10 Things you should ask when hiring a face painter:
1. What types of paints do you use?
I have witnessed more times than I care to remember people painting with craft paints. Tempera paint, acrylic paint, and any craft type paint. While they may say non-toxic on the package, that does not mean they are meant for you child's sensitive skin. While a face painter may want to cut costs to pass the savings on to you, this is the worst way to cut costs.
Clementine The Amazing and her crew all use the same paints, sponges, glitter and tools. All of which are made with FDA approved ingredients. Our paints are water based to make them easier to remove, when it comes time to wash the face, yet don't smear when your child touches them through out the day.
2. Are you insured?
Seems silly to make sure your artist is insured at first. Then again think about the liability you might carry if anything they do may unintentionally harm a child at your event or party. It is always wise to have insurance, especially when working with children.
Clementine The Amazing carries face and body painting insurance through Body Work Insurance.
3. How often do you practice?
May seem like a rude question but is very valid. If you are paying good money you should be getting good quality. Clementine The Amazing and her crew practice weekly, as well as all the practice we gain on the job. We learn different techniques in order to give you the best art and experience for your party.
4. How long have you been face painting for?
There are many natural talents, and face painting can be one of them. HOWEVER, if they have just started out, with less than 1 year of experience there are some things they may not be able to handle. Certain things like handling a long line or a fidgety kid, is something that takes time to master. It also effects the speed in which they paint.
Not only do we practice weekly, we follow the same menu and the artists have got to train prior to being hired out. They have to reach a certain speed in which is realistic for a child to withstand, while getting painted. They work side by side with Clementine, who has 6 + years of experience face painting and over 13 + years working preschool, in order to understand how to handle situations that may arise.
5. What is your background with children?
This is actually really important! There are many people who are great artists but have no background with children. When hiring someone to come to your child's party, you may want someone to be comfortable around children. Clementine worked preschool and was a nanny for over 13 years, has 3 children, and has 12 ECE college units. Most of the team has children, has worked with children or has customer service backgrounds and helped children.
6. Can I see some of the artist I am hiring's art work?
We can send over a few pictures from your artists portfolio to insure you are happy with the level of face painting they have to offer. I am confident that all the artists are up to par, and above and beyond most work you will find. Because we are a team we work to make sure that you are getting a consistent level of work. Each artist does have his or her own style which sets apart from one another, but also brings more depth to the artwork it's self.
7. What do I need to provide for my artist?
This is just important to know, everyone would be bummed if your artist showed up without a table to paint with or chairs to sit in. Clementine The Amazing and her crew require nothing but shade. We can bring out proper shade, depending on the event, for an additional fee. We do bring our own table, chairs, paints, water, menu book, and whatever tools or bling we may need to make magical faces.
8. Do you travel? What is your travel fee?
Many face painters like to stay local and will charge to travel out of a certain area, make sure you are aware of travel fees. Clementine The Amazing will travel up to 30 miles radius of Santa Rosa, without a travel fee, anything beyond that radius and up to 45 miles is an additional $25. Anything outside of 45 miles will be charged an additional $25 travel fee.
9. Do you have references?
It is great to know you have someone reliable who you are booking to come to your child's important day. Clementine The Amazing and her crew have references upon request. You can also always come out to see any one of them at the many Markets, street fairs, parades, or public events they paint at. Just ask if we have any coming up and we can let you know.
10. Will you be to my party early to set up so you are painting for the time I hired you for?
Our rule at Clementine The Amazing is our brush will touch the first face at time hired for. We like to show up early enough to set up and get ready, usually that only takes us 15 minutes or so.
1. What types of paints do you use?
I have witnessed more times than I care to remember people painting with craft paints. Tempera paint, acrylic paint, and any craft type paint. While they may say non-toxic on the package, that does not mean they are meant for you child's sensitive skin. While a face painter may want to cut costs to pass the savings on to you, this is the worst way to cut costs.
Clementine The Amazing and her crew all use the same paints, sponges, glitter and tools. All of which are made with FDA approved ingredients. Our paints are water based to make them easier to remove, when it comes time to wash the face, yet don't smear when your child touches them through out the day.
2. Are you insured?
Seems silly to make sure your artist is insured at first. Then again think about the liability you might carry if anything they do may unintentionally harm a child at your event or party. It is always wise to have insurance, especially when working with children.
Clementine The Amazing carries face and body painting insurance through Body Work Insurance.
3. How often do you practice?
May seem like a rude question but is very valid. If you are paying good money you should be getting good quality. Clementine The Amazing and her crew practice weekly, as well as all the practice we gain on the job. We learn different techniques in order to give you the best art and experience for your party.
4. How long have you been face painting for?
There are many natural talents, and face painting can be one of them. HOWEVER, if they have just started out, with less than 1 year of experience there are some things they may not be able to handle. Certain things like handling a long line or a fidgety kid, is something that takes time to master. It also effects the speed in which they paint.
Not only do we practice weekly, we follow the same menu and the artists have got to train prior to being hired out. They have to reach a certain speed in which is realistic for a child to withstand, while getting painted. They work side by side with Clementine, who has 6 + years of experience face painting and over 13 + years working preschool, in order to understand how to handle situations that may arise.
5. What is your background with children?
This is actually really important! There are many people who are great artists but have no background with children. When hiring someone to come to your child's party, you may want someone to be comfortable around children. Clementine worked preschool and was a nanny for over 13 years, has 3 children, and has 12 ECE college units. Most of the team has children, has worked with children or has customer service backgrounds and helped children.
6. Can I see some of the artist I am hiring's art work?
We can send over a few pictures from your artists portfolio to insure you are happy with the level of face painting they have to offer. I am confident that all the artists are up to par, and above and beyond most work you will find. Because we are a team we work to make sure that you are getting a consistent level of work. Each artist does have his or her own style which sets apart from one another, but also brings more depth to the artwork it's self.
7. What do I need to provide for my artist?
This is just important to know, everyone would be bummed if your artist showed up without a table to paint with or chairs to sit in. Clementine The Amazing and her crew require nothing but shade. We can bring out proper shade, depending on the event, for an additional fee. We do bring our own table, chairs, paints, water, menu book, and whatever tools or bling we may need to make magical faces.
8. Do you travel? What is your travel fee?
Many face painters like to stay local and will charge to travel out of a certain area, make sure you are aware of travel fees. Clementine The Amazing will travel up to 30 miles radius of Santa Rosa, without a travel fee, anything beyond that radius and up to 45 miles is an additional $25. Anything outside of 45 miles will be charged an additional $25 travel fee.
9. Do you have references?
It is great to know you have someone reliable who you are booking to come to your child's important day. Clementine The Amazing and her crew have references upon request. You can also always come out to see any one of them at the many Markets, street fairs, parades, or public events they paint at. Just ask if we have any coming up and we can let you know.
10. Will you be to my party early to set up so you are painting for the time I hired you for?
Our rule at Clementine The Amazing is our brush will touch the first face at time hired for. We like to show up early enough to set up and get ready, usually that only takes us 15 minutes or so.