FACE PAINTING CHAT UK

[FUGLY ANNE]

[Paul@Facade]

Hi Anne,

Thank's for that! Thinking about it, the bit about numbers under 21. That ratio can change if you are in a venue where there is a theme night or if a venue has a niche clientele. I'm thinking here maybe a Halloween night or in particular gay clubs where you just can't have enough glitter!

[FUGLY ANNE]

glad to help Paul. You'd covered some really good points in your list that will be loads of help to quite a few on here.

[lolladipips]

great list!

[jennywren]

Great advice Paul! thanks

[susanthomson1]

Great advice, thanks. Maybe another point would be don't turn up too early! Event started last night at 6pm but really didn't start to get going until 7.30pm.

I think there's a big difference on ppf with adults in comparison to kids in relation to price. Add drink to the equation and the tips can be amazing!

Paul, I totally agree with the 3 hours, by that time, its usually time to pack up for me for 'club painting'.

Thanks for putting the list together!

[LisaP]

Well done Paul and well done Anne for making it sticky.

[Gillytigerface]

Good advice!
I paint regularly at under 18s club events and it is FANTASTIC, apart from the music of course!

[danni]

Thanks for that I have been asked to do a club on a monthly basis, but have been umming and ahhing bout it! This has helped make my mind up!

[metamorfaces]

[carlajayne]

[wildcatfin]

My tips:

1) Get booked by the hour, I have done/ do for all my nightclub stints. Does mean I may be there until 3 am but hey, its money. Also offer to decorate staff (a set number!) free or for a small costs/ slightly longer booking - looks good, pleases management AND encourages punters.

2) As well as my trusty petzl field studies LED head torch I have some strings of those tiny Ikea (etc) LED fairy lights wound round me (hair, waist) & my kit. Is pretty but effective lighting & i use rechargeable batteries.

3) Make it clear to bookers AND punters you do NOT paint things YOU consider offensive - or parts of people you consider the same. If you have it on a sign to point at it saves your voice too.

4) Cut kit to bare minimum. At clubs the lighting is NOT going to show beautiful subtle blendings, etc. only bold contrasty stuff works. I basically take UV, black, white and rainbow with a few faves, and a handful of brushes. Also means less can get knocked.

5) I discovered i had a few more UV glitters than I thought when they glowed at the club and I spotted them in my 'normal' glitter section.

6) The UV torch/ light (think I got it from Bibi/ Dauphones?) is handy as shows them what it looks like.

7) Chain your mirror to you - the BLOKES are all at it - doesn't the gents have one?

8) Refuse to let anyone put their drink on your table at ALL. Otherwise you get left dozens and the ones who pick theirs up often knock them into your kit.

9) Be tough re table situation. I insist on being near the entrance - often better light, air, quieter, and you catch the less sweaty less drunk punters as they arrive. Also often handy for bouncers. Tell them you can amuse the queue that way too.

10) STENCILS!!!! I have a range, home made and bought, especially good for UV nights. Tribals, whatever, quick up the arms/ chest/ face.

11) I always wear a brightly bold lettered top, especially on my back - with that and fairy lights in my hair I'm spottable.

12) Safety; if its a big club and you don't have a minder/ queue manager, make them leave you a security radio and KNOW how to use it/ who to call. Whether its a drunk hassling you or a punter passing out in the queue, you need it. Also if you need a loo break, call someone to watch your kit - clubbers worse than kids in a sweet shop....

13) Don't bother taking pics for them to choose; its dark, they are often drunk and will either take loose the sheets, take them down & carry them off into the distance or not be able to focus at all. Maybe have a few LARGE words to point at - 'tribal' pretty' butterfly' 'chinese symbol' etc (again save your voice) but basically its up to you, I find.....

14) Have an alarm/ timer etc clock with luminous display in your kit; keeps track of the time overall AND you can judge how long to spend with punters - they tend to want arm and face and cleavage etc so if I stop & they want more I can just say '5 mins max' sort of thing, again helps quell arguments, its 'official'.

I actually like club gigs tho as its often 8 hr bookings on a weekend (after doing kids parties) its tiring.
But very brainless, I find - no need to talk really and you are more likely to be allowed to paint what you want!

And my own personal opinion is NOT to take an alcoholic drink if management offer it (maybe after the gig tho). ESPECIALLY not from punters, even if they seem nice. Who knows what they might get you for a 'laugh'.

Oh yes that's my other tip - your drink -
15) get/ take a bottle WITH A LID - then you can't dip into it accidentally, won't get knocked into your kit, and is very hard for anyone to spike...

[lolladipips]

Brill extra tips there Cat...very relevant after my last TERRIBLE club night...I feel better armed to go again now!

[jennywren]

fab tips cat.....arming us all with wise words and actions...

thats great!

I love this forum

jen xxx

[spinklesparks]

I've been doing quite a few club nights recently and I absolutely love them. I'm surprised that I love them more than painting kids. The skin is never as good but I love the challenge of trying to paint what drunken adults want. I did a range of leprechauns in compromising situations on Paddy's day, a whole head as Spiderman, skin ripped away with jewels underneath for a pirate themed night and a drag queen before her cabaret show last night. It's shattering work but so much fun!

I will only do complimentary jobs where the club pay me to be there. It's great money and I don't have to visibly carry around and waste time sorting out money at the end of each paint. Wolfe/Diamond FX UV is really good although the pink does tend to glow orange in UV (which is a bit pointless when you put it in a rainbow next to orange).

UV rainbows with a unicorn at the bottom go down really well as do cheek flowers for the girlie girls and stars for the emo kids. I tend to start at about 8ish and finish at 2am. I just wish my body clock would let me go on for longer!

And ear plugs ... what a great idea!! Why didn't I think of that???

Have fun club-painters!

Spinks!
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