Hi everyone! Thanks again for the opportunity to share some more (hopefully) sound business advice for your face painting businesses. While many of you know me as the head painter and trainer for www.thefacepaintingcompany.com - facepainting is merely one of many things that I like to teach to my all staff and subcontractors, that work with our company. I have seen some outstanding artists in the short time I have been involved in this industry, and I also feel that being a fabulous face painter is not enough in this competitive day and age.
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Presentation – Learning about costume coordination, grooming, make up and hair, adds to the final product that you are ultimately selling – YOU! Do your homework on how your competitors are presented, and step it up!
Hygiene – Training and learning about the best and safest application techniques will add value to your business. E.g. glitter puffers! This minimises the direct contact to the face and the product. My team are also trained in the importance of painting only clean, healthy faces! It only takes one dirty, snotty nosed face to spread germs and bacteria, and also makes you look very unprofessional to the parents that may be watching with their children in the line.
Etiquette –My team are trained in all aspects of professional etiquette on every job. It is lovely to be offered a “cup cake” at a child’s party, and I encourage everyone to accept these offers graciously. But… NEVER stop your paid work, to eat or drink while on the job! (Except your hydration bottle) Put it aside, and after you have packed up, thank the host again and eat it on the way out, or after you have left. Breaks should always be taken away from your station and preferably out of view of clients and waiting patrons. And NEVER accept to have a “drink” with the clients at the end of the event/party.
Communication – Greeting your client before and after the job is respectful and courteous. Personally, I always hand out my cards, but never discuss business while on a job for someone else. Your client may not appreciate paying you to have a conversation with someone else about future bookings, prices, etc. One idea, is to politely hand a business card, and say “I’m sure you can appreciate I can’t chat now, but please feel free to phone the number on this card when convenient.” Never refer to your client as “mate”, or “bro”… and avoid using statements like “yeh, man” and “that’s cool”. May sound old fashioned, but good communication skills will give you repeat business.
Research –. Working as Purplena Fairy at Dreamworld, I get asked some really difficult “fairy” questions. I have used this experience to teach my team what works and what doesn’t. Learning about the television shows that kids are interested in and knowing a little about what kids are “into” can help a shy child gain confidence in getting face painting. Outside of Dreamworld, I also like to know a little about each Company that I am working for. I feel it adds that little bit of special personalised service to be able to say something like – “I read recently that *company* is sponsoring the *something* appeal.” 
Well, I hope this information has been somewhat helpful! Please leave your comments, and until next time…
Living The Dream
Milana xxx
www.thefacepaintingcompany.com
P.S…
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Great information, some I was doing unconsiously and some I was not but will start immediately.
IN HYGIENE SECTION, YOU MENTION A GLITTER PUFFER. I DON’T SEE IT IN THE PRODUCTS SECTION ON THE SITE. WHERE CAN THEY BE PURCHASED? THANKS
Hi V, we have glitter puffer/poofer bottles in Gold, Silver, Light Blue and Magenta here:
http://www.facepaintingtips.com/shop/category/glitters/iridescent
Good solid information as one pro artist to another. And I’d like to underscore your comments on hygiene. It’s vital to have good practices. And just because someone else doesn’t use appropriate hygiene doesn’t mean its ok for you. This, along with great presentation and customer service will set you way ahead of the rest on customer come backs.
If you love what you do you’ll embrace these practices with ease and build your business into a robust little gem.
I am still trying to find out where I can learn the face painting.It will be for charity purposes, I am in Orlando Florida and dont know from where to start.
Please advise
Thank you,
Mary
I learned by watching the tutorials by Philadelphia Tivoli, SillyHeatherBanks and others on YouTube. Simply type in Face Painting or Face Painting designs or Face Painter for a multitude of designs in full color– most with step by step instructions. I also watched Donna Dewberry and her one stroke blended designs and incorporated the same effects by using rainbowcakes to get the side by side color and very bold fast designs. Happy painting.
I have been trying to establish a business with my face painting but, for some reason I tend to get so nervous …. I don’t really have a costume and I have searched for one but, they are so expensive…
I have a birthday party on Dec. What is your suggestion would like quick paintings… and do you know where I can find a reasonable costume that is original.. something soft and sweet and fun for the kids… i have my face idea and my hair.. just the costume… don’t know if a dress or the big pants with suspenders.. and a bright and colorful shirt…
Thank you so much for all of these tips. I am going to reread them to make sure they stick in my mind.
Fabulous information. I would like to share a tip that your readers might find helpful as well. In my area I am the only one that does the kind of face painting that I do so many parents really want there very young children to be ‘done’ more than the children want to. When you come across a child who is nervous or new the key is to be patient. Parents want to hold their childs head still for me but I politely tell ask them not to. Then I start calmly speaking to the child, touching their face with a clean brush or my finger to see how they will react. Many children find this game to be fun then I add paint. If they are still nervouse I will let them hold my mirror and continue this cat and mouse game with them until we are done. Watch your child carefully – they will let you know with subtle moves and eye contact if they are ready for you to continue or if they are wanting you to stop. Don’t force it. The last thing you want to do is traumatise a child because mom and dad want your art work on their childs face. Simply tell the parents they are not ready or they’ve had enough. You might even suggest painting the parent instead. You’ll gain the respect of the parent and all the parents who are watching. Plus you’ll gain the trust of the children who are watching as well.
Hi, Milana’s business advice is very good – I already practise pretty well all she has mentioned – but I can always learn plenty.
Re: the puffers – I have not got on very well with these as I find the glitter tends to blow into children’s eyes. Any tips on how to use them without this happening would be very much appreciated.
regards
Nikki
I too am having poofer problems. It even comes out to fast or not at all. Very wastful with glitter.
Hi Chonya — experiment with changing the angle at which you hold the bottle to get better results
I find parents react very rudely when you politely refuse to paint their child’s face because of them being ill..i.e. runny nose..coughing..spluttering..acne..etc. I don’t understand how parents expect us to paint them. It is a very tender issue
I have been thinking of placing a sign/disclaimer stating that I may decline to paint their child’s face if they display the above..(according to health/hygiene regulations..or is there a better way to get around this delicate situation..without getting your head blown off….lol
I love it when they think spitting on a tissue and then wiping their child’s face will fix the problem !!! I just sit there and think Yuk! you’ve just spread your saliva all over your child’s face and now you expect me to paint over the top of it..oh boy..(laugh)….
Not to mention really dirty sticky faces with half a dinner plate of food smeared all over them..lol…
To avoid upsetting the parents who just don’t understand – lol, carry baby wipes with you and clean the childs face before painting it. Ask the parent if it’s okay to use a baby wipe just to make sure – be nice, don’t tell the parent their child is ‘dirty’ just say that you have to “make sure the skin is totally clean so my make up can be applied properly and look amazing!” …. you should be fine
This info was very helpful. Thanks!
Milana: Good advise to new and experienced painters alike. You’ve given some “food for thought”. To those dealing with nervous, dirty or sick clients, I offer to paint on the forearm instead. I emphasize that they can see the design better that way. It usually solves the problem and everyone is happy. I sometimes use the facepainting crayons on very little children instead of paints. Crayons in general are more familiar to them and less scary. Hope these suggestions help. Happy pacepainting. Sally (Sally Doodles)
Thanks again for all the advice,
Christina