Working as a freelance Makeup Artist meant a lot of hustle a lot of the time. There was no such thing as a day off, just a day when I wasn't making money, which gave me a lot of drive to work as much as possible. I was determined to be a successful, independent artist. Through my journey as a Makeup Artist I learned to bring value to the table, negotiate enthusiastically, listen, and push when appropriate.
I have since become a business professional.
In my time in the business world, I have applied these creative skills, and they have continued to serve me. So I thought others might want to hear about them too.
Test, test, test
When you get hired to create a monster for a movie, you don't just show up to work one day, put an actor in some makeup, and let them go scare people. Instead, it's an active period of designing, trading references, sketching, sculpting, and more. Invariably there are a few iterations of a makeup concept before you get to the details.
Once your makeup is done, and everyone is happy with it, it's time to try it out on camera. Does it move the way you want it to? Does it look the way it should? Is it perfect? Camera testing is a valuable process that lets everyone in a production feel confident in a makeup and by extension, the film itself.
When it's time to develop new workflows, or deploy a new piece of software, give yourself the time to test with it. Work with your team to decide what a new process should accomplish, how it should look, and what it should feel like. Work with a trusted client to test new functionality in a small preview rollout. Be open to feedback and new ideas, and get excited about exploring what this new creation can do. You'll be amazed at what you can create when you bring a project into the light and have several different sets of eyes on it.
Remember why you're great
It's incredibly common to do a makeup you love and then have someone reject it. The actress wants thinner eyebrows, the producer wants more glamour, and the director wants a more natural look. Sometimes it's only one thing; sometimes, it's (seemingly) everything. As a younger Artist, I would die on the hill of my design choices until I realized my skill wasn't being critiqued- just arbitrary aesthetics. Eventually, I figured out how to do natural glamour with thinner eyebrows by focusing on essential skills and relying on my strengths.
Working with Customers can be a similar experience. Your manager might be instructing you to use higher touch with a Brand, but the Customer is responding less and less, while Marketing is asking if they can A/B test or get an updated NPS score. Remember why you're good at your job, and return to the basics. If you're working with customers, reengage at a more personal level and offer to listen. Take a step back and remember you have all the tools you need to succeed. Analyze the situation, adjust your approach, and keep kicking ass.
Advocate for yourself & others
In Film & TV, Makeup is treated by some as a lesser department. It isn't top-billed like Wardrobe and isn't as technical as Cinematography. Makeup is sometimes even regarded as frivolous or unnecessary. I've previously been on set and have had to bear eye rolls and groans when I jump in before a take to fix a shiny forehead or fix a lipstick smear. I've even had to hear jokes on set from an Assistant Director about the vacuous bimbos in Makeup.
I don't necessarily mind being underestimated; I can even handle people who don't understand the work. But I won't hear my team be publicly ridiculed or unjustly criticized. In the 'bimbos in Makeup' context, this meant a respectful, stern talk with the Assistant Director and Producers where I made it clear that certain behavior wouldn't be tolerated, and if it continued to be an issue, appropriate action would be taken.
Advocating for your team and your customers is a vital skill to cultivate and maintain. Whether you're defending your Customer to your Development Team or defending a staff member to your Customer, holding ground for someone else displays tenacity and strength of will. Occasionally these moments can be uncomfortable, but with a level head, you can ensure that those working with you will trust you have your mutual successes at heart.
The above is merely a smattering of lessons learned from experiences gained as a working Makeup Artist in New York City, and there are plenty more where those came from. I may even share more in the future but for now, remember to test your ideas and let feedback guide progress, remember what makes you great, and never forget to stand up when it counts.