How to start freelancing??

[CassLOLsnort]

I looked and looked but I couldn't find out exactly what a freelancer is. I know it means you're not a full employee but.... what are the duties?

[pinkmilk]

Its called on-call/freelance position and for on-call, you basically cover someone's shift meaning you have to do all the things a normal MA would do. For example, clean the counter, and you have an amount of stuff to sell per person. And for freelance, you are basically there for your makeup talent. When they have events you do makeup on the customers who usually have appointments. You have to sell a certain amount of products to the customer...


anything else you wanna know just ask me!

[maandusa]

i was asked to apply for a freelance position by my favourite local counter, and i dropped off my application last weekend. i should be getting called for an interview in a couple weeks. does the freelance interview process differ from a regular interview? any special tips for freelance interviews?

[MACGoddess]

I doubt that the freelance job process is any different from the regular employee process. A friend of mine applied for a MAC position, and she did everything with the other applicants and was offered a freelance position afterwards.

[saucipinkbabydoll]

No they are the same, makeup demo and then if they liked it then you go for your verbal interview

[bAbY_cHiCkEn01]

I was wondering how much you freelance artists spend on a whole kit and what kind of things does that generally include? and how much wastage would you guys go through, if any?

[giz2000]

I don't have an exact total, but I estimate that my kits has approximately $3,000-$4,000 worth of products, brushes, sponges, etc. I have two cases (one large traincase and one softsided case). The train case holds my brushes and brush belt, pigments, glitters, loose powders, alcohol, hand sanitizer, tools (sharpener, mascara wands, swabs, etc), mixing palettes, etc.

The softsided case holds all my color palettes, lip products, pencils, concealer palettes and anything else that didn't fit into the case.

As far as wastage, I don't really have much...I have basic foundation sticks (more portable and last longer than liquid), and if I need a specific foundation color, I'll take a sample from the counter.

[Villainiss]

That's a hard question for me to answer, because my kits have so many different things in them. But if I had to ballpark it, I'd probably say in total, my kits are worth between $6000 - $7000. But I have a lot of stuff, as a girl needs to be prepared! (I'd rather be over-prepared than under prepared!)

Personally, I have 3 kits: My staples kit, (a large metal traincase with wheels) goes with me on every job, my glamour kit (another metal traincase with a shoulder strap), and my special effects kit (a metal case that rests on top of my rolly case).

My first kit is my staples kit: Foundations (cake, cream based, and liquid), sponges (regular, stipple & powder puffs), brushes, brush cleaners, makeup & adhesive removers, tweezers, scissors, pencil sharpener,personal products for talent (razors, shaving cream, deodorant, bandaids, visine, nail polish remover, facial cleanser, toner, moisturizer, vaseline), Cotton swabs & balls, basic color palletes (lipcolors, blush, shadows), liners, lashes, lash glue (Duo), loose powders in varying shades, mascara, disposable mascara wands, eye lash curler, Spray Fix, Dermashield, Ben Nye cream color wheels (in Bruise, Camoflauge, Clown & Burn), hair stuff (clips, bobby pins, brush, comb, hair gel, hair spray) tattoo kit, water bottle, Kleenex, breath mints, baby wipes, makeup wipes, clothespins, safety pins, scotch tape, apron, pen, pencil & a notepad.

Special Effects kit: Liquid latex, latex gloves, adhesives (for prosthetics, appliances and/or lashes), Ben Nye cream color makeups in large variety of colors, airbrush, airbrush paint, stencils, compressor, some appliances, various bottles of effects stuff (colodian, A/B blood, crystal ice, ultra slime, clotted blood, reel blood, pyruvate, coffee grounds, etc.), additional brushes & tools specific to effects, needle & thread, sea sponge, morticians wax, castor oil, dental adhesive, 2 towels, and then whatever else is requested, depending on the job at hand.

And lastly, my glamour kit: wider range of foundations, concealers, powders, wider range of eye & cheek color palettes, lipcolor palettes & lipsticks, pencils, mascara, lashes, pigments, glitters, mixing mediums, paints, primers, moisturizers, etc.)

I find that if any wastage, it's stuff that a specific job has requested that I can't find use for somewhere else. I usually try to swap these products with fellow makeup artists before they go bad. But most of the time, the job pays for it, so it's really not much of a loss out of my pocket.

You'll find that a lot of jobs will provide you a kit fee to either replenish your kit or purchase specific product with, but if they don't, you need to factor that into your quote.

Pretty lengthy, but I hope it helps!

[Cingels]

Hi! I just got a job at MAC to Freelance. I went it,filled out paperwork,etc,and the mgr said that the next time they will need freelancers is for SweetieCake in April,so he will be in touch and let me know. Alrighty,great.
BUT,is there any sort of training MAC will provide me? Are they just going to throw me in blind?? I have no MAC experience,just retail. Sheesh. I mean,Id like a bit of training ......thanks!

