Face painting is a wonderful and rewarding profession that brings joy to children and adults alike. However, many face painters struggle with the issue of pricing, and may find themselves agreeing to work for free or for very little compensation. While it may be tempting to work for free in the hopes of gaining exposure or building a client base, there are several compelling reasons to avoid doing so.
Firstly, working for free sends the message that your time and skills are not valuable. By accepting free or low-paying gigs, you are essentially devaluing the work of other face painters in the industry who charge fair rates for their services. This can create a race to the bottom, where clients expect to pay very little or nothing at all for face painting services. You pay a lot for high-quality paints and supplies. Add travel time and gas, and this is actually costing you a lot!
Additionally, working for free or very little compensation can actually hurt your business in the long run. When you don't charge enough for your services, you may find yourself struggling to cover the cost of materials, transportation, and other expenses. This can lead to burnout and frustration, which can ultimately drive you out of the industry altogether.
Another issue with working for free is that it can lead to a lack of respect from clients. When you don't charge enough for your services, clients may view you as a hobbyist or amateur rather than a professional. This can make it difficult to establish a reputation as a serious face painter and may limit your ability to attract higher-paying clients.
So, how can you avoid the trap of working for free or very little compensation? The key is to set fair and reasonable rates for your services, and to market yourself as a professional face painter with valuable skills and experience. This means creating a professional website and social media presence, networking with other professionals in the industry, and investing in high-quality materials and equipment. (More about marketing in a future blog post!)
It's also important to educate clients about the value of your services and the expertise that you bring to the table. When you explain the time and skill involved in creating beautiful face paint designs, clients are more likely to be willing to pay a fair price for your services.
While it may be tempting to work for free or very little compensation as a face painter, it's important to remember that your skills and time are valuable. By setting fair rates, marketing yourself as a professional, and educating clients about the value of your services, you can build a successful and fulfilling career as a face painting professional. So don't sell yourself short – you deserve to be compensated fairly for the work that you do!
In conclusion, We as pros in the industry have to come to a collective consensus to no longer accept working for free or for little compensation! Exposure is not enough of a draw with today's expenses and the value of your time! Let's stop agreeing to do free or low-paid work, let's work on our skills and marketing and demand more compensation for our luxury service!