Getting Ready and Staying Ready

As I dive further into my career as a Full-time Freelance Makeup Artist, I am learning how to be a better business person.  We plan for what we want in life.  We schedule months... sometimes a year in advance for events we deem important. That vacation in Hawaii you are going to next month was planned 6 months ago.  The bride you are doing makeup on next weekend scheduled her wedding date and put a deposit on the hall a year to two years in advance.  We as Makeup Artist, Hair and Fashion Stylist, etc. should be doing the same thing.

I am going to the Artist Summit in October this year and some things are being paid off now that if I had planned better earlier would have been paid off sooner.  I could be sitting back and not worrying what I need to do next.  I have learned from this and other experiences(TMS Chicago), that I still have a ways to go in running my business.  I have taken business and accounting classes in college, but have learned to run my MUA business better in the past 2 years. When we took vacations as kids, the hotel, Disney World tickets were paid for 3-6 months.  My parents most likely just put food and emergency money aside the last few months before the trips.

Tripit App I am using to track my MUA events

Now with the changes in technology we have new options.  There are various apps on the mobile phones to track your trips. You can sent up special savings accounts for your trips so that the money is available.  We have to stop making excuses for why we can not achieve our dreams.  If you can plan a family trip 6 months in advance then you can plan to attend The Makeup Shows, IMATS, The Artist Summit, classes, etc.  My 2014 events, I plan to have payments made 3-6 months in advance.  Things happen in life that prevent us from from doing what we want, but we can plan ahead for those events.  When we make planning ahead a habit then we are ahead of the game.

App also allows you to add your confirmations in.

So if we go to our favorite coffee places, restaurants, etc. less and put those funds in a special account for classes, and shows then we can "live the dream"!  With the advances in Technology and all the options out there, we can make our dreams come true if we just  "get ready and stay ready".

BCB LLC

The Makeup Show Chicago 2012: Building on my Career!

Hey Divas,


This year TMS Chicago was short for me but still sweet.  I was tired from working both jobs the days before but knew this was an opportunity I was not going to miss.  I drove down with some other wonderful artist from the Detroit area and we arrived in time so that our wait in line was short.  My first stop was Makeup Forever.  Last year I missed out on purchasing some empty flash palettes, and other items even though I was there when the show opened.  This year that was not going to happen again(lol). 

I stood in line for about 15 minutes and was able to get everything above that I needed for my kit.  This year I picked up the "The Flash Palette"(HG product), 3 empty Flash Palettes, 2 Magnetized Metal Pans and 2 Empty Stackable Cases.  I wanted the Lip Line Perfector but that was already sold out. :~(  My goal was to get what I needed only and I think I did pretty good. :) 

Next stop, Bdellium Tools for some of their amazing brushes that I love.  Daniel was there with his winning smile and I purchased 5 brushes.  I picked up 3(714) Flat Liner brushes and 2(708) Bent Eyeliner brushes. 
  

Tools and Trends with James Vincent for Crown Brush was the first seminar I went to.  James Vincent spoke on having multiple purposes for your brushes, such as using a bent eyeliner brush to create a clean line for the lip.  He also stated that if you have your brushes you can do anything(don't lose them!).  When you are traveling it is best to keep them close just in case luggage is lost or delayed. Having the proper tools is important especially when you have an average of 28 minutes to get hair and makeup done. 

My next stop was the Inglot booth.  I decided to hold off on the matte neutral palettes I wanted and continued on to the Kevyn Aucoin Booth where I picked up two Sensual Skin Enhancers(#3 and #5).  Frends Beauty Supply was next door so I had I to check out the Stilazzi cases. They are definitely on my wish list.  I will be purchasing them later.  While there I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and reacquaint myself with artists I meet last year and online.

It was time to head back to the seminars, the main reason I was there.  AJ Crimson was speaking on a career in makeup and I was not missing what he had to say.  AJ has been in the business for over twelve years and just "up and did it".  He advised us we need to find a way to quit our current non makeup artist jobs, believe in yourself and never let the lack of money stop the dream!  He advised us to carve our niche, invest in ourselves and have a Vision Board.  If anyone was making excusing and not motivated to do more to advance their career as a makeup artist before his seminar, they definitely were motivated and left the excuses behind after listening to AJ Crimson!

 Stay tune for part 2....


XOXOX
BCB
    





  

IMATS Toronto 2011 Series: Donut Friday with Elessa and Koren

IMATS Toronto started early for me.  I arrived Friday at 11:00 am with fellow MUA Alia to assist the fabulous Eve Pearl with setting up her booth.  After getting things set up and checking into the hotel we headed over to Donut Friday at Jordane Store.  The store is small and quaint but has items to start off or stock a makeup kit.  Koren and Elessa did demos using some of Jordane products while we looked around the store at things to purchase and snacked on bite size sandwiches, cupcakes and timbits.

I only purchased 2 items, an artist style palette and a tube of black mascara for my kit.  I love the design of the palette.  It is easier to hold and has more space than my rectangular one.  Koren of Enkore Makeup used the mascara during his demo and I loved how it applied with the mascara fan brush and the spoolie.   

      Donut Friday with Enkore and PurseBuzz 

Koren also talked about color theory, and brow anatomy.  The above link shows a video from the event.  

IMATS Toronto November 2011

The International Makeup Artist Trade Show Toronto will be back November 12-13, 2011 at the Toronto Congress Centre.  If you missed last year's show and The Makeup Show Chicago then you definitely do not want to miss this year's show.  With over three months to save for hotel, travel, food, products and more, I expect to see more of my fellow makeup artists, vloggers and bloggers from the US this year.  Michigan does not have events such as IMATS and The Makeup Show so we have to travel to the events if we want the education and also to test and see the products in person.

IMATS Toronto is a great event for makeup artists, aspiring makeup artists and makeup enthusiasts.  It is open to the public and the tickets are affordable.  It is best to purchase tickets in advance.  IMATS is an opportunity to network with other makeup artists and to see what new products are out.  IMATS is also an opportunity to watch some of the best in the industry teach a new technique or style of makeup you may not know. 

     Check out the International Makeup Artist Trade Show  website for further information on the show. You can also check out http://tantalizing-eyez.blogspot.com for pictures and more on last year's IMATS Toronto. 

Video/Youtube coverage on IMATS Toronto:

IMATS Coverage    
IMATS:Koren of Enkore Makeup
IMATS: Kandee Johnson

BCB