CONVENTIONS

[reginanewsum]

Conventions! Wow there is so many conventions you can go to! Sad as it may be, there is none around my area, so this would involve alote of travel! Have you ever been to a face and body painting convention? I have never, but than again I have never ever been to a class for painting. I did attend two face painting jams on the other side of my state. It was so much fun, but I ended up driving back home in the middle of the night alone, got pretty tired!  I would like to attend at least one convention this year. I have been reading about all of them!  If I had to pick out just one to plan a trip to go to, which one would you suggest? Do you get to paint alote at a convention? Or attend classes and watch others paint? Do you take your whole kit with you or just a bag of supplies?  What is your thoughts on conventions? Thanks for your help.

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

I have also never been to one for face painting.
Would love to go; just need the funds and time.
Maybe someday there will be one in Chicago?

[Sherry]

I've been to 2 conventions.  They were both the FPBA convention.  I went to one in 2009, but only took a preclass.  It was Mark Reids.  It was in Orlando at that time.  Then I went to the one they had in Vegas last year.  No preclasses that time, but took the regular convention days.  I was so tired from all of the classes, that I didn't end up attending any of the jams, so I don't know what that would be like.

The classes seemed to be a mix of watching and trying things out on your own.  Mostly on yourself or your classmates... plus being a model is always fun.  When the class starts snapping away, you feel like a movie star with all the flashes!  Ha.  I took my entire kit and liked having everything at my disposal.  I learned soooo much and would recommend anyone to go.

 Others on my list that I'd really like to attend are FABAIC in Orlando, La Fete and the one on the east coast that Kim Hatch hosts.  I like that they offer crazy hair... I'd really love to see how that's done.  I'm not sure if I'll have the funds to go this year.    But there's always that possibility!  You'll have to keep us posted on which one you decide to go to.  Who knows, maybe we'll get to meet at convention!   

[reginanewsum]

 Wina Chicago!  You are really not to far from me! Mmmmm about a 2 1/2 hour drive! My painting buddy Anna and I are throwing around the idea of a little mini convention and some classes, getting together in a couple of weeks to brain storm! We did talk of the Chicago area or the Detroit Michigan area! We'll see what we come up with!  And yes Sherry I would be honored to meet and paint with you at convention!  I just know in my heart it will happen some day!

[Whitney Myers]

Hey Gina. I attended FABAIC last year. It is the only convention I have attended so while I was there, I asked regular convention goers about different conventions. The information I got was that FABAIC was the largest and offered the most options. But after attending FABAIC, I don't know that I really want options. I went to a lot of classes and learned that a lot of amazing painters aren't so great at teaching. I was lucky because all I have to do is see it to learn how to do it, but some people don't learn that way. I found a few select people that got rave reviews on their classes that I would like to learn from. Personally, I would love to have classes with Marcela, the Wolfe Brothers, and Pashur. If I could only choose one, it would be Pashur. Also, the jams at FABAIC were rather disappointing. I was excited to be able to see the process preformed by some of the "Bigs", but most of them were doing other things around town during jam session times. There wasn't a very big crowd of people that jammed. The crowd was usually only 5-25 depending on the night and the people who I saw jam weren't really stretching themselves to try out what they had learned. A lot of people were just trying to show off and paint the designs that they have painted a billion times that they knew would come out looking great. Personally, I was quite disappointed by my experience. I might like it better next time because I would have different expectations.

1. Don't expect every teacher to teach. Just expect a demonstration.
2. Don't expect to be able to network. There are hundreds of people and no one remembers anybody.
3. Don't expect an amazing jam session that's inspiring.

I know this may seem like a downer, but the reality is that you can learn a lot from the convention, I just didn't learn the way I was expecting to learn. So now that I know to go into it with a different perspective, I think I will gain more from it the next time I attend.

[reginanewsum]

Thank you for the info, but sad to say this is not the first time to hear the same words that you speak! Last year I had a friend go, she was really excited to go. Now she said she would never go back. Classes were no hands on, she couldn't see, no one at jams, instructors painted the same designs that she had seen on the net over and over, maybe they just changed a color or two, she also said she felt as if she got nothingout of it, and spent a TON of money. And mind you she lives in florida, just was four hours from convention. I would be coming from michigan, and if I were to go I would drive. So the cost would be high, I am weighing all this out. Thanks

[Whitney Myers]

Wow! I didn't know that anyone else felt the same way that I did. Everyone always talks about the conventions as if they are the holy grail of face painting. It's nice to know I'm not just crazy.

[Psalmbook]

I've heard better things about taking classes where the artist comes to your home town & teaches. It's more hands on. Local Jams are supposed to be outstanding, but I've found locally very hard to kick off. I'm happy Sherry will be moving hers to a day I can go!!! YIPPIE! I'd love some day to be able to teach & help raise the level of teaching at the conventions.
If I ever go to a convention again(I went to FABAIC last year) I'd go for networking purposes & to jam with people I've met online. I might take some preclasses, but not the classes offered. I found that it was all info I already knew. Now, I'd love to take a class from Brady. His style is so intriguing!

[Maria]

I was thinking about that just yesterday.  Maybe i will plan to attend the next convention. I've been watching you tube a lot and practicing but its not the same thing.  i kinda need someont to tell/show me the right way to blend or dab.  cuz sometmes too much color comes on.