Re: learnt lessons and a lot of questions

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Posted by jennifer on July 8, 2001 at 05:23:10:

In reply to: learnt lessons and a lot of questions posted by samantha on July 8, 2001 at 01:11:22:

having done many a teen party here in California, i can understand
your frustration. though many teens/pre-teens think henna/mehndi is
too cool, they don't usually have the patientice or appreciation for
the true art. they want it fast and easy. with this understanding i
bring only designs that are quick and easy, that i can do with out
thinking. i use mostly my $5 to $10 designs, i have 3 books for
parties now, i let two of the exact same designs sit on a small table
and keep one of the same designs for me to use. i ask them to give me
the # to identify what it is they want. (i also keep a copy of my
books at home, just in case something happens to my books.) i tell
the host/hostess/parent that once they design is done the kids have
to sit down and let it dry, i also bring a low power hair dryer to
hasten it along. i will only redo it once and they have to get back
in line, if it runs over time before i get to them, i ask the h/h/p
what they want to do, continue with pay or pack up. most of the time
i go over around 15 min for free but that is my limit. i almost
always bring an assistant to put on the lemon sugar, take care of
questions and had out aftercare sheets. though this seems hasty and
harsh, it keeps people respecting me and my time. i save the art form
mehndi/henna, my love, for personal appointments and themed faires.
i do parties, faires and festivals so that my kids have me at home
during the week and daddy or grandma can watch them when i have to
work. my oldest assists me when it is appropriate, she is 13 and when
she can't i bring another interested party.
i hope this helps, don't give up yet and good luck, jennifer

: AAGGHH what a disastrous night. We had been booked for a kids
: party. "Hey what the hell" we thought, "never done one of them"
AND
: NEVER WILL DO AGAIN.
: Fidgety kids, running around like loonies designs smudging all over
: the place. 2 hours we were booked for 7pm until 9pm. 11.30pm we
left
: and the hostess didn't give us any extra and i felt as if i
couldn't
: up the price i gave her.
: This leads me on to a whole load of questions.
:
: I am limited on time because of my baby. I have to get home no
later
: than 9:45 ish as this is the time she wishes to go to bed so that
: gives me 2 and 3/4 hours.
: I want to offer a large selection of designs (mainly Catherine's
: book) however some are rather time consuming and i am not a fast
: artist (yet) This may cause a problem in getting everyone done as 1
: design may take ages not giving me much time for others. If they
all
: want complicated designs then i have a problem as i may not fit
: everyone in in the allotted time. Any suggestions?
:
: Pricing strategy is something that has come up a lot. At the moment
: it is a minimum of 3 people each wanting a Ł10 ($14 ish) design. If
i
: make over a certain amount the hostess has hers free. Would this be
: better charging on an hourly rate and just fitting in as many as
: possible for the set time?
:
: Sealers - what a nightmare. I am using USA NS with moulding latex
: over the top. (goes on white - cures transparent) However tonight 2
: designs went sort of a festering green colour. Is this because the
NS
: or the henna was not fully dry (the kids put it on themselves under
: instruction). Is this a problem? if left can it cause problems? (as
: in a reaction) We asked them to pick it all off and we reapplied
: the whole lot again.
:
: ANY suggestions will be appreciated
:
: thanx

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: having done many a teen party here in California, i can understand : your frustration. though many teens/pre-teens think henna/mehndi is : too cool, they don't usually have the patientice or appreciation for : the true art. they want it fast and easy. with this understanding i : bring only designs that are quick and easy, that i can do with out : thinking. i use mostly my $5 to $10 designs, i have 3 books for : parties now, i let two of the exact same designs sit on a small table : and keep one of the same designs for me to use. i ask them to give me : the # to identify what it is they want. (i also keep a copy of my : books at home, just in case something happens to my books.) i tell : the host/hostess/parent that once they design is done the kids have : to sit down and let it dry, i also bring a low power hair dryer to : hasten it along. i will only redo it once and they have to get back : in line, if it runs over time before i get to them, i ask the h/h/p : what they want to do, continue with pay or pack up. most of the time : i go over around 15 min for free but that is my limit. i almost : always bring an assistant to put on the lemon sugar, take care of : questions and had out aftercare sheets. though this seems hasty and : harsh, it keeps people respecting me and my time. i save the art form : mehndi/henna, my love, for personal appointments and themed faires. : i do parties, faires and festivals so that my kids have me at home : during the week and daddy or grandma can watch them when i have to : work. my oldest assists me when it is appropriate, she is 13 and when : she can't i bring another interested party. : i hope this helps, don't give up yet and good luck, jennifer : : : : AAGGHH what a disastrous night. We had been booked for a kids : : party. "Hey what the hell" we thought, "never done one of them" : AND : : NEVER WILL DO AGAIN. : : Fidgety kids, running around like loonies designs smudging all over : : the place. 2 hours we were booked for 7pm until 9pm. 11.30pm we : left : : and the hostess didn't give us any extra and i felt as if i : couldn't : : up the price i gave her. : : This leads me on to a whole load of questions. : : : : I am limited on time because of my baby. I have to get home no : later : : than 9:45 ish as this is the time she wishes to go to bed so that : : gives me 2 and 3/4 hours. : : I want to offer a large selection of designs (mainly Catherine's : : book) however some are rather time consuming and i am not a fast : : artist (yet) This may cause a problem in getting everyone done as 1 : : design may take ages not giving me much time for others. If they : all : : want complicated designs then i have a problem as i may not fit : : everyone in in the allotted time. Any suggestions? : : : : Pricing strategy is something that has come up a lot. At the moment : : it is a minimum of 3 people each wanting a Ł10 ($14 ish) design. If : i : : make over a certain amount the hostess has hers free. Would this be : : better charging on an hourly rate and just fitting in as many as : : possible for the set time? : : : : Sealers - what a nightmare. I am using USA NS with moulding latex : : over the top. (goes on white - cures transparent) However tonight 2 : : designs went sort of a festering green colour. Is this because the : NS : : or the henna was not fully dry (the kids put it on themselves under : : instruction). Is this a problem? if left can it cause problems? (as : : in a reaction) We asked them to pick it all off and we reapplied : : the whole lot again. : : : : ANY suggestions will be appreciated : : : : thanx
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