What Do You Need to Decide Before Your First Big Paid Gig?
Preparing for your first big paid face painting gig? Before the event, there are three important things to decide: what your business policies are, which designs you'll offer, and how you'll organize your supplies. Making these decisions ahead of time can help you feel prepared and create a great experience for your clients.
You did it! You booked your first big paid gig! Before you start anything else, give yourself a moment to celebrate how far you've come in your artistic journey.
Now it's time to prepare! A large, privately booked event requires a few key decisions best made ahead of time.
Here are three things to decide before your first big paid face painting gig.
1. What Policies Should You Set Before Your First Paid Face Painting Gig?
Before your first paid face painting event, establish clear policies for managing your line, sanitation, and contracts. Communicating these expectations ahead of time can help prevent confusion and keep the event running smoothly.
As a face painter, you're an artist, but now you're also a business owner! Setting a few boundaries before the event can help you handle unexpected situations with confidence.
Some important policies to consider include:
- When do I close my line? Decide how you'll communicate wait times and what happens as the event approaches its end. What if more guests arrive than expected?
- When will I say no to painting? Establish guidelines for handling illness, skin concerns, cleaning between clients, and potentially contaminated tools. Make sure you have appropriate cleaning supplies and backup tools available.
- What are my contract details? Determine when and how you'll be paid, whether you require a deposit, your cancellation policies, and how you'll handle overtime.
Having these policies in place doesn't mean every event will go exactly as planned. It means you'll have a starting point for making decisions when unexpected situations arise.
Don't forget to promote your business! Your first paid event could lead to your next booking. Keeping business cards accessible in a Craft-n-Go Card Caddy makes it easy for interested guests and event organizers to take your contact information.
Artist Spotlight: Meet Jane!
When Jane started Daisy Jane's Face Painting, she discovered that running a face painting business involved more than creating beautiful designs. Along with developing her artistic skills, she learned how to manage contracts, invoices, and other details of running a professional business.
Jane's journey is a reminder that learning the business side of face painting is part of growing as a professional artist.
Read Jane's Artist Highlight to learn more about her journey.
2. How Do You Choose Designs for a Paid Face Painting Event?
Choose face painting designs based on the event's length, expected number of guests, and the time each design takes to complete. A menu of designs you can paint confidently and efficiently helps you manage your time while giving guests fun options to choose from.
For example, if you're contracted for a two-hour event with 24 guests, you'll have an average of just five minutes per person. That includes time for guests to choose a design, get seated, and have their faces painted!
A detailed full-face design that takes 15 minutes might be beautiful, but it may not be realistic for an event with a long line of excited children.
Here are a few ways to prepare your design menu:
- Choose designs you're comfortable painting. Select designs you've practiced and can complete consistently within your available time.
- Create a menu that fits your event. Offer a manageable selection that matches the event's theme, audience, and schedule.
- Communicate realistic expectations. If an event organizer expects 30 full-face designs in 30 minutes, explain what you can realistically accomplish and offer alternatives.
- Prepare simplified versions of popular designs. Having a few quick options available can help you adjust if your line becomes longer than expected.
A design menu is also a great way to showcase your artistic style! Displaying examples helps guests make their selections and reduces the time spent deciding what to paint.
Artist Spotlight: Meet Cass Cooper!
What started as a fun afternoon of face painting at a neighborhood barbecue turned into a full-time creative business for Cass Cooper, founder of Mama Mia Face Painting.
Cass's colorful face painting menu is a great example of how artists can showcase their designs and help customers choose what they'd like painted.
Read Cass's Artist Highlight to learn more about her creative journey.
3. How Should You Organize Supplies for Your First Paid Face Painting Gig?
Organize your face painting supplies in a portable setup that keeps frequently used tools accessible, separates clean and used materials, and makes setup and cleanup efficient. Start with the supplies and storage you need for your current events, then expand your setup as your business grows.
Imagine arriving at your first big event with your paints, brushes, sponges, and other supplies packed into several bags. Before you can paint your first guest, you have to unpack everything, find what you need, and arrange your workspace.
Now imagine arriving with an organized setup where everything has its place and your supplies are ready to use.
Think about how your setup will work throughout the event:
- Before the event: Pack your supplies so they're easy to transport, unpack, and arrange at your station.
- During the event: Keep frequently used paints, brushes, and tools within easy reach.
- Between clients: Designate separate spaces for clean tools and used materials awaiting proper cleaning or sanitizing. Bring backup supplies in case something becomes contaminated or unusable.
- After the event: Have a system for packing your supplies, containing used materials, and making sure nothing gets left behind.
Every artist develops their own system, and seeing how others organize their supplies can be a great place to find inspiration.
Artist Spotlight: Meet Daria!
Daria is a great example of how a face painting setup can be customized to fit individual needs.
Her Craft-n-Go setup includes a Standard Case and organizational accessories that help her arrange the supplies she uses for her work.
Read Daria's Artist Highlight to see her customized setup and learn more about her artistic journey.
Build a Setup That Grows With Your Business
You don't need every tool or the biggest setup for your first paid gig. Your setup can grow alongside your business!
For artists starting with a smaller collection of supplies, the Craft-n-Go Mini Case offers a compact option for organizing and transporting face painting essentials. Set your Mini Case on an Adjustable Folding Table for a ready-to-paint station, or use the table as a separate worksurface alongside a Standard Case as your setup grows.
As your collection grows and you begin booking larger events, a Craft-n-Go Standard Case can provide additional space for organizing your supplies.
The most important thing is finding a setup that works for you and your supplies. As you gain experience, you'll discover which tools you reach for most often and how you prefer to arrange your workspace.
Are You Ready for Your First Big Paid Face Painting Gig?
Your first big gig is an exciting milestone!
Making a few key decisions ahead of time—what your policies are, what you'll be painting, and how you'll organize your supplies—will help you create a smooth, professional, and creative event.
With a little preparation, you can spend less time worrying about the details and more time doing what you love: bringing smiles to faces through your art!