More faces, more problems – big events are lucrative but involve unique and complicated challenges. This quick guide will help you prepare for your first multi-hour event so you can be more productive, more efficient, and more confident on the job.
1. Create a Design Board
Big events are all about keeping up a high ratio of faces-per-hour. Create a design board and attach drawings or photos of your quickest and most popular designs. You’ll save tons of time on those indecisive customers: they’ll be able to look at the board and pick out a design in seconds. The board will also discourage people from choosing designs you haven’t had a chance to practice yet. Later, you can use your design boards in your sales pitches to land additional big-ticket clients.
2. Buy Professional Supplies
Painting beautiful designs is one thing, but painting FAST requires a completely different arsenal. Those super-specialty brushes and paint palettes might not be as useful at a large event as they are at small events. Consider all the time you spend prepping and cleaning just to switch colors – those minutes will start to add up fast.
Buy large pots of the colors you need for your design board. Don’t weigh yourself down with extra supplies; there’s no need to pack along the Glitter Yellow-Green #45 for just one design. Customers hate seeing coffee-colored water so bring one brush for each color to avoid the need for rinsing (provided you’re using professional quality antibacterial paint). Use disposable sponges for your rainbow pots.
You’ll save by buying in bulk. Plan ahead and shop at JestPaint.com to take advantage of sales, coupons, and other goodies for professional face painters.
3. Make Yourself Identifiable
Whether you’re working at a private event or a large public gathering, it helps to make yourself identifiable so you won’t get lost in the crowd. Most face paint stores sell smocks to protect your clothing – this is often enough to help customers tell you apart from the rest of the event patrons. Wear a nametag to avoid those ambiguous shouts of “Hey you!” Plus, kids are less likely to mess with your supplies if you look authoritative and businesslike.
4. Have a Line Management Plan
Long lines are the worst part about working large events. Because face painters pride themselves on their unique ability to bring joy, shutting down the line at the end of the day can prove particularly challenging – beginners often end up working some major unpaid overtime. At the end of the day, pros often put a dot on the hand of each person standing in line to prevent new people from joining. Others ask the last person to hold a sign that reads, “The line is closed”.
5. Be Prepared to Network
Big events are ideal networking opportunities. Do you remember the section about making yourself identifiable? It’s just as important to make yourself memorable. If the client allows it, display your business name and phone number along with information about how to book your company. Carry a small stack of business cards for parents and business owners who want to book you for their own events.
Of course, be careful not to go overboard – after all, you don’t want to outshine the business holding the event! Try to remain as natural and professional as possible but don’t pass up any opportunities to spread the word about your services.
Never Stop Thinking Big
Big events are a big risk but they are the fastest way to grow your business. If you decide that big events are a little too much work for your unique process, consider outsourcing part of the job: train an apprentice to help you paint, train an assistant to manage booking and accounts, train a sociable friend to manage your line, etc. Begin to free your schedule so you can focus more on the parts of your job you enjoy doing most.
These five steps are only the beginning! Every face painting pro manages large events a little differently. You’re sure to find your own groove as time goes on. Get excited about business expansion – never stop thinking big, never stop thinking about smart ways to scale up your business.