When you started

[Lanora]

I was wondering when you all knew you were good enough to start your own business and how much you charged at the start.  Any advice would be appreciated.

Lanora

[Sherry]

I had face painted in the past, casually.  Back in the mid nineties, I got a face painting book that came with the special face paints and used it to face paint my oldest son for Halloween each year.  It was such fun, but I kind of forgot about it.  Then, we had a new flea market coming to town and I was trying to think up what I could sell there and face painting popped into my head.  I started researching.  I bought the Palmer's face paint they sell at Walmart and since I'd painted before, I knew it wasn't the good stuff.

So, I found some quality face paint online to buy and started coming up with designs I could offer.  They weren't the greatest, but at the time I thought they were good!     And so did my customers, so I think that's all that matters.  I charged $2 for cheek art and $4 for full face.  I didn't get a lot of takers at first, but I got the practice I needed and I continued to improve.  I don't think you should wait too long before getting out there, even if you only work for tips at first.  Painting a bunch of faces really improves your skill.  You'll start to see what your problem areas are and work on improving them.

[GaFacepainter]

Jump in!! If I waited on until I though I was good enough, I would still be practicing!!

[linken74]

Hi Lanora - Happy to see you on the board - this place is full of good information and answers to questions.  Linda

[PappaG133]

Private parties are usually upwards of $80/hr with travel incentives depending on where you are going. It seems expensive, but its actually quite reasonable.

[PappaG133]

Lanora, did you start your business or are you planning on starting soon?

[Deva]

I started 8 years ago on the suggestion of a friend.  I walked into my local Burger King and put a tip jar out.  They allowed me to face paint.  I never told them "I want practice" and i had always passed myself off as a professional face painter, just wanting to do something nice for the kids on my day off.  That always impressed them.

I charged $50 per hour NOT KNOWING ANYTHING - for my first birthday parties, for almost a year, then went to $75 and as my experience and practice grew, I am now up to $125/hr, sometimes getting that - but starting from there, and for a 2-hour party, I have no problem getting $225.

I work very part time, being almost 62, not having a car or a partner makes it difficult to get around on the subway.  So my policy is try not to have more than 2 job on any weekend day - and i prefer to have no more than 3 jobs per weekend, and sometimes it works out that way.  It's enough for me.  I never meant this to be a big business, just something I LOVE to do and to earn some extra needed cash.  I absolutely love what i do.

When I first started, I remember thinking to myself: "And they want to PAY me for this?"  I was so thrilled.  Yes, they wanted to pay me and were HAPPY to.

Regards, Deva

[GaFacepainter]

Impressive! I'm a lomg way from 125 an hour. Maybe one day. Do you work just on the weekends?

[Alison]

I was already a Professional Artist when I decided to get involved with Face-Painting.           
One of the things I had studied was Sumi-e, Japanese Brush Strokes.         
So I just knew I was going to be fine as a face-painter.             

I just needed to get the nerve to approach a Face.  To paint on a Face.         
So I paid for a Class.  A one-day class.  The first person I ever painted on         
was a man who was in that class  -  He had a Dark Beard!  How's that for Funny ~             

And once I reached out, touched a stranger's face for the first time,       
I had no more trepidations.  And I came across as Professional and Confident.       

I must say though that I did get so much better now.       
And I see plenty of room for improvement.       
I didn't even know the questions when I started.           
But neither did the clients.           
Until you see 'how high the bar', you don't know just how magnificent this Art can be.

[ThomasFacePainting]

I have 2 categories of full face painting designs.  At big venues I charge $8 for tier one and $12 for tier 2. At smaller events I charge $7 and $10.  My rate is generally $100 per hour plus travel fees.  The longer you do this the more you will want.  Don't put your price too low or noone will think of you as a professional...  My first couple of parties I charged only $35 per hour, but I quickly realized that is rediculously low... Price should be based on the speed of the design and the type of venue you are at.