How to Ensure Your Face Painting Service is a Hit at Your Event

When you think of an event that leaves a lasting impression, what comes to mind? It’s often the little details that guests talk about long after it’s over—the food, the entertainment, and yes, even the face painting. Imagine this: a queue of excited kids (and adults!) lining up to transform into their favorite superheroes, animals, or sparkly creations. But here’s the kicker: not all face painting services are created equal. Some elevate the event, while others miss the mark. The difference? Proper planning, expertise, and knowing how to ensure your face painting service is a hit.

If you’re planning to add a face painting station to your event, don’t leave it up to chance. Follow these actionable tips to make sure it’s the highlight of the day!

Hire a Professional Face Painter (Seriously, it Matters)

Let’s cut straight to the point: a professional face painter can make or break your event. It’s tempting to go with a budget-friendly option or have a friend “give it a shot,” but that can lead to uneven, smeared designs and frustrated guests.

A professional painter brings experience, creativity, and a portfolio of designs that can be customized to your event theme. Plus, they work efficiently, which means shorter lines and more smiling faces.

Here’s why hiring a pro is non-negotiable:

• Speed and Efficiency: A skilled artist can create intricate designs quickly without sacrificing quality. No one wants a long wait time for face painting.
• Hygiene Standards: Professionals know the importance of using clean brushes and cosmetic-grade paints, especially when working with kids.
• Wide Range of Designs: They come prepared with a variety of designs and can even tailor them to match your event theme, whether it’s a jungle safari, princess party, or spooky Halloween event.

Make Sure They Use High-Quality, Safe Products

Here’s a big one that often gets overlooked: the materials used for face painting. Cosmetic-grade, non-toxic face paints are a must. Cheap paints can cause irritation, rashes, or worse—lead to bad reviews and unhappy guests.

Always check with your face painter about the products they use. Ensure that they’re hypoallergenic, FDA-approved, and safe for sensitive skin. If you have any guests with allergies or sensitivities, it’s good to keep a few alternatives on hand.

• Water-based paints: They’re easier to remove at the end of the day and less likely to cause skin issues.
• Avoid acrylics: These are not designed for the skin, no matter how “safe” someone claims they are.

Set Up in the Right Location for the Face Painting Session

This might seem like a minor detail, but where you position your face painting station can greatly affect its success. You want it to be visible but not so central that it causes bottlenecks in the crowd flow.

• Shaded or covered area: If your event is outdoors, make sure there’s enough shade or cover to protect the face painter and guests from the sun or rain. You don’t want sweaty, melting face paint!
• Near related activities: Place the face painting station near activities for kids, like a bouncy castle or games corner. This way, families can easily transition from one fun activity to the next.
• Good lighting: Whether indoors or outdoors, ensure there’s enough lighting so the painter can work on those detailed designs.

Timing is Everything

Face painting is popular, but there are prime times when the demand will spike—usually as the event gets into full swing. Coordinate with your face painter to ensure they’re available during peak times and when the kids are most likely to participate.

• Early during the event: Right when families arrive, kids are excited and ready to jump into activities.
• Book it with other fringe activities: As the kids need to take turns to get their faces painted, fill up the time with other popular fringe activities like magic workshop, balloon sculpting and caricature.
• Do a simple craft activity: Prepare some colouring sheet, get some DIY craft packs like sand art or get our professional team to occupy the kids with some educational craft while waiting for their turns.  

Consider splitting the face painting sessions into two blocks of time, giving the artist a short break while keeping the station open during high-demand periods.

Manage the Line

You might think the face painter is the only one responsible for managing the line, but having a helper or event staff nearby can keep things running smoothly. Long lines can frustrate guests, especially younger children, so keeping the queue moving is essential.

• Use a numbering system: Give each person in line a number and announce when it’s their turn. This allows guests to enjoy other activities instead of standing around.
• Time-per-guest limit: Have the face painter limit complex designs during busy times to ensure more kids can get painted.

Encourage Creativity, but Know When to Limit Choices

While offering a wide selection of face painting designs is fantastic, sometimes too much choice can slow things down. Encourage creativity by having the painter offer a few customizable designs, but limit the overall options to streamline the process.

For larger events, having a board or menu of pre-approved designs can speed up decision-making. Guests can pick their favorite while they wait, making the process smoother once it’s their turn.

• Standard vs. deluxe designs: Offer a basic set of designs during peak times and save the more elaborate requests for slower periods or as premium options.

Promote the Face Painting Station Before the Event

This tip goes beyond the day of the event itself! Get the buzz started early by promoting the face painting station in your pre-event communications. Whether it’s a corporate family day or a birthday party, let your guests know face painting will be part of the fun.

Here’s how to promote it:

• Event invitations: Mention face painting as a highlight in your event invites.
• Social media teasers: Share sneak peeks of designs guests can expect or previous events where face painting was a hit.
• Signage at the event: Make sure there’s clear signage directing guests to the face painting station, especially at larger events.

Let Mr. Bottle Kids Party Take Care of It All

Looking to take the stress out of planning and guarantee a hit face painting station? Mr. Bottle Kids Party is here to help! Our professional face painters not only deliver stunning, creative designs, but they also know how to engage with guests, manage time efficiently, and ensure a hygienic, safe experience for everyone.

With a range of packages that cater to different event types, Mr. Bottle Kids Party can transform your event into a fun-filled celebration that leaves lasting smiles. Don’t just take our word for it—our happy customers rave about the flawless organization and unforgettable entertainment we provide!

Ready to elevate your event? Contact Mr. Bottle Kids Party today and make your face painting station the star attraction!