4th of July Face Painting Ideas

Summer is upon us and one of our busiest days is around the corner. The 4th of July is a big deal for face painters considering there are events and fairs being held all over the place. It’s time to get some creative juices flowing and narrow down some good face painting designs for the 4th.
Below are some face painting videos with some great 4th of July designs. For more face painting videos and tutorials, make sure to check out Silly Heather’s Youtube Channel.

Silly Heather’s latest video tutorial – Face Painting 4th of July Fireworks – Watch on Youtube

4th of July Face Painting Tutorial Crown by Lisa Joy Young – Watch on Youtube

4th of July Face Painting Eye Design by Silly Heather – Watch on Youtube

4th of July Face Painting Mask by Silly Heather – Watch on Youtube

Quick 4th of July Stars Face Painting by Silly Heather – Watch on Youtube

Picture This

Silly Heather GreenI am fortunate to have gigs coming in from all angles. I work with several agents in the south Florida area and they bring me great work. The only downside to it, is that every agency requires a little something different. One agency emails me a gig sheet with directions and more event info than i’ll ever need. While other agencies send me on blind parties and I hold my breathe until the event ends.

About 5 years ago, an agent booked me and it seemed business as usual. Two days prior to the party, I came down with strep throat. Up to that point I had never missed a gig. I pride myself on doing a great job and never letting anyone down, so knowing I had to give my job away was difficult. I called my BFF to cover for me. I called the agency and spoke the the assistant planner and she made the switch. The day of the event I get a call from the birthday mom livid with me. She was upset because the agency had sent her my picture with her contract and she wanted to know why I didn’t show up and why they sent a replacement without notifying her.

I did my best to keep cool and not be reactive, but I didn’t know what shocked me more; The fact the lady had my picture, or the fact that she called to scream at me about it. Long story short, I calmed the lady down, explained my strep throat and told her I would find out from the agency why she wasn’t notified.

The next day I called the agent and told them the story. They told me that they email every client the picture of the entertainer coming to their event so there are no surprises. The owner of the agency told me that because she was sending performers into the homes of high end clients, she wanted the customer to feel safe prior to the event. Her idea made sense to me, surely I’d be more relaxed if I knew that the painter I hired for my kids birthday party wouldn’t show up covered in tattoos and piercings.

The downside to sending a picture in advance is that pictures speak a thousand words. If you send a picture ahead of time and the clients doesn’t like your look it can cost you the job. It is still very common to judge a book by its cover. So if you send a picture of yourself, they will base your talent on your appearance. And you have to be willing to defend your look. The other problem with sending a picture is that you can not change artists at the last minute because the party parents know what you look like. The mom that screamed at me, felt I was trying to scam her. I explained that my BFF was amazing and just as good, and luckily the woman agreed to let her stay. In the end it worked out and it opened my mind.

Sending a picture ahead of time is good customer service. If you have a website with your profile picture or about us page, send the link to your customers. It will allow them to put a face with a name and set their minds at ease. Playing guess who and what will show up at the door is not a fun game. Preparing my customers means happy customers, and I’m all about that.

If you are being booked from an advert or referral and the client has never seen you, giving them a glimpse of what they will get is not only helpful, it can mean building a loyal customer.

If you are going to send a picture, make sure it is event appropriate and that it conveys a professional, accurate portrayal of you. Planning makes perfect and picture perfect can be your way to get noticed!

Happy painting! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! :)

Heather is the CEO of Silly Farm Supplies, a face and body art supplies company located in Davie, Florida.

Looking Good on the Job

So, you have spent the last 6 months practicing tear drops and line strokes. You are pumped and ready to paint the world, but you have no idea what to wear. Do you go the all black route and potentially look like you are painting at a funeral? Do you raid the local thrift store for a funky eclectic variety of tops and bottoms? Do you hire a professional costume designer and create a one of a kind uniform to match your personality?

You can do any of the above, or you can finish reading this blog and hopefully be inspired enough to build a professional wardrobe that compliments you and your image.

