Guest Speaker: Career Day

When I was approached to participate as a Guest Speaker at the high school from which I graduated 10 years ago, I was excited to go back and talk about doing something I absolutely adore! Sure, I discovered that the old library now boasts plasma screens and is now referred to as the “Learning Resource Centre” (what books?!) but the same chime that played over PA system before announcements assured me that really, very little had changed.

After indulging in a buttery croissant at the reception so generously provided by the organizers of the event, I went downstairs to the classroom where I would be giving my talk. The room was full of students and I was pleased to notice that there were a few guys who had signed up to learn more about working as a makeup artist. My goal was to give a realistic view of the actual work. So, here were some of the ideas I offered as food for thought…

• Being a makeup artist is not something you do if you don’t love it. Yes, there are the perks of attending fabulous events, receiving gratis from clients, exclusive discounts, and meeting cool people, but it is hard work. More often than not, it is very un-glamourous work. Much of your work is unpaid when you’re first starting out, you are responsible for hauling bags and bags of gear sometimes up and down flights of stairs to get to your location, and when you show up for a job you are expected to deliver whatever is asked of you simply by virtue of you accepting the job. Which brings me to my second point…
• Your name is your business. Word travels fast. If you show up to a job and are unable to deliver what the client needs, you have just put your reputation at risk. Challenge yourself by working with people who will push you to be your best, but be realistic about where you’re at in terms of skill level.
• Your work does not start when you show up on location and end when you leave. Many of the jobs take hours of research, planning, meetings, and discussions before the job so that on the day, the whole team can work efficiently as a cohesive unit. There is also an element of administrative work involved as well, such as preparing quotes, e-mailing the parties involved, and invoicing the clients after the job is done so you absolutely must be organized.
• Be professional.Vancouver has great makeup schools such as Blanche Macdonald and Vancouver Film School which means that a lot of newly minted makeup artists are entering a small fashion industry every year. Lots of people out there can “do makeup”. If you are rude, don’t return phone calls or e-mails, show up late, or are not knowledgeable about your industry, your client will easily find another makeup artist who is more pleasant to work with.
• There is always work to do. Just ask my sore thumbs that incessantly pound the keys on my Blackberry! Even when all the research is done, e-mails are sent, phone calls are returned, websites are updated and paperwork is prepared, you’re never really “finished”. You must connect with people. Get out there and hand out those business cards! Practice your technique. Don’t have a model? You’ve got a face don’t you? Practice on yourself! Organize your kit. Go online and find out who the major players in the industry are in the city. Research photographers you’d like to work with. Read relevant books on makeup, fashion, photography, and film. Bottom line, when you are a freelance artist, you’ve got no one else to fall back on so make sure you’re staying on top of your game.

Pursuing a career in makeup has been the most rewarding and challenging decision of my life. I’ve worked all night and not even felt it because I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing. My final word to the students (and to everyone really) was to find whatever it is that makes them feel that way and go for it full force.

xoxo,
M.