Jitters and Nerve Control

Just another note

I used to show cocker spaniels at dog shows, and you wanna talk about stage fright??? I would puke before I went in the ring >.<

One thing I found that really helped was bach's rescue remedy. It's a flower essence remedy (similar to homeopathy) and you can get it at the health food store. Might be helpful for ya the day of or when you get those massive panic moments

I've been using it to deal with my wedding anxiety!!

Trina

Nerves are our bodies way of giving us an edge..... when I think things are going great for preparation for an event and I'm relaxed, it makes me *more* nervous and stressed...... I compensate by overpacking - putting more in the car (like a tent, extra table etc even if one is being supplied) than I really need - making sure that whatever happens, I have the means to deal with it.... I also do things early - like putting on sunscreen before leaving the house - I can always put on more later if I have time, but if I get it on before I leave, then it isn't on my mind that I could forget it....

The other thing you can do is a word design board. With Tiger, Cat, Batman, Princess, etc on it. Someone posted about on the boards a while ago. That way you don't have to worry about the designs not being the same as the photo. Also if it's busy you can make face more basic or more complex it slower.
Once you start painting and get in the zone you'll be fine. Don't worry about the line just the face in front of you.

Thank you so much for the encouragement and kind thoughts, my wonderful and talented friends. Festival day has arrived. Please send me a prayer or some calming yet energetic energy and vibes.

Lord, grant me the calmness to have a steady hand, the energy to stay on my feet, and the power to not slap the heck out of the kid who wiggles like a marionette every time I put the brush near his face!
LOL

I will let ya'll know how it goes!

jaja, so funny but realy you will never trust in your nerves, every time you fell its the first!!!, but we all must be relax and trust in what we know best, the must frustrading situation it was when a mum came in a birthday and ask me just to draw something in the 2 years old boy, he looks a little scare of the brushes so to try to make him fell a comfortable I switch for an stencil and a sponge but he was terrify and the other mums where looking at us, I just said "its ok maby next time he looks uncomfortable" but she insist and insist, I just give the sponge to the kid who was in a stroller and an other stencil and let him play with in my arm, he calm down and then I made some rainbow stars at his leg, but I tell you sometimes the parents don't undertand their childs you can never push a child to do somethingf they don't fell good with.

vivi i had a similar situation at a party last week, this lady was practically forcing her kid to get painted. I handed him a brush and let him paint all over my arms until he realized that it was fun and it didn't hurt... then he let me do spiderman on his arm.

Don't worry! Once you see those kids look in the mirror, your nerves will melt away It's like a drug to me! LOL I didn't think I was very good at first, but you have to realize that most people think of face painting as a simple cheek art design like a heart or cross. People are so surprised when you are finished

Metina I was so suprised to see you are only 45 minutes from me!!!

I do love their smile when I am done. I had no problems at parties, was just flipping about my first fest. It seemed a lot different than say, craft fairs (which I do all the time, but the product is right in front of them, unlike face painting.) Aaaanyway.... apparently I do just fine at festivals too. It was awesome.

My first post on here a few months ago was exactly like yours, how to get past the stress factor.

Only a few months and a few birthdays later and the only butterflies I have are the excitment ones, I just want to be painting already!

love it!!!!!!!!!

I used to get so freaked out by people watching me paint.. I would literally start shaking! I couldn't control my hands at all.. ugh.

But.. that was a long time ago. I've been at this for 7 years now, and nothing really makes me flinch anymore. After standing in front of a room of other face painters to teach(literally the scariest thing EVER) nothing seems so bad anymore!

I avoid caffeine before I paint because of the slightly jittery hands it gives me- and so I don't need too many restroom breaks.