Different Do’s for Different Days

Build a work wardrobe just as you would for an office career. Think about the types of events you get hired for and what would be the most comfortable clothing options. For example, I live and work in south Florida. It’s HOT 90% of the year. So, when I was putting together my “birthday party ages 3-7” look, I decided to opt for a cute sundress with light weight leggings and top. My look works great for me because it meets all my requirements.

  • Comfort is essential
  • Do I stand out from a normal guest at the event?
  • If I spill a little paint on my clothes will it show?
  • Do I look like a professional?

Face  Painter Be-Dazzled T-ShirtWhen I put together my “adult event painter look”, I opted for a Bling Body Artist or Face Artist shirt with black pants and either a sequin fuchsia beret or a sparkly head band to set it off. My adult/evening look makes me feel professional, explains my purpose, and sets me apart from the other guests.

You don’t have to spend a million in order to feel like a professional. A nice pair of black pants, comfortable shoes, and making sure your clothing is ironed and clean will speak volumes.

[button type=”button_solid_light nocufon” url=”http://www.sillyfarm.com/store/index.php?p=catalog&parent=318&pg=1″ target=”on” ]Get your Be-Dazzled Artist Shirt from Silly Farm![/button]

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Silly Heather Face PaintingOne key element to completing the look is painting your own face. I believe that adding a little face paint, eye candy, or sparkles is the icing on the cake. When you paint your own face, your customers get a feel for your skills. They are usually impressed you can paint yourself and if you opt for an all black look you can use the face paint as the splash of color. Painting yourself can also be a way to tie in the theme of the event. If you are doing a safari themed party and you add a little cheetah to your eyes, your client will notice and it didn’t cost you a thing!
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When I first started face painting 15 years ago, only clowns were face painting. It was part of the job, they get dressed in a wig and full costume to be hired as a face painter. Today we have options, and part of charging for professional services means looking the part. Birthday moms, event planners, and agents want their artists to look the part. It’s always wise to discuss expectations with your clients.

One of our big accounts is a banking company, where we do a lot of branch grand openings. They are very specific that on the day of the event they want all staff to wear red shirts and khaki pants. As event planners, we organize that all painters and balloon artists have the required clothing. On the other hand, when I am booking birthday parties, I always ask if there is a theme. If not, Silly Heather the face painter will wear professional face painting attire; which is either my floral, festive party dress and leggings, or my sequin beret, colorful waist apron and bling shirt.

If you operate a booking agency, you might want to consider investing in an uniform or purchasing a “look” for all your staff to maintain consistency and professionalism. Whether you get aprons embroidered or shirts screen printed, uniformity correlates to professionalism.

Airbrush Artist

For a nice selection of embroidered clothing check out blackcatembroidery.com or couparcreations.com and tell them Silly Heather sent you!

Please share your work ‘looks’ with us. Let us know why you choose your look and how you went about creating it. Community is our most valuable resource. Sharing with one another helps our industry grow, sets standards, and can open many doors. Thank you for supporting the blog and I can’t wait to see your ‘look’!

Happy painting!
-Heather

Eating on the Job

I work for several different booking agencies. Many of them have it stated in my contract that eating on the job is strictly prohibited, but its sooo hard to ignore the smell of fresh popcorn, sweet cotton candy, grilled hamburgers and all the yummy sweets parties are known for serving.

Face Painting and Eating

It wasn’t until I was photographed at a party with a mouth full of cookie that I decided to put a nix on eating on the job.

  • It was not hygienic to eat near my paints
  • It was rude to be eating will I am being paid to do a job
  • If I wanted to maintain a professional persona then I needed to be prepared on the job which includes eating before a job or arranging a break time to eat outside my painting vicinity.

I get hired to do long events where I might be standing on my feet for over 6 hours. Bending and lifting kids can not only work up a hunger, but food is a must when you are working at such an intense pace. Whenever I have an event booked for longer than 4 hours I always require a 15 minute break and I pack a light lunch that I can eat during my break. I learned this method the hard way, but to this day my method helps me avoid hunger headaches and ensures I am able to do my best job possible.

