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Originally Posted by xKiKix
For the past year I've been looking at youtube videos, blogs, magazines, and anything that I could get my hands on to learn about makeup artistry. What started as a simple shopping at MAC a year ago become a full on fascination of thirst for knowledge. I'm always filling my head with tips and methods from different artists that I meet in stores. With all that in mind, I don't even know how to break the news to my parents.
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Why can't you pursue both? I don't think people realize that makeup artistry is like acting. It's a lot of work alot of time not paid or under paid and there is A LOT of competition. Before you do anything rash make sure you do your research. Hanging out at counters or watching youtube is not going to give you an accurate idea of the life of a real makeup artist..
I just want you to really know what you're about to do here and as a parent of a senior in high school, I'd want my kid to be able to do something that brings joy yes but also financial stability
please before you do anything read this
Mary Erickson, TheMakeupArtist.com - A Q&A page of makeup, hair styling and wardrobe questions with answers from one of Southern California's best makeup artists
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Thank you for your wonderful website. Your portfolio is stunning, I particularly like the eye "masks" you created. The information and advice you provide is so valuable. Thank you for your generosity in sharing this information.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I am writing about the article on Makeup Schools. I am thinking of attending the Westmore Academy and I was wondering how it rated with the graduates you spoke to.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I have been trying to research the business aspect of being a make-up artist. If you have the time, I would greatly appreciate hearing from a professional if my career goals are realistic. I can only afford to take on the student loan debt if I can expect to make some decent money in my first years in the business. Is that possible, given the nature of the business?[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I work in regional theatre as a director and designer. I love it, but regional theatre is a tough job if you are interested in the little luxuries of life like decent healthcare and a car that runs. I am a mask designer (Alyssa Ravenwood - Theater director, actor, designer) and I have been thinking that pursuing a career as a make-up artist would be a way to add to skills I already have and a good way to break into the more financially solvent worlds of film and advertising. I am not looking for a full-time career. I would like make-up design work 6-8 months out of the year.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I am confident in my artistic abilities and my networking skills, my doubts are about the industry. I have heard gloomy tales of having to work for free in order to break into the biz and long periods of unemployment. I have heard glamorous stories about people earning $500 a day and $150,000 a year. I have not been able to find any practical information about the financial realities of the business. Neal Raffler the admissions rep at Westmore Academy told me that after graduating you can get a job that pays $25-$100 an hour and people working at an assistant level can make $40,000 a year. But he is a salesman for the school, do you know if graduates of the Academy have done as well as he claims?[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Alyssa Ravenwood[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Thanks for you compliments on my work! I saw your masks and they are great! you do nice work as well.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The following advice to you is with the assumption you are interested in Beauty/straight makeup. If you are interested in FX, that is not my area of expertise and this would not apply to you.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Now, to answer you question about makeup schools and taking on debt. We have a big problem right now in the industry, that is too many artists for too few of jobs. I am a bit concerned with the influx of new artists that the schools are putting out into the world. Most artists like actors do not make a living in the industry. There are very few people who make more then they spend in this business and that's the truth I wish the schools would give you, I don't think most of them do.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Is this influx of new artists good for the industry? yes, in a way it is. It creates a lot of competition and that results in higher standards overall. It does tend to drive the prices down for artists and that in the long run will make this career less attractive for all but the people that really love it and are willing to do it for the creative outlet and not the money.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So, my suggestion is never to go into debt this way, chances of you paying it back with money you make in this career is very slim. I worked free for the first few years as most artists do, working free means you have to have some outside support and be able to treat this as a hobby for a while. Without this luxury most will never last. Testing and building a book does take a few years, you will never leave a school with a book worthy to show clients, you have to test with great photographers and models. I am sorry but they are not a part of the makeup school system.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]As for claims of assistants making $40,000 a year. Never seen it. Not going to say it doesn't happen but that is not what I have seen. Most assistants work free. Most established artists make about $30,000 to $60,000 a year, after about 5 years and this is before expenses. Now a few top artists in the industry make 6 figures, have top agents and don't answer their own phones. This is very few, its like being Tom Cruise in the world of wannabee and even good actors in the world. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So, here is my advice if you do not have the time and money to spend in school. Follow around and assist a good makeup artist in your area. Yes, you will have to assist free. Find out if this is really what you want to do, get this person to teach you makeup, in exchange for free assisting a lot of artists will do this. Then get out there and get some experience with weddings and prom girls, this is instant money while you get experience. That's what I would do and in fact this is what I did do. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Good luck to you![/FONT]