discounts for special events?

[stardust]

hi guys,

  just wondering what some of you do as far as cutting breaks for certain events such as churches, and volunteer fire companys for example.
  what would u change your hourly rate to- if u would dicount them at all. since its hourly you would not be charging per face so would you put a tip jar out maybe?

 your ideas would be great
   mucho thanks!

[Sherry]

Hi Stardust,

When I've wanted to discount for multiple hour events, I've went down to $50 an hour.  Another idea is to ask for a trade for value for value.  To advertise your business in their marketing.  Ie.  Ask for a full page ad in their flyers.  (A tip I just learned at the Vegas Convention! )  I think it was from Lilly Walters.

Sherry

[Alison]

I do not cut my prices!  Or else, why have them?

This is how I earn my living.  I give charity After I earn my money, and I choose which to give to based on other things than Who Will Give Me A Job.

[stardust]

so then there is no rule for "charity" events? should we discount them or just charge the same hourly as any other?

[mrsito]

I think that since you are going into this business as your own boss so to speak, you have the discretion to decide how you're going to run it. You have to think about what your business is worth to you, what your worth as a professional is and how much you are willing to compromise. Don't sell yourself short because you have this perception that charity trumps the importance of getting what you deserve. You can still "give back" so to speak.

[Shannon Fennell]

I wrote an article on that subject... titled "When is Free not Free?" which was published in Illusion magazine.  Here is a link to it http://www.shannonfennell.com/Illusion3article.pdf

[reginanewsum]

last summer when I started for the month of june and july, I did 6 vacation bible school events at churches, I called them, presented face painting on the phone and told them I would do it for free! They told me there theme and I studied it! Went to the church, painted gobs of kids, three out of the 6 churches thanked me! went threw tons of paint, never got one job off from 6 events! Did one large picnic for assualed victims, painted for 9 hours, got one job! Did one abused childrens family event for three hours painted my butt off! Was so tired, got no leads! This year I will still do SOME volunteer work, but it will be my choice. I will do my groups event in aug for the 9 hours, but they have seen my work and have offered me  $200 this year for material cost for the day! But I have thought about it and for non profit I will offer like maybe $20 off per hour, for at least a two hour booking.  I did do a gig tho in Sept of 2009, for a non profit group, painted for three hours, received only $25.00 per hour, thats all they had to spare was $75.00, and they let me put out a tip jar, well my cup runith over! When I got home I counted it and there was $272.00 in it! I was so busy I never paid attention to what was going in there, once in a while I would push the money down in my big cup! So all in all it figured out to be  about $116.00 per hour! That was good!

[Skidzz]

I was told by an accountant, that when I do charity events to write down everything I used and claim it on taxes as charitable contribution. So tax break, free advertising, practice, and a chance to help. I thought this was a great tip.

[Sherry]

Good to remember.  I think I need to get more organized to keep track of these things.  I also mean to write down my mileage for events (free & paid), because I believe you can use that when filing.

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

I am not great at keeping a running log, but I do list my fp jobs on a calendar with the addresses.
Then around tax time, I am going to mapquest to look up the mileage. It works for those of us who are lazy!

[ChaCha]

I wrote an article on that subject... titled "When is Free not Free?" which was published in Illusion magazine.  Here is a link to it http://www.shannonfennell.com/Illusion3article.pdf

Great article, Shannon. Thank you.

[reginanewsum]

Iyou can do these types of gigs several different ways.

1. for maybe a three hour gig, charge for two hours and give one hour free as your donation

2. donate your time and labor and charge a material fee of $50 to $75 and put out a tip jar to help make up your fee

3. 25% off the total bill

4. paint for tips only


5. once you are known you will get tons of calls per month wanting free service. At some point you must figure out which groups or organizations you really want to do for free.  You can go into the RED with material cost from doing voluntwork for free.  I sat down at the first of the year and figured out what groups do I want to give back too. So I do at least one donation of face painting per month with a material fee. I donate my time and labor.  These groups are my church, my sexual assualt group, womans shelter, abused children homes.   And some groups you just ask for nothing

[Psalmbook]

I have 3 options for not-for-profits to choose from. They pay a supply fee & I must be aloud to put out tips(if appropriate for that event) & advertising. One is discounted rate, the other is PPF & the 3rd is trade of services, gift certificates & advertisement. I did a women's/children's homeless shelter & we traded the value of the event in gift cards to restaurants. I also got some good press from it!!! It was great as my hubby get to go on some date nights! I don't do tons of these, as it gets too be overwhelming cost wise, but occasionally it's good.
I do have 1-2 causes that are very personal to my heart(human trafficking & our youth pastor's special needs child) that I work completely free. But this is me donating.
Also, I choose to do them or not. Sometimes I can do it & sometimes I can't. Once I lock into doing one, I will not back out as it's bad business.
They all sign contracts so they don't back out on me. I had an event back out & cancel their event at the last minute & I'd turned down sooo much business that weekend...