1. Make sure a commission is a commission and always give an estimate beforehand.
This may seem obvious, but not when working with people you know. Friends. Be firm, but also take supplies, time, and hospitality into account.

2. Always call a day ahead and confirm plans.
This applies to anything.

3. Always have a color scheme and design sketched out ahead of time to show the clients. It also helps to practice painting a day ahead too, so that you don't waste time trying to fix mistakes or figure out what you're doing.

4. Use a projector. Draw the mural on a transparency and then it will be proportional when you project it to the wall and sketch it. Without one, you will want to tear your hair out trying to get the wall sketch just right.

5. When doing a sketch of the mural on the wall, use charcoal. Not pencil. Pencil is almost impossible to get off by erasing. You have to paint over it to get rid of it. VINE charcoal, on the other hand, can be wiped off easily.

6. FolkArt acrylic paint chips on the wall, so make sure you find a spray that won't yellow the wall. One that will protect the paint.

7. Golden acrylic paint can come off carpet, but don't bother trying to get it off clothes. Always wear clothes you don't care about.

8.Golden acrylic paint can also be scrubbed off parts of the wall that you didn't want to get it on, but make sure all those things are covered anyway.

9. Always get plenty of sleep beforehand, don't drink copious amounts of expresso without food, and wear comfortable shoes (or slippers) if you are standing on your feet all day on some sort of small platform painting. Also, Starbucks is not always evil. Sometimes helpful.

10. I know this is also obvious, but don't ever be late to anything professional. Ever. I didn't do this, but I've been on the other end of it. They won't be happy. Give thirty minutes of slack always.