becoming a pro

At what point did you consider yourself a pro? I haven't had any training and I have no certification. Not even sure if there is any classes out there for Face painting. I have been Face painting for about a month now. I'm not comfortable telling people I'm a professional. Am I being too conservative?

I think you're a professional once you start getting paid to face paint. Just my opinion, though~ I'm not really sure where the line is either.

Sounds good to me

Your 1st penny for painting..... then the magic Fairy Facepaint Fairy announces you as a Pro.

I'm pretty sure there is alot of glitter involved.

Oooooh, glitter!!

I feel the same way, I don't feel like I have enough knowledge or experience to call myself 'pro'...but since I HAVE been paid, I don't know what eles I would call myself? Maybe to the unassuming public I would say 'professional' but not to fellow facepainters

when I started I did 3 big festivals charging per face and painting with Palmer face paint, I didn't feel like a pro back there, I think professional paint + job fee make you a pro.

Your avitar says "pro" to me!

Mana said it all...you have been sprinked with the glitter and you are now professional. Go forth, buy insurance, use real face paint, and charge for thy face painting= professional

Like I say on another thread on here somewhere... "I'm a professional face painter...my business card says I am..."

Thank you all so much!! I have the pro paints and have done a few big gigs. And LOVE glitter and use lots of it but not sure where to start with insurance, I'll look into that. This forum is amazing <3

The Clown organizations offer it, and you can also get it through your homeowners insurance. It will give you the protection you need, and it says "I am a profesional who protects my clients..."

This confuses me a lot...
I have a nice job which I love (primary school). FP is " just" my hobby (snort). But I keep getting questions for FP and just today a phonecall for a belly paint, and they want to pay me for it.
What to do now? I'm not FP enough to make a living with!! I know you can earn a specified amount of money before you' ll have to pay taxes for it. Think I'll have to look that up. Pffff...

I think that it's the mentality mostly. If you run your facepainting like a business, you're a pro. If you take paying jobs on a semi-regular basis, you're a pro. Even if you don't FEEL like a pro, it's important to ACT like one, and it all falls in place from there. People will respond to your confidence in yourself and your business, so when they ask if you are a pro, tell them yes!

I agree with everything said so far.
But understand your problem, I have never had a class (first workshop ever soon) and it is hard to get your mindset to swich gears.
what Angie said is so true. I had to alter my mindset about hobby based, and gear it up to business. I feel I am professional as I conduct myself like one, run it as a business, use professional products, am insured, I get paid.
I found I doubted myself as you look at people around and feel wow they are so much better and it is hard to think of your self as a pro when you see them, and the class factor messes with my head too.
But if you run it professionally, get paid, do the right things, reguardless of skill level, time doing it etc, you are one.

The last two posts hit it on the head, but let me add...there are people that have been painting for years, are accomplished arts...but are not professional face painters. I firmly believe a true pro is open and always growing and striving to be better at the craft. This is far more important than artistic ability.
Classes do not make you a pro, only better at what you do. Sue is correct it is the head that is involved, your attitude, and conduct, not necessarily what you get paid. Any one can print up a "certification" and most people can get lucky enough to get at least one paid gig. I find you don't have to say you're a pro...it SHOWS.