Just What Are These Celebs Like???

Throughout the years, I have been asked this question many times.  Everyone wants to know the ones I have met and which were the really nasty ones, the bitchy ones etc.  Well, maybe I've just been very fortunate, but I can honestly say, I have never met a "real" celebrity that wasn't absolutely lovely to work with...alright they won't sit still, constantly talking to their people or on the phone or laptop, but none have ever been directly rude or off with me.....But...

The people who work behind the scenes are another matter.   The personal assistants and PR, I have met only a few that were nice.  They will tell you that they are there to make their artists' life as stress free as possible.  I have another theory;  they have no real power of their own, so they use their artist as an excuse to take a power trip.  The amount of times I have been told, not to mention this or that.  The artist doesn't like a particular style of makeup or certain colours. Don't under any circumstances touch her hair (yes I was actually told that once...thought she was bald under there or something!).  So now that the "people" have got you so worked up and walking on egg shells, in walks the artist, who turns out to be so down to earth.  The style of  makeup or colours that she would never wear, is exactly the colour palette she picks up! Not only does the artist want me to touch her hair but she wants heated rollers in it! And that incident I'm not supposed to mention? gets brought up anyway!

What these "people" fail to realise is that a lot of the time, these artist have grafted away for years to get where they are.  They are also very grateful to be in that position and they try and be nice to everyone they meet.

The exception to the rule is the wannabe celebs, the wags and the reality show personalities. Makosi of  Big Brother, (who got her back stage, I have no idea)  once walked into a dressing room where we were doing makeup for a show and announced in a loud voice "Makosi needs lipgloss, who's got lipgloss for Makosi?".. no please help me, excuse me or anything! We took great delight ignoring her, until she walked out of the room shamefaced, if she had any to begin with.  These people put on an act on what they think a celebrity should be....never...ever...confuse the two!

My advice:  use your instincts and follow the lead of the artist not the PA

Back Scratching or Back Stabbing?

When I was studying, decades ago! It was drummed into me how competitive this industry is and success was dependent on who you know. These days, many other industries have adopted the same principles, so it should be the norm that we all help each other to a certain extent.

Unfortunately, there are still far too many out there that have adopted the "All About Eve" approach to getting ahead (great movie with Bette Davis, rent it if you can).  I have met artists who have smiled and encouraged another artist, to their face. Only to trash their name, when a job opportunity came along.  Or an artist, not wanting to say the product they used on a shoot in case it is copied. Or not helping an artist, by withholding equipment  he or she has asked to borrow, even though they have had it gathering dust in their cupboards for years. Or artists who are too busy to do a particular job, but won't pass on the name of another artist, to that client "because they would rather a stranger get the job, than someone they know"!!!

I despair when I hear these stories. Yes it is a competitive industry, but I am also a firm believer that whom ever you help along the way, it comes back to you ten fold. Likewise, if you go around screwing over the competition, eventually,  karma is going to come back and take a huge chunk from your assets!   I'm sure a lot of people wonder about the bookings I have had in the past and thought "how the heck did she get that one??"  but I have always tried to help anyone who has asked for it and if that makes me naive, then sobeit, but I also believe it's positive karma being returned (very new age, I know).  I find that so much easier to live with than the thought of deliberately blocking someones chance to shine. I believe success is down to hard grafting, determination, skill and a whole lot of luck.  I for one, will do anything I can  to enhance my chances of the latter!

There endeth todays sermon!

Which Tip: Chapped Dry Lips Tip

Which Tip: Chapped Dry Lips Tip: "I had to do a beauty shoot this week...extreme close up! The model unfortunately, had the kind of lips you could grater cheese with. So h..."

Chapped Dry Lips Tip

I had to do a beauty shoot this week...extreme close up!   The model unfortunately, had the kind of lips you could grater cheese with.  So how do I correct this?

