Why do some folks have different corporate vs. private rates?

I've got a question - Why do some face painters have different corporate rates separate from private party rates? How does something like this work?

Every example posted shows that the corporate rates are higher then the private party rates - Is there a reason for this? I would love to hear your feed back.

I'm asking because, on May 1st I raised my hourly rates and since then I've been hired for 4 new corporate gigs booked by marketing agencies BUT my private party bookings have gone down... way down. So I know that this sounds silly - but - on one hand I'm being paid in full for full day events by places like Wal-Mart and AArons but I miss working the kids parties. Is there a happy medium? What do ya'll do?

I have one set price for both. The only difference is the number of kids i am required to do affects the types of faces i do. I start at $100 but the first hour can be more depending on distance. If i have only 10 kids, i can do really awesome complex faces with shadows, hightlights, bling, etc... If i have to do 15-20 kids in an hour then they may not all get a SUPER fancy face just a 3-5 min face (which is pretty cool too, but you know what i mean).

Stress, pressure, amount of paint used, etc. Corporate events tend to be more high volume and they can afford to pay more. They are also looking for the best in thier area. Super cheap prices for corporate usually makes them think cheap work. Price like a pro and they are more likely to pay it. House parties are more relaxed and you get to do better detail work and really bond with your clients. I find them more fun! So I have two prices. This way I cover both markets. Seems to be working for me. Today I am doing henna at the bay, then tomorrow a bride, friday a birthday, saturday 2 birthdays.

I think like any advice when it comes to pricing, you have to shoot for what works in your area. All markets are not created equal. My 2 cents!

Also remember that if you go to a birthday party, you're there to keep the kids entertained and painted for an hour, and the only reason anyone would hire you is because you do that well.

Wal Mart on the other hand has you in their shop, creating positive associations for their customers, and hopefully ensuring that having you there will help bring customers back to their store again.

You're a marketing tool and that is worth something.

As an aside, I love it when big companies say "were doing something for hurricane releif" (or something) to try and score some kind of charity rate. Bollocks. Its PR. if they really wanted to help they could simply donate money. Sorry. Pet peeve.

So yes, all you're doing is face painting in both cases, but the job you are really doing is much much different.

My rate is my rate.

I offer a "package" for birthday which is limited to 15 faces that is 75% of the regular rate for two hours. Reasoning is that it is fewer faces than I would paint at a public gig and I can spend more time on each.

Otherwise everyone is charged the same.

I do offer a discount AT MY DISCRETION to non-profit or charitable groups but only IF I want to, I don't offer it blanket to ANY group, but ones I feel like supporting (and I am very selective!)

I don't have a seperate price for corporate, but I only give them 2 options, hire me for half day rate or full day rate and that is FP'ing only any other service is an a la carte added upcharge.

It's about how much can you get away with charging... how much with the market bare. Corporations have more money to spend and want quality so they are looking for the best, not the cheapest. Moms who hire you for parties are sometimes looking for a deal, sometimes looking for the "best" but usually can't afford as much as corporations.