Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laine Comley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Laine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
I’ll never forget the first time I actually made a check doing what I love
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
It’s safe to say my journey into the world of magic, face painting, and party entertainment started with a little abracadabra—literally. My dad is a magician, so growing up, life was always full of wonder, balloon animals, and the occasional disappearing coin trick. I remember tagging along to fairs where he performed, watching him twist balloons into animals for kids while I marveled at the joy he brought to others. Fun fact: we even had a pet pig named Petunia. (Yes, you read that right—a pig!) Fast forward to today, I have another adorable pig who I got at—you guessed it—a fair where my dad was performing magic and I was face painting. Life really does come full circle sometimes.
When I’m not hanging out with my pig or my two fur babies (who are the absolute lights of my life), I’m busy creating magical moments for families. My weekends are dedicated to one or two events where I pour my heart into making them unforgettable for my clients. I pride myself on building genuine connections—not just with the kids but also with their parents. In fact, some of my closest friendships started with moms who hired me for their kids’ parties. It’s such a joy to be part of these special celebrations.
But let’s rewind for a second. My love for entertaining kids really took off when I was living in Los Angeles. I worked for a party company that hired characters to sing “Happy Birthday” and bring fairy tales to life. It was there that I realized how much I loved working with kids—something people had been telling me I should do my whole life. Kids are hilarious, imaginative, and full of surprises. Honestly, they make this job feel less like work and more like play.
Eventually, though, home was calling me back. My sister was having her first baby (she has four now!), and I couldn’t resist being closer to family in Kentucky. That’s when I decided to start my own company. My very first gig? Dressing up as Cinderella in an old prom dress that belonged to my mom (she wore it in a pageant!) and a blonde wig from my dress-up box. The birthday girl’s dad paid me $100 to dance with the kids and play Ring Around the Rosie. The idea came from a moment at my niece’s birthday party when I dressed up as Tinkerbell—and she didn’t even realize it was me! Seeing her believe in magic sparked something in me, and the rest is history.
Over time, my business grew from princess parties to include face painting, balloon animals, and even superheroes. My dad played a big role here too—he met a famous clown at a magic convention who taught me how to create stunning face art. Now, I can transform kids into lions, tigers, bears (oh my!), or their favorite princesses and superheroes. It wasn’t easy at first—I’ll admit there were some wonky-looking tigers—but with practice, I’ve mastered the art of face painting.
What Sets Me Apart
I like to think what makes me different is my attention to detail and positive energy. My face-painting kit is always sparkling clean because hygiene is so important when working with kids. I also make it a point to remember children’s names—it’s those little touches that make them feel special. And no matter what happens (even if I’m hangry!), I stay upbeat and kind because this is their special day.
Another thing that sets me apart is how much joy this career brings me. It’s not just about painting faces or dressing up—it’s about creating memories that families will cherish forever. Plus, this job gives me the flexibility to enjoy life outside of work—I spend weekdays hiking with my dogs, doing hot yoga, watering my plants, taking care of my pig (she’s so stinkin’ cute!), and traveling whenever I can.
What I’m Most Proud Of
Honestly? It’s seeing the magic come alive in kids’ eyes when they meet their favorite character or look in the mirror after getting their face painted. It reminds me why I do what I do—to bring joy, laughter, and just a little bit of magic into people’s lives.
So there you have it—a little glimpse into who I am and what I do! Whether it’s turning kids into superheroes or chatting with moms who end up becoming lifelong friends, this career has been such an incredible journey for me. And as long as there are birthdays to celebrate and faces to paint, you’ll find me right there spreading smiles (and maybe sneaking in a balloon animal or two).
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
That’s a great question! If I could go back in time and give myself one piece of advice before diving into the party business, it would be: ‘Hire a business coach, stat!’ I was so focused on the creative side – the face painting, the character acting, the general merriment – that the actual business part felt like a foreign language.
