I will preface my review by stating that this is the first one-star (or poor review) that I have ever posted. However, my experience with this company, was beyond what I would consider appropriate or one of the most basic human needs, kindness.
My three children and I, along with our neighbors and their three children participated in picking up trash in the city at the Trinity Trash Bash. We then went to the after party. A little before noon my daughter and her friend (neighbor) went to stand in the long face painting line. Then about 10 minutes later my youngest son and a friend (also neighbor) wanted to stand in the line, behind the two girls. At around 12:40 I realized that my daughters friend was sitting at the picnic table with us. I went to go check with my daughter to find out what happened. She told me that they had kicked her friend and her brother out of line because it was too long and that they had moved my son up to be with her because they only keep siblings together. My daughter said she tried to explain to them that she and her friend had come together and that they were indeed in line first. My daughter is nine and very verbal, fully willing to try to resolve situations if she sees a problem, though always very kind about it.
At this point I just assumed there was some sort of misunderstanding so I figured speaking to one of the adults (face painters) would be the best choice. I started to speak to one of the women, trying to explain that I think there may have been a misunderstanding. She was immediately extremely rude, stating that they had to be done by 1 and couldn't let her in. I explained that the girls had stood in line for 45 minutes and at that point they had kicked her friend out of line and that my daughter felt very sad that she was left in line, her brother was moved into her friends place, and her friend was kicked out. I mean, basic empathy, right? A few kids walked up to try to get into line at this point and the woman said, "I can't let her in line, I just turned away those five kids." When I then stated that my daughters friend had waited for 45 minutes and the boys for 30 minutes, she wouldn't even really listen, she just continued to dismiss me. I then looked at my daughter and said, "well, maybe you and {friend} can just share your time and get something really small on your cheek." I was trying to find a solution that would reward these kids for not only standing in line for 45 minutes, but also for being so kind and patient when these adults were being so awfully rude. I mean, who treats children that way? Anyway, the woman immediately replied, "we can't do that because we'd have to do that for everyone." Cue thoughts of sweet sweet anger towards these people that were HIRED to entertain CHILDREN! Children that gave up their Saturday morning to pick up trash.
I then said to my daughter, "well, maybe you should decide if getting your face painted or your friendship is more important. I think maybe showing that you support your friend and value her more than a face painting may make more sense." She agreed and said she would like to support her friend. I then looked up and realized the two teenage girls in front of my daughter had let my youngest son go ahead of them and the other woman had started to paint his face. I walked over to him and said to him that perhaps we should skip finishing the painting in order to be a good friend. The lady just kept painting. She heard me, but just kept painting. She finished a moment later and we walked away.
A moment later I realized my daughter, again... nine years old and a fixer. Kind, polite, but wants to resolve... walked back over there. She was speaking to the other lady. I walked over and just said, "yeah, I think there was a misunderstanding because they took my son who was at the end of the line and kicked their friends out." The lady said, "yeah, we keep siblings together." At this point it was 12:48 and they were working on the last girl. Remember, they said they had to be finished by 1. When I asked if they could fit them in doing something quick since they were going to be finished, she didn't answer. Then my neighbor friend walked over and said something to them as well, in which they didn't offer any sort of apology or anything. I mean, two out of her three kids waited for 35 minutes and 45 minutes and didn't get painted. One of mine waited 45 minutes, no paint. One got painted, but I realized at this point that he had completely smeared it off because he felt so badly that he got one and his sister and friends didn't. You guys, he just turned six. Come on! Poor little guy.
And then, after all of that, they had all of their paints packed up at 12:53!!! They could have left the two kids they kicked out of line, painted them and my two children, and still been finished before their allotted time.
In a nutshell, I'm just appalled that grown women would treat young children in this. This was a paid event for them. read more
