I think that to avoid being mobbed, try using poles to rope off a line. I’m sure you may have some rope duckers, but it’s harder to cut in line that way. You could post your “waiting chairs” at the front opening and rope of the end and vest the last guest. That should help a lot.
A friend of mine and I did balloons at a HUGE public event. I wish we would have had these ideas then. We served WELL over 250 kids. The amount of adults that felt their precious child should not have to wait in line was just crazy. Funny, only had one rude child…… the only other rude people were adults. Other than that it was a blast. I’m sure there were some sad faces as we closed, but after packing up I was able to randomly do a few balloons for lil ones on my way out to the parking lot. (wonder if I could do that with face paints? any suggestions?)

There are several options for this:
I always compermise as to not let me nor mommy n daddy be the bad Guy I have kids so I know how to read both.

I have make the kid happy so they remember me I have tomake the parent happy because the pay me hopefully book a party

Options 1 read both do the right thing do the best for both
Tell them you understand but this is what Mommy paid for you know what this one is better because ______________________You know why because if it was all over your face ________and _____ would get scared

Then you would be sad and we don’t want that for the ones that want it on their mouth n mom said no

Oh but we had to do it this way for you. You couldn’t eat with out mmessing it up so you either A can’t eat or B mess up your paint

We know you don’t want that. So we all know you don’t want that so we had to do it this way so you can eat n not mess it up.

Sad to happy )

Sometimes if the kid messed up with n sad the wrong thing even after I asked 2-3 to make sure n they still cry they wanted the other one that parent calmly move them away n handle it. Sometimes quietly come back make a compermise with me n we fit it or the parent convinse them that what they said so that what they got.

Thanks

Have a great day!

I once had an emergency gig…drove way farther than I normally do..painted 38 kids rather than 20 and got just an extra 20 dollars. Boy have I gotten a lot smarter…but it is hard, when they have a hard time even paying for the initial hour booked. I always say that I can paint 15-10 children if there are simple designs provided and nothing elaborate. But, as we know…even basketball on a squirmy 5 year old can be a chore!

As far as marking the line, I got an idea from another forum and wrap a scarf around the last child….or hang the sign and usually ask a parent to help enforce…but there is always someone that thinks they are above the ‘law” of the face painter! I also bring a spiral notebook at private parties and have the kids sign up and ask an adult or teen to supervise the list (call out the names). I offer a big discount to churches and that is part of the deal – assistants to do line control!

Happy Painting Everyone!

I’m coming up with some small activities the kids can do while in line waiting, because I feel bad about them waiting and being focused on the kid in front of me so I can’t ‘entertain’ them. Color in a sticker they can take home, add to a b-day card for the b-day kid… and yes, numbers on hands with a special crayon.

cheers.

thanks for all your wonderful ideas on crowd management.

my main facepainting business venue is a pay-by-face venture in a large german zoo. the main problem i used to have was crowding – until i got a small booth that i close off with flower ribbons on all sides. the front one is removable to let the paintees in and out. since a few years i have a wooden booth but even for mobile facepainting it´s worth your while investing in a foldable marquee (e.g. ez up) which can be a great visual attraction while also giving you protection from the elements.

when i take a break in the zoo (used to be really difficult) i plan 20 minutes or so ahead. i tell people who come after the “break point” when i will continue and offer them to be first on my return so they can go and play, have some food etc… that way when i get back from my break they are already waiting for me so i am not waisting time.

painting numbers on kids hands at events works great for me (birthday kid is always nr 1). i ask for the next 2 numbers to be present and then get the most freshly painted one to look for the child (who is out playing, having cake, etc.) so it keeps moving nicely and they still get to watch “the magic”. if it´s a large event i request the parents to make sure the kids have a clean face as this saves a lot of time.

crying spells: i only talk to the child or the parent briefly then offer to paint him/her after the next kid if s/he still wants to. takes pressure off me, the child and the line.

if i realize that there are too many kids for the time booked i offer the organizer to a) pay extra time or b) do really simple designs.
it´s important, however, to stick to your scheduled time since some people tend to push the boundaries of your endurance ;o)

thanks ambah for providing these blogs. your work is an inspiration!

For the wiggly kid, I sit a bean bag toy on top of their head and tell them I stop painting if it falls off. This worked wonders for one little fellow and gives the kids a “game” to play as you are working.

AND MAKE SOME BISSNESS CARD OFFERING15% OFF IF THEY GIVEYOU 5 NAME AND TEL# AND YOU HAVE AT LEAST ONE PARTY BOOK FROM THEM,TO HANDOUT TO ALL THE PARENTS PRESENT AT THE PARTY.

