The Powder Group brings back The Artist Summit!

Any reader of this blog knows I am team The Powder Group all day long.  I can't recall how I first stumbled upon them and their fearless leaders Michael DeVellis and James Vincent but my artistry life hasn't been the same since.

Back in 2008 the very first event I attended upon embarking on my pro makeup artist path was The Artist Summit, which you can read about here, and I was giddy like a kid on Christmas.

3 levels of quality education and product at my disposal minus the crowds, I was in love.

From the very beginning the team at The Powder Group was super knowledgeable and willing to answer any and every question I had, and to this day even though they have grown by leaps and bounds, that has not changed one bit.

While I adore The Makeup Show, I think that for any aspiring or seasoned artist attending the Artist Summit is the way to go.

I am uber excited that they decided to bring it back and if you act quickly you can take advantage of some great rates on the event.  I am a TPG Pro Member so I can already tell you that the event has piqued the interest of many who have already made travel and lodging arrangements so you may want to stop wasting time and make your plans and get your tickets ASAP, I am also talking to myself here.  See below for further details.

ADVANCE TICKET PRICES END

ON MAY 31 - FOR NON MEMBERS!

TPG PRO MEMBER RATE EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE 30! $100 HOLDS YOUR SPACE FOR THE ARTIST SUMMIT!

The most inspirational names in beauty will gather for the first time at The Artist Summit! From October 6 - 9, two hundred of the most driven, focused and committed professionals in the business of beauty will come together in Provincetown, MA for three days of insightful and inspiring discussion about artistry, career and industry at The Artist Summit 2013! And, now $100 reserves your space at the biggest pro event of the year! 

Produced by The Powder Group and hosted by Michael DeVellis and James Vincent, The Artist Summit will bring the pro community together in a way that no other makeup event has before. This is an entirely new The Artist Summit event and will consist of one, singular program that all attendees will participate in - so you won't miss a thing! Plus with no vendors, product exhibits or retail area, your focus can be 100% about you and your career development!

The Artist Summit has been designed to redefine and deepen the foundations of your business, strengthen your expectations and aspirations, and inspire you to create your most successful career imaginable. The Artist Summit will move your business forward and will profoundly effect your career!

The three-day event will consist of an ongoing series of one-of-a-kind seminars and talks that will include more than a dozen industry leaders presenting all new programs, each of which are exclusive to The Artist Summit. This program will never repeat itself at future The Artist Summit events, so please do not miss this one-time-ever opportunity!

 

THE ARTIST SUMMIT PROGRAM INCLUDES:

Chris McCarthy - Beyond Belief
Corissa St. Laurent - The Essential Art of Engagement Marketing
Crystal Wright - The Big Change

James Vincent - Inspiring Artistry

Kate Leydon - Incorporating Wellness

Linda Mason - An Artist's Approach
Marietta Carter Narcisse - Getting Down to Business

Michael Angelo - Redefining Your Personal Success

Michael DeVellis - The Power of Community

Michael Duenas - Achieving Intention

Sarah Lucero - Defeat is Not an Option

Victoria Stiles - Creating Your Industry Voice 

PLUS SUPPLEMENTARY WORKSHOPS

NOW AVAILABLE FOR REGISTRATION! 

Two supplementary days of hands-on workshops will be held on October 10 - 11.
These optional sessions are at additional fee and open exclusively to The Artist Summit attendees. Registration is now open for all workshops, to The Artist Summit attendees exclusively.  

  

Orlando Santiago + James Vincent Inventing Editorial

James Vincent + Sebastian Smith Understanding Digital Photography  
Dianna Quagenti + Michael DeVellis Detailing Your Work
Sarah Lucero Beautiful Makeup
Michael Duenas Hairstyling for Beauty 
Dani Fonseca - sponsored by Temptu Pro Extreme Cover 
Orlando Santiago Thinking in Black and White 
Dani Fonseca Using Color Everyday 

Erica Carr - sponsored by Make Up For Ever Bridal Beauty and Beyond   

 

To register for hands-on workshops, and for complete event details, session descriptions, presenter bios and ticket purchase information for The Artist Summit 2013, please visit theartistsummit.com, thepowdergroup.com or contact us at 212.627.7447. Please note that our presenters, session topics and schedule are subject to change.   

THE ARTIST SUMMIT IS LIMITED TO ONLY

200 ATTENDEES!

TPG PRO MEMBERS! 

NOW GET YOUR ADVANCE TICKETS THROUGH JUNE 30!

