9 Things To Consider When Hiring A Face Painter
by Heather Home, aka Heather-Feather
What kinds of things do you want to ask a Face Painter when you're looking to potentially hire for your holiday events? It's the time of year when Halloween and Christmas and other holiday events are being planned, and the calls have started rolling in. Here are some things to think about when planning for your party or event:
1) How Many Kids Per Hour? --- 12 kids per hour is the industry norm for Face Painters who adhere to Health & Safety Standards. This will allow for some really cool designs that will cover part of the face (not the whole face). 5 minutes per child allows them to get in the chair, let the painter know which design they want, time to do the design, and time to get the supplies clean & disinfected before the next child's turn.
2) Is It Always 5 Minutes? --- There will be some factors that can influence the 5 minute average, such as having designs already picked out before the child sits in the chair, how readily available a change of water is for frequent changes, whether there are other quick options besides face painting, and whether the painter forgoes hygienic practices.
3) Additional Options To Keep The Line Moving --- Some packages offered by Face Painters might include options that can be quick, and also provide something for kids who may not be able to accept face painting. Stickers, temporary tattoos, Crazy Hair, and Hair Bling can all be super-duper quick options and can significantly cut down on the 5 minute rule, sometimes down to just 2 minutes!
4) Experience = Happy, Safe Kiddos --- The 5 minute average can be influenced by the amount of experience a face painter may have. Someone who is new to the industry may require more time than just 5 minutes. Remember that many of the kiddos can be wiggly-giggly and this can take some practice to deal with. Some painters may not yet have developed a visual menu (pictures for the kids to choose from) and so they may need some extra time to try to figure out how to create the image that is being requested by the child. Alternately, there are painters who will zip through a line very quickly due to the fact that they are not cleaning their supplies in between each child, passing along all kinds of germs, ketchup, chocolate, snot, and whatever else is often on the faces of our youngest community members.
5) Volunteers Are Wonderful --- If your event is large, it can be a good idea to have a volunteer in addition to the face painter. Many high school students are looking to earn their volunteer hours required before graduation, and this can be a wonderful opportunity for them. They will need to have a chance to communicate with the face painter ahead of time (not just minutes before the start of the event, but the exchange of phone numbers or email addresses at least days before hand) so that questions, needs, and expectations can be discussed. They may not be able to assist with the actual painting or anything that involves training, however they can help the children while they are in line... helping them have their choices ready, handing out stickers, or possibly assisting with any service that doesn't require training. High school students may require a form to be signed to validate their volunteer hours.
6) Hire More Than One Painter --- If your event is exceptionally large (some corporate or community events can involve hundreds of children), it is obviously not possible for a single face painter to provide service for so many children. Many face painters work on their own and do not have a team available. It may be necessary to hire more than one business, and keeping that '12 children per hour' average in mind will help you to estimate how many face painters you will need. It's a good idea to have an in-depth discussion with each business as they may each have different requirements, charge differently, and (unfortunately) not all businesses adhere to the Health & Safety rules.
7) Other Entertainers --- If you cannot find another face painter but are expecting a significant number of children at your event, consider hiring other entertainers as options for kids and their parents to choose from. Some children are afraid to get their faces painted (much like sitting on Santa's knee) and might prefer a balloon animal or to watch a juggler. Letting parents know ahead of time that there is one choice per child / entertainer can help ensure clarity and a happy event. Tickets (one per child) to be collected by each entertainer is a method used by many corporate and community event organizers.
8) To Be Supplied By You / Your Organization --- It is important to get the list from the face painter ahead of time regarding the things that you will need to provide at your event. Generally a table and 2 chairs is obligatory (check on sizes required), as well as a readily available way to change water (dispose and clean refill) frequently. Other potential needs may be: shelter / heat for outdoors; announcing to the crowd that the face painter is available and free of charge; lots of room for the line-up; other activities going on at the same time; music that might be too loud for the painter to speak with the child; a clearly-defined stop time for the line-up; & more.
9) Small Events & Personal Appointments --- If you are hoping to get a private appointment (adults are always welcome too!) before heading out to a party, or if you have just 2 or 3 kiddos at a small party, a painter can take more time providing some pretty spectacular options. Full faces painted can take up to an hour depending on how complicated the design is and how wiggly-giggly a child might be. A single person may also be able to select more than one option... perhaps face painting along with Crazy Hair, or temporary tattoos, Garden Brows / Fairy Brows, skin gems, or prosthetics. Ask what other types of options are available when the painter can take more time per person.
You may think of other things to discuss with a Face Painter when looking to potentially hire. I hope that these points can be helpful to get you started. Ultimately, we all want the kiddos to have a safe and happy holiday season and planning in advance can ensure a successful party.
