Refusing to pay?

[GaFacepainter]

It hasn't happened to me, but I was wondering if anyone has ever had anyone refuse to pay for a face, and what you did about it?

[colormyworld]

Yikes!  No but I'm new...

However, in the field I was in before (freelance promotions) some companies were not so reliable.  I was never stiffed on pay, but know people who were. Some hundreds and even into the thousands range.  I know in those situations, an LLC has 90 days to pay the employee before legal action can be taken.  I don't know if that would apply here but I guess you should make sure you always have a contract. 

[Kristal]

I've been stiffed once - not for face painting, but a balloon twisting birthday. It was at the beginning of the year, when I was still figuring things out (like, even moreso than now!). For some reason I'd not brought a contract with me (whoops), nor clarified a firm end time - she was meant to tell me when to go until, but she wasn't there at the beginning, and her husband didn't know...

3.5 hours later, I finally stop and go to collect payment. The bill is $315, but he only has $200 on him, but could he stop by tomorrow and drop the rest off? I say sure, I'll call. It doesn't happen. I called them for the next 3 months, sent emails, mailed an invoice (which was returned, saying they no longer live there...bs), and even stopped by a couple of times, because we'd spoken and she said to come by. Once they were in "Mexico," and another time, in "Whistler." I spoke with the husband, who said he'd talk to his wife and for me to call back the next day...I did, and he never picked up or called me back.

I left to go to Alberta for 2 months, made one more last-ditch attempt to get ahold of them before I went, then gave it up for lost. Chalk one up for experience?

Some suggested that I contact small claims, but for a sum of $115, it wouldn't have been worth it.

Lesson learned: always get a contract signed, always get a deposit

For PPF, I don't know what I'd do - awkward if you make them take it off, eh? I always make sure that they know it's not free before I start...maybe chase them down and knock some sense into them?! (I'm not a violent person, swear!)

[Alison]

Oh dear!  You sure learned the hard way, Kristal.
Did you actually look in to small claims?  Do you know
for sure that it's so hard, so unworth-it?

Parties/Events - I Always get a $50 Nonrefundable Deposit before promising to be there.
AND - I Always get paid the balance WHEN I SHOW UP - That's before I start to paint.
If they take too long getting it together, I remind them that they're cutting in to the
time that they're paying for.

As far as - duh, I only got $200 even though the bill is $315,
I suggest that they ask some of their many friends who came to the party
to loan them $115.  I tell them that it makes more sense to ask their friends
for a loan than to ask me - a person they just met.

[PatB]

I have it right in my contract: ***BALANCE TO BE PAID IN CASH THE DATE OF EVENT UPON ARRIVAL OF PERFORMERS PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF ACTIVITIES.

I call a week in advance to touch base with the client and go over the contract agreement with them to make sure they understand. Then, I call 24 hours in advance to, once again, confirm everything. I arrive 15 minutes early to settle the account before I even set up.

I have no problem standing my ground. This is my business, my income. They know the terms ahead of time.

As yet, I've never had a problem collecting payment. I don't work PPF.

PatB

[Alison]

Nice to meet you Pat ~

That's what I always say.  Be clear up front, no matter how 'friendly' the new smooth-talker (client) is.  Once business is clear, it's much easier to be delightful, caring, and friendly to others.  I try to tell other Artists not to get confused - If they want to earn their living this way, they have to be professional - they have to admit to their clients that they are here to earn money.

[Sherry]

I've never had anyone outright refuse to pay, but I have had people walk off without paying at pay per faces.  I'm not sure if they just forgot (most likely) or purposely took off.   

[Alison]

Aw - When I'm working Retail, I know how easy it is to forget - We're so focused on painting well and holding on to that next customer......  That's why I Always have them Pay Up Front.  Kid sits in the chair, and I say $ please, looking right at the 'parent'.  

As far as Party/Events, I've had very few surprises over the years.  But that's because I'm pretty consistent with getting paid Before I start to paint.  

One time, I was running around a Knights of Columbus in the dark middle of the night - Finally Found my client as she was getting in to her car
to leave.

Another time I was waiting patiently (was it 10 long minutes?) while my client ignored me and continued talking to his guests.  When I finally got his attention, he said "Just a moment" AND WENT RUNNING OFF DOWN THE BEACH behind his magnificent beach-home.  Standing there in shock, walking along to follow him, waiting again, walking back to 'his area of beach', following him into the house and being asked to 'Wait here' while he went upstairs......."  Still smiling, I taught something about spacing letters for a sign to a few guests, and he finally miraculously came back with my pay (no tip) as though I was bothering him.  (I found out through the grapevine or the news or something that a 17-year-old neighbor had drowned on that beach that night, so I guess that was the crazies going on.)  

And there was another time when I was told to Wait (took over an Hour!) because my client was so busy giving out Party Bags and Saying Goodbye to her guests.  

I say, they get it together faster when they know that it's They're time that's being cut into.  They don't care about My Unpaid time when I'm not being paid to be there.