[MisStarrlight]

I got no training. I was there for 2 days before I even got a tour of the store-where things were & stuff.
Introduce yourself to everyone, be friendly & smile a lot. I spent my first week asking a million questions and apologizing for it.
You'll do fine though. Good luck!

[angela]

Freelancers dont go through basic You're basically on your own. Just practice.. you'll do great!

[giz2000]

Nope..it's trial by fire...I was at a counter for over 1 year before I became a freelancer, so I knew the ropes beforehand...just don't be afraid to ask questions of the regular counter staff, and most importantly, make yourself useful at all times...clean the counter, help clean brushes, pick up and replace products when other artists are done with them...the MAs appreciate this like you have no idea!

[tigerlily]

Hi all! Is it possible to freelance for say, Lancome and MAC at the same time? Or for any other company/line for that matter?

Any help's appreciated! Thanks!

[MisStarrlight]

Most retail places have "competition clauses" where you're not allowed to work in similar places at once. I learned about this the hard way, but still maintain that MAC & Victoria's Secret Beauty and NOT even remotely in the same league.
That being said, MAC is owned by Estee Lauder (I don't know if Lancome is, I honestly don't know anything about any other company, I'm an ass). I know that you may freelance for any number of Lauder companies at once, but I do not believe that you may work for another company.
I would check with your manager though for a final answer.

[pinkfeet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisStarrlight

Most retail places have "competition clauses" where you're not allowed to work in similar places at once. I learned about this the hard way, but still maintain that MAC & Victoria's Secret Beauty and NOT even remotely in the same league.
That being said, MAC is owned by Estee Lauder (I don't know if Lancome is, I honestly don't know anything about any other company, I'm an ass). I know that you may freelance for any number of Lauder companies at once, but I do not believe that you may work for another company.
I would check with your manager though for a final answer.

Lancome is owned by L'oreal, but most freelancers just work for one line, if they find out your toast, I know many people jump ship but you cant work for 2 companies at the same time, at least not in my area.

[giz2000]

There is a way that you can freelance for another company other than MAC at the same time....it is by being a "true" freelancer...that is, being paid with a 1099 instead of being on a company payroll. You are technically self-employed, and doing your own gigs. That being said, most companies will not pay you that way, unless you've got some inside connection to them.

You cannot work for Lancome if you are freelancing for MAC, but you can freelance for any other Estee Lauder company (and there are a lot of them)...just go to the counter you want to freelance for and let them know you are available.

[KMFH]

whats a 1099 specifically? Like, me being self employed, and getting payed cash . . . just not sure?
ps. just began filing as self employed last year, still new to taxes of this nature.

[giz2000]

Yes...a 1099 means you are an independent contractor working for a company...you are responsible for paying your own taxes, social security, etc...you are not technically getting paid in cash, because a 1099 reports your earnings to the IRS...most people don't report their cash income (for example, whatever you earned doing someone's wedding, etc).

[KMFH]

ahhhhhhh i c now

[annrose]

I was wondering if it was possible to freelance for MAC while working full-time/part-time for another EL line (ie. Clinique, Bobbi Brown, etc?) Thanks so much! Sorry if this has already been discussed.

[giz2000]

You can freelance for any EL line, but you can't be part of a counter and freelance at the same time...hth!

[annrose]

Thanks so much!

[bellamia]

Just so I have an understanding. Freelacing for MAC your on call or do you have you hours already set for you and is it just for stores or other events? I'm just wondering becuase I really need a 2nd job and I would love nothing more then to work for MAC but not at the counter I have no sales experience. From a teenager until now I've always worked in offices. I don't have the gift for gab even though MAC practicually sells itself becuase its so high in demand.

[farra712]

I don't know about everywhere else, but this is what I was told. When you freelance for MAC they basically use you for events. You come in and do makeovers and they have a schedule in advance of what days they will need freelancers. They will offer these days and hours to you and you can accept them or not, but they obviously prefer that you accept them unless you have a serious prior obligation (another job, wedding, etc.) However, they will sometimes call you if someone calls in and more coverage is needed. You can also accept the hours or not. Also, I was told when I applied at MAC that I could not freelance for any other company at the same time. This may be a regional thing, though.

[giz2000]

Technically you could freelance for, say, Bobbi Brown as a MAC freelancer...I personally don't know any MAC freelancers who do, but I do know of BB freelancers that sometimes freelance for MAC. You just wouldn't have the time.

Depending on your situation, you either get called for events, or you get called to pick up shifts. I get both...I usually turn down shifts during the day (I'm at home with my son), but always take the Friday and Saturday ones...I usually end up working from 5 - 10 hours per week, and that is perfect for me. I also rotate between 5 counters on a regular basis (if I don't get called by one, I usually get called by another). You have to establish a "reputation" and make nice with all the counters you work at so you can get called all the time. HTH some!