Italian Family Reunion Gig

Oh I know he had a point! Like i had stated I was starting to think about contracts and deposites and such before I went, I just didnt have everything together.
I see know that I was representing him in a way, and more than likely he has to have all his ducks in a row and I was swimming backwards! (so to speak, lol)
Ive had time to think about it and Im going to put some things together this next week or two and reword my website some to include the new changes.
Vistaprint will let me get stationary and receipts printed with my logo and such on the top. BTW- Do I need to copyright my logo? SHould someone like me go through the trouble of doing it? ...I figured Id ask you all since were mucking through legal stuff now anywho.
I know this forum coddles, but its great to know you can go somewhere and get support, even if it does spoil you a bit.
taxes?! Oh I dont think ill ever get up that high in profit! lol

SO my next tackle- BUSINESS DOCUMENTS, then Ill work on getting a proper case and paints. I can work with what I got...for now. But the docs cant wait. I want to come off as professional now and not a bumbling stay at home mommy.
I guess my first start will be to watch my typing skills on the forum. I let them lax because I type like I talk, but I need to do better. Period.
Thanks again everyone!
~T

I have some forms and other resources you can use on my resources page (the link is the word "here" in my signature.

Oh, this gig lead to another! I got a call today from the lawyer mans friend who is a district magistrate for Erie! Im getting into politcs it seems. Im still soo excited!

I read the advice I received about my website and raised up my prices, I still cant seem to figrue out what my 'minimum' is because I have so little info to go off of. I know I need better paints and soon, my palettes are almost empty with all this practicing. I know its paying off though, I believe my designs get better by the day. i felt bad charging to much for what i thought was nothing, but got kicked in the butt and realized it isnt nothing, im actually pretty good! Plus I dont want to 'undercut' anyone and make enemies. I also dont want to be known as the cheap face painter. ergh, i like to do great work that Im proud of.
ooo Im starting to rant! Im sorry. I just excited I got another one! plus I have booked two 'business' events as well.
this is taking off fast. -happy dance-

thanks everyone for your help.

Tara, that is what this forum is for and it's refreshing to see advice freely given taken for the well meaning nuggets they are. All too often people who want to hit the ground with their feet running will disregard advice to slow down as negative...to their own peril later.

Contracts are important to me...so much so that I don't paint without one. It took a while to amass my "process" but it's one that I like and a lot of clients have commended me on my professional approach. Microsoft Word and Publisher are excellent sources for electronic contracts that you can email to your client. I prefer Word because I can create a contract that I can either fill out myself or send to a customer and all of the fields and my terms of agreement are protected (the customer can only fill out the information fields). It's taken time but I'm devised a system of contract delivery and retrieval, retainer colletion and receipt distribution that sends a clear message: I'm a business woman not to be messed with.

As far as your rate. The most important thing you can do for yourself is determine your value. You don't want to undercut your own artwork...especially if the pictures you showed are your norm. You are being paid to do what others can't or wont, so pay yourself accordingly. You're so right about the importance of not undercutting other painters or selling yourself short. Here's my suggestion: Determine your hourly rate for regular events...that should be what you strive to get for every hour. I never discount my first hour because I want that established as my "leave the house" rate. If I discount subsequent hours, I have a chart that gives me a breakdown of the different discount rates and percentages so I can reflect the discount on the contract. By doing this, I am still giving the customer the perception of my value WITH the added benefit of knowing I've given them a discount.

Trust me, I know it's not easy determining your worth. I remember I was asked for a quote for corporate event and I almost choked on the $700 quote my calculations revealed...until the caller said "okay". It's mind blowing to know that somebody will pay me that kind of money to come and paint, but I'm working convincing myself that I'm worth it. You're worth it, you just have a little choking to do before you get around to accepting it.

Customers do look at prices and the ones I want DO wonder why another painter is $50/hr cheaper than I am. The customer I want is the one who will then start trying to figure out the difference instead of being charmed by a low price tag. I don't skimp on the quality i give my customers so I am a lot happier with customers who don't want to skimp on the quality they pay for.

Congrats on your gig and your referral! You're on your way and you're learning the valuable lessons at the start instead of the middle...this is a good thing! As abrupt and probably pompus as that attorney may have sounded, I think he was giving you advice that would ultimately serve to benefit you. I don't think he wanted to write your contracts, but I'll be you're not the first entertainer he's observed and he was probably comparing your operation to another entertainers. The advice was good, even in the messenger was a little crotchety, lol!

Good Luck~~