"Just" How Disrespectful Are You To An Artist

It's been a minute since I've blogged in this tone i.e vent/mini rant.

But I wanted to share my rage feelings and thoughts about the word "Just"

Let's look at it again.....

" Just"

As a freelance makeup artist and hairstylist I hear that word often, and over the course of 8 years, it has become an instant trigger for this reaction:

But why Saj? Okay, I'll tell you

Phone call exibit A: " Hi I'm Someone That Wants Your Services But I Don't Really Respect What You Do,  I'd like to know how much it is JUST for my makeup and hair to be done for my uber important event"

Phone call exhibit B: " Hi I'm Another Person That Wants Your Services But I Don't Really See The Need To Pay You,  I too have an uber important event and JUST need makeup and hair so how much"

Phone call exhibit C: "Hi I'm One Of Those and I was referred to you by one of your clients, I'd like to know how much is it for JUST my makeup and hair to be done".

Do you see it?! ( stay with me, can u tell the emotion as I type?)

Why is there a need to add the word JUST in front of my services? I'd understand if included in a package was a new car and lifetime supply of protein powder, so you'd only JUST want makeup and hair....not the new car.

I do makeup and hair, what else could I provide but just makeup and hair?

You may think oh it's just a way of speaking. Actually, no, it's a way of being disrespectful to my profession and expertise, you are immediately, upon contact downgrading my services with the tone that this really should be craigslist cheap since it's JUST MAKEUP.

These phone calls ALWAYS end the same way, " Okay well I'm still calling other people for more prices so I'll get back to you"

(Shout out to the previous artists that they called that stuck with their rates!)

Phone Call C is always my favorite, If you were referred by a previous client, 99% sure they told you how much they paid, so you prepared your fave word "Just", because you've decided you should pay less.

I've even had the " Oh that much for just my hair? I really only need JUST curls since I'm no good at curling my own hair"

Ma'm that is actually why you should pay me.

To my fellow colleagues, understand that they are 100% aware of what you can do for them, they are 100% aware of your value, because someone at some point told them. You cannot blame someone really for trying to score a bargain, but do not be sucked into lowering yourself below your standard of business.  See this POST on standard of business and this POST on working for free.

Do you call Lowes and ask how much is it to JUST install a fence? chances are you don't.

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

Girls Run for your Life Night out with Sheckys

Hello to my readers! I must apologize for going MIA with the blog, time was just against me, so hopefully I can keep up now. *hands you glitter cupcakes* ^_^

Sadly this post is one of annoyance...... due to these people:

Where do I begin?! Ok I'll start at the beginning. I attended a beauty event hosted by Pretty City Atlanta last where which I blogged about HERE. It was a great experience and wonderful atmosphere. I unfortunatelty had to work on the evening it was held this year so I had to miss it.


Then I came across an event hosted by Sheckys Atlanta. Checked the website out and It looked all exciting with a chic chick logo with pictures from previous events, there was a Maybelline Colour Studio lab with makeovers and everything! Ooooooooooo!

Check out the logo's sheckys goodie bag! HA!

So I invited two friends and said we should totally go!

Now with the ticket purchasing...

General admission was $12 and Admission plus Goodie Bag was $30 but goodie bag tickets were on sale for a limited time at $12! Score!!! ...Right?!

On the site they boasted of an amazing Goodie Bag with full sized products along with a list of vendors contributing to the bag. So what the heck! Lets get the Goodie Bag!

We arrive at the event, it's huge! We check in, and are given an arm band and a goodie bag ticket.
"So where do we get the goodie bags?"... " In there"

We walk into the first ballroom and its packed with vendors and at first glance we think yay! then upon inspection we see it's all cheap jewelry vendors. Like...cheap jewelry from the chinese beauty supply jewelry cheap. *hangs head*

We then make our way to the BACK of the room in a dinky corner and there's a guy handing out what appears to be empty gift bags.

Noooooo those aren't the goodie bags!.....Are they?!!!!

Behold.........

The Goodie Bag

Soft Lips, Presson Nails, Miss Jessies Free Sample, Body Shop Free Sample, Unicorn Birthday Card
At least the Unicorn card had glitter...right?! -_-

Yes folks...that was the $30 Goodie Bag. I can't..I just cannot.

