Sponge Stories

Jane - Daisy Jane's Face Painting

This week on Sponge Stories, I'm joined by Jane from Daisy Jane Face Painting. With nearly 10 years in the industry, Jane has built an instantly recognisable brand, a thriving business and a reputation as one of the most loved painters in our community. In this episode, Jane very generously shares her ongoing experience with grief and the realities of running a business built around joy when life behind the scenes is incredibly difficult. We talk about resilience, finding a way forward and the support that can be found within our industry. Alongside these more personal conversations, Jane also shares some of her favourite face painting memories, lessons learned from a decade in business and advice for painters at every stage of their journey. It's an honest, thoughtful and uplifting conversation that reminds us there is a real person behind every paintbrush. Find more from Jane here: https://www.instagram.com/daisyjanesfacepainting?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== [https://www.instagram.com/daisyjanesfacepainting?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==]

Rachel - Fierce Fun Faces

Rachel Connolly discusses the importance of networking for business growth, the challenges of operating a rural business, and the significance of inclusivity in face painting, providing valuable insights and practical tips for each topic. The conversation delves into the importance of inclusion in the face painting industry and the challenges and opportunities for neurodiverse individuals. It also explores the standout qualities of a face painter and discusses proudest moments and business success in the industry. Takeaways * Networking for business growth * Diversifying services for rural business * Inclusivity in face painting Inclusion in the face painting industry * Challenges and opportunities for neurodiverse individuals Chapters * 00:00 Networking for Business Growth * 09:10 Challenges of Rural Business Operations * 26:35 Inclusivity in Face Painting * 47:55 Advocacy for Inclusion and Empowerment * 55:56 Standout Qualities of a Face Painter * 01:06:56 Proudest Moments and Business Success

Milly Rose - Fantastic Faces

Millie Rose, founder of Fantastic Faces, transformed her passion into a flourishing business after winning the Prince's Trust Enterprise Award in 2019. From facing challenges as a single parent to building a creative team, Millie's story is a true testament to resilience. She started out with just a dream and a scabby old box of paints, and now she’s redefining face painting across Yorkshire. It’s not just about art; it’s about connection, joy, and the magic of seeing a child’s face light up.

Daze - Moonlight Bodyart

The conversation explores the power of social media for creatives, the journey from imposter syndrome to authentic content, the balance between content creation and face painting gigs, the evolution of content and face painting, and a discussion on a favorite face painting gig. The conversation covers a range of topics including the world of events and corporate gigs, the transition to adult clientele, the impact of location and community, working with other face painters, subcontracting work and business ethics, dealing with nightmare clients, challenges faced as a woman in business, navigating professionalism and gender bias, the impact of social media on business, community and mental health, and content creation and planning. Takeaways * Social media as a tool for creative entrepreneurship * The journey from imposter syndrome to authentic content Diversifying Content * Building a Personal Brand Chapters * 00:00 The Power of Social Media for Creatives * 19:26 Navigating Imposter Syndrome and Authentic Content * 25:00 The Evolution of Content and Face Painting * 30:36 Location and Community Impact * 35:48 Challenges Faced as a Woman in Business * 53:49 Community and Mental Health * 01:10:13 Content Creation and Planning Find all of Daze's links here! https://linktr.ee/moonlightbodyart?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnE2u7vt0FeB_-4ws5VZijHcnnYk6Q__r2uNNdcKkHsspVhVifUH9AX5hUCUc_aem_RmwEO-UTkfI69Vyd6X5O4g [https://linktr.ee/moonlightbodyart?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnE2u7vt0FeB_-4ws5VZijHcnnYk6Q__r2uNNdcKkHsspVhVifUH9AX5hUCUc_aem_RmwEO-UTkfI69Vyd6X5O4g]

Donna Godfrey - Donna's Face Painting

The podcast episode features a conversation between Siobhan Chudleigh and Donna Godfrey, discussing the challenges and experiences of face painting as a career. They cover topics such as the early days of face painting, the transition to full-time work, and the unexpected aspects of the job. Donna shares insights on the admin side of the business, the physical toll on her back, and the rewarding moments of teaching and empowering others through face painting. Donna Godfrey shares her journey into teaching face painting and the challenges of perimenopause. She discusses the development of her training courses and the creation of a menopausal support group for face painters. The conversation also explores the impact of perimenopause on her work and the success of her training courses. Donna reflects on her journey as a leader in the face painting industry, discussing the challenges of visibility, industry stereotypes, and the importance of relatability. She also shares insights on dealing with differing opinions and the need for respectful debate within the industry. Additionally, she highlights the significance of networking, the value of beginner-focused training, and her aspirations to expand her courses internationally. Takeaways * Transitioning to full-time face painting is a challenging but rewarding journey. * The physical toll on the body and the administrative aspects of the business are often overlooked challenges in the face painting industry. Teaching Journey * Perimenopause Challenges * Training Course Development * Menopausal Support Group * Impact of Perimenopause on Work * Success of Training Courses Visibility and Leadership * Respectful Debate and Differing Opinions * Networking and Beginner-Focused Training * Expanding Courses Internationally Chapters * 00:00 Introduction to Sponge Stories * 05:22 The Early Days of Face Painting * 14:47 The Challenges of Face Painting * 26:12 The Rewards and Takeaways * 36:35 Journey into Teaching and Training * 53:08 Challenges of Perimenopause * 01:06:52 Development of Training Courses * 01:13:11 Visibility and Leadership * 01:19:01 Networking and Beginner-Focused Training * 01:39:36 Expanding Courses Internationally