$35 an hour?

[Sherry]

I had a call last Friday for a last minute booking from an event planning company.  A grand opening about an hour away and that they needed someone for 4 hours. Woo hoo, sounds good to me. They said that they'd pay for a travel fee... etc.  I told them that I charge $90 an hour and with a 3 hour minimum, I'd waive the travel fee.

They said that they normally pay face painters $35 an hour.     I told them I couldn't work for that and they ended the call.  They call back and I offered them a discount of $75 an hour, but that was the lowest I'd go.  They didn't end up booking me and I'm wondering how these face painters that they're hiring can make a living for such a low rate?  Sometimes I only book one gig a week and I think who can live on $35 an hour if you're possibly only getting one job a week?  Peanuts!

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

That's ridiculous! The lowest I have ever seen was $50 an hour.
With the cost of gas, face painting products, brushes, sponges, insurance...
you would be LOSING money.

I have been chatting lately with a couple of painters in Chicago.
It seems the new going rate for a "quality" face painter is $125 an hour.
I do favors for friends for $75 and 85-100 depending on distance.
But from now on, if I get a new call and it's relatively close it's going to be $100
and if I drive far $125. If others are getting it, and they are less talented than me,
why should I give out the bargain rate?

[Sherry]

Right, I agree.  What people don't realize sometimes is that this isn't like a normal 9 to 5, 40 hour a week job.  The jobs aren't guaranteed, there's a lot of prep work and clean up before and after the event and all the extras that you mentioned.

[Maria]

That seems really low.    Makes me wonder if they were trying to pull a fast one on you by telling you that.  I charge 90.00 an hour and some others charge 65.00 per hour but they are less talented than me.  Do you cheapen your work Sherry.  You know what you are worth and quality face paints are not cheap.  I tell my friends, if you want a rolex you gotta pay the rolex price...other than that take a timex.

[Sherry]

No, I've never worked for that little even when I first started out 4 years ago.  That's why I was so surprised when she came out with such a small amount.    

The cost of face paint supplies, insurance, business license, gas fees, your time and effort...  You know I wondered also if she was pulling a fast one too.  Maybe exaggerating a bit to get me to lower my price.  You never know.

[Psalmbook]

I wonder if they called me as well... I gave someone my rate & they asked if I'd discount. Since it was 4 hours, I said I could do 10% & that I really don't discount much except for NFP events.

[Sherry]

Maybe they did call you.  It was a Grand Opening in Lake City.  They also said they only wanted me to paint simple stuff like hearts and stars on cheeks... cringe.

[Psalmbook]

So, what they really needed was teenagers
Lake City, $35/ hr barely covers your gas.

[Sherry]

Right, that's what I was thinking.  They couldn't be professional face painters.  They'd have to be either just starting out or people that don't really do this for a living or teenagers. 

They did offer to pay travel fees, but that still wouldn't have been worth it for me.  Since face painting is my only income I can't afford to be wasting a day away working for so little.  As you know, there's a lot that goes into this little business, plus raising kids, so we need our free time.

[Psalmbook]

I get a lot of calls for Lake City & don't travel that far. It's just not worth it to me. They don't have any face painters that I know of out that way & it's too far for anyone from here or for anyone from Tallahassee.

[reginanewsum]

$35 per hour........................NO WAY! When I first started out my charge was $75 per hour. Now I charge $125.00 and travel fee of $25 if it is more than 20 miles from my home, larger travel fee if it is over 50 miles. 
I do alot of preping for a gig. My supplies are ALWAYS CLEAN and spotless and in great shape,  It is nothing to spend two or three hours cleaning every thing. My brushes are in excellent shape, never will you see any dried paint in the brissles or on the farrels, it takes time to keep them in great shape.
On Friday I had a three hour gig, Saturday I had three gigs in one day, and on Sunday I had two gigs, and no one complained about the price. I work hard for my money and try to give the client excellcent service. Just like drugs say "NO" you are far worth more in price for your supplies and your talent! I have gotten tuff over the past few years!