$100 DEPOSIT RESERVES YOUR SPOT!

TPG Pro member advance registration rate extended through June 30!

TPG Pro members $490.00

After May 31, rate for non-members cost will be $790.00  After June 30, rate for TPG Pro members will be $590.00

$100 Deposit will hold your space and guarantee the advance purchase rate! *Tickets must be paid-in-full by September 1. Deposits are non-refundable but may be used toward other TPG programs if unable to attend. 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS!

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT JOINING TPG PRO 

WWW.THEARTISTSUMMIT.COM

What makes you think you can call yourself a makeup artist?!

While perusing Facebook the other week I came across a status update that I thought would make a great discussion...

A comment was made that one cannot call themselves a makeup artist simply because they put a feather on someone's face or something to that effect.  Implying that there is now an influx of pseudo artists out here now and that everyone doesnt deserve that title.  The comment was then followed by a myriad of replies touting their certifications, experience and the like.  I felt some kind of way about it and here is why...

Someone made the comment that you had to have gone to school for aesthetics and/or makeup artistry before you can call yourself a makeup artist and that they were upset that the licensing has since been done away with in some states, DC and Maryland included.  *PUMP THE BRAKES* Just about every well known makeup artist that I have had the pleasure of training with or listening to at a seminar, etc. has said that he/she did NOT have a license in anything, nor did they have any formal training.  That their "school" was practice and/or experience on real women at the makeup counter or they kinda fell into it some way or another. 

One who has done research of any sort should be aware that the makeup school is a modern thing.  Even the makeup section taught in cosmetology school wasnt an extensive course at one point, it was merely a chapter, if that, in a thick course curriculum where basics were taught.  Furthermore, those that do attend some makeup schools have said that they just learned basics and that the real experience came outside of the school and from reading additional books/watching videos purchased on their own.

What do you think?  Is there room for all in this industry or should certification be reinstated and demanded before jobs are dispersed?  Do you have a license?  If so, was school worth it for you or could you have reached your level of success without it?

Diary of an MUA - Project: Kit Revamp Part 1 *pic heavy & lengthy*

Happy New Year beauties!  I hope everyone is ready to go charging at 2010 with full force cause I sure am!  In order to start it off right I thought it was time to part with some things that just have been totally neglected product wise.  I invite you to take a look at *thunder/storm sounds*...my kit!  *loud blood curdling scream*

things that dont fit in the rolling kit

depotted foundations, concealers, pigment samples, glitter

brush belt, brush holder, brush roll (yes w/more brushes) and MAC set bag

inside the MAC set bag, yes more foundation, pressed powders, disposables, brush cleaner, etc.

top of the rolling case, a bunch of everything :eyeroll at myself

drawer 1 - blush, bronzer, highlight

drawer 2 - variety of shadows that barely get used - c the 1 still in the box? oy vey...

drawer 3 - the lash stash (needs to be replenished)

drawer 4 - the FX supplies (depotted lipsticks peeking below that)

bottom of case - space for palettes (4 shadow, 1 blush, lipstick, & Ben Nye)-I kept this image large so you can see the palettes

Random additionals - roll pack that I keep pencils, lipsticks & glosses, gel liner, pigments, paintpots, etc. in; bag for dirty brushes, Artist Summit bag for all things that dont fit in the case, and my clip on OTT-Lite

*not pictured - my artist chair*

You see I have this thing where I HAVE to be prepared for ANYTHING!  The few times I tried to listen to the client and only bring items for the look requested bit me in the azz because of course they asked if I could do a little bit of this and a little bit of that extra.  So I formed in my mind that I need to take any and everything I can just in case.  Now granted that did work but I am tired of lugging this ish around to each and every gig.  I mean come on, a chair, a light, a rolling case and then a bag filled with 2 more bags??? Enough is enough. 

In comes the talented Jessica Jean Myers with her blog post on her kit - I mean Holy Organization batman!  It was like the post I didnt even know I needed!  I immediately decided to tackle my kit - first I TRIED to go through and part with things that Im not using (friends and family had a field day with that but I know I can part with more - stay tuned for part 2), then I said eff this rolling case - it served its purpose for the past year and some change but Im over it now (I gave that to a fellow MUA and friend - Hey Tee! *hugs*).  I remembered getting this insulated bag from NYX some time ago that I refused to throw away for some reason so I dug that out.  Here's what happened after all that:

All of my old kit in this new bag (minus what I parted with)!  YAY!

