So, you’ve discovered the joy of facepainting and mow you’re wondering if can truly make a business from such a “fun hobby”. The answer is Yes you can! It takes alot of hardwork and you will make mistakes along the way, hopefully if you take the advice from this blog you will become a “professional” in no time!
Insurance
If you are going to paint a member of the public you must have Public Liability Insurance. This isn’t just to protect your customer, but you too! You could quite easily find yourself putting your house in jeopardy due to a lawsuit.
It’s not just incase a disgruntled customer wishes to sue you, it’ll protect you from basic accidents, such as dropping red facepaint on the client’s snow white rug or even poking a wriggly child in the face. By setting up PLI you are instantly telling any potential clients that you are serious about what you do.
Using The Correct Products
Using the correct products is an absolute Must. Once you’re carrying PLI all products must be cosmetic grade and used as instructed. Unfortunately our industry is flooded with unscrupulous vendors who will sell craft items as cosmetic grade paints/glitters. You must be vigilant and buy from trusted vendors who will be more than happy to supply MSDS sheets and even help you select the correct products for you!
When I first began many many years ago, I unwittingly used craft glitter on children’s faces. I had absolutely no idea that cosmetic grade glitter even existed let alone that I should be using it! I was extremely lucky. Craft glitter contains metal pieces, which have incredibly sharp edges. If that had gotten into a child’s eye it could well have blinded them.
Reach Out To Other Professionals
This is actually not as scary as it sounds. Our industry is one of the most welcoming I’ve ever come across.
Begin by joining local Facebook groups, such as “Newbie Facepainters Help Group”. These groups contain a wealth of knowledge which you can tap into to help improve your skill. Don’t be scared to ask questions! We were all newbies once. I remember wondering what OTJ meant, but was too scared to ask. Luckily another lady had the courage to ask, and was met with so much love and compassion I was enthralled. By the way, it means On The Job 😉 Many of the artists in our community are only too happy to help new painters.
By reaching out like this you’ll gain invaluable information, from what paints are great for linework, to favourite brushes and even hygiene on the job. It took me many many years to perfect these, but I honestly can say I’ve learnt more through social media than any book or job!
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Ofcourse, it’s important to practice designs and techniques. I was once told instead of trying to master 25 designs, pick 4 and master them first. By mastering them I mean you know how to paint these four without even thinking! You can paint them proficiently and quickly. Time yourself, you’re looking for around 4 minutes per design. Once you have those 4 under your belt, add another 4, and then once you’ve mastered them another and so on. It’s far better to have 12 strong designs you can paint quickly and effortlessly than struggle through a selection of 30.
My top ten designs are Tiger, Spiderman, Batman, Butterfly, Unicorn, Cat, Dog, Fortnite, Among Us and Fairy Princess. Ofcourse, these can change depending on what’s trending at the cinema, television or social media.
Know Your Worth!
It’s only natural when you first begin to facepaint that you u devalue yourself, your skills and the service you provide. After all, you’re entering into a very artistic and competitive market. You’ll look at other’s work and automatically under charge as you don’t feel as “gifted” as that painter.
It’s important to not undecharge by too much. Perhaps a £10 or £15 difference in price would be a good starting block. If you do choose to charge less than other painters in your area it is important that you make it clear to your potential clients that this is an introductory offer only. Trust me, it is alot harder to increase your prices than to decrease them. You’ll also create issues if you need to outsource the job due to illness or other commitments. You may find yourself paying more for another painter to take on a gig you’ve already committed to.
Ofcourse, many new painters often stick to friends and family for their first few gigs, which is great as you get important on the job experience and a real feel for your strengths and weaknesses. If you choose this route make sure you’re compensated for your tone, materials, insurance and travel costs!
Enjoy!
You’re now set to dip your toe into the crazy, passionate, fun world of professional facepainting. Set up a Facebook business page and invite all your local friends to like and follow! The best advertisement is word of mouth, and hopefully within a year you’ll be replenishing stock and planning for the next year’s events!
I hope this has been of some help to you. Please feel free to take a look at my other blogs, such as my open letter to charities explaining why we should be paid by the hour. There are even step by step blogs for you to look at.
Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more cute designs and information.
Professional Face Painter 