Getting faster and faster

[Sherry]

I remember how slow I was in the beginning, but I find myself getting faster and faster.  A lot of times, when I'm trying to figure out how fast I'll need to be at an event, I can't go by what the client says.  They may think hordes of people are showing up and then they don't.  Or they'll estimate low and it will be the complete opposite! 

For events where they're expecting tons of people, I usually take a sign and only list my quickest faces.  I had an event like that not too long ago.  It was a fundraising event.  I get there, put out my sign and am ready to whip out beaucoup faces.  Everyone seems to be picking the quickest of my faces listed on my "quick face" board.  Hmmm... so I'm blowing through all these faces and I realize, I still have lots more time to go and there doesn't seem to be that many more kids left.  Woops! 

Before showing up, the guy had told me he might have me stay an extra half hour if needed.  I thought, well that blows that opportunity.   

Anyway, I started slowing way down and thankfully a couple of the kids picked one of the faces from my board that I could take my time, add more details, etc. 

How many faces per hour do you quote?  I have down that I can paint approximately 10 - 15 faces per hour, depending on how complex the design is that they choose.

[Alison]

Me - I keep it simple.  I say 10 per hour no matter what they're expecting.  That way, I can go by my Artistic Mood.  Which sometimes changes during the gig.  

do you guys find that
even if there are lots of people,
they're not so interested until you've done a few faces?
Like, Monkey-See, Monkey-Do.
So I'll frequently have to start with some Dazzlers - to get people into my chair.  And then, once they've seen the fancier versions, I'll get disappointed faces that verbally say things like - "I wanted a Tiger like 'Hers".  Or "Why didn't I get glitter and jewels and the matching neck-painting" if I simplify AFTER doing the more complicated versions.

Ahah!  It's so good to write here.  As I wrote about what I've been doing, I realized that I used to do well - even before I knew as much as I do now.  Reminds me to have some
Humility.  
No - I don't have to Dazzle people.  They'll probably want to be painted if they just see Anything on someone else's face.  I just Might not get all those 'Wow - How do you do that?  You're so great' strokes if I don't work soooo hard.  And that's really just 'Might'.  Because I always got Wow-Responses - from like my 3rd gig on.  

Just get there, be comfortable, and have a good time.  Maybe I'll be able to live like that and really be happy.

[Whitney Myers]

I don't really quote my faces per hour. I've stopped carrying a menu board and advertise "Customized" paintings for each child. This way the child gets to use their imagination and get exactly what is their style and I have the freedom to add or remove details depending on what the crowd is when I get there.

[Psalmbook]

I quote 15 kids per hour, but can probably do more like 20 kids. I did a restaurant event where I'm pretty sure I painted over 50 kids in 2 hours! I normally won't do speed painting for big events or parties. I advertise for the quality of my painting, not quantity & prefer to not work harder for less(but in a restaurant gig I'll speed it up a bit since I know it's a 2 hour time frame).