OMGoodness!!!! Check out the message I got today!!

I could really be good free advertising for you..I don't know about most of the painters here..but i did a few freebies here and there just to get my name out when i first started..I only do them sometimes now..and not very often..but this could lead into something for you..just my 2 cents..good luck.

...Id do it if I could get them to cover hotel or something. and let me bring my little one. sounds fantastic to me. but Im also rather new to.

You've got till spring to figure it out.

If you feel you want to, and you can design and practise and do the painting fast enough for a performance by then (usual call is two hours for most performances - so you'll need to be able to get everyone done, or have a crew that will be able to handle it) Go for it!

I love the creativity of theatrical designs!

Wow, Taradoodles, I love your elephant! I may need to borrow that for this event! Would you mind?

I'd let her know that you think it's a great idea, and they should get a sponsor to subsidize the face painting. SHE might not have any money, but SOMEONE does! Just because they are a non-profit doesn't mean they don't have money. It just means they are taxed in a lower tax bracket!! Someone runs that non-profit (for pay)... Someone got them costumes, and music and a venue and publicity...

You can get paid AND get free advertising! They aren't exclusive. Since she said "I can't promise any compensation", you can say, "Since you weren't sure what your budget was, let me know when you do, and we'll see if this is a good match for you." Also, how many people is she talking about? How long will you be there?

I'm not opposed to working with folks, but this is a career. I volunteer my time & talents in other ways. No one asks a dentist to come to an event and do 100 fillings for free. But they always ask the entertainers & artists!

I've discovered that whenever I have donated my face painting, what it generates is more donated events. Someone sees me and says "Wow... this is really good. I have a benefit coming up next month, and you'd be perfect!"

Remember that most people do not know what we put into our supplies, training, insurance, advertising, etc... When you remind them that this is your JOB, and that you expect to be compensated when you go to work, it's hard to refute that. Treat her like a real client, and give her your rates to take to her committee. Then they can get back to you and make you an offer.

Let us know how it turns out!

LH

Thanks for the great advice LH, I dont' think I'm good enough yet to get paid, I guess I'll have to work on my "stinking thinkin"

you are doing great work, don't worry, just do what LH said! otherwise, you'll never get paid what you deserve...

good luck and take care!

It sounds like it could a be a great advertising opportunity(especially if they have a photo shoot). Would they be dancing w/ the makeup on? The reason I ask is dancers sweat... A LOT... It could be disastrous... My son dances w/ a Ballet Company & the director will not allow any painting on the faces & bodies . She's been in the business for a long time & says that the makeup just can't hold up to high athletics. If it's not very intense dancing you should be fine.

I agree that you should see if they can get a sponsor for you to be there. You deserve to be paid... even the kid on his first day at McD's gets paid and there's no skill there. They did offer to cover materials and you should take them up on at least that much, I'm sure they have no idea what your materials cost.

If they will be sweating, there are still options, but painting with cream makeups set with powder are very different to work with and will take some practice to get the results you want.

Yes, this would probably be a good advertising opportunity, but that won't pay the bills. It will likely take you a couple of hours to paint all those kids and you need to AT LEAST give yourself minimum wage over and above material costs.

Have confidnece in your work, it is great! My experince is that if you work for free, you are exposing yourself to more offers to work for free.

I would offer them a discounted rate that covers your expenses and you materials. Show them how good a deal it is to pay you, that is, only if this will be good for you in the first place. Theater is great, but dancing might not be, unless you use some kind of barrier spray. I would want to test it out before I tried to be sure that it really does do your business a good turn!

Also, how much exposure do you want that is an hour from your home? It seems to me that you would be working to get your hands on some killer pictures, and an experience you can list on your resume, something to think aobut when you respond.

Most theatre productions I have been to, have a program. Usually with a lot of advertising. Try to score a free 1/2 page ad in there, stating you do birthday parties etc....with all your contact information, and mention you did the painting for the production.

Just my two cents if you end up taking the gig! Good Luck!

I read that she is an old friend. Would you like to see her, do you want the opportunity to grow? You seem unsure about your abilities but when I saw your work it certainly surpasses many who are being paid.
Your friend liked your work, she thought it would work for her venue, it could be years before you have such an opportunity. Did you really ever expect to see your faces in a stage production????
Look at this as a wonderful opportunity, agree on what faces she wants that you feel you can accomplish, and really put your mind to them. Simply explain to her how many you can do, it doesn't have to be all of them. You will grow in skill and confidence and the money will follow.
I've paid my mortgage, cars, raised a child and had a good standard of living all from my work, not someone else paying the bills and not performing as a side line so please understand when I state that giving back to your community will indeed pay off. When you are new people need to see what you can do. I have 4 others that I book they MUST agree to do a few community gigs with me at first simply so I can see how they work, how they handle themselves and THEY can have the real live experience. Each of them have been surprised at how rewarding emotionally it was for them and the confidence they gained.

I'm doing this also for my daughter, in an musical production. The group doesn't get that lot of money and parents do their best to support. Take care of the costumes (made by themselves) etc.
They asked me to do the FP again. I'm loving the opportunity to help and make contacts this way.
I know maybe it isn't that clever, but feels good to help in a production my daughter loves to be part of.
Mommy feelings? Don't know, but in the weekend of 17-18 december I'll be FP the christmas show. No big designs, jut small ones.
They do pay the materials and the suggestion asking if I can be mentioned in the programm is a good one.... I'll remember that for next time, big show in june 2012!

l!zzie wrote:I'm doing this also for my daughter, in an musical production. The group doesn't get that lot of money and parents do their best to support. Take care of the costumes (made by themselves) etc.
They asked me to do the FP again. I'm loving the opportunity to help and make contacts this way.
I know maybe it isn't that clever, but feels good to help in a production my daughter loves to be part of.
Mommy feelings? Don't know, but in the weekend of 17-18 december I'll be FP the christmas show. No big designs, jut small ones.
They do pay the materials and the suggestion asking if I can be mentioned in the programm is a good one.... I'll remember that for next time, big show in june 2012!

I agree on this one, I also help out at school and a play my kids are inn, all moms pitch in in there own way (sewing, decorating etc), i think that's differend, isn't it? this was a Q from a client via FB as i understood. (non related) I also get a lot of company's asking me to do facepaint for free for a good couse... well I just can't affort to do that everytime they ask, then I would go bankrupt... there are only a few I do for free. But this is just the way i look at it...