Having more face painters is good?

[Sherry]

Do you love competition at an event?  Not me!  I had a lady approach me to face paint at a New Year's Eve event they have coming up.  It's $75 for the day and it's a 4 - 6 hour event.  I've never done this event before, so from my perspective, I have no idea if it'd be profitable or not.

I hear her mention they already have one face painter, so I try to get her to elaborate on this.  She says, yes we have one face painter, but that's GOOD!  Then she started telling me how wonderful it would be to have this other face painter there, I would have long lines and I would want another face painter there.

I don't think I understand how she could think this would be good for me.  All I can think is this could possibly cut my profit in half and what if she has the better spot, what if she has better prices, what if she does better work, has a better setup, etc?  Why do I want to risk this, when I could possibly get hired out on that date instead?

I didn't really voice my concerns because I didn't want to come across as greedy or grumpy.  Do you think I should have?  I doubt this other face painter would be happy either for me to potentially cut into her profit.

The lady sent me an email the next day, but I deleted it.  If this lady contacts me again, I think I will let her know that to be honest, I'd prefer exclusivity if I'm going to risk doing an event.

[MandiIlene]

I would agree, my thoughts are if they need more than one painter at an event, I will bring a partner with me, and at least all the kids can come through my booth so they can:
-get MY card for future parties 
-have high quality work   
-not confuse me with another painter when their kids face breaks out, or they use gooey paints and it drips off.

I wouldn't go for it, especially a pay per face event where you don't know what you are in for, starting out with one strike against you is not good. Plus who's to say they don't get a better spot than you and people don't see your booth until after they have already passed the other booth and gotten painted?!? I've had that happen. LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!!

~*~Mandi~*~

[Sherry]

Good to hear I'm not the only one that feels that way.  I was trying to figure out if she really believes it's a good thing for me or if she was trying to convince me it'd be a good thing.  Maybe she could only see it from her perspective as the organizer. 

[Shannon Fennell]

Go with your gut.

[Alison]

I agree for sure.  Even when I'm 'the better' Artist,
I do not like to hear the Opinions - The people,
who would have been very happy with either face-painter
if we had been there individually - I don't like to hear their
constant judging.  Of each line, each choice, we make
according to Their idea of what they just decided we
Should have been doing...

I'm always fine to work alone - I'm there to make money,
and that's what I focus on. 

If I'm 'getting along with someone else', 'sharing', then my
focus is not on making money.  It's okay to do that sometimes,
but that's not called 'Going to Work'.  People go to work to make money.

Don't let them confuse you.