Because of my Latin roots and the majority of the parties I attend are hosted by latin people, they are always offering me plates of food and sometimes alcohol. Latin people are notorious for demanding that you eat their food and enjoy it. I explain to the host that I do not eat during my jobs, but they can always pack a plate to go. Most of the time I do not want the food they are offering anyways, but letting them know I will take a plate to go kills 2 birds with one stone so that I don’t offend anyone or have to stop painting to eat.

I also do a lot of events that have lavish catered food and I make sure never to assume I am allowed to eat the food until the event planner invites me. Nothing is ruder than standing in line in  front of invited guests and serving yourself a plate of food. I look at myself and a hired guest, and I would not appreciate someone eating from my party without an invitation to do so.

If you are a hiring agent, I suggest writing some general rules to avoid your performers potentially embarrassing you. Make sure to state that there is no eating on the job and that alcohol on the job is strictly prohibited. If the client requests that you eat, you must wait until your contracted time is over or request a plate to go.

By laying down rules you can avoid losing a gig and setting a standard for professional behavior. Sometimes stating the obvious can mean the difference between a headache and a tip. Communicate everything assume nothing. Words to live by.

Happy Painting!

-Heather
Heather is the CEO of Silly Farm Supplies, a retailer of face and body art supplies.

Here’s a Tip

In the US it is customary to tip at a restaurant after your meal, tip the delivery driver when they bring hot pizza to your door, or when someone performs a service worthy of a little something extra. As entertainers, that go above and beyond to “make the party” and bring smiles to kids faces, we often get overlooked in the tip department.

MC Tip Jar

How do you politely remind your customers that your service is tip worthy?

I remember working a gig where I showed up one hour early by accident. Since I was already there and I could see from the parking lot that kids were getting restless, I decided to offer my services early and make the party parents happy. I painted non-stop for three hours. I painted arms, toes, heads and even one girl wanted her nails painted. I was busy! After the party was over, I packed my things and I could hear the husband and wife arguing about my tip. The wife asked the husband for $30 and the husband said “No way I’m giving her a tip. We paid her $300 to be here, that’s a big enough tip!”. The birthday mom came to me embarrassed, not because she knew I overheard, but because she felt embarrassed that her husband was a jerk! She apologized that she had no cash to tip me and that she would mail it to my office. I explained that a good referral was tip enough and I thanked her for having me. That wonderful lady did end up mailing me a $50 tip, I’m sure without her husband knowing. The point of my story was that no matter how hard we work or how superior the service we provide is, we have to remember that a tip is completely optional and each customer will have their opinion about it.

When I send out a contract, on the bottom line I include a note that says, “We strive for excellent service and to give you the best event possible. The greatest tip you can give is a referral to a friend, but if you still wish to tip your painter it is very much appreciated.”

If you want to keep it simple you can put on the last line “Tipping your painter is 100% optional”. That line is almost a hidden message and plants the seed of information in the clients brain without sounding pushy.

No matter how you phrase it, it’s best not to take the tipping process personal. I never attend a gig thinking I’ll get a tip, so when I receive one it’s like icing on the cake!

Putting out a tip jar is also another grey area. When I am hired by a client to do a large event where I am getting paid my full rate I never out out a tip jar. If someone offers a tip I accept and place them out of clear sight. I do not want my client to feel as if I am double dipping. When I am hired at a discount rate, or when I am working for free I build it into my contract that I am able to put out a tip jar. Before you bring your tip jar along, I suggest asking the client if they are comfortable with it.

My last tip for the day. Beyond looking and expecting a tip, focus on doing your best work so that each person at the event spreads the word about you or asks for a business card. Word of mouth travels miles longer than a $20 tip. Some of my cheapest, biggest headache-type clients have referred me to thousands of dollars of business.

Remember customer satisfaction is great, customer loyalty is priceless.

Happy painting my friends!

Friendly Lion – Face Painting Video Tutorial

Friendly Lion Face Painting Joining the already expansive face painting video tutorials of Silly Heather, this latest design covers a quick and friendly Lion that kids will love.

Products Used:

Watch the Friendly Lion Face Painting tutorial on youtube.

