Need some advice

[Glitterfly Faces]

I am so confused what to do.
My first year painting faces as a business and I know at this point the most important thing is to get exposure.

My dilema comes in when there is going to be a huge familt expo in April and I can rent a table for 5 hours for $120 and charge pay per face.  Last year the event had over 2500 visitors.

So, I was offered by the event co-ordinators to paint at the main booth for free and I can advertise and put my postcards in the 400 goody bags, plus hand out business cards all day. 

What would you do?  Pay the $120 and hope some parents are willing to pay for their kids to be painted?

OR do it for free and get all the exposure in exchange.


What would you all do?

Thanks for any advice.
kim

[Alison]

I wouldn't do it.  Either one.

[Sherry]

The first things I would think about... will there be any other face painters there?  Is the booth you have to pay for in a good location?  This can be tricky and many times you don't know the answer to that until you're there.  You can't usually rely on what the organizers say about location and other artists either.  The best organizers I've worked for have let me know that if the location they give me doesn't work out, they'll move me.

What do you charge per face?  Think about how many faces you can do in an hour and what you can potentially make.

Will they let you put out a tip jar at the free booth?  If you take the free booth, you'll get plenty of practice.  I normally get 1 - 2 parties parties out of large events like this.  Would that be worth it to you doing it for free?

If it were me and I knew I would get a good spot and didn't have to compete with other face painters, especially free face painters, then I might take the booth I could charge at.  Then I could still pass out all my promotional material, make some money doing it and possibly put out a tip jar.  Since they're charging $120, I wouldn't expect to make a killing.  But you never know, I've had event organizers really build up an event describing how many people will be there and I've made nothing.  Then I've had them be busy from beginning to end.

Just starting out, I would do the event one way or the other way, nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

[sparklingfaces]

I would pay for the booth and chance it.... however if they are still seeking another painter for the "free faces" I would probually give in and be the "free entertainment" ( dont tell them this though )

They main reason is that that type of advertising isn't very effective. Same as Sherry, I have had events where I volunteered to be there, thousands of people, busy for the whole day - everyone and their father said they would hire me and unfortunately recieved no bookings. I have also done private birthday parties where other parents booked me on the spot.

[Glitterfly Faces]

Thanks ladies for the advice.
I have contacted another local face painter and asked her what her plans are.  If she plans on paying for a table, them me doing it for free is totally stepping on her toes.
Maybe we can split the fee and share the customers?
Just another option. 
That way we both get exposure by handing out promotional materials.  She never usually hands anything out so, it would just be my business cards.

So confused.

[Glitterfly Faces]

This is the e-mail I rec'd from the event co-ordinator.
And I can put out a tip jar as well.

"Another thought...Mom2Mom will have a booth at the Expo and we are looking for an activity. Would you be interested in doing a trade off, your face painting services for space at our booth? I would also include the following:
you would be able to hand out your business information and promote your business at our booth
hang signage at our booth
have your insert in our goodybag
an e-newsletter ad and space for an article about your business
a web button with a link to your website on the www.thefamilyexpo.ca home page
we will mention your name in any promotions that we do for our booth"

I am leaning towards the free painting with a tip jar. 
Am I making a big mistake?

[sparklingfaces]

no - dont ever feel that way - it's all a learning experience.
You never know how things will turn out - although we are giving you advice - they are clouded by OUR experiences.

You will find out afterwards how profitable this venture will be and if it's not.... you know for next time.

[Sherry]

I agree with Vi.  Never think of it as a mistake, it is all learning.  At first I was thinking it would be a great idea to share the booth, but now with the email from the event co-ordinator, I think maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to give the free face painting a shot.  It isn't exactly free if they are offering a button ad on their site and all the other bonuses.

I've traded for advertising before with good and bad returns.  I think it depends on how much exposure the site gets.  One site I did a trade with, I've gotten many gigs from and the other one, not a single job.

Just go with your gut.

[Glitterfly Faces]

My gut tells me to do it for free and put out a tip jar.  I figure if I were at an event and my daughter got her face painted for free, I would definitly leave a tip.
Plus, all the free advertising is good.  Their website targets a ton of moms in our local area.
They do alot of events in the community.

The 400 goody bags with my post card are awesome exposure alone. 

I think since I did not receive a reply from the other face painter, I will go ahead and do the free service.  I do need the practice.  This will be a great opportunity and with the other women at the booth they can help manage the line.

They are the ones that gave me my first paid Christmas party. 

Yep, I am gonna follow my gut feeling.
Thanks ladies.

[Sherry]

Yay!!     You'll have to share with us how it all turns out.  I have a feeling you'll be slammed! 

[LillyW]

I have only painted 2 times for free that I did not get paid bookings from the freebie. 

It is all about how you do it 

1) you need to be good at what you do, so the WANT you.

2) You need to find ways to PULL the business from the crowd.  This is something that is easy for me - WHEN I AM NOT PAINTING!  When I am busy painting it hard to multi-task.

- Lilly Walters, 909-398-1228
"500 Tips and Tidbits to Boost Your Income
Inexpensive Rainmaking Ideas in Dry Times. Marketing Tips For Family Entertainers:
Face Painters, Clowns, Magicians & More
http://www.funfacepainting.com/book.html

[Alison]

Sooo, when is the event?  Did you do it?

(I still think the event coordinator is trying to take advantage of your insecurities and dreams -
so you're dreaming of the moon, stars, success!!!!  But I never knew a secretary or a waitress
who wanted to do it for free - or to pay for the opportunity to do something that the event-people
need to make it look like they have an event going on)

[Glitterfly Faces]

The event is in April.

I think at this point, I love painting...meeting people and just getting practice.  Oh and the best part....seeing those sweet kids smile ear to ear when I show them the mirror.
I'll keep you posted.