John Davis explains how the Jam went from an idea to reality, and Rita Barnes reports back from the Maesteg Jam in Wales on the 29th July 2007.

John Davis

We have all done it, most of us on more than one occasion, you know had that idea. Come on, you know the one, the one that seems really good at the time, like the ashtray for your motorbike, the chocolate teapot or the handbrake for your canoe. Well I had mine and boy was it a dozy one - I was going to organise a face and bodypainting jam in my hometown.

Ok not a problem you say, all been done before. Well maybe it had but I had never organised a jam and what’s more I had never even been to one so now you see were the word “dozy” could be used.

So, how hard could this be? Organising a jam in a small Welsh ex-mining town where the nearest place was the end of the world, quite close to the beginning of time, and with no particular idea of how to do it. Make a list, he thinks, then work your way through it. So, this was done.

First of all, lets organise a venue. Great, I live above my shop and right opposite is a nightclub, UV lighting he thinks, private, and available at the facepainters’ favourite price - free.

Ok got the venue. Next need victims for everyone that might come, to play with. Need to organise assorted victims: need pregnant ladies for bump painting, need models for bodypainting and small ankle biters for normal painting. How do I do it? Oh I know (another one of those great ideas coming up) I will ask all the people I have painted before and all the customers in the shop.

Things were going well and the list of volunteers grew until the handbrake on the canoe theme came into play. I was merrily chatting to a female customer about our upcoming event and asking her if she would like to be painted blissfully unaware of my wife in the background waving about as if she was working out to a Jane Fonda tape on drugs. When the lady said she wouldn’t like her belly painted and walked out in a huff, it turned out my wife was trying to tell me not to ask as she was just rotund, well padded (like me) and not heavy with child. This of course then had Mrs D putting a stop on me asking all the customers to volunteer.

So we now had the venue and volunteers sorted, the idea fairy came and blessed me yet again. I know, goody bags of facepainting stuff for all those attending. So it was off to the computer to type begging letters to all and sundry. As usual some suppliers were rude, some were polite and said no, some didn’t answer but two did and I will always be grateful to them for sending the bits that went into the bags that day.

Next on the list was food. The buffet was arranged and everything was bought ready to go - we were going to have enough to feed a small army. My two daughters busied themselves following their favourite cookie recipe - double choc chip with walnuts and dates (I hasten to add they substituted the walnuts for white chocolate in case of allergies, and the dates were replaced with milk chocolate coz ‘no-one likes dates, Dad’. Doh!!!).

The day dawned, I arose at some ungodly hour to start preparing the food panic setting in, ‘what ifs’ abounded. Still it was too late now, they were going to come from all over the country, from far and wide and there was nothing I could do but sweat profusely. Then everything started to happen. People arrived an hour before the club was going to open so we had to get them into our place and give them coffee (and cookies).

The doors opened and everyone started to unpack their kits. Our two vendors were setting up and there were lots of ohhhs and ahhhs as eyes wandered over goods for sale and the kits of fellow painters. Some of our victims arrived including a bump and two boys to be bodypainted, but there was a vast shortage of victims so wife was dispatched in her chariot, golden locks streaming behind her, last heard shouting “I will round them up and bring them back - they wont get away from me”.

But that little idea fairy had struck all over town. This day was the first day of sunshine after terrible rain and floods all over the country, so half the town went to the local beach and the other half went off to the countryside.

So, we were painting each other instead. Everyone was demo-ing their own little bits and showing each other tips and tricks and it turned out we had enough people to paint. We all learned something, we all had fun and from the responses afterwards and even now, everyone had a good time.

Did I learn anything? Oh, yes!!! I learned not to listen to the good idea fairy without first thinking everything through (and of course talking it through with she that must be obeyed). I learned that, for bodypainting its better to use professional models. I learned that the face and bodypainting fraternity are a very forgiving and wonderful bunch of people. I also learned that the staple diet of a face or bodypainter is chocolate.

Would I do it again? Of course I would and will. All in all, it was a fantastic day worth the three t-shirts of sweat, the sleepless nights, the lack of nails on my hands, the feelings of total panic and dread. Oh, yes! I would.

Or maybe a convention next time…

Anyone seen a strange looking fairy round here???

Rita Barnes

As painters and retailers arrived from near and far the atmosphere was full of anticipation.  John Davis was the perfect host welcoming everyone as they arrived.  We all picked our spot and set out our kits.

A demonstration on Glitter Tattoos was given by Anne Freeman.  Alan Bills of Dauphines Theatrical Supplies captured everyone’s attention with his demonstrations of SFX and UV work and Kat Sinclair demonstrated her wonderful skull faces.  Goody bags were provided with contributions from Tammy Beeks (Face Painting 4 You) and Kingsley Munday (Face Painting Designs).  There were many ooh’s and aah’s for the amazing ‘Maesteg Mix’ glitter, Kingsley’s special creation.

Everyone visited the retailer’s tables and left clutching precious new supplies.  Some of us went back again and again and again!  This was totally understandable as you can never have too many books, paints, brushes, glitters, wax, blood and stencils can you?

Children and partners were kept amused with balloon twisting.  Faces, bodies and tummies were painted creating wonderful memories for everyone.  Kat wore a gorgeous UV necklace, courtesy of Alan Bills.  Alan’s SFX wounds abounded and I sported a couple of very nasty wounds to my hand.  What was really strange was that after a while I found myself supporting my hand as if it was damaged, how odd is that?  It even started to throb – spooky!  However, my favourite memory of the Maesteg Jam has to be the expression on Anne Freeman’s face as she was introduced to her body painting model, James.  Anne has a lovely smile!!!

All the models provided by our host were superb.  The buffet was of mammoth proportions.  Liz’s chocolate cake is indeed the food of face painters and long may she continue to bake it.

The free raffle was great fun and much appreciated.  Prizes were donated by Tammy Beeks, Dauphines and John Davis.

Everyone had a wonderful, fun, relaxed day.  What more could we ask for?  Where did the time go?  The day just flew by.  Proving, without a doubt, that a good Jam just can’t be beaten and John delivered an excellent Jam!