So what about the ladies that paid the full $30 for that?!!! Nothing in there costs $2.00 much less $30?!

Also if a guest is actually paying for a Goodie Bag, which in all fairness should be complimentary, it makes the expectations WAY high..and to this?!

Pretty City spoiled my with a bag packed to the brim and tearing at the seams for how filled it was..with FULL sized products.

None of the vendors listed on the site were there, nothing that was promoted was received at this event.

We also stood in line to have a psychic reading only to be told that there was a mandatory tip of $20.00 to have your palm read. Mandatory...tip? wait...what?!

I do a very good job at reading my own palm...it's called face palming.

From what I understand it used to be a great event and because they allowed all these cheap and rude vendors the great vendors left.

I didn't even take pictures of the event itself, mostly because I was in denial. The best part was hanging out with my friends, although next time we will skip it and head to the bar.

My humble recommendation on having a great night out with the girls with great vendors to explore? Check out Pretty City Atlanta.

Guess who will be receiving those birthday cards for her birthday next year.

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

CraigsList Casting: Atlanta

*click to see larger*

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cwg/2800523564.html

^

WHAT HE SAID.

The. End.

Bye.

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

How Much Should that Makeover Cost?

I decided to do this blog post as an outreach to the artists, both new and old, but mostly new on the topic of rates and undercutting the market.

I have to start with a disclaimer: This post is NOT telling you how much YOU should charge, you need to work that out yourself with your market in mind.

I sincerely hope that my point is understood and that everyone takes the time to read exactly what I'm saying.





To start off, today on my Facebook Fanpage, I asked fellow makeup artists to do some maths for me and total the cost of a list of BASIC products that would be standard for creating ONE makeup look.

Of course these things vary per artist, but these are the general items used in creating a look:

- 1 Foundation

-1 Concealer

-1 Powder

-1 Blush

-3 Eyeshadows

-1 Eyeliner

-Brow pencil

-1 Mascara

-1 Pair False Lashes

-1 Lipliner

-1 Lipcolour/lipstick/gloss (whichever)

The average total that I got was $218.37 with the Highest being $273 and the lowest $193.

This isn't about high end/professional brands vs department/drug store brands either.

Whats the point?

Basically to give you ( you as in a general you -_-) a different way to look at your expenses, cost and worth as an artist.

Logically if it cost you $195 just for materials for ONE face, not counting in your skill or additional tools such as brushes, disposables etc, exactly how can you logically charge for e.g $30  for a make up look which includes most if not all of the products listed above?

Yes of course you get more than one use out of each product, but what if your client's daughter knocks your powder/foundation over and it breaks? or someone steals an item? You have to pay cost + tax possibly shipping to replace it. 

So...exactly what did you make that day then?

I've had makeup artists undercut me so many times, for e.g. I quote $100 other says well I can do $45.

The $45 artist, drives for 45 minutes to location, uses gas and kit materials, drops a compact powder and breaks it, stops to restock on the disposables used up, stops for gas then drives back home for 45 minutes.

Add up the cost of gas, materials, replacing that compact etc and I guarantee you its more than $45, if it is less then should your profit of the day really only be $10? 

¯\\_(•͡ •͡)_//¯

Again this isn't exactly a template on HOW to CALCULATE your rates, I just want you to use it as a thought process on what our expenses as an artist are to know our worth.

Additionally I would like to add, again this is my humble opinion, but a Pro artist discount DOESN'T COUNT, that is OUR privilege as you all know we don't get them just like that, we have to apply and "prove our worth". It's not an excuse to charge "deeply discounted rates".

No one hires us to do what they can do, they hire us because we can do something they can't with products they don't have.

I completely understand having Promotional rates which are discounted for certain events like a Prom Discount where you expect volume,  but make it known that this is a limited special DISCOUNTED offer, and let yourself know that too...it should never be the norm. Keep that for the Proms and Parties and OFF Commercial sets.

But what if that commercial shoot says they have no budget? here's one more logical explanation, feel free to call them out on it too:

We have no budget, shoot for free for my clothing line website.

