Can I watch?" Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the industry, this question seems to come up over and over again. The homeowner continues, "I won't ask any questions. I'll just sit here quietly." 

Years ago, when I was new to faux finishing, I was not prepared for this question. Not wanting to be rude, I meekly said, "1 guess it will be OK." The homeowner promptly pulled up a stool and got comfortable for the next several hours.

Does this sound familiar to you? How would you handle this situation? Let's start by exploring some solid reasons not to put yourself under this "unnecessary scrutiny. "

There is a great deal of curiosity about what we "DO." People want to watch, and out of their interest, they ask questions. We are not paid to be teachers. To teach while you work not only wastes much time, but makes you work under someone else's watchful eye.

The "mystery" of how we do what we do is part of our allure. I try never to give out resources or "how to" instructions on anything clients are paying me to do. Remember, they are hiring you to give them a finished product, not to teach them how to do it.

In response to "Can I watch?" I have a foolproof answer that works for me. I simply say, "If you want me to do my best work, I'd rather you not. “Even if I have to repeat it two or three times or change the inflection in my voice, it works for me every time. People always want you to do your best. If you raise concern and you put the responsibility on them for the quality of the job, they will scoot out of the room quickly to not bother you.

This is not to say that having someone come in occasionally to look at the progress is always a problem. What you do is unique, in high demand, and not to be minimized. After all, you do want to get paid well. Just remember-some things are best done in private.