If youve ever been to a family fun fair, you know face painters make bank.
Youve seen the long lines of kids waiting for their Spiderman, unicorn, or fairy princess design.
And youve seen their parents, breaking out their wallets.
An orange butterfly is painted on the face of a girl by Anna Wilinski, who is the co-owner of Jest Paint. Wilinski said you have to like being around people to be a successful face painter. Photo courtesy of Jest Paint LLC
Face painters can earn more than $100 an hour expressing themselves and delighting kiddos.
Do you want to give face painting a try?
Artistic flair helps, but you dont need to be the next Picasso.
Number one, you have to like being around people, she said.
Are you a creative people person with at least a bit ofbusinesssavvy?
Heres how to start your face painting business.
Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.
This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
Heres what you gotta get started.
A beginners face painting kit will run you about$50, depending on which one you choose.
confirm you end up with brushes, sponges, and paint.
Did you know?
If that doesnt work out, start small.
Buy the smallest size of paint before shelling out for the value pack.
Leave room in your budget for gas.
One year of insurance starts at around$100.
There are a million different ways to promote your face painting business.
Social media (free).
Social media advertising (not free).
A website (usually not free).
But theres one form of promotion every face painter should invest in.
You will be doing your work in person.
If you have a stack of business cards on the table, you will get leads.
it’s possible for you to buy a pack of 50 from Moo for$21.
Consider joining a childrens entertainment agency.
These businesses round up face painters, balloon sculptors, and clowns to send to family fun events.
In other words, they find the work, you do it.
The downside of joining an agency is that they dont find that work for free.
They take a cut of your earnings.
Still, it can be worth it.
If you just want to paint like crazy, go for it, said Wilinski.
If you do decide to rustle up some gigs on your own, here are some places to look.
Kids love getting their faces painted.
Parents want their kids to be happy.
Theyll pay you to help.
To get these gigs, target parents.
Word of mouth is your friend.
Wow one parent and others will follow.
Events where families are walking around, searching for entertainment are perfect for face painters.
Look for opportunities to rent booths atseasonalfetes, county fairs, and outdoor markets.
Adults secretly want to get their faces painted too.
Pitch yourself to companies for corporate retreats.
Make Beautiful Art
How do you get good at face painting?
Hint: Its the same way you get to Carnegie Hall.
Practice, practice, practice, Wilinski said.
She even keeps a face painting kit in her kitchen.
double-check your practice sessions include the classic face painting repertoire.
Hearts, stars, rainbows, Wilinski said.
To level up to more intricate designs, search online for face painting resources.
Charm Kids and Parents
Art is only part of the job.
You also need to interact with your clients.
Ninety percent of the time youre making people happy, said Wilinski.
But sometimes youre dealing with long lines in 90-degree weather.
Speaking of lines: Line management is key.
The last thing you want is the line ganging up on you, said Wilinski.
That way, they can go play while they wait.
Kids arent the only customers you gotta impress.
And grown-up events come with their own set of challenges.
Ive had to deal with drunk adults, Wilinski said.
Be prepared for anything.
Run Your Face Painting Business
How do you actually get paid?
There are two standard formats: Per event or per face payment.
If you have a booth at a fun fair, youre probably going to be charging per face.
The standard rate varies widely: location, event key in, and experience all affect the number.
It could vary if you live in California or if you live in small-town Wyoming, Wilinski said.
Wilinski provided an example.
Once youre more experienced, you’ve got the option to charge more.
If you charge below-market prices, it could hurt other face painters.
Theres room for everybody, Wilinski said.
Contributor Ciara McLaren is a freelance writer with work in HuffPost, Insider and The Penny Hoarder.
you’re able to find her on Substack (@camclaren).
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
