Check Out Jasmine Chavez’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Chavez.

Hi Jasmine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I had been doing face painting on a few occasions for my job in Tolleson. My best friend, Zarah, and I were working on an event under a contract with the city. While painting a child’s face, a mom approached me and asked if we do birthday parties. At that point, we already bought our basic supplies. I looked over at Zarah, and she smiled and nodded. I replied yes, and gave the mom my number. I made an Instagram page Jazzed.bout.facepainting immediately that night. It was something I hadn’t discussed with anyone, no planning, no research, just straight “I am doing this” I sent an invite to anyone and everyone to my page. That mother later contacted me and booked two back-to-back weekend birthday parties. I grabbed an old large TV tray with my paints and brushes. I asked Zarah if she would join me in this new venture, and she agreed. We did both events, and it was great. We made business cards with our first profits. Then immediately, the overwhelming support from friends and family launched my business. During our first two months of being open, I had bookings every weekend. We are going into our third month with 3 pop-up events and countless birthday parties, and we just finished working the Water Lantern Festival with over 2,000 people in attendance. We are doing an event at the DBACKS stadium for the March for Babies, a nonprofit organization that fills the financial gap and supports premature babies. We now have our LLC business license, a canopy, and real tables with more paints and design options. A single question and spontaneous answer led to this amazing Latina-owned business. I am graduating college in May with my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and am eager to see what this new venture has in store for me.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been the smoothest road. When I first started, I had been working with another face painting company, and along the road, we had different views and decided to part ways. And I took my minimal experience and started my own business. I had no clue what I was doing. I just took an opportunity with no previous knowledge of how to start a business. I am learning everything along the way communication with customers, pricing, social media presence, connections and support from other small business owners, and pop-up event presentation. I am learning something new daily and taking feedback to expand in the right direction. Before I started my business about a year ago, I was working retail, and a manager told me that my college degree would be useless; she had constantly degraded me and told me to stay small. I had lost a lot of confidence in myself. I needed to figure out how to lead again in my position. I regained my confidence by being my manager, my boss. I did turtle my whole personality. I started my own business, and I know now that I am capable, strong, a leader, and worth all great things. No one can tell me otherwise because I created this all from the ground up.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I do face painting for birthday parties and community and corporate events. We do designs for kids and adults of all ages. The kids love all the fun designs, and the parents even participate in the unique designs we create on the spot. I am most proud of the progress. As I started to buy more and more supplies, it just came to life. The night before an event, I practiced setting up my area. I stepped back and admired how far we had come in such little time; from our first pop-up, we were invited back a month later with a new set. The other small businesses were supportive and congratulated me on seeing the progress. The thing that sets us apart is our interactions and experience. We will have full conversations with anyone who sits in our chair. We joke and laugh and inspire others to take that chance. We have worked at The Water Lantern Festival at Surprise Community Park and are scheduled to work it again in Tempe. We did March for Babies, which was complete volunteer work. As much as we grow, we must remember to give back. No matter what growth stage you’re in for a business, the community is where you must give back. That is true character.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I have learned is to take that spontaneous chance, as you have no idea where it will take you. You will learn and meet many new people when you say yes to the opportunities right before you. I would not have had my own business if I had not said yes to that mom and that single question.

Pricing:

• $135 for private parties with 20-25 kids
• $25 non-refundable deposit that goes toward your bill
• $10 glitter add-on
• $5 for face painting for public events

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jazzed.bout.facepainting?igshid=Yjk4NWM2ZWVkMw==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090887118496&mibextid=ZbWKwL 

Image Credits
Jasmine Chavez, Zarah Faal