The Hair, Makeup & Styling Career Guide, 4th Edition - Softcover

Wright, Crystal A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0964157233 ISBN 13: 9780964157231

Publisher: Set the Pace Pub. Group, 2002

Synopsis

Everything you need to know to work behind-the-scenes as a freelance Makeup Artist, Hair Stylist or Fashion Stylists for Film, TV, Print & Music Videos.

In the 4th edition of her landmark book about how to make it as a freelance hair, makeup or fashion stylist in the entertainment and fashion industries, Author Crystal Wright, shares what she has learned, experienced and put into practice during her fifteen years of representing, promoting and securing work for freelance makeup artists, hair stylists, fashion stylists and photographers.

Wright informs the reader by sharing interviews with Art Directors at record labels, Fashion Editors at magazines, Agency Owners in Los Angeles and New York, Producers at video production companies, and well known hair, makeup and fashion stylists throughout the US.

This book is full of valuable advice, information, tips, and real life examples of what it takes to make it in the fast paced business of image making for music, movies, fashion and editorial.

Using a down-to-earth, no-nonsense approach and writing style, Wright guides her readers through the process of creating success for themselves as freelance makeup, hair or fashion stylists in the entertainment and editorial industries.

Topics covered in the book include:
· Building A Strong Portfolio That Sells
· Finding & Testing With The Right Photographers
· How Agencies Work & What They Are Looking For
· How & Where to Find Jobs
· Working with Record Labels, Magazines and Production Companies
· Marketing Yourself: Creating A Campaign Of Your Own
· Fashion Styling: What It Takes

About this title

From the Author

A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR

In 1986, a well-known makeup artist by the name of Tara Posey asked me to represent her. I had no clue what I was getting into. I didn’t know what it meant to be an artist’s representative. Fortunately, she knew more about being a makeup artist than I did about representing one. So, with her portfolio and a phone list in hand, I set out to take on the arduous task of gathering contacts and getting her work. Tara changed the direction of my life.

This book is an anthology of our travels together and beyond. It’s what I’ve learned these last fourteen years of representing hair, makeup, fashion stylists, manicurists and photographers. This third edition of the Career Guide is a labor of love. It is my way of giving something back to a business and artists that give me so much.

I became inspired to write the first book after receiving a phone call and letter from an aspiring makeup artist. This young woman, having recently graduated from a well known Los Angeles based makeup academy, was working diligently to attain work. After six months of laborious phone calls and strings of unmeaningful interviews, she was still unemployed. In her letter, she asked that I offer her suggestions on creating a portfolio. I was astounded that even though she had spent time learning techniques of makeup application, she had never been taught or informed of ways to present herself in the job market.

This fourth edition is a further opening of a door that will help to close a chapter of exclusion to a great number of young people who want so much to be a part of this exciting and challenging business.

I hope to show each of you the best way to achieve your goals and dreams. Whatever your choice, print, television or film, the Career Guide will assist you in making informed decisions about which route to take from the start, so that your journey begins from a position of power and information. Together, we will create a plan, locate your best resources, and finally, point you in the RIGHT direction. Throughout the book I’ll share with you the secrets of successful artists who have already done what you’re about to do.

The fourth edition of the Career Guide has lots of new information. A wholly expanded agency section, a chapter on fashion styling, new tools of the trade, new glossary terms and Reesa’s FYI; a compendium of observations and ideas from Reesa Mallen, former artist rep extraordinaire. Reesa brings a wealth of information about how to do business from her unique perspective as a rep on the front lines. She spent two years meeting, greeting and changing the minds of clients who were used to working with the same agencies day in and day out.

I intended the Career Guide to be well used by you: the reader. I can only hope that by the time you reach the end of this book, you will have personalized your copy with lots of pen, pencil and highlighter marks, staples, and post-it notes. Treat it like a favorite homework assignment and it will serve you well.

Sincerely,

Crystal A. Wright
Author

From the Back Cover

Hello Future Stars and Welcome

REESA’S FYI!

 

Hello Future Stars and Welcome!

 

It’s such a pleasure to be a part of this publication, the only resource of it’s kind for artists who are searching for a way to break into this exciting and growing field of freelance hair, makeup, and fashion styling.

            For me, the opportunity is in sharing all the information and inside tips I acquire every day at the agency. There’s so much useful information and advice given to me from the clients that hire freelance artists, and I feel honored to be able to pass along the knowledge to people who can really use it to their advantage.

            I’m convinced that reading advice can be much more valuable than getting it face to face or over the phone because you can review it again later. Some of you may agree with what I have to say and some of you may not. I am just passing on what I have acquired in an effort to enhance your career. Take it as you will. Just remember, what I’ll say throughout the book is what I’ve heard over and over again from the folks who will be hiring you!

            If I had one general comment for freelance artists it would be “be pleasant and positive”. In the beginning nothing is easy but clients like to work with people who have good attitudes and are team players. Paying your dues is like changing the oil in your car: it’s a pain in the butt, but it must be done in order for your car to run properly.

            Once you have the technical skills down, it’s important for photographers, producers, fashion and video directors or whomever is hiring you to like you. Nobody wants to spend eight to eighteen (depending on the type of project you are working on) hours a day with a whiner. This is, after all, a show business folks. So put on your happy face, know your job, and no matter how negative the director, model, or other artist working next to you becomes hour after hour, don’t let them get to you! The guy standing by the food table all day munching on the fat free pretzels and red vines may be the one who chose you for this job, and he may be watching you deciding if he wants to book you for the new Madonna video next week.

            Best of Luck, Test, Test and Keep testing and believe in yourself. Remember, if you don’t have confidence in yourself no one else will!                                                    

 

Sincerely,

           

 

                       

Reesa L. Mallen

Agency Booker

The Crystal Agency, Los Angeles

––Reesa Mallen was the booker at the Crystal Agency for 2.5 years. During that time she garnered many new clients and substantial revenue for the agency in the form of bookings for the talent we represented. The artists represented during her reign as head booker included Neeko, top hair stylist for Halle Berry and Nia Long; Asia Geiger, Gina Sandler and Cherie Combs and Maxim Khalig, makeup artists;and fashion stylists Alejandro Pereza and Victor Vargas.

 

Reesa also brought Teen magazine to the agency as a client. When she left The Crystal Agency 2.5 years later is was to take a great job at Teen as the Sittings Editor­­––the person how books makeup, hair and fashion stylists for the magazines photo shoots.

 

Over the next 3 years, Reesa was promoted twice. First to Bookings Editor and then to Photo Editor.

Edition details

• Publisher: Set the Pace Pub. Group
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0964157233
• ISBN 13: 9780964157231
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 400