Want more?

As I said in the last post, the whole question of comparative fees surfaces from time to time.

A painter asked: "Why cant we have the same (as balloon modellers)" and you CAN. Many do. In fact you can have more, much MORE..... but not unless you take action to make changes.

The reason we see so much bad face painting around (by teachers and mums and play leaders etc) is that everybody thinks they can do it. And of course they can! Well...what I mean is they THINK they can. After all...you just get some paints (even acrylics!) and a furry brush and and a book and that's it.......It scares me to see what they churn out. But it scares me more that people think it's OK!

Balloon modelling is that bit tougher to even make a start with.

Now I think they are both equal in terms of skill and creativity and value to an event. Sometimes one will be better than the other ... but whilst they both share certain strengths they both have different individual benefits that should be played up when promoting. But that's another long story.

However, both face painting and balloon modelling as live solo entertainments are both seriously limited in terms of earning potential because they are both based on selling your time. And whilst that's the case, it is bound to be limited.

The secret is to change this! Move from a linear income to passive income streams. This would also raise profile, status, exposure and earning capacity and the price of balloons or paint wouldn't matter any more.

What does this mean? That's the topic of the posts that will follow. Bookmark this Blog and return soon.

The Infotainer
Where passive is an action to be taken
www.WatchThisFace.com

What Are You Worth?

I read some comments about face painters being paid less than balloon modellers perhaps because their expenses were les. This made the writer feel undervalued.

That's natural ... after all, an a gig, you are both doing your best and bothe contributing equally to the entertainment. If this were the case, all contributors would be paid equally, and we know they are not. Depending on the gig, there may be a venue, security, production (lights, sound, staging etc), catering, management .... and so on. Each is paid the 'going rate' ... or as much as they are able to get above the standard rate.

Don't we all know people who continually get high fees but we know that their actual skill and experience level is below our own? Why is that?

The answers to all this are simple and I'll be addressing them in some following posts so that you can understand the machanisms at work and how you can use them to get better fees for your work.

Watch this space .... it'll be worth it!

The Infotainer
www.WatchThisFace.com

I'll Name That Face Painter

Some say that the name can be anything. For example, something like 'Faces By Sue' or 'Frank's Faces'. Of course you CAN, but I believe that anyone wanting to put their business on a professional basis and grow it should give this task the attention it deserves.

It IS possible to 'make it' using any name...BUT (and it's a big 'but') it takes much more effort and money. Companies like Nike and Addidas with seemingly 'meaningless' names (although their names are derivations with meaning) spend a fortune on 'Building Their Brand' ..... and 'Positioning' themselves. If they didn't, you would not have heard of them!

Some brands excel in this to the extent that their name becomes synonymous with a genre ie Hoover or Xerox. We now say "I'll Google it". But that takes the kind of finances and prolonged expertise most Face Painters don't have!

The advice I give is that you should give yourself every possible chance to be found, be seen and be understood. Why not? So, with that in mind, I believe it important to make a study of search terms for your business. After all, if 8,000 people are looking for 'party, face, painting, decoration' and only 72 for 'sparkles' that makes all the difference. The popular keywords must be littered throughout your name, bi-line, tags and everything else the search 'spiders' look at.

But that's only if you want to be found......

Your Faces Are Your Fortune ......
The Infotainer

Really Bad With Names ...
But I Always Remember A Face!

This post was made following some discussion by face painters on a forum about names for a new member's business. What follows is my quick response, and will allow me to elaborate more over the coming days.

...................................

Choosing a name to use 'forever' (for your business) can be daunting and rightly should not be taken lightly. As a marketing coach specialising in identity and direction, in business development and achieving peak perfromance, it's part of my business to help people find what they want to do and then help them achieve that. So here's a few comments and tips (to start you off and perhaps confuse you even more! o):

a) Ideally your chosen name should state something about what you do

b) If it doesn't do that, it should be interesting enough for people to ask

c) A bland name that does neither is wasting so many opportunities

d) IF you wish to build a business and perhaps sell the interests at a later date .... don't hang it on your name or a region etc. ie make it universal!

e) Be careful NOT to use words or phrases that have different meanings in other countries. :o(

f) A name that you don't have to spell each time you say it is better.

g) I wouldn't go with a name where you couldn't also get the .com url.

h) As soon as you have chosen, register the url immediately.

i) Remember, the name is mostly used with a tag line (sub title, bi-line) so that is able to flesh out any shortcomings. Continual use together will cement the meaning.

j) In general, short snappy names are best BUT ..... if you get it right, a very long name can be an attraction and be memorable ie .The Absolutely Fabulous Face and Body Painting Team'. I think this WOULD be remembered because it is so unique.

k) Think carefully about HOW you want to be perceived. Perception counts for a lot. The choice of name governs this, and helps your POSITIONING in the market place. What I mean is: If you are called 'Mandy's Masks', or 'Triffic Faces' or 'The Fizzog Face Artistic Organisation' or 'The American Face Painting Company' .... they each conjure up a different kind of service. How do you WANT to be seen? As a local part-timer? As a profesional artiste who travels all over? As a company supplying the world? The name will contribute (greatly) to this perceived image and 'personality'.

Finally

l) I wouldn't worry TOO much about wanting a name that allows you to expand. Certainly don't restrict to faces IF you do bodies ...... but beyond that I believe it is better to have different 'package' or 'product' names for other things that you may do. It's best to be thought of as a specialist in one area (and for one niche market). So choose a name that fits with the service you offer and the market you want to 'attack'.

There is a ton more I could say on this (alone) but had better stop now. If those who are trying to select a name want some more help .... email me WatchThisFace@MagicWorks.co.uk and just ask.

The Infotainer
www.WatchThisFace.com