Discover our top tips for hiring a great face painter for your next event.
Hiring a face painter is always great fun and it makes for very memorable pictures.
However, if you aren’t a professional event planner, it can hard to know how to choose a great face painter who is guaranteed to deliver.
In this article, we’ve listed everything you’ll need to know to make an informed decision.
Let’s dive in.
1. Who is the Audience?
Let’s start by looking at your guests. The key is to understand how to meet their needs. Most often, audiences can be broken into three categories:
- Kids – e.g A kid’s birthday party
- Families – e.g A local town event
- Adults – e.g A corporate event
When it comes to face painting, kids & family events are by far the most common.
However, face painters can also be booked for adults. For example a branding stunt or a photoshoot.
Just remember, the audience will influence who you hire.
2. What Format is the Most Suitable?
Painting during the event
This is the classic approach to face painting.
The face painter sets up a fixed stand/table at the event where he/she will do all the painting from. Your guests can approach the face painter and ask for whatever they want.
In this case, face painters are booked for a set amount of time.
Ideal for:
- Birthdays
- Communions and family events
- Weddings
- Family festivals
Painting prior to the event
The alternative, which is less common, is to do all the painting before the event. The face painter does all the painting ahead of time and leaves before the event kicks off.
In this case, the face painter can be hired for a set amount of time or for a specific design brief. It depends on the entertainer.
Ideal for:
- Corporate events
- Hen parties
- Filming & photoshoots.
3. How will the face painter fit in with the event?
What mood will your guests be in? How will face painting affect the atmosphere you want to set?
Event schedule
What’s your event schedule? When is the face painting the most suitable?
For example, if you’re planning a kid’s party, you might want to kick off with the face painting prior to other activities. This makes for great photos during the rest of the event.
In contrast, if you’re organising a family open day event, the face painter will probably need to be there the whole time.
Event size
It’s also important to consider how many guests you will have.
As a rule of thumb, allow around 5 minutes for each person.
That means in an hour, a face painter can generally paint up to 12 guests. If you have more guests, consider hiring them for longer or booking multiple face painters.
Venue layout
What’s the layout of the venue (which might be your house)? Will there be enough space or will it be tight?
For example, if you’re hiring a face painter for a kid’s birthday party, where will they be seated? Is there enough room for the face painting table and for the kids?
The good news is that compared to other entertainers, face painters require minimal set-up. Often just two chairs and a small table for their equipment.
4. Look for Pictures and Videos
Before booking a face painter, it’s nice to see them paint in person! However, this is not always possible.
Photos and videos are your second-best option.
At PartyWizz, you can find pictures and videos of the entertainers on each of their profiles.
5. Look for Testimonials and Reviews
Ideally, you want to get a first-hand referral. Again, this isn’t always possible.
Instead, you’ll want to look for testimonials and reviews.
On PartyWizz, you can see reviews for all the entertainers on their profile page. Also, don’t hesitate to ask around for feedback from someone you know.
As a last resort check for Facebook reviews, google reviews and independent platform reviews. Just keep in mind that these reviews are not always authentic.
6. Check their equipment is suitable
Make sure the face paint that they use is safe for the skin (dermatologist-tested). This is something experienced face painters will know about.
7. Check for a Quality Vetting System
If possible, check for a quality vetting system. Whilst, not a requirement, it provides additional peace of mind.
At PartyWizz, we have a strict vetting system in order to form partnerships with only top-quality entertainers.
8. How Long have they been Face Painting for?
Make sure the face painter you’re booking is experienced. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hire a younger entertainer, but make sure they have a few shows under their belt before approaching them.
At PartyWizz, we handpick our entertainers so that we know they are able to consistently deliver what they promise.
9. Are they Available?
Now that you know what you’re looking for, start checking availability. Start looking as early as possible. Calendars fill up fast, especially during the holidays.
At PartyWizz, this is done automatically for you. Select a date and location and the system will display the face painters who are provisionally available.
If you aren’t based in a region we cover, usually, the easiest way is to pick up the phone.
10. That’s a Wrap
You’re now ready to book a face painter.
If you’re based in Ireland and you’re interested in booking a face painter, check out the PartyWizz platform.
We’re proud to be partnering with the best entertainers in every category. The whole process is automated which allows you to make a booking online in seconds.
If you’re still unsure, don’t hesitate to contact us directly. We’re always happy to help.