GOOD LUCK

This is all GREAT information…I know the next time exactly what I can do to keep the riff raff from the parents down to ’0′!

I want to learn how to face paint

xx

I was so annoyed that she was trying to now dictate how & what I painted. I wanted so badly to tell her that maybe next time she should consider buying some rubber stamps instead of hiring a face painter. Instead, I firmly stated, “I’m sorry if the children are upset, but I do 2-3 minute designs and I have already exceeded the number of kids I guarantee per hour, plus I started 15 minutes earlier than I was scheduled because I could already tell that not enough time for the number of guests, but I wanted the children to have an “experience” and get something they would enjoy. Unfortunately, I will not be able to stay any longer.”

I guess no matter how much we try to be efficient and professional; some people are just going to take advantage. Needless to say I was given the stink eye the entire time I was packing up and all the way to my car.

The very next day I got a call from one of the moms who were at that party. She though I did a great job and handled myself appropriately, which I needed to hear because I wasn’t at all comfortable with being the villain that I was made me out to be for standing my ground. I did her twin sons party the following weekend and the “other mom” was there. She never said a word to me, but I was so validated by the fact that one of her guests hired me, that it didn’t matter. This party was the opposite. She booked more than enough time and I was able to do very elaborate designs and really interact with the children. When it was time for me to leave, the kids all ran up to give me a hug and I got a nice tip. So hopefully, the other mom was able to learn where she went wrong so she doesn’t have children crying at her kid’s next party.

Hope this story is something worth reading for any of you who have been in similar situations.

Love the ideas about ending the line. I have been painting until the end so no children are left out.

Thanks
Betty

Most of my work is clowning at birthday parties with face painting added in. I love the idea of giving the children a number as no matter how many times I say you can go play, I will paint everyone. they still feel the need to stand in line when they should be having fun.

Super ideas, Thanks
Celine (UK)

These are all VERY good ideas that I intent to use. Thank you for sharing them.
The front of the line sign is something I never thought of and I will be doing it from now on.

It is truly one of the worst feelings to already be out of time and have to say no to someone. Even if they haven’t been waiting, and I am already in the middle of packing up, as soon as I say “Sorry I’m all done for today” they begin to cry and look at me as if I am the meanest person on the planet. So a friend suggested that I keep some stickers on hand to give out until I am out of there.

While I learned the importance of “capping” the line early on in my face painting career, I still run into problems at parties. Even when I number the kids, it takes time to go and extract them from the bounce house or wherever they may be. Also, it seems like kids below a certain age have a crying spell every 20 minutes or so, and it is always a dilemma as to whether to move on to the next kid until they finish crying or wait so the line doesn’t get all out of whack. Recently, my #2 kid was impossible to find until he popped up while I was painting #12 and demanded to be next. Well #13 was not having it and I had to play referee. Without an agreeable parent to help, even the best system can breakdown when dealing with other people’s children.

Before the party starts, I let the host know that I can paint a certain number of kids within the time they have contracted me for and give them an option (if more guests show up or they show up late) to permit me to stick to the time and turn the guests away, or agree to being billed in 15 minute increments until the guests have been accommodated. Keeping in mind that future business often comes from other guests, I would prefer to make everyone happy, but too many times I have worked well past my contract without being paid for the extra time. As much as it is hard to “Stick to Business” during a party, I must remember that parties ARE my business, and every business must have a plan.

If anyone has any suggestion for me for what I could possibly change, I am all ears.

It is a fine line (no pun intended) as you deal with parents and children as they are not aware you have other engagements and would love to do everyone but often I have a basket of inexpensive treats and coloring pages I give out to help sooth the crowd that stays in line in hope that I can do 25 (one more) or so balloon or face art.

Hope this helps someone.

Lynda (from England)

These suggestions are great and I learned something new! Keeping the line maintained is so important. I learned it the hard way in my early days of face painting. I, too, would end up painting well past my time. One time, I was still painting while the party was ending!

Now, when the line just starts to fill, my assistant will number the hands. After a certain number I stop painting. At parties if there are a few left who want to be painted, I check w/my customer. I always tell my customers in advance that my parties fees are for up to a certain number of kids. Over that amount, is a small fee for each additional kid. This works out if I don’t have another gig.

I have heard that doing a generic spot or line on the hand can make it easy for the folks in line to re-wet (with saliva) and transfer to a friend’s hand who wasn’t in line.

I do the backwards numbering thing. The last person in line is #1, then #2 and on up to the front of the line. It has worked the best for me.

For birthday parties, I also do a numbering system and the parents appreciate this as the kids can then enjoy the actual activities at the party : )

~Michelle Heffner
Bright & Shining Face Painting
Columbia, MD

Brenda Shelton