Where do you serve?
Central Ohio is my home, but I have family in both Cleveland and Cincinnati, so I frequently accept bookings in those area to schedule family time. Since I also teach at conventions and private classes, I travel all over the country, and take bookings along the way.
What type of entertainment do you provide?
Face Painting, Airbrush Temporary Tattoos, Body Painting, and of course, Balloon Twisting, for corporate and public events, as well as private parties.
How many years have you been in the business?
It’s hard to believe that I have been doing what I love for 15 years! I can still remember calling my sister to boast that I had “a sale” that month – ha!
How did you get into the entertainment business?
I was a laid off computer programmer; talk about polar opposite careers! I would never have willingly walked away from the imagined job security and structure of corporate life to become an artist, what responsible adult does that?
I have always been artistic and have painted since I was young, but never believed I could make a living doing what I love, until circumstances nudged me to try – wow!
What’s your favorite type of event?
I truly love to entertain at large parties and public events like grand openings and community gatherings. At these settings, the parents are usually there with the children, so mom and dad get to witness their little ones having fun, and transforming into their face painting character. It’s such a joy to be part of encouraging the children to have fun and use their imagination without the aid of video games or computers. The kids become Tigers and Robots and Pixie Fairies – it’s so much fun to share this moment with their family.
What’s your most memorable event?
My first booking – I was so nervous! I was afraid that I would not be good enough to make the children and their parents happy. But the first little boy I painted, who was bald due to his chemotherapy, sat down next to me, put his little hand in mine, and sang “You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine” – true story, honest, and he sang it over and over again! He melted my heart, dashed away any clouds of nervousness, and convinced me that I had absolutely made the right career choice. It was a beautiful start to my new career!
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