I am NOT loving my fatmax! what's your secret?

Hi fatmax lovers,
I know im a minority here, but i got to admit that I dont' like my fatmax,
I have been eyeing other setups and had thoughts about switching,
At gigs my fatmax is closed, otherwise kids touch my stuff, and I end up using it primarily as a storage/tranportaion box.
opening and closing it at gigs takes too much effort where as if I used drawers it might have been easier for me.
please share your secrets... maybe i am missing something here?

I have used my FAT MAX only 2 times, (I got it this week) and I love it so far, I believe kids touch your stuff more easy when you use a table, It is so quick to set up and clean up, you use everything directly from there, the only con I see it is that is heavy.

I find it easier to monitor the hands since things are much closer to me vs. my table. I also love the ease of only having to make 1 trip to unload my stuff!

I think kids are more likely going to touch your stuff if it is spread out on a table.

I open up my FatMax and work right out of it. I don't close it up until I'm finished. When I'm done with the gig, I just throw everything in it and close it up. I'm out the door in two minutes. My last festival, I tried using a table for the most part and it took me at least 10 minutes to load up and leave. I also lost a paint in the grass somewhere

I love the look of a table, but kids do want to touch your stuff more since you are looking away from the table to paint the face

Perry Noia wrote:I don't work out of mine, I just bring all my stuff in it. If I were only face painting, I might not need so much room, but I also have balloons, colouring books, crayons, a parachute, balls, a rubber ducky.... it's a party in a box

Oh you have a magic box!! It sure would be fun to party with you! =0)

Honestly I loved the setup but hated how heavy it was. I eventually destroyed mine because to get it in my minivan I had lift and swing it in. Everytime I managed to drop it in the trunk a piece would break off. After about 4 pieces breaking off I gave up on it. Im back to a suitcase.

I am designing a new carrying case table setup. Something that will hold my CO2 tank, hoses, air brushes, AND regular facepaint supplies, AND become a table, AND is all attached to a hand truck for easy transport.

Working on a second one that will be a cleaning station. Hold 5 gallons of water, cleaning supplies, ultrasonic cleaner, AND become a table.

I'll post pictures as they finish.

I can't believe that facepainters(if that's all you're doing) need SO MUCH STUFF for their party gigs??

I tried a fatmax years ago when they first came out and the thing was mostly empty.. then I realized that I was lugging that thing around for no reason.

I have no idea what it is that yall are bringing to every single job, but all I'm taking is a beach bag with paint, glitter, water, sponges, brushes, mirror and cards in it. That's it. Hangs on my shoulder and weighs like 6 pounds at most.

There is no reason to carry all of that stuff.

Just use your fatmax for festivals(when you actually have to bring a ton of crap) and leave it at home the rest of the time and save your back!

I'm with Ashley. I have a FatMax for the big stuff.
And my Highschool book bag for everything else.... (ohhh highschool has been a while ago!)

I use a plastic tote box for sewing supplies I bought at JoAnn's for my kit . It's about the size and shape of a big picnic basket, but it's hard plastic.

I can make use out of almost all the inner containers that came with it except the one made especially for spools of thread. Nothing fits in those little pegged compartments- at least nothing I use.

The top has a shallow upper tray that holds a nice array of about 15 paints. I can scram fast from a gig by just throwing everything in the roomy under bin and putting the top on.

One warning- I had one broken by a kid who stood on it to lean over my table for a closer look.

I would carry my own jug of water so I would not have to search around for water at events and I carried an empty water tight container to dump my paint water in so I would not dirty anyones sink or property with it. I always kept that at the bottom of the fatmax and the top parts would be for all of my supplies and stuff.

I bring things like a roll of paper towels, extra wipes, and bottles of water. Those goes in the bottom of my fat max. I still have room for other things if I feel I need more! LOL

I always take my own water. My first event was at a church and I kept asking for a refill on clean water. Never again! I like knowing I have the water right by my side.

I also carry a small bucket for the dirty things like dirty water, sponges, wipes, and paper towels. This fits perfectly under the fat max when rolled out. I also don't want to dirty up someones sink.

I am a one woman show. I pull the fat max out, do my work, roll it back up, and out the door I go. The only thing I ask for from the customer is the check

In the bottom I carry 10 bottles of hair spray, hair extensions, hair glue, hair gel, mirror, books, sponges and my rinse well. In the middle compartments I have one section for glitter and tattoo stuff, one for brushes and one for stamps. In the upper compartment I carry my paints.

I think it's a bit much for me also, which is why I have never invested in one. I have a smaller version I carry, but I still liked my rolling scrapbook tote better than the setup I have now.