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To do this at a child's party where I was the facepainter

284 replies

BrickTraybake · 21/04/2024 13:30

I am trying to establish a small business as a facepainter just to earn a little extra money.

Yesterday I did a childs birthday party for one of the mums at my DSS's school. I did it at a discount price for her as she said she would recommend me to all the other mums and she is the PTA and said she can get me a slot at school fairs.

I have a system where I get the children interested in having their facepainted to write down their name on the list and then I call them when it's their turn so there's not loads of bored kids queueing. The parents sign next to the child's name to say they consent to me painting their face and then they tick a box if they consent to me using images for promotion. It's worked well so far.

So yesterday one mum puts a massive X in the photo consent box and writes next to it NO PHOTOS NO SOCIAL MEDIA!! fair enough.

When it came to that child's turn, I wrote next to her name "pink Tshirt" just to remind me of who she was in case I accidently got her in the background of a pic.

Mum paid up, everyone happy. Then later on Facebook I saw her post thanking everyone for coming to the party and the mum of pink t-shirt girl wrote underneath "thanks for inviting us! Shame facepainter wrote down details of what my child was wearing?? Bit odd 😂" and the mum shock-reacted it.

I'm so upset. I was so looking forward to hopefully getting more party bookings and a place at the school fairs. This was only my third party and now I'm worried this mum will gossip that I'm a wierdo and I won't get any more.

Was I in the wrong? Should I reply??

OP posts:
CheeryPye · 21/04/2024 18:47

Well done. She obviously feels like a bit of a prat now you've given a perfectly reasonable explanation.

Emotionalsupportviper · 21/04/2024 18:43

BrickTraybake · 21/04/2024 16:19

She had pictures of her kid on her Facebook too. Her profile pic was her whole family.
Which is fine because I get it, its about consent and she gets to choose which images she wants out there. It's her kid. But was the big black felt tip cross and capital letters necessary? Just don't tick the box, love. She went out of her way to make this point and then made a bigger one in public.

Oh - I've just seen this - she obviously isn't scared for her personal safety!

As you were. 😁

Justgorgeous · 21/04/2024 18:42

She’s just an idiot. Good luck with your business.

theholesinmyapologies · 21/04/2024 18:41

Love that she deleted her own post making her look like a right tit. Luckily, everyone had already seen it.

Emotionalsupportviper · 21/04/2024 18:39

patchworkpal · 21/04/2024 13:45

See I'd leave her request out of it. Keep it as OP's generally policy. So I do write down the description of a child's clothing when asked to keep them off of social media. Anyone reading can join the dots and the "you said" "you requested" doesn't come across as professional imo

Same here - leave details of her request out of it. Just say you made a personal note so that you could stick to her instructions. You could even add that you were sorry if she found this inappropriate, but had she mentioned it to you at the time, you could have explained. Then do the thank you bit.etc

Emotionalsupportviper · 21/04/2024 18:36

Smartiepants79 · 21/04/2024 13:33

Just explain.
You had a very valid reason and this mother sounds very weird.

It may be that she is fleeing domestic violence . I have met a number of women in this type of situation and sometimes they are terrified of their ex-partner finding anything out at all - to the point of paranoia.

I'm not saying that this is what has happened with her, but it's something to bear in mind if something similar happens again.

AtrociousCircumstance · 21/04/2024 18:31

Fantastic! Which reply did you use?

YaMuvva · 21/04/2024 18:31

Ah I see you’ve done it ignore my reply 🤣well done OP

RedMark · 21/04/2024 18:31

Well done, op!
Woman sounds like a nasty miserable bully.

YaMuvva · 21/04/2024 18:31

“So pleased she enjoyed the face painting! Because there are so many children to paint, I like to keep a track of who’s who so I use clothing descriptions in my own notes to make it easier.”

LetsGoRoundTheRoundabout · 21/04/2024 18:28

Well done! It’s normally best to calmly and politely stick up for yourself with these things. People can spot unreasonable people a mile off!

TheFunHasGone · 21/04/2024 18:28

Namerchanger1 · 21/04/2024 17:02

How on earth would anyone know that 🤷‍♀️

Well of course they'd know if there was only one child with that name , it was a child's birthday party. What's wrong with being honest?