Clothing which will be sold for money right? so you're working for free/cheap to help them market to get sales  in $$$$ and you get?....nada

Know your expenses, know your worth.

Finally, if you are doing this as a hobby or your charging these ridiculously low rates because you have a "REAL" job....then quite frankly...GTFOH!!!!!!!!!!!

WE took the plunge to make a career and living off of this and how dare you piss on our lively hood. GO.AWAY.

I hope I'm making sense, you know the accent comes out when I get all emotional, I also hope that it gets you to think differently about how to calculate your rates.

Edited:

As mentioned this post was about getting you to pay attention to your expenses. I have received questions on what exactly to do. I guess some prefer lists to follow, unfortunately I cannot tell you what your expenses to operate as an artist are, however here are a few general things to give you an idea on how to begin your calculations:

-Website Fees (this includes cost of domain,hosting,maintenance)

-Membership Fees ( e.g membership to The Powder Group, Wedding Wire etc)


-Marketing/Promotional Costs ( comp cards, business cards etc)

-Supply Costs (kit supplies etc)

-License Fees (business registration fees etc)

-Cell Phone Fees 

-Rent

-Transportation

-Taxes 

-Loans

These are just a tiny list of our expenses in order to do business and not even counting life expenses such as retirement fund etc. 

So in order for you to really find out what you need to live, it is advised that you follow the formula below and work out YOUR:

Daily Cost of Doing Business

 $$ Calculate your Overhead/Expenses for a YEAR ÷ The amount of days you plan to Work Per Year

The figure that you will get is NOT how much you should charge, but how much you need to make minimum in order to LIVE/pay bills/eat....you know..survive.

Added on to that figure should be things like time, expertise etc.

So even as a "newbie" who doesn't have full experience/expertise years under the belt, you should be charging NO LESS than that figure calculated.

As you grow your expenses change, your expertise grows and so should your rates.

I thank you.

World Peace.

I need a drink.

Saj

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

Saj Mysteries: Case of the Lace Front Brow

Saj, Bess and George were taking a drive in her blue convertible to have lunch at a darling cafe.....


Sorry I had a moment there ^.^

First let me begin with a link to my previous posts on eyebrows check out Brow Behavior 1 and Brow Behavior 2 and my personal Brow Regimen .

Now within these posts you will see examples of terrible brows such as the Sperm Brow and the Chicola brow etc and of happy well shaped and well defined brows. Well just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water raise your brows...a new Browster raises its ugly head....fml

The Lace Front Brow :/

While you may think hmm the brow shape is "nice"( sigh) what's she talking about?

 What I'm talking about is the difference between a lace front shawty and Tyra banks.

The over emphasized over drawn eyebrow..It doesn't matter how awesome the shape is once you pick up that 2-4 shades lighter than my skin tone concealer and "clean up" around your brows or "define" it you will be left walking out looking a hot mess.

For those of you saying oohh the first pic isn't blended...blended and still a hot mess

The light halo effect makes these heavily drawn on brows look 5D.... and they look exactly like a bad lace front wig i .e "I'm dark but watch me rock this light beige lace on my unnaturally straight hairline wig"

Why would you wan't someone saying "Girlll your brows are drawn on tight!" as opposed to "Girl you have nice brows!"

This trend has me completely flabbergasted with so many questions Why? Who said? How Come? Whhhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?????????

Then it hit me...

Drag Queen "Make Artists", let me say I have nothing against gay guys/girls or gay guys that dress in drag (not all do), but when you decide to become a makeup artist and you are now working on women, its important that you know your drag techniques do not apply to a real woman.
The same also goes for WOMEN who look at the amazing drag transformations and go ohhh that face is beat let me do that on myself.

Check out some examples from the amazing Petrilude doing his Misty Maven Transformation. I'm pretty sure he doesnt do this on his female clients.

Notice the highlighting on the brow?

His new Misty Brows BUT see how natural they look?

Heeeyyyy!!!!!

Guy's being transformed into Drag MUST do heavy concealing with lighter colours to sculpt their male features into female features. Men in general don't have the defined brow bones or "eye space" for eye shadows/makeup as we women do, hence the blocking of brows and super highlighting of brow bones.

