Face and Body Art International Convention

Well! Another FABAIC convention under my belt. At FABAIC (In Orlando), 500 artists, vendors and models come together to play, learn and be inspired.

So far they have asked me to come teach for the past two years. A feather in my cap, as newer artists, like me, don't normally get asked to teach this early in our journey's along the face painting line.

It has been a good year for me, I have been asked to teach at many of the neat conventions. It has taught me a few things about myself. One, I love to teach, and I am pretty good at it. Two, I don't play well with others!

I am a very organized teacher. I need LOTS of structure, well in advance. If I don't get that, I am very cranky. Some of the events I have gone too don't give me that. Luckily, FABAIC does.

My only real complaint (about an event that has a zillion good things to say about it), is that it did not have name tags. I had no idea how badly that would effect me. I have found that I have a tiny bit of fame now. So many people came up to me and said, "Lilly! Remember me?" Well, I might have, if they had a name badge! And when I did not remember them, I could see it hurt them, and embarrassed me. It threw me into such a tail spin, I would not have accepted an invitation to return next year, if they had asked me then.

BUT!! If you are a face or body painter, you must go. It is the MUST GO TO EVENT for you!

My favorite thing was doing the jams at night. I love to paint. And, to do it around people who were my 'fans' was exhilarating!!! Here are a few things I painted.

What A Wonderful Face Painting World

I am sitting here tonight hmmming, "What A Wonderful World." I've so much that is making me feel fulfilled, happy, and successful. This blog entry is a bit rambling and mushy, but, hey, it's my blog. I'm feeling so happy and blessed, and I want to share :)

I love my life now. There were many years where I was so depressed that my head felt so heavy it would just about be laying on my desk.

But now, life is good. God has blessed me in some amazing ways. I have so much to be grateful for and happy about. My husband, my home, Jim Abbott and this world of face painting.

Everything I have tried in this face painting world has worked without a struggle, unlike many things I have tried in the past. I put up a website to see if anyone would want to hire me as a face painter - and my phone started ringing away. I decided to teach a few face painting classes - now I teach at least one a month and they're actually filled! I wrote a few books and my personal heroes in this face painting world actually like them and sell them! (Marcela Murad and Heather Banks).

The latest book is doing well: 3-D Face and Body Painting Jewels and Necklaces. Silly Farm, THE face painting supplier in the world is doing a "splash" on it. Talk about an ego boost.  This photo is of my mother-in-law who came out for a month and got painted daily!

I have been asked to teach a class at FABAIC - the largest face painting event in America. This is huge! To be asked to teach there so early on in my face painting life is, well, HUGE.

In this world I am able to combine bits of so many things I love: theater, marketing, teaching, art and children. I can run my business from my home while wearing my PJ's! I no longer need custom silk suits, my Levi's and wild crazy tops and just perfect. What a different place my closet is these days.

This all feels so good and right. Sure, there a few icky people that bring clouds of grey whenever they come around. But, they don't come around much!

Most important, I have made friends that feel like family. When I need to laugh - or cry - I have people to go to.

Thank you God. It's a wonderful world :)

Marketing Tips for Face Painters, and Family Entertainers

I have written several books on marketing ideas.  One is just for family entertainers: "500 Tips & Tidbits to Boost Your Income! Inexpensive Rainmaking Ideas in Dry Times For Family Entertainers:  Face Painters, Clowns, Magicians and More."

This book is a selection of ideas that have been proven to grow the businesses of family entertainers. I have them in quick, simple short tidbit paragraphs. The sort of notes I take when I am sitting in a seminar, gathering great ideas. When I hear something good, I make a few quick notes, knowing it will expand in my mind later with applications specific to my life. These tidbits are those expanded ideas.
I have sorted those ideas into categories and numbered them out one at time! Like this …



1. It is better to do something for nothing, than nothing for nothing. Do not sit around and wait for customers to call. Fill each day with doing something to move your business into the public’s eye!

2. Start with what you are passionate about and love to do.

3. There are too many ideas in this book to act on all of them. Grab those that ignite a spark in you. Those are the ideas that will add the most important aspect in making ideas work – DRIVE. Will they work for you? Not if the idea that does not get you excited and inspired. As you go through the hundreds of income generating ideas here, avoid the insanity. Focus only on those few that match you. Your passions, your abilities, and your expertise.

4. On the other hand, some seemingly uninspiring ideas might seem ridiculous - until you try them and see them work.

5. Keep a pad of paper close to you as you read the tips and tidbits in this book. Many more – better and perfect for you – will be born as you read. An idea here will inspire another.

7. Throughout the book I refer to all family entertainers as performers or entertainers. As a face painter, or balloon artist, you might not feel you are a performer, but rather an artist who is perhaps entertaining. Magicians and clowns, now they perform. To increase your income, change your mind set. The minute you hand out a business card, you are performing. That doesn’t mean a fake facade. It does mean you are alert and alive to all the caring, loving ways you can bring laughter and awe to a crowd.

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Keep coming back to this blog. I will post more ideas soon!

- Lilly Walters, 909-398-1228

Henna Tattoo Artist, Face and Pregnant Belly Painter, in Claremont, La Verne, Upland, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, San Dimas and Glendora http://www.funfacepainting.com/

Books and Face Painting Classes
http://www.funfacepainting.com/book.html
"500 Tips and Tidbits to Boost Your Income
Inexpensive Rainmaking Ideas in Dry Times. Marketing Tips For Family Entertainers:
Face Painters, Clowns, Magicians & More
http://www.funfacepainting.com/book.html
Forum Group Owner West Coast Face Painters,
http://groups.google.com/group/west-coast-face-painters
Painting on Fabric and Painting Patterns
http://paintonfabric.com/


Paint Cement Patios to Look Like Cobblestones
http://www.cobblestone-cottages.com/paintcementpatiofloors.html