First of all, I lavishly applied some MAC Lip Conditioner (RRP £11.00). This product not only contains SPF15 but such oils as shea, wheatgerm and almond (so check the model doesn't have a nut allergy first!).  I let it soak into the lips for at least 10 minutes, until the dry skin is white and pliable, then I gently buff with a disposable mascara wand  Thepromakeupshop.com (RRP £4.99 for 25) and voila! You have smooth, photographic lips! ...I gave her the lip conditioner as a gift (those chapped lips should never be seen in public let alone on a set!)

 

This plus

 This

Equals this!

Spots! Spots! Spots!

Well I've just come back from a Spa break (at The Cambridge Belfry, very nice and friendly staff , they have great deals too). I not only had the back massage but also the facial, which involved cleanse, tone, essential oil massage, exfoliate and moisturize. For me that was 20 mins more than my face ever gets.  It was extremely nice and very relaxing and left my face feeling like a new born baby's bottom!....unfortunately, I had a black tie event to go to the following night and I had committed the cardinal sin...NEVER GO FOR YOUR FIRST FACIAL, THE DAY BEFORE AN EVENT!

I had my facial in the morning, so by that evening, the toxins had began to make an appearance in the shape of 2 perfectly formed zits on my forehead (they looked like cyclops and his mate had come out to play!), now I know it seems a bit theatrical, but I am fortunate in the fact that I very rarely get any spots, so getting not one but a couple right smack dab in the centre of my forehead,  24hours before I was due to go out, felt a bit traumatic!

Lucky for me, fate was on my side! I had received a tester from Dermalogica, several weeks prior and I had popped it in my bag just in case this did occur. It's called Clean Start hit the spot (Available at Dermalogica or www.johnandginger4teens.co.uk £13.04). This concentrated spot treatment absorbs without a trace and promises to "minimizing breakouts while controlling future breakout activity". Well I dabbed that sucker to the smell of something minty and went to bed hoping for the best.

You can imagine my surprise when I saw those spots had miraculously disappeared in the morning! I went to my ball that night feeling like Cinderella on a pint of Vodka and had a fantastic time!

A few more spots turned up just below my nose by Sunday morning, which I ignored, but by Monday I decided to dab somemore Clean Start on it and as of today (Tuesday) they had diminished, but not disappeared like it did on the first day, so I think you have to attack them the minute they rear their ugly head....I for one will be having plenty more facials so me thinks I shall be purchasing the full size tube!!!

What's Your Day Rate?

Many makeup artists are faced with the big question. How much should you charge for your services?  If you have an agent, this little dilemma is usually avoided, but if not, how do you judge what you should be paid. Quote too high and you will never hear from that potential client again. Bid too low and you may get the booking and a few more besides, but then when you ask for the going rate, you find suddenly, your services are no longer required!

I usually go via the BECTU pay rate guide. For those not in the know, BECTU is a union for people in our profession as well as camera men and other technical staff.  You pay a monthly subscription and not only get representation (which was a Godsend when I was hired, via my agency, to an American TV production company, who then left the country without paying my fees as arranged.  It was £1000s of pounds and neither I or my agency could get them to pay up. BECTU contacted them and I was paid within a week!) That alone was worth the monthly subscription, but you also get discounted Public Liability Insurance, equipment insurance and MAC Pro card (£10 instead of £25) as well as a host of other perks and I would recommend any makeup artist to seriously consider joining.

Once you know the minimum you SHOULD be asking, you can tweak it accordingly. Ask yourself a series of questions. Will this be a regular booking? Will I be required to do make up AND hair? Will fee include travel? (for me anything outside M25 incurs travel expenses), if the fee is low, will it benefit me in other ways? (magazine submissions are notoriously low paid, but a good editorial tear sheet can be worth it's weight in gold for your portfolio). You can ask how much the budget is, but to be frank, unless the production company just landed from planet moron, they are not going to tell you their budget is limitless and you can write your own cheque.  The answer is always that they have a minimum budget!


Basically, there is no right or wrong answer. Some you win, some you loose. So pick a minimum amount you are prepared to work for and stick to it, (an unhappy make up artist sitting around bitching about how much work she has to do for the money she's being paid, is no good to anyone), but above all, don't feel uncomfortable about asking or discussing money, living on air is not the new Atkins!!!