Itsdeepitsblue · 21/04/2024 18:23

@BrickTraybake yay! The truth prevails 😁

Riverlee · 21/04/2024 18:22

Well done!

Bluemonkey2029 · 21/04/2024 18:22

Well done, don't worry about needing to 'toughen up' - you do but it'll come naturally as you grow to know your worth.

Still remember the first party I did (not face paint but entertaining). I was so nervous and something like this would have really knocked me but 13 years later I'm still working and it would be such a non-event. You'll get to that point I promise. You are clearly brilliant at what you do to have had so many positive comments.

WearyAuldWumman · 21/04/2024 18:22

BrickTraybake · 21/04/2024 18:15

Omg!!

I did it. I used one of the replies on here. Thank you so much.
I did it then closed my phone with my heart pumping and went sort dinner. When I looked at my phone half an hour later 8 of the other mums had liked my comment and five of them wrote underneath her comment but to me, stuff like 'thanks so much for the facepainting xyz loved it" and then on the same post but a separate comment one of them asked me if I would do her DS's party. It was like they could all see what she was doing and they were sticking up for me I am so grateful - I hardly know them. I think I agree they do all know she's a bit of a nightmare.

And then I went to put my DD in the bath glanced at phone again and she had deleted her comment.

Whoop 🥳

Very pleased for you, OP. :)

AhBiscuits · 21/04/2024 18:17

Amazing OP, what an outcome.

BrickTraybake · 21/04/2024 18:15

Omg!!

I did it. I used one of the replies on here. Thank you so much.
I did it then closed my phone with my heart pumping and went sort dinner. When I looked at my phone half an hour later 8 of the other mums had liked my comment and five of them wrote underneath her comment but to me, stuff like 'thanks so much for the facepainting xyz loved it" and then on the same post but a separate comment one of them asked me if I would do her DS's party. It was like they could all see what she was doing and they were sticking up for me I am so grateful - I hardly know them. I think I agree they do all know she's a bit of a nightmare.

And then I went to put my DD in the bath glanced at phone again and she had deleted her comment.

Whoop 🥳

OP posts:
Axx · 21/04/2024 18:12

Reply asap. The longer you leave it the more people will see her comment and wonder why you did that.

NewFriendlyLadybird · 21/04/2024 18:05

BrickTraybake · 21/04/2024 16:21

I haven't done it yet. I really want to get it exactly right.

Do it now.

Lots of good models here, though I lean towards the shortest. Don’t overthink, don’t PM: just do it.

RamblingAroundTheInternet · 21/04/2024 18:02

thedendrochronologist · 21/04/2024 17:47

I'd say:

It was so I could easily identified her to ensure she did not appear in the background of any photos as per consent form. I hope she enjoyed the party!

This is perfect. Short and succinct. Maybe just add in

I made a note of the colour of your child’s top so I could easily identify her to ensure she did not appear in the background of any photos as per consent form. Profuse apologies if this caused you any concern. I hope she enjoyed the party!

What on earth did the mum think you were up to by noting the colour of her child’s top anyway? Batshit!

Otherstories2002 · 21/04/2024 18:02

Side note. Make sure you have insurance.

Otherstories2002 · 21/04/2024 18:01

BrickTraybake · 21/04/2024 16:21

I haven't done it yet. I really want to get it exactly right.

Just be polite and factual

“Hi, I’m so glad you liked the face painting. Just to clarify I noted down your child’s top as I wanted to ensure that I didn’t accidentally share any pictures where she was in the background per your request. Thanks so much again for your feedback though, as a new business it’s really valuable”.

PickledPurplePickle · 21/04/2024 18:00

ageratum1 · 21/04/2024 16:33

Reply that you were going to list her kid as the annoying ugly one , but restricted uourself to 'pink t shirt'.

What a nasty, horrible, unnecessary comment

binaryfinery · 21/04/2024 17:59

Bluebellsinthesun · 21/04/2024 13:32

Just reply ‘it was for my own record to identify your dd so I could adhere to your request for no photos / SM’

Yes, just reply something like this to explain.
You had a good reason and other parents will be able to see how responsible and thorough you were being.