I have to agree with both Arla and Cynthia. Things here are pretty bad due to the housing crisis which hit Arizona really bad. Yes, there are still people with money willing to spend on parties and I do get gigs from them. But my middle class business, people who used to go all out and stretch the budget for the kids' partie,s just don't have the money now. I work at a state university. The other day a couple of us were talking (ok complaining) about how long it had been since we had a raise, even a merit raise or cost of living raise. I pulled up my record. I started there six years ago. I now make .16 cents per hour more than six years ago. In between there have been layoffs and furloughs. I am one of the lucky ones. I am also campaign manager for our United Way campaign for our unit. The university lowered the goal for this year. That's a first for me. Coupons are everywhere offering discounts so people ARE lowering their prices. Yet the cost of our supplies and training and insurance has not gone down one bit. I have other things to do with my time so I ask for my full rate which I get sometimes but more often I don't get the gig. I use that time to work on my fine art and I do make some money there. I think things are different in different parts of the country. I agree with Cynthia too that we may have to compromise a bit if we want to work. It's a personal choice. I am in the middle. A little compromise but not much and fewer jobs. That's not an option for everyone and when you are competing with people who ask half of what you are there is no way you won't lose business. People love their kids and to the little ones it's not important to have beautiful designs. The moms are happy to have an entertainer at their party. I honestly don't know when this will change. It has been predicted that the housing market here won't recover for maybe ten years. If that's the case then it affects everything else too. I think one solution for people who depend on entertainment/body art for a living and live in an area like mine is to diversify and offer as many services as you can. That's my three cents worth and I'm sticking to it :-) Joan
On Sep 2, 6:18 pm, Arizona Joan <[email protected]> wrote: > It's pretty much the same in Phoenix and it hurts. It is difficult for > me to even justify paying for training anymore when so little of it > will come back to me. That being said, I am taking Pashur's one-day > workshop this month because it's rare to have a top instructor come > heer. Other than that, I have not spent anything on classes for a > while because people are not willing or can't pay pay for it what it > costs me to paint. I can't afford to give my time away so I do only > gigs that are at or close to my full rate with a bit of negotiation > here and there just to keep things going. It's not easy for sure. > Joan > > On Sep 2, 9:30 am, "Cynthia Keeler" <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Love your site Nina! Really navigates well too ;o) Looks like you have a > > good thing going. > > I think the economy is dictating what folks can and cannot afford. I would > > not take the undercutting personally. Sometimes "something is better than > > nothing", when it comes to making some money. There is alot of give and > > take, bartering, creative financing and sacrifice going on these days. But, > > I definitely HEAR your lament and sympathize with your frustration. The > > range in Orlando for a facepainter runs from $25-$150 per hour....that is > > quite a range! > > > Cynthia Keeler > > Conus Keeler Productions, Inc. > > Temporary Airbrush Tattoos, Face and Body Painting > > [email protected] > > 407-628-9998 > > > > [Original Message] > > > From: Tickled Pink Face Painting <[email protected]> > > > To: Face Painting and Body Art Association <[email protected]> > > > Date: 9/1/2010 10:08:33 PM > > > Subject: [fpba-assn] Undercutting rant - sorry guys > > > > Hey Guys, > > > > I know we live in a Market Economy but geeez this undercutting is > > > hurting. For the second time this week I have lost bookings to > > > someone who is undercutting me by 52+%. Now I know what you are all > > > thinking. "So reduce your rates" Yes, I could do that and include > > > myself in a pricing war which any idiot can start. At this rate we > > > will all be out of business and the only face painters out there will > > > be using craft paint with no insurance, no ethics and no skill. (I > > > said it was a rant) > > > > We all know what good materials, insurance and workshops cost. I > > > increased my prices at a steady rate over the years as advised by the > > > seasoned artists that I know and respect from forums, networking and > > > meeting at events and workshops. I urge all who consider this to be > > > their profession to think of the big picture and the whole industry > > > before quoting too low. You all know how many additional hours you > > > spend reading the forums, creating designs, working on your marketing, > > > prepping for your gigs and improving your skill level. Most of us > > > (when all things considered) are working for minimum wage. Loving > > > what we do is no justification for not charging what we are worth. > > > Someone close to me often says "you need to decide whether this is a > > > business or a hobby"! > > > > IS IT JUST ME, if it is I'll shut up! Oh and apologies ahead of time > > > for anyone who is offended by this post (I usually manage to upset > > > someone) > > > > Nina > > >http://www.NinaGreville.com > > > > -- > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > > "Face Painting and Body Art Association." > > > > This is a PG-13 forum dedicated to the discussion of Face Painting and > > > Body Art. This group is provided for the benefit of all and as such is not > > moderated. Our goal is to promote open and unrestricted communication > > between people interested in face painting and body art. We hope that you > > will be courteous to others and try to stay on topic. You are free to > > offer products or services related to face painting as well. > Please > > address concerns with the original poster before contacting the > > management. > > > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > > [email protected]> For more options, visit this group > > at > > >http://groups.google.com/group/fpba-assn-Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Face Painting and Body Art Association." This is a PG-13 forum dedicated to the discussion of Face Painting and Body Art. This group is provided for the benefit of all and as such is not moderated. Our goal is to promote open and unrestricted communication between people interested in face painting and body art. We hope that you will be courteous to others and try to stay on topic. You are free to offer products or services related to face painting as well. Please address concerns with the original poster before contacting the management. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/fpba-assn
