Question from Mariposa Blessings.
She wrote about long hours of face painting and how to keep yourself healthy.
I'll have to start with my answer, I don't think there's an answer.
The problem is us. Me, you, all of us. We are not capable of knowing our limits. Someone says, 5 hours of strolling magic/balloons/juggling/face painting/games, we say yes. They say, oh, can you work an extra two hours. We say yes.
I have a poverty mentality, I am so not sure where my next paycheck is coming from, I'll say yes to anything. That's not a bad thing. I've ended up in crazy situations because I am willing to do anything, anywhere, for any price. That's how I ended up in the Philippines and on commercials. I just do.
Here's the reality though. It's really hard on my body.
If you are willing to hear advice this goes to me as well. Pace yourself. If you are hired for 6 hours, take breaks. When you entertain, your brain is working at 6x speed. Take 10 minutes an hour to get a snack. Don't look at your phone during the break. Water not sugar drinks.
If you take a long job, divide it up. I doubt a client will go for this but you should only work in 3 hour sessions. After years of doing this, I think 3 is max. You can be funny energetic and make everyone happy in three hours. After that you get a dull look on your face. A plastered smile.
The rest is just talking to the air. Eat well, go the gym, get lots of rest. Like any of us are going to do that.
I know I won't follow any of these words, I'm just too scared of not getting work.
I do a full body costume character for a company. They fly me around to do it. It's very flattering to be the guy they trust. I am at a convention in two weeks. I end up doing 14 hour stretches for three days in the fur. It's completely stupid. But I'm good at it and it's a bunch of money.
My best advice, just pace yourself. Take breaks, don't drink soda, when you feel your smile is fake. Take a break.
