You want me to what???

Got a phone call today from a local bakery. They were interested in booking me but wanted to know if I could use their left over paints (Derivan... ick) from when their staff had a go and then charge them less. Can't say I was too impressed. Anyone else had a similar issue?

What did you say? Did you get a booking out of it?

Oh wow. My answer would be, "no, my insurance wouldn't cover me using paints not from my own kit & I only discount to not-for-profits." Gotta love people for not trying.

She is ringing me back next week for an answer cause I told her I needed to think on that one. That is an awesome idea about the insurance Linda. Will use that (thanks). Didn't like it either because if I did it, it doesn't advertise my skills very well at all using crappy paints. So I will put the insurance thing to them and let them make the decision. Let you know how I get on......

Oh sure, you want me to come and re-wire your house with the wire you found in the shed?

Oh, Dr, would you mind using this implant I bought second hand on ebay - it is just so much cheaper than that new one you want to use.

It's easy.. you just say NO. That is not acceptable. I work with my own kit and this is what I charge.

Face paint can be expensive but it's not that expensive per face once you've purchased nice supply. What they pay for is talent and time.

Shannon, you always crack me up with your voice f reason....

what mee mee said...

Absolutely Mee mee. Shannon I said almost the same thing to my hubby. But went with a mechanic using your own tools but love the wire analogy!! He he!!

Sometimes people counter with "It's ok, our insurance will cover you at our event!!" So maybe throw in that the paint they have just isn't up to the standard that a professional body artist (such as yourself) would want to use.
OR you could say yes, I'll use your rubbish paint and be under your insurance but I'll still charge my usual rate.

Good point too Justine. I am hoping they are not to informed about their insurance! Don't want to paint with their crappy paint cause it makes my work look unprofessional and isn't good for advertising myself. Will make the offer of me or nothing I think. But see how it pans out. Hopefully they will accept the insurance excuse. Will make things very easy. Fingers crossed!!

I've got a similar problem right now. My work wants me to do an event with 1000 kids attending. They normally buy the cheapest thing they can find... Palmer greasepaint. I told them I would do it IF they bought good facepaint for me to use. If they won't buy it , then no. I even told them what's available locally and where.

I'd just be totally honest...after all you are a pro and you can't be expected to use inferior materials.

There are not very many insurance companies that cover face painting. When I first started I asked the company that I have auto and home with and even though they have Business Liability insurance it won't cover face painters. Most businesses have major brand companies insuring them and these companies don't cover face painting the business owner is just assuming it will.

I think I would soft shoe it...tell them that you thought about it, and you would love to work for them, but you would not be giving them what they paid for, even at a discounted rate with terrible paints, and you won't rip them off like that with terrible looking designs that do not help them or you in any way.

On the other hand, if you use your own paints, you can give them their money's worth at your regular fee, because you are both in business, and they should get what they pay for while you also make money.

And I think that my analogy would be to say, if I were throwing a party, and I hired you to bake my cake, but asked you to give me a discount if I provided rancid flour that I purchased last year when I tried to do it myself and failed, would they want to put thier business name on that product for all your guests to sample? Oh, dear...who made this cake? They should understand. If they don't, I would just say no.

On the third hand (it is Halloween) you could always just say no, and tell them that you work with your own paint at your regular rate, or you don't work. She is usually right

Shannon Fennell wrote:Oh sure, you want me to come and re-wire your house with the wire you found in the shed?

Oh, Dr, would you mind using this implant I bought second hand on ebay - it is just so much cheaper than that new one you want to use.

It's easy.. you just say NO. That is not acceptable. I work with my own kit and this is what I charge.

Shannon - That's exactly it, isn't it. As professional face painters, we insure that our kits contain the materials we need in order to provide a safe and satisfying experience for our clients. Inferior products would achieve neither a safe nor satisfying experience.