Free Body Painting Class with Athena Zhe – FABAtv

Free Body Painting Class with Athena Zhe

Vegas Theme Bodypaint by Athena ZheJoin Face Off contestant Athena Zhe on June 14th, 2012 on FABAtv LIVE for her free, live class on how to create body painting designs. This class will show you where to begin in your body painting career, how to design a body painting piece suitable for any occasion, give you insight on being prepared to meet your client’s needs, and how to work with different body types.
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flag bodypainting by Athena Zhe

Athena Zhe free body painting class

[button type=”button_solid_light nocufon” url=”https://fabatv.com/page/live”]Watch on FABAtv LIVE![/button]
[button type=”button_solid_light nocufon” url=”http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?p1=820&iso=20120614T20&msg=FABAtv%20LIVE%20with%20Athena%20Zhe%20-%20FREE%20Body%20Painting%20Class&sort=1″ target=”on” ]Find out the show time in your timezone![/button]

From Average to Amazing

After enjoying an amazing week together with so many wonderful artists I came to the realization that what all of us really want is to be the best that we can be. The question then becomes, “How do we go from ordinary to extraordinary?

FABAIC - Lynne Jamieson

Like many of you, I too felt a tad intimidated by the level of the artwork being produced at the face and body art international convention, in books, trade magazines and just about everywhere I look. I almost didn’t want to take out my paints at the jams, but then I knew that every step I take to improve is a step forward and that is all that is required to achieve success. For example, if we want to paint in the style and the level of our favorite artist, it is not enough to admire their artwork. You must do something! Take a class, search for online tutorials, study what it is they do and discern why their art pulls on our heart strings.

Don’t worry about the long term goal, the joy is in the journey. To go from an average painter to an amazing artist, all we need is small steps taken one day at a time, lots of practice, and a belief that you can achieve any dream you have!

-Marcela Murad

Fabulous in 15 – Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good

Fabulous in 15 - Glori

When I started Silly Farm I was 24 and fresh out of college. I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. Growing up I would watch my parents and other family members work 90 hour weeks without hesitation. Working hard became the norm in my world. When it came time to run my own business working 100 hour work weeks seemed effortless. Anyone who knows me well, knows I live by a couple principles.

  1. Work hard, play hard. Life is too short to not cease opportunities that create memories and make you smile.
  2. Never leave the house less then 80%. No matter how tired, grouchy, overwhelmed, or stressed you may be, take the time to put yourself together. Iron your shirt, add a little mascara, or rock some new earrings. When you look good, you feel good, and ultimately you can do great things. No one can hide under a sheet the whole day, more than likely at some point you will need to interact with other humans. Whether at your child’s school, at the grocery store, or on a job. Create a routine where you make time to make yourself look and feel good, and I promise you will see a difference in your attitude and the way people treat you.
  3. Your best accessory is a smile. A smile is infectious, contagious, and can change someone’s day. The best part about wearing a smile is that it costs you nothing. Do your hair, add some lip gloss and smile your way out of the door. You will see how quickly your day changes when you wear a smile.
  4. Treat people how you want to be treated. When people call and complain about a product or concern they always say, “I’m sorry I don’t want to be a pain”. I always tell them that their input is appreciated and respected. I want to know the good, bad and ugly and I want the companies I love doing business with to value my opinion and care about me. Common respect and courtesy goes a long, long way in my book.

Back to the title of this blog. Two years ago my life changed dramatically. I had a gorgeous son and he turned my world upside down. So long were the days of working till midnight and getting up at 5 am to get back at my desk. So long were the quiet beer moments to myself. My days are hectic. Being a mom is harder than running four companies.

After the initial shock of a total Life changer. I sat down and re wrote my daily routine. I created a fabulous in-15-minutes routine that works for me and guarantees that I leave the house feeling and looking like a well oiled MILF entrepreneurial machine. You truly never know who and when opportunities will knock at your door. Being prepared to seize them gets you one step closer to your goal.

You don’t have to be a professional MuA or hair dresser to get your glam on! Find a nice moisturizer, invest in a flat iron and create a feel-good routine that doesn’t require a lot of time and can be realistically fit into your daily schedule. I made a quick video on my best friend Glori. I demonstrated how to get a fast fresh look in 15 minutes. I am not a make up artist, but I do know how to put myself together in a pinch. I hope you enjoy the video and I would LOVE LovE LovE to see your fabulous in 15 look.

