I got thrown off my horse a week before the summer holidays this year, resulting in a broken little finger (knuckle joint) and elbow, plus possible hairline fracture in my wrist.
I live in a very rural area and so if I can't drive, I can't go anywhere. Luckily the girls (6 and 5) get a bus to school from the end of our track but I was still left with my Tasmanian Devil of a toddler (2). I had a cast from elbow to fingertips but cut it off after a week because it was more hassle than it was worth re showers etc. I kept the splint on my little finger and its neighbouring finger, and used my sling fairly frequently. Having the cast off meant that I could use the remaining fingers (they were covered up by the cast) and at least go to the loo, brush my hair, change the toddler's nappies etc without having to rely on others.
I was driving again (it was my left finger and elbow that I broke) a week after I cut the cast off (so two weeks after the injury). It wasn't great and I had to use my right hand to put the hand brake on and off when I was parking, so I only drove when absolutely necessary. I usually drive fairly one-handed anyway (left hand usually rests on the gear stick) so it wasn't too terrible.
I was also booked to do the face-painting at a festival in July - 2.5 weeks after the injury. That was a tough few days but I only did 2 hrs at a time so it wasn't too bad - I wouldn't have been able to do it with the cast on though. The major issues were having to help put up/take down the tent but there were friends on hand to lend a (working) hand.
I found that not having the cast on actually benefited me in that my elbow was able to be worked and used, meaning that it healed with no permanent stiffness in that joint, or the shoulder joint (which can often happen).
If you can get away with something that leaves your fingers free, then that would be better - as you can still do a lot of stuff then. You are not legally insured to drive if you are in a cast though, so bear that in mind too.
Get well soon!