So ladies...you don't NEED to do this...we already have the structure why are u building more? Thats like adding a second concrete foundation to your already built house roof!

To my fellow mua's that do drag on them selves...please don't use your drag techniques on real women remember to keep the two seperate: working on creating a female look and working on a female.

If this isn't enough, From a theatrical stand point, when we approach aging techniques of an actor/actress for the stage the first thing we do is hit the brow area with heavy highlight that instantly ages the eyes... Why? As aging progresses, the skin looses its elasticity and sags making the brow bone and eye socket appear even more prominent.

So all you fly girls...you're aging yourself with 5D "Lace front brows"

I'm pretty sure this post won't make a huge dent *Saj shrug*  but If I can get one girl to say "oh damn! I won't do it again" then my job is done.

If you INSIST on "super defining" your brows please use a SMALL amount your foundation or concealer that MATCHES YOUR SKIN TONE EXACTLY... not lighter...not darker...

Can you tell that I need a drink after this post?...sigh

xoxo

Saj

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

How to Feel Miserable as an Artist

LOL I saw this on photographer Ashley Reid's page (still waiting to shoot with her *hint hint Ashley!*) loves it! thankfully my parents are artists too so they are supportive :D 

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

Pick Two Please

Please pick two 

Let me know which two you pick and how that works out for you

xoxo

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

Work for Free...?

The age long battle for those in the creative field of business. I found this link which should help you keep your gonads balls  gumption? on how to say F$%^K NO!   No to those asking you to work for free.

                                                                            

 Click below

   HOW TO DETERMINE IF TO WORK FOR FREE

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

Lip What?!

So after reading an interesting post on Lip Liners I though i'd do a quick tutorial game called 

"LIP WHAT!?"  

but first some Lipliner-ducation:

Common Lip Liner Fails Myths Misconceptions :

1. Brown is a lip liner is in existence

2. Brown lip liner looks good

3. Black lip liner is in existence

4. Black lip liner looks good

5. The line in lip liner means draw a line on ur lips (smh)

The Truth:

1.Lip liners are used to create a base for your lip colour or gloss.

 2.They usually come in shades complimentary to lipstick and lipgloss colours. 

3. They are used to create a longer lasting lipstick application and will prevent the lip colour from bleeding into fine lines. 

4. You should fill in your lips completely with your lip liner. Unless you have a perfect match to your lip colour

If you are going for a natural look, almost every makeup line has 1 or 3 Neutral Shades that go across the board for ALL skin tones. Yes I said all skin tones.

Here's the Game: 

The pictures below are also based on the argument that BROWN is better than BLACK...well yes in terms of Eyebrow pencils/powders....but lips?? 

whoa!! How about none!

 Look at the pics all three feature "LIP" liners...Guess why only ONE looks good 

( same gloss was used in all pics)

Answer in the last pic :P

Black:

Brown:

Natural/Nude:

Answer: Ding ding ding!!!!!! only ONE is a Lip liner....there is NO such thing as a BROWN or BLACK LIP......operative word...LIP..liner if you don't believe me....go dig out that old pencil and read what it says...if the label hasn't rubbed off that is :P

So stop that Burnt Rare steak look...eekk!!!! and just throw on some gloss and call it George Lips

For those who don't believe me that a neutral LIP liner can go for all skin tones, check out the pic below of a behind the scene shot from my Spring Beauty Top 5 shoot , The lip liner that I used above is the same used for all three girls below: 

Bless!

xoxo

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com

Think Twice about Vendor/Client Relationships

I found this video in a post from a fellow MUA and since then I have shared it with my "Creative" friends, Makeup artists, Visual Artists, Graphic Artists, Dancers and the list goes on.

Its amazing as to how people expect us to accept this Bulls#%$t, what we do is 100% skill,

with 100% training, and obviously not everyone can do it...right? So show some respect and think twice before doing this.....

 'Cause I will call you out on that  Bull...

Saj Mack is a Professional Makeup Artist in Atlanta Georgia providing over 6 years experience in Beauty, Commercial, Film, Television, Special FX and more. See her work at www.makeupbysaj.com