23/10/2024
An interesting situation came up last week...
Someone in a Facebook group was looking for a last-minute face painter because the one they had booked canceled unexpectedly less than a week before their party. Even though the event was outside my usual service area, I sent a quote, including a travel fee for the 80km round trip. It ended up being out of their budget, but it got me thinking—so I wanted to share a few thoughts.
I've been a face painter for nearly 20 years, starting in 2005, and when you book me, you can count on me showing up. On the extremely rare occasion I can’t make it, I always arrange for another trusted, experienced professional to take my place. Reliability and professionalism are a big part of what I offer.
If you're outside the West Island, I do charge a travel fee. This covers not just mileage, but also the time spent in traffic (with all the construction, bridges, and occasional accidents), as well as setup and cleanup. Each event includes about 10 minutes to set up, 10 minutes to pack everything away, and 15-20 minutes for cleaning brushes, sponges, and stencils once I get home.
For example, a 1-hour party in St-Lazare means at least an hour of travel time (since I’m based in the West Island), and roughly 30-40 minutes of set-up and clean-up. That’s an extra 1.5-1.75 hours where I’m not even painting—but I’m still investing that time to make sure everything is perfect for your event.
Yes, there are face painters offering to work for $50 an hour, but here’s why it’s important to be cautious. Many of them are newer to the business and may not have the experience, reliability, or professional equipment necessary to handle a busy event or last-minute challenges. If they cancel last minute, as happened in this case, you're left scrambling to find someone else, or worse, without a face painter at all.
When you choose me, you're not just hiring someone to paint for an hour. You’re hiring someone with nearly two decades of experience, who shows up on time, uses high-quality materials, and ensures everything runs smoothly from start to finish. So while $50 per hour may sound like a bargain, it can end up costing a lot more in stress, disappointment, and last-minute chaos.
