How To Become A Face Painter?

While many people see art as a hobby or something to do on the side in addition to a 9-5, technology and travel advancements has made becoming a professional artist a reality for many. In fact, for many artists, being able to make a living from their art is one of the ultimate goals and if they have patience and perseverance, it can become a fulfilling and lucrative career.

One type of art career that often flies under the radar, is face painting. However, face painters find gigs in a variety of places including carnivals, festivals, concerts, birthday parties, sports events, and the like. With so many opportunities to showcase your work, being able to build up your network and a loyal client base is very possible. If you have an interest in face painting and want to know more about how to become a face painter, read on.

What Equipment do I Need?

If you are just starting out, a big professional kit will likely be out of your budget and may seem overwhelming. Don’t panic. At first you will just need the basics. As your business grows, can add on. Some must haves include the following:

Face paint. You should have a palette with a variety of colors such as this one, and some extra black and white face paint.
Brushes and a brush holder. Some palettes may come with brushes, however, make sure you have a couple small brushes, a couple medium brushes, and a ¾ inch flat brush. You want a brush holder so you can see what you have and sort through them without them getting dirty.
Sponges and mesh bags. Sponges are used for covering large areas and for blending. You want to have a couple mesh bags so you can keep your clean and dirty sponges separated.
Glitter and stencils for embellishments or to help draw designs.
Two containers and two cups. One container will be for clean water, one will be for dirty water. The cups will be for placing dirty brushes and rinsing them off.
A mirror for your client to see the finished look.
A folding table and chairs. Some of your clients may already have a table and chairs for you to use but not always, so it is better to be prepared.
Towels or wet wipes to help wipe off or fix mistakes.
A tote for hauling your supplies from one location.

What Should My Budget Be and How Much Should I Charge?

In order to be profitable, you can’t spend more on your supplies than you are making. This means you will have to set a budget before you can set a rate. Some factors to consider when you are setting your budget includes such expenses as supplies and how often they may need to be replaced, insurance, travel costs (gas and vehicle upkeep), and taxes.

While some of these can change, you should have a pretty good idea of how much it will be in total and what percentage of what you make you are willing to spend on these expenses. As your business grows, you can reassess and make a bigger budget. Once you have a budget, you can set your rate. In addition to the factors that went into setting your budget, some other things you should take into consideration when setting your rate include:

The time you’re putting into each gig including time on the job, set up, clean up, and travel.
The general rate for face painting where you live. (Check out your competition).
Your experience level, skill, and how fast you work. (These are all things which will change over time, so reassess as needed).
What you have to offer that other face painters don’t.

How Do I Build My Client List?

In all actuality the main thing you will need is patience. It takes time for people to get to know you and your work. You will likely only have a couple jobs at first. However, there are some proactive steps you can take to build your client list and your business.

Be Professional

You can be an incredibly skilled face painter and do beautiful work, but if you are rude or lackluster, you won’t draw people in. People are attracted to those who enjoy what they’re doing, so make sure you communicate that with your demeanor.

Have a friendly smile and be alert and ready to answer any questions your customers have about your pricing or the designs you offer. If you are an introvert, then you may have to work a bit on keeping conversation going but don’t underestimate the effect of a fun conversation or a joke while you’re painting.

Network with Other Face Painters

Another part of being professional is sticking to your commitments. Sometimes things happen. You may have overbooked or double booked, or an emergency may have come up. Make sure you learn from your mistakes. Double check your schedule, and make sure your calendars are syncing up.

If you have to bow out suddenly for any reason, then having someone you can call as backup so your client isn’t left in the lurch will leave you in better standing than leaving them without a face painter. Get to know other face painters. Facebook has several groups for face painters to network with each other including:

Conclusion

Building a career in the face painting may seem overwhelming but it is very doable if you start out small. There are some things to keep in mind and invest in when you are first starting out. While there are certain things you need to buy, it is always good to start off small and slow and be patient as you are building your business and client base.

The equipment you will need are brushes, a color palette, a black and white palette, sponges, mesh bags, containers, and cups to clean your brushes, a table and chairs, and a tote to carry it all in. The best way to build up and maintain your customer base is to be friendly, stick to your commitments, and if you can’t to try your best to have back up if you need to cancel. Building up a career as a face painter can be accomplished with some patience and perseverance.