Ihate to admit this...

But I get really uncomfortable when I'm working and some random woman comes up and starts to pick my brain about where I buy my paints, take classes, "learn howto do that", etc. Is it just me, or does that get your hackles up too?

Just hand them a card and say "Sorry I've working right now, but I'd be happy to talk to you another time. Give me a call or email."

When demonstrating whatever art I've been into at the time, people always ask..."HOW do you DO that?" ...I look at them mischievously and reply..."Very Carefully" No one has ever asked a second question about method. lol

I get the same thing ALL THE TIME. I think it's because I am/was the 1st painter in the area, and I make it look easy

But it makes me crazy, and I gave myself competition by giving out too much info. And from what I hear, she's not so great, personality-wise. So unless she gets that part down, she's not much for competition.

Ya gotta tell them that your supplies are very expensive and have to be special ordered from distributers.

I'm very vague, I am in Canada and people ask "where do you buy your supplies?" I answer truthfully "I order from many suppliers all over the US and some as far as Belgium" This is usually met with "Oh" LOL

I dish info out... I give names of stores and prices to use as well as brand recommendations too... never really thougt of it as being a bad thing really. If I am too busy I give shorter answers and carry on. If you stop eye contact or say you are not that good of a multitasker I am sure they would stop asking..lol

Gamezgirl wrote:I'm very vague, I am in Canada and people ask "where do you buy your supplies?" I answer truthfully "I order from many suppliers all over the US and some as far as Belgium" This is usually met with "Oh" LOL

Yep. Me too... I say I get my supplies from the US, UK, Europe and Toronto (which as any westerner knows is the far side of the sun.)

Snazaroo is now being sold everywhere here in BC. Michaels craft stores, Opus art stores, Part rental shops have both snazaroo and mehron brands, special fx stores carry a lot. I think if anyone were to really look into it they would find them so what is the difference of me telling them where to get them. I figure I am helping them learn the difference between cheap crap and the good stuff. I would prefer all the dollarstores etc stop selling that garbage they call face paint and isnt this one way to help do that?

Is it becuase you dont want to help the upcoming competition? I have talked to quite a few local entertainers here in BC and we all share info I guess it is a part of the cdn in me to want to help everyone and share the info... the more the merrier. should I be less free with the info for some reason?

I'm not lying... I HAVE to order. I order from Toronto, the US, UK and Europe depending on the brands. There are no face paints available within 600 kms. I order from people I know and/or get freinds to pick up orders for me and mail, or pick-up at conventions, etc.

People from all over the region call me when they are looking for supplies and I often will sell some of my stock to them if it is urgent, I've even sold Snaz and balloons to my competition when they were out and their order didn't arrive. But I am not a retailer and need my stock for myself.

I guess I should be greatful to have three shops a 10 minute drive from my home then... but no one carries the fancier stuff except the special fx store which is a real pain in the arse to get to especially with their limited hours.

I didnt think you were lying just didnt realize you were not local to some suppliers.

The concern is that crafting moves in trends. Candle making, soap making, scrapbooking & jewellery making were huge crafting trends. Everyone thought they could make earrings, candles and hand made soaps to sell and make millions. All of us here, probably have at least one photo album half finished with beautiful scrapbooking.

With Micheals selling multiple types of facepaints, Snazaroo being sold at Toys r Us, the average individual thinks they can be an incredible face painter. They are not looking at the hours of training we put into it, nor the hours of effort put into running the actual business or the knowledge base you have developed thru networking, reading and educating yourself.

The moral of the story is; facepainting IS the new HOT trend right now.

Glitter tats too...now Michael's sells them as well. I'll be frank, I live in a very small town and it couldn't handle another face painter (competition). I work at our local farmer's market on saturdays and I only paint about 15-20 kids per Saturday. If another face painter set up shop there, I'm sure it would cut my business in half.

Bottom line is that this is my business and it is a small market. While I am friendly and will help out a fellow entertainer in a bind, I am not here to "give away" my market advantage.

When someome starts grilling me about where I get my supplies, making comments I can overhear aboud how they could do this if they had the right stuff, etc. etc. I'm not really going out-of-my way to be overly helpful.

If they start asking me things I will tell them to call me, email me, etc. and I'll be happy to answer their questions when I am not working. They rarely call.

Networking with other pros is different. We do help each other in emergencies, refer work to each other, etc. But this is a business for me, so I have to be protective of my earning ability.

Well said, Shannon. To be even more frank...I think I'm pretty good at what I do, but I know I'm not the best. I am still learning and trying to improve every day. That being said, if someone with an art degree decided to set up shop in this town, they'd eat me for lunch.

I know it is a compliment on one hand yet still find it frustrating when someone tries to pick my brain about becoming a face painter. I would never go to a seamstress and ask her to help me become a competitor because I think what she does looks kinda cool in that moment. We invest a LOT more than people ever realize into our business, licensing, training, safety, insurance, equipment, supplies, advertising, charity work, TIME....it goes on and on.

If someone is really serious they will do the hard work themselves (like we all do) and really without it they can't learn what they need to know anyway.