subject: Getting Hired For Makeup Artist Jobs [print this page] While the title here refers to makeup artist jobs, the truth is that you can apply the following tips to just about any industry relating to your skills as an artist or a craftsman. The tips here are based on real practical advice from successful makeup professionals.
They say that it's all about who you know, but the thing is... This is the age of the internet. If you want to contact Greg Nicotero, you can find him online and send him an email... He might not respond, but the point is, it's a small world, and the web makes it even smaller. Sooner or later, you'll bump into someone, online or off, that can give you the opportunity you need.
But, a hand up won't help if you don't know what you're doing. So don't sit around dreaming about becoming a makeup artist professionally unless you're already a talented amateur. Here are three tips...
Know Your Stuff
Be the best. If not the very best in every possible sense of the word, at least be different, offer something that the next expert can't. If you have any other skills to assist doing makeup, milk them. If you know a little bit about animatronics, if you can double as a stunt coordinator, prove it, and your extra skills may help you out.
Favors Go Up The Ladder...
What this means is: If a rising indie rock band needs a makeup artist for their video, but can't afford to pay anyone... Getting your name on the internet movie database is a start to your professional career as a makeup artist. Do favors for people who can do you favors, and then maybe they'll return them.
Make Your Own Short
Photos and test shots only go so far. Potential employers want to see what your stuff looks like when filmed in the right light, they want to see it in motion. Make a good short with a good story and good characters, because that's the only thing that really serves as a proper calling card in this line of work.
