Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Madison Lewandowski. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Madison, appreciate you joining us today. What’s something crazy on unexpected that’s happened to you or your business

One of the craziest — and most heartwarming — things that’s ever happened in my business took place at a local event where I was offering face painting. A mother approached me gently, explaining that her 9 year old daughter had special needs and had never allowed anyone to paint her face before — not even for Halloween. She wasn’t sure how her daughter would respond but asked if I’d be willing to try painting a small design on her arm instead.

Of course, I said yes.

Her daughter and I sat together, and I asked her what she liked. She chose a snake, so I painted a bright green, sparkly ombre snake winding around her arm while chatting softly with her. She was mostly quiet, but present. Focused. Calm. I could tell she was taking it in, and her mom stood to the side, quietly watching.

When I finished, her mom came on the verge of tears. She told me that moment was a milestone — something her daughter had never done before. She said, “She wouldn’t even let me touch her face for Halloween makeup, and now she sat with you and let you paint this beautiful design. I can’t believe it.”

I’ll never forget that moment. It made me realize that this “small” act could make a big impact — that face painting isn’t just about art or parties. It’s about transformation, confidence, and connection. Sometimes we’re just the right person in the right moment, and we get to be part of someone’s breakthrough. That’s magic.

Madison, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! I’m Madison, and I’m the founder of Bright Side Parties — a boutique face painting and party entertainment business that’s grown with me across four cities since I first launched it in college.

It started as a scrappy side hustle to help cover expenses as a student — I needed money for rent, coffee, and the occasional night out. I’d always loved working with kids and being creative, so face painting felt like a natural fit. I picked up some cheap paints, set up in a local park, and offered free face painting for tips. That first day, I made enough to buy better supplies, and slowly I built it from there.

What makes Bright Side unique is how mobile and systemized it’s become. As I moved to new cities — for school, jobs, or life adventures — I’d build up the business in that area, then train other artists to take over when I left. I created 24 training videos, a party playbook, a behavior guide, and even a quiz to make sure all new artists knew how to interact with kids, handle difficult parents, and provide a consistent, magical experience.

Now, Bright Side Parties offers face painting, balloon twisting, and joy-spreading across multiple California cities. We’re not just about art — we’re about experiences. Kids come to us because they want to become something else. A unicorn. A superhero. A fairy princess. And in just a few minutes, we help them step into that version of themselves.

What I’m most proud of is the confidence kids walk away with. When they look in the mirror and smile — really see themselves as the character they imagined — it’s like something lights up inside them. And that never gets old.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

One of my favorite marketing stories is also one of the scrappiest.

When I moved to a brand-new city and didn’t know anyone, I needed to rebuild my client base from scratch — no connections, no reputation, no bookings. So I packed up my paints and set up in a local park on a busy Saturday. I brought a tiny sign that said “Free Face Painting – Tips Welcome” and just started painting kids’ faces for free.

It worked like magic. Parents loved it, kids lit up, and the word spread fast. Not only did I get generous tips (which helped me buy better supplies), but I also landed multiple party bookings from people who saw me that day. It was honest, creative, and community-driven marketing — the kind that builds trust because people see your work firsthand.

From there, I’ve repeated that method in every city I’ve moved to. It’s grassroots, but it works. People trust what they can see and experience, especially when it comes to something as personal as painting their kid’s face.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The biggest pivot in my business came when I moved out of the city where it all began. I had a steady stream of clients and a strong local reputation — and suddenly, I was starting from scratch.

Rather than let the business go, I decided to scale it. I began hiring and training new artists in the cities I left behind, but quickly realized I couldn’t be everywhere at once. So I built a system: training videos, a party handbook, and even a quiz to ensure quality and consistency.

I also streamlined the client side — automating my emails, setting up a booking system, and refining the customer journey so everything felt personal but ran efficiently.

That pivot — from solo artist to systems thinker — turned my little side hustle into a real business that could grow with me, not depend on me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brightsideparties.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightsideparties/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightsideparties
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madisonlewandowski/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXQQdFjZ_Fk
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bright-side-parties-goleta-3