Re: Setting Up for a Festival

by MelodyFPL on Tue Jul 05, 2011 10:57 pm

Lady Jayde wrote:One piece of good advice for festival work... if you have a line mangler (yes...mangler...my 7 year old does more mangling that managing at times) paint him/her up in a middle or high price paint design and give him/her the task of walking the festival grounds or sitting at the front of the tent. The parents will be leaning towards the low point design, but often opts for the more expensive design when he/she sees it on a living breathing model (it also helps when the child sees it and wants it, lol). My daughter had her full face tiger and her arms glitter tatted up... all she needed to do was run to get the food vendors or walk through the play area and I had a line outside my tent...

Awesome advice, yes! I am actually bringing two helpers, one of whom has a shaved (shiny bald) head. I plan on painting his entire head and sending him out for a stroll. Carnival manager said I can paint any of the other vendors I want too and have them point people in my direction. Hmmm I might have to go rather early in that case.

by CottonKandyClown on Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:34 pm

I love reading blogs! A clown blog is even better! Awesome Smile

I'm such a clown want to be. I'm gradually learning as a I go, but I get more gigs for face painting. I need a real costume that's not from a cheap costume store! LOL I love your big puffy shirt! Where did you get it? I know it can't be a Mooseburger, could it?

I wish we had a clown/face painting section here Smile

by Psalmbook on Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:44 pm

Another big bit of advice is to upsell like crazy! I have gems & liquid bling & offer them for extra. You'll get turned down by some parents, but many will upgrade if you just ask(that's why Super-sizing works so well at fast food places:-)

by Mug Shots on Wed Jul 06, 2011 7:56 pm

Awesome advice, yes! I am actually bringing two helpers, one of whom has a shaved (shiny bald) head. I plan on painting his entire head and sending him out for a stroll. Carnival manager said I can paint any of the other vendors I want too and have them point people in my direction. Hmmm I might have to go rather early in that case.

I look for the vendors with kids. They almost always want their faces painted, and many times they won't let you do it for free, so when they start protesting about payment, I offer trades. You would be amazed at the free advertising AND Christmas gifts I get at a festival! lol

by Perry Noia on Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:40 am

sorry for the delay, we were away on vacation and while there was wi-fi, it was really slow to load anything...

I made my whole costume, the shirt is an adaptation from the pattern I was using for my original costume which was a Raggedy Ann simplicity pattern. The rest of it was kind of off the top of my head.

As far as choosing pricing, it is based partially on size and partially on complexity. I consider the unicorn mask similar to the butterfly in complexity, while it doesn't cover the lower part of their cheeks, it takes at least as long because of the feathers. There are a couple on my cheaper board that could probably go on the more expensive one, but they show well so I want them around... funny enough, they don't get picked as often as I'd like (the small dragon for example is one of my favourites that hardly ever gets picked)

by MelodyFPL on Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:47 am

Mug Shots wrote:

I look for the vendors with kids. They almost always want their faces painted, and many times they won't let you do it for free, so when they start protesting about payment, I offer trades. You would be amazed at the free advertising AND Christmas gifts I get at a festival! lol

Great idea, I don't know if any of the vendors will have kids with them, but I will surely keep this in mind!

by Geekophile on Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:34 pm

I have a brand new supply to add to my festival packing list. mosquito coils! The bugs were so bad on the fourth- gnats and flies... ugh! I wished I had one then.

by MelodyFPL on Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:38 pm

Geekophile wrote:I have a brand new supply to add to my festival packing list. mosquito coils! The bugs were so bad on the fourth- gnats and flies... ugh! I wished I had one then.

ooooh yes!! Bug repellent is on my list!

Here's a thought... What about a pack of straws? That way if a kid gets a full face design, you can give them a straw to use when they drink so they don't mess it up?