Jitters and Nerve Control

Ok ya'll know I am pretty new. I have done a few birthday parties and everyone loved it. I was invited to do the Cortland County Fair, which is a HUGE 4 day gig, and it starts on Wednesday. My nerves are so shot it's beginning to make me ACTUALLY sick. Any tips or words you can share to calm me the heck down? Anyone else get first time jitters like this? I mean I am A HOT MESS over here!!!

*s*

I understand!

Just be prepared.. the rest will come.
Make a list of things to take so that there won't be any last minute brain toots... heh...

Then, when you get there, remember.... kids LOVE having their faces painted. Parents LOVE having their kids to be happy.

Take a deep, cleansing breath, and make your mantra "one face at a time"...

What are you nervous about?
The set-up?
The possible crowd?
etc...?

In any case... GOOD LUCK!!

The set up, the crowd, my speed, my work quality. I know I am GOOD, but I am not AWESOME. I STILL haven't made my photo display yet because i dont have any boy models to take pics of. I only have pics of boys from parties months ago, and my painting has evolved so much since then that I don't even do those designs anymore. I just don't feel PREPARED. I wasn't ready for this. When I agreed to this gig, I was under the impression that it was ONE DAY, not FOUR DAYS.

For your designs... last minute idea -

Go to google, and search for "blank faces".. or something like that... run off 10 or so sheets. I am having to do this as I was asked last minute to do a "theme" festival this weekend

Use those sheets to paint your faces on.. display them on some sort of board - or in a book. A board would be better (even foam board - it's in lots of stores).
Sure, it will look 'flat'.. but, hey.. they get the idea!
I'd rather do that than use pictures that I'm unhappy with.

It's a fast fix.... *smile*

Don't forget to take pictures!!!! (which is what I do all the time... I could kick myself ... *LOL)

The set-up - make a list - go early - be ready for the first customer.

The crowd - got a family member or friend that could help you with that?
I've learned to set my table(s) face/glitter up so that they can see the person being painted - not me. BUT, at a distance. Nothing more irritating to me than to have someone bump my tables, or hanging across my shoulder...

Your speed - it will come in time. Do try to select some of your faster faces to view.... don't (as I did) paint yourself in a corner .. as it were... and post the most elaborate pictures because they're the 'prettiest'. Paint what you know! Add a few of the nicer faces....

Work quality - as I said above - take it "one face at a time". Give the person you're working on your best... don't worry about the rest.... *g* ...
If you start feeling crushed, then it may be time to fall back to simpler faces I(removing the pictures that you are struggling with from the board).... just to give yourself a 'break'. You can always add them back when the crowd dies down.. or, you're more comfortable with how things are going.

I'm new at face painting.. but, not new at fairs/festivals.

Don't forget snacks/water/etc.
Don't forget your camera.

DO HAVE FUN! smile

I'm sure there will be others that will post that have tons of experience to help you... that's what I love about this place!

Thank you Kat

Don't think about it too much. We all work ourselves into a tizzy thinking and not doing. Make a list and just start working toward it. As you check off the items the more confident you will get.

You will get through this! I promise. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help. Also, search for a recent thread where someone actually provided check lists for large events. It is sure to help!

Metina wrote:Don't think about it too much. We all work ourselves into a tizzy thinking and not doing. Make a list and just start working toward it. As you check off the items the more confident you will get.

You will get through this! I promise. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help. Also, search for a recent thread where someone actually provided check lists for large events. It is sure to help!

Thanks! Yes I love that list. I copied it and added a few items of my own.

Metina, about how fast is shipping from the forum shop (I live in ny)? I might break down and but a couple rainbow cakes since I don't think I am going to have time to make one with everything else I have to do.

You don't have to have photos for your board. You are a painter! My boards are hand painted.

I drew face shaped ovals and simple mouth, eyes and nose with a black sharpie on a beige foam core board and painted the designs on the blank faces with acrylic paint. You could probably use your face paint too.

Fill in the spaces between the faces with extra cheek designs.

Protect the board, especially if you use face paint, with a piece of plexiglass from the craft store.

FlashM wrote:You don't have to have photos for your board. You are a painter! My boards are hand painted.

I drew face shaped ovals and simple mouth, eyes and nose with a black sharpie on a beige foam core board and painted the designs on the blank faces with acrylic paint. You could probably use your face paint too.

Fill in the spaces between the faces with extra cheek designs.

Protect the board, especially if you use face paint, with a piece of plexiglass from the craft store.

I might end up having to do that. It's not my PREFERRED method, but it's certainly a great idea to use in a pinch! Thanks for the tip!

I'm pretty proud of mine. It actually looks better than many of the flimsy paper photocopy collage boards I've seen.

I got about a dozen full faces on each poster size board and many cheek images scattered in-between. You can even add the odd profile for your cheek designs that extend down the neck.

Hint: Make an oval face-shaped paper stencil about 4" wide to trace so you get all the ovals the same size.

FlashM wrote:I'm pretty proud of mine. It actually looks better than many of the flimsy paper photocopy collage boards I've seen.

I got about a dozen full faces on each poster size board and many cheek images scattered in-between. You can even add the odd profile for your cheek designs that extend down the neck.

Hint: Make an oval face-shaped paper stencil about 4" wide to trace so you get all the ovals the same size.

Sounds great! Would you mind sharing a pic? I would love to see it.

Ok -ran back to guest room and shot a quick pic....Here you go. This is my Fourth of July board.

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Hey! That's cool! Nice job, FlashM! I love it.

Aw shux. Thanks!
But you can see this works. There is a triangular easel in the back so it can stand.

To make a boy's face, square the jawline a little and beef up the eyebrows.

All packages go priority which is 2-3 days. I don't normally ship on Saturday, but will be doing so tomorrow. So if you order tonight it should get there by Tuesday or Wednesday. I am in WV.