After the storms have passed, the sun was out on a Thursday. It was an answered prayer because I was so looking forward to attend this free workshop from Purbeauty in Serendra during their sale dates and I didn’t want it to be cancelled due to bad weather. It was hitting two birds with one stone because I’d also get to look for great items to refill my makeup kit at discounted prices. I arrived early and I had ample time to shop. Being in Purbeauty made me feel like a kid in a toy store. It was not very easy to decide which items to buy. Good thing I took a mental note of what was already lacking in my pro kit. Even so, seeing all the good stuff made me more confused because being a makeup artist gave me the valid excuse that whatever I would be buying that night would be an investment. So, after consulting my manager who happens to be my very supportive husband, I took the well-thought-of items to the counter. You would think that I paid for it right there and then, but no! My thrifty mode was on and I told the lady at the counter that I would go back and pay for those items right after the workshop which was about to start.
I eagerly went in the workshop room and took my seat. In the Facebook ad, it was supposed to be about makeup in the wedding industry, trade secrets and basically the business side of things which I wanted to know more about. Being in this business is much more than just a hobby or a creative outlet. It is a lot of hardwork and definitely not for the faint-hearted. The speaker for the night was Ms. Georginna Desuasido, a professional make-up artist and an instructor at Makeup Designory Manila. She candidly shared to us how she started in this field. Here are some nuggets of wisdom I gleaned from the seasoned artist:
1. Being a make-up artist is not easy but you have to stick with it. Out of 10 people who study make-up, only 2 of them become real professional make-up artists. You have to find ways to stay in this profession. Give yourself at least two to three years before you finally decide it’s not for you.
2. Network, network, network… This business they say is 20% talent and 80% connections. This does not mean that you have to be the daughter of so and so to make it work. It’s all about being proactive in sending your portfolio to the production houses & decision-makers, marketing your services to the right people, and having great work etiquette and attitude. You’ve got to hustle and do what it takes to make it work.
3. Being shy will work against you. You have to be confident and take pride in the work that you do. It is not because you are just being boastful and thinking you are the best but simply because you gave it your best. Early in her career, none of those to whom she sent samples of her work called back. Did she think it was worth it? YES, because she knew she was doing something to reach her goals and not just sitting around hoping things will happen.
4. Being punctual is a must. There is no excuse to being late. She told us a story when she was just apprenticing for a makeup artist. Traffic was really not moving and she called the key artist about the situation. The reply she got was “ I don’t care how bad the traffic is. You park your car somewhere and get here on time!” And she did just that.
She also shared some valuable tips and tricks on how to deal with clients, pricing, making our portfolio and about the competition. She emphasized the importance of letting your clients sign a contract and to stand by it. It will protect both you and your clients from not-so-good sticky situations. Business is business therefore, we should value the investment and hardwork we put into it by doing what we say we would do and be firm with the decisions we make.
The workshop was supposed to be for 45 minutes only but it lasted for a lot more. I felt blessed to have those extra minutes to listen to what she had to say because as a makeup artist, I found that I could relate to pretty much everything she shared with us. She even gave us information how we could get in touch with her if we had more questions. She may not be able to answer them immediately but she makes sure she does reply. It was definitely worth every minute of the time I spent that night and the best part is that I got it for free! I went home feeling so high and inspired to continue working hard to pursue my dreams. Thanks MUD Manila and Purbeauty for real inspired learning.
Post script: If you are wondering if I ever got to buy the stuff I needed for my kit that night, I didn’t. The workshop ended late and the shop was already closed. It was a blessing in disguise though because I got to consult Ms. Georginna about the items I was contemplating on buying, saving me more money in the long run. I went back on the last Sunday to finally buy them. Watch out for my product reviews of the things I bought, coming real soon.
* All photos are from Makeup Designory Manila's Facebook page
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