in line with what most other professionals I have seen charge, it is worth it for me to be away from my kids and I am not over charging or gouging the people who hire me. I guess on top of Shannon's brilliant advice, from one newbie to another, it comes down to, you need to see what the people in your market charge, see where your skill and speed fit in, and charge what makes you happy. If you are worth what you charge (keeping in mind what your market already supports), and work your business, it will come.
As for charging per hr vs. per child, I have just switched to charging a set price for up to 'X' children (depending on the event.) That way it buys me a little time if I have an 'off' day and it takes me an extra 15 minutes to do what I need to do, or if I am good and fast, I am out early. I set it as a reasonable number, for eg. usually I will set my price and say it is for up to 12 children.
I'm tired and rambling tonight, hope this all makes sense, and please realize that I am not a seasoned veteren, this is just my opinion as a newbie.

Yep I charge hourly with discounted 1/2 & whole day rates. If its a peak day where I could expect to do 2 parties normally, I make sure to have at least that much charged.
I actually prefer longer bookings - no dashing between taxis and locations, can settle down and get into the groove of painting. Great way to up your speed on faces too.

cat x