Hints & Tips

The average children's party lasts between two, and two and a half hours. In that time I would expect to face paint between 20 to 32 children, depending a little on their age & the complexity of the face painting design they choose, but as a guide each face paint takes about 5 minutes.  If you are expecting smaller numbers ... say 10 or less and depending on the location, I can offer a one hour party.

It may be that not all the children will want their face painted, so for those who are hesitant, (or very young children) I can paint their arm or leg instead. I can work independently, or with another face painter (if there are huge numbers of children to accommodate) I can also recommend entertainers, children’s discos, ball pond and bouncy castle suppliers etc.

On this note I would just say that if it is a really hot day, the children can easily get overheated if they are on a bouncy castle for a long time, so make sure there are plenty of drinks available for them to cool off. They can also be very noisy if inside a confined space, so it is not feasible to have a children’s entertainer going at the same time! Better to let them have a pre party bounce & then again at the end (if they still have any energy to burn up!)

Please be aware that some bouncy castle hirers stipulate that no face painted children are allowed to go on their equipment.  I have spoken to many reputable bouncy castle hirers who have no problem at all with painted children on their equipment, and they say that the only reason they might give will be because they have to clean it afterwards.  Face paints do not usually stain the castles if they are cleaned off within a few hours.  The reputable hirers say that the equipment should be cleaned regularly anyway, but it might be a good idea to check at the time of booking, to avoid any misunderstandings.

If you are having an entertainer at the party, it is best if they can have an area in the room or hall which is a little away from the face painting, so that he or she & the children are not distracted when a child leaves or returns to the group.

If at all possible, limit the number of adults staying in the room. Adults can make rather more volume than they realise when chatting, which means the entertainer has to get louder & louder in order for the children to hear him… then the adults get louder and in no time it becomes unbearable for everyone & little ones especially, can get quite distressed by a lot of loud noise.

It is better if the Adults can drop their children off & come back for them near the end the party, but if this really is not possible, try to have another room where they can chat away without ruining the party for the little ones.

Tea (or lunch if the party is held mid-day), is best served roughly in the middle of the party, so that the children don’t have too long to wait for a drink and food, and also to give a chance for a 'loo break'. If space is limited, there is no need for tables & chairs…. Have a `picnic` style meal on the floor! This is great fun & if you put a large sheet down, with a plastic cloth in the centre, the children can sit cross legged around the edge. If all the plates etc are disposable; it is very easy to scoop the lot into rubbish sacks when the children have finished eating. (The rubbish that is… not the children!!!)

Fancy dress or themed parties are fine, but do be aware that the children need to be comfortable. If they have to worry about spoiling a costume Mum has spent a fortune on, or has taken three weeks to make… they will be inhibited & not enjoy themselves so much.

If you are having balloons at your party, it is best if you can not have them floating loose around the room. This just encourages a popping frenzy amongst the children & most balloons will be gone before the end of the party .This both wastes the money you have spent on them & also means tears if there are not enough balloons left to take home. Have them tied into big bunches along the centre of the dining table (or picnic floor) or better still, tie them onto going-home bags if you are having them & keep them out of the way until home time.

If your party is being held in a hired hall, tables & chairs are usually on site & are included in the hire charge for the hall, but if not & you want them, ask in your local library or church hall to see where you can hire them separately. There are all sorts and sizes of halls and rooms to hire across the UK. Certainly in and around Harpenden ,Hertfordshire, there are many…Church halls, Council run halls, School halls, Village halls, Scout and Guide huts , Harpenden Trust hall etc. Look in your local library for places to hire near you or ask me for details if the party is in Harpenden.

Useful Links:
Smartie Artie
www.smartieartie.co.uk
FACE - The face painting association
www.facepaint.co.uk
Colin Soper- Professional Balloon Modeller
www.ball00ns.com
FACE UK
www.facepaint-uk.com
Face Painting Chat
www.facepaintingchat.co.uk
 

Other painters hints and tips etc
www.facepaintingtips.com
www.uk-facepainting.co.uk