Early on, I was juggling all sorts of flexible jobs to make ends meet while building my party business on the weekends. I was a waitress, which, surprisingly, I loved! There’s something about the chaotic energy of a busy restaurant that really gets me going. The thought of a desk job makes me want to curl up and take a nap, haha. I also cleaned houses, which was fine, but let’s be honest, dressing up as a princess is way more glamorous.
The biggest hurdle was figuring out the value of my services. I knew I could grow the business by raising my rates and offering more, but I didn’t realize how much more I could offer by providing high-end service from the get-go. There was a time when I was literally running from party to party, sometimes doing 10 in a single weekend. I had money stuffed in my Elsa corset – that’s how you know you’re hustling! I had the energy, but I was doing parties for next to nothing. It was like I was selling my soul to these kiddos for pennies! Realizing I was charging too little was a lightbulb moment.
When I finally hired a business coach, everything changed. My coach had me raise my rates (which felt terrifying at first!), hire an assistant to help manage emails and inquiries, and implement a scheduling system where clients could go to my booking page, schedule their event, and pay for everything upfront. It was a game-changer! Suddenly, I wasn’t drowning in back-and-forth emails or scrambling to keep track of bookings. The process became seamless for both me and my clients. Plus, having an organized system made me feel so much more professional—and it showed! Clients started taking me more seriously as a business owner instead of just someone who “does parties.”
Looking back now, investing in those tools and systems early on would have saved me so much stress (and probably some Elsa corset money-stuffing moments). So yeah, that’s my biggest “wish I knew then” lesson: Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself and your business—it pays off in ways you can’t even imagine!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
There’s a moment in every entrepreneur’s journey when they realize it’s time to pivot. For me, that moment came when I decided to raise my rates and quit my side hustle as a house cleaner. It wasn’t an easy decision—I had tried to focus solely on my party business before, but it never worked out. I didn’t have a routine, a plan, or anyone holding me accountable. That all changed when I hired a business coach.
One day, I casually mentioned to my coach that I was thinking about raising my cleaning rates. Her response? A text I’ll never forget: “No mo’ cleaning.” At first, I laughed, but then it hit me—she didn’t even know I was still cleaning houses! When I told her, she couldn’t believe it. She said, “Laine, you have this amazing business that you’ve built. Why are you spending your time cleaning houses when you could be using that time to grow your business?”
She was right. Don’t get me wrong—I actually loved cleaning houses. Most of the time, it was for a family member who already had a beautifully clean home, so it wasn’t even hard work. In fact, she taught me so much about organizing and keeping my own home tidy. Plus, the flexibility of making my own schedule was nice. But as much as I enjoyed it, I knew deep down that it was holding me back from fully committing to my party business.
That’s when everything shifted. My coach pushed me to focus 100% on my business during the weekdays instead of filling up my time with side hustles. She helped me set up systems and routines that made running my business so much easier—and way more fun! I raised my rates (which was scary at first), hired two incredible assistants, and started delegating tasks like social media management and email communication. Let me tell you—these women are rockstars! They’ve not only lightened my load but also brought so much creativity and organization to the table. It’s been amazing working alongside other women who are just as passionate about what they do.
Of course, the transition wasn’t without its challenges. As someone with ADD, I worried about how I’d stay focused without the structure of side jobs to fill my time. What was I going to do all day? Slowly but surely, though, I developed a routine that works for me. Now, I start each day by sort of making my bed (let’s not get carried away), feeding my animals, working out, and taking my dogs for a walk. Then I dive into “work stuff,” whether that’s brainstorming new ideas for parties or meeting with my assistants. And after that? The rest of the day is mine to do whatever makes me happy.
Looking back, quitting cleaning and raising my rates wasn’t just a pivot—it was a leap of faith in myself and my business. It allowed me to step into the role of a true business owner instead of someone who was just “getting by.” And while I’ll always be grateful for those early days of hustling and cleaning houses, I’m so glad I took the leap into building something bigger.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Memorylaineparties.com
- Instagram: @Memorylaineparties
- Facebook: Memory laine
