The nerves have set in!

I am in panic mode! I have my first gig tomorrow (just a farmer's market) and I was all psyched and confinement and now here I sit worried whether I can really do this? I dove in head first and really don't want to sink! I doubt if I will sleep at all tonight! I know it will be good exposure for me even if the turn out isn't that great- but I am worried I will goof up some kid's design.... so much pressure! eeek!

I would not worry to much, you can do the job! kids are pretty easy to satisfy! use pink and lots of glitters for the girls and blue for the boys, they will love seeing themselfs in the mirror...
You will get so much energie from one day painting, and next time you will get the gitters ( how do i write that..other word for nerves) again... And that will keep you sharp!
Have a lot of fun... try to stay calm if it doesn't go perfect, they won't know, only we painters are our own worst crittics( do I write it this way... well hope you know what i meen...)

Take Care, love Jantien
oh and don't forget the water bucket... ( that's what I forgot at my first farmers market (in the netherlands)

The first gig is the worst! After that first little face looking in the mirror, you will be fine! Those smiles make me melt! You will be fine

Get there at least 15-30 minutes early to setup. Make sure you feel at ease with your setup and are pleased with it. Get an overview of where everything is so you aren't wasting time looking for stuff. Take wipes and paper towels with a bucket to throw your dirties in and dirty water.

Have fun! Let us know how it went! Take some pics

It went pretty good. There weren't too many kids and some that were there said they were headed to the pool next- it was a scorcher! Which makes sense, why they didn't want to get painted. Plus there was a airbrush tattoo vendor. The ones I did paint loved it- and It is good practice, plus just good to be visible in my town. Can't wait to take what I learned today and apply it in the future weeks! Only thing we didn't have was a tarp for the side of the tent to shade from the sun- I have a cheap round table cloth that I rigged to work, but I will be find a solution to that ASAP![img][/img]

Jitters are normal. Sounds like you did great! Tarps are awesome as they shade you & give you valuable space for hanging signs. I advertise on them.

Sounds like a great first start! You don't want to be overly swamped the first time

I'm glad it went well!

ParTIA wrote:It went pretty good. There weren't too many kids and some that were there said they were headed to the pool next- it was a scorcher! Which makes sense, why they didn't want to get painted. Plus there was a airbrush tattoo vendor. The ones I did paint loved it- and It is good practice, plus just good to be visible in my town. Can't wait to take what I learned today and apply it in the future weeks! Only thing we didn't have was a tarp for the side of the tent to shade from the sun- I have a cheap round table cloth that I rigged to work, but I will be find a solution to that ASAP![img][/img]

look for white tarps on ebay...i got 3 of them.....get the 6x10 one you can also fold it in half to make half walls keeps people from comming at you from all directions..i use 3 of them..if the sun gets to hot i open it up to the full way

just a thought for you

im glad your first gig went well

Congrats on getting through the first one! I am new to the whole thing too and had similar feelings before my first gig at a marketplace. Now I am going to try a farmer's market and my stomach is all a flutter again. Scared of the unknown I guess. Plus this one is in my town and so I will see people I know and worry what they will think. Anyway, liked seing your set up. The balloons add a nice touch. Happy painting!

What a great looking set up, would never have guessed it was your first gig! Congrats and have fun!