a peek inside

So I feel a WHOLE lot better now but I am not done - its almost time to part with the depotted foundations at which point I will invest in the RCMA and/or some other brand foundation and concealer palettes.  I feel I can be an even better artist with more organization.  I was still debating the following bags instead of my NYX one above (I am going to cover the NYX logos of course):

 - the Zuca case $295 I think (just like the old case, and I could sit on that too for like $100 cheaper, pass)

- Yazmo bag (looks like my NYX bag, just minus the brush holder in the top and my sides dont zip - $100 so eh, not sure just yet)

- The Zuca artist backpack - $125 and I LOVE IT! If I can fit my whole kit in this then I am SOLD! Just this and my chair and my back would be eternally grateful.  :-)

For now I will keep condensing and invest in some of the removable pouches, I think that can tide me over until I want to pay for the new bag, currently my money is being used on continuing education for the first part of the year and that is WAY more important. 

Hopefully this helped someone like the Jessica Jean Myer's post helped me.  Talk to you all soon!

I Wanna Be an MUA: How to Get Gigs

I was recently asked how I continue to secure gigs so since my posts have been lacking as of late I figured it would make an ideal post.

When I first started to take being a makeup artist seriously I had absolutely no idea where to start. A few folks suggested Model Mayhem so I checked it out and I immediately felt like a fish out of water...

Tip 1: We are our own worst critic, dont doubt yourself.

No my portfolio, or lack thereof, wasnt up to par with many of the makeup artists on MM but I didnt let that deter me. I landed my very first gig from a Model Mayhem casting call that just so happened to be with a big time company.

I now had a reputable company to list on my resume. I decided to then venture to the internet for more research on possible gigs. My 2nd casting call was to be a part of the makeup artist team for an independent film being shot in the area. I contacted the producers and set up a meeting

Tip 2: Be available

A lot of the time that is all it takes. They need someone with the work ethic, minus the attitude, who is available to get the job done. I pride myself on this. I have a work ethic that just wont quit. I wholeheartedly believe this is the reason I continue to get jobs (both paying and unpaid) Yes I can do it, yes I will be there-I make a way out of no way and trust at times it is really hard but I have an awesome support system and they believe in me. During those times I find myself second guessing I think about them and it keeps me going.

Tip 3: Know your sh!t

Instead of just being a part of the makeup team for that first film, the producers believed in me enough to let me serve as the key artist and build a team of artists. It was my first time on a set but I did so much research you would think I was writing the movie. The resources are there, you just have to seek them out.

So Im gathering experience, but I still dont have a portfolio. Every summit, class, workshop I take pushes the importance of a portfolio. Well you know what? I didnt get a real portfolio until February of this year! Ive been operating as a freelance artist for over a year.

Tip 4: Hustle hard!

Networking is your friend. You MUST know that and you MUST practice it frequently. Twitter has been an awesome resource. Social media in general is a dynamic tool available to just about everyone. Use it wisely and watch the opportunities stack up.

Tip 5: Practice Humility, you are never too good for a gig

You never know what one gig will lead to. Even if you dont have the best experience it still may lead to one great picture for your portfolio, one more experience to add to your resume, a chance to talk with someone who is interested in working with you on another project. I dont turn down anything! I use vacation time, I borrow someone's car if need be, I drag my kit on the metro, I make it a POINT to try and do everything in my power to make it to a gig or shoot. Once the calls/emails stop, you are done.

Tip 6: Share the wealth

I know a lot of artists who want to break into the industry and whenever I hear about something that they could work on I extend the invitation. Even if they cant make it to that particular one I keep asking. If I havent spoken to them in a while I try to reach out and ask if they are still pounding that pavement and trying to make it work. The fashion industry in general can be cut throat and I have no desire to engage in that foolery. If I can help you in any way I will, plain and simple.

I wish I had some magic answer for how to make this thing work but the truth is I dont think there is one. Some people want the money and fame, a lot of my gigs are unpaid, my "money" comes in the form of pics for my portfolio. Some want to work with celebrities, to each his/her own. Weddings, runway, editorial, film, television there are so many avenues to take. Right now my focus is to try my hand at each and THEN determine which one I want to focus on solely IF I even decide to narrow it down.

Take the tips Ive listed and apply them to your goal. I hope this helps, we can always discuss further - so if you have any questions feel free to hit me up! I didnt have someone I could go to and ask when I chose to embark on this so I am more than willing to help anyone who wants to chat.

I leave you with an image from a shoot I did recently. Peace y'all.