Thank you everyone for supporting the Faba Blog, Silly Farm, FABAIC and FABAtv! You guys inspire me daily :).

-Heather


Fabulous in 15 – Youtube

Hair Flair - Color Rub
Hair Flair Color Rubs are a great way to add some colorful fun to your hair.
Color Rub is available now at Silly Farm!

The NEO AIR compressor and airbrush gun are available at Silly Farm! Browse the NEO AIR at Silly Farm.

FABAIC 2012 Recap

We just wrapped up the 11th annual Face and Body Art International Convention. The FABAIC hosts over 500 of the world’s most talented and artistically charged painters. Every year we come together, paint, learn about new products, attend classes, and catch up with old friends and many times make new friends!

FABAIC 2012

This year was a challenge. After hosting the last 10 years of the FABAIC in Orlando, we made a bold decision to move the venue closer to our home. We bit our nails for a full year hoping that the move wouldn’t hurt the FABAIC or worse, that the hotel wouldn’t accept us for who we are.

As the FABAIC festivities came to an end, I literally found myself in a daze. I didn’t know whether to smile and jump for joy because we successfully conquered another year, or cry because I was so amazed at the overall event. It takes us a full year to plan everything about the FABAIC, from vendors, to pipe and drape, to the menu, and an airport shuttle. We scream, fight, and sometimes leave work hating each other because the stress can be overwhelming, but after this FABAIC, I cried tears of pure joy.

FABAIC 2012 - Lizard GirlNix Herrera - FABAIC 2012

This year was my personal favorite. There was a happiness in the air, a relaxed vibe that placed a trance on the event. I watched over 400 artists paint with delight, share without hesitation, focus on teamwork, and enthusiastically learn from one another. Most everyone left their ego at the door and embraced the artistic climate of the event.

My overall highlight of the FABAIC was the Bollywood Flash Mob. Secretly we arranged a flash mob including instructors, kids, and vendors. Nothing made my smile bigger than seeing the children dance to the music, the watch Jinny join in, followed by the Wolfe Brothers and Magic Mike doing the Jai Ho. It was priceless and reminded me why the face and body art family is something truly unique.

I have to admit that my opinion is slightly biased. As the producer of the convention, I naturally felt that we did a super job. As a consumer, an eager artist, and an entrepreneur, I still felt we hit the nail on the head with the lineup of classes, the overall selection of brands and products represented, the events that took place, and the value I received by attending. When we plan the FABAIC we start by asking ourselves questions from every angle. We ask each other questions about schedules, and learning, we search the internet for hot products and sought after artists, we channel our inner child and build a Young Artists program that will groom our future painters. We leave no stone unturned, and cross every T. This is our life and our love drives the FABAIC to new heights every year.

FABAIC 2012 - Jay Bautista
FABAIC 2012 - Sean AvramFABAIC 2012 - DonnaFABAIC 2012 - Mehron

On Sunday, we hosted the Annual Body Painting competition. It was remarkable. The artwork was too amazing to believe that these artists finished a full award worthy living canvas in under 6 hours. I declined the invitation to judge the competition because the talent was too much to handle. As I walked around the room, I was so happy to see how far our industry has come. The artwork and talent soars to new heights every year and I am grateful we can play a part in making that happen.

The FABAIC can only be described as sleep away art camp. Artists come together to party, paint, and enjoy an environment of learning. Artists use the FABAIC as a retreat, they invest in themselves and their businesses with the mindset that they will leave a better, more experienced artist and they are right!

FABAIC 2012 - KidsFABAIC 2012 - JoselynFABAIC 2012

I could go on and on forever about the convention, but instead I will dedicate my next few blogs to certain sections of the FABAIC and encourage your feedback. I thank each of you from the bottom of my heart for your support with Silly Farm, FABAtv, FABAIC, FABAblog, and FAB Events.
Happy Painting!

To view all the amazing photos from the 2012 FABAIC please visit the FABAIC facebook page or website.