Brushes for freelancers?

[PINKBAYB4U]

I was told that the the full time and part time employees are given a brush set to use for work that they have to turn back in if they leave...is this the same for FREELANCERS? or do the freelancers have to purchase theyre brushes since i keep reading in the threads that they dont get the benefits a regular employee gets.....

 

[DaizyDeath]

As far as i know mac really doesnt like for the freelancers to use the reg employees brushes and they want you to supply your own [mac brand of course]

 

[ms.marymac]

All the counters I have worked at provided brushes for freelancers. Either there was an extra set or freelancers used a set that belonged to someone not at work.

I guess some counters don't have enough so be sure to ask. I won't go into what I think about counters that ask freelancers to bring their own brushes. :X

 

[MisStarrlight]

Every location is different. Ask the manager there when you call to confirm your hours/get called in for the first time.

If you plan on doing makeup professionally, you're going to want to build up your own set of brushes though.

 

[giz2000]

At the counters/stores where I freelance, I either use the counter brushes or someone's set (as long as they're not working that day). I make extra super-sure that the brushes that were given to me are returned to the belt that they belong in...and super extra clean, too!

 

[SARAHluvsMAC]

i have an amazing brush set, however i would NEVER bring it to counter

even a trainer has specifically told me not to incase they get "lifted" or "lost"... when your in a hurry you never know

especially when there are plenty of other brushes they can get mixed in with, even if you mark them with tape of nailpolish

 

[PINKBAYB4U]

Thank U All For Your Replies =)

 

[amoona]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SARAHluvsMAC i have an amazing brush set, however i would NEVER bring it to counter even a trainer has specifically told me not to incase they get "lifted" or "lost"... when your in a hurry you never know especially when there are plenty of other brushes they can get mixed in with, even if you mark them with tape of nailpolish

I know I'm late on all but this brought up a question when I read this ... here (Bay Area) I have been told my most of the counters that I should bring my own set of brushes when I begin to freelance for MAC. They said that they don't provide brushes for freelancers. But I'm scared of getting my brushes misplaced/mixed up. I wouldn't mind using my SE brushes haha but I doubt that would be a good idea.

Should I just suck it up and use my brushes or tell them my concern. I just don't want to seem unprofessional by whinning about bringing my own brushes ya know?

 

[SARAHluvsMAC]

you need to contact the counter manager and tell her how you feel, it is not mac's policy to have freelancers provide their own brushes, it is absurb that they would tell u that

 

[PINKBAYB4U]

yeah i actually wasnt sure about this before i interviewed (got the job by the way

)...at the counter here...im in south florida...i was told that i would not be given brushes as a freelancer but that most of the time i can borrow counter brushes that they usually have but im more than welcome to bring my own because sometimes there arent enough for everyone...but yet they also mentioned that if i bring my own they tend to "walk away"
i dunno but i actually have a 2nd interview because it just so happens a permanent spot opened up so i hopefully i wont even have to worry about this now since permanent employees do get brush belts and brushes provided.

 

[MisStarrlight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PINKBAYB4U yeah i actually wasnt sure about this before i interviewed (got the job by the way )...at the counter here...im in south florida...i was told that i would not be given brushes as a freelancer but that most of the time i can borrow counter brushes that they usually have but im more than welcome to bring my own because sometimes there arent enough for everyone...but yet they also mentioned that if i bring my own they tend to "walk away" i dunno but i actually have a 2nd interview because it just so happens a permanent spot opened up so i hopefully i wont even have to worry about this now since permanent employees do get brush belts and brushes provided.

This is the way it usually works (for my region at least) so, Amoona, maybe this is what your manager meant by them "not providing" brushes. It's kinda crazy that they wouldn't at least give you one brush (I know, one brush is totally not enough).
I still bring my brushes so that I don't have to clean them as frequently...my brush set plus the one given to me by the counter fills up the brush belt and then some. To help minimize your brushes walking away figure out some sort of nail polish system to mark them (you can do this on the bottom on the handle so it's not screaming at you). Mine is red polist w/ silver fabric paint in the center...so far I'm the only one I've ever seen with the combo. And if someone asks to borrow your brush (happens ALL the time), tell them politley that they are your own personal brushes and you'd rather they didn't...or if you can't say no, like me, just hound them till you get it back.

It's my experience that brushes rarely walk away, they can almost always be fonud in another MAs belt....and most are ok with you asking to see if they've picked up any of yours.

 

[ms.marymac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SARAHluvsMAC you need to contact the counter manager and tell her how you feel, it is not mac's policy to have freelancers provide their own brushes, it is absurb that they would tell u that

Exactly. My previous trainer responded to somebody's question about having enough brushes at the counter/co-workers borrowing each other's brushes. She basically said that those brushes are MAC's property, and that managers should provide enough brushes for every person.The people who freak over someone borrowing their brushes need to realize that they are NOT theirs to hoard. As long as everybody takes care of the brushes and returns them, there should not be a problem.

I'm sorry, it's not like MAC can't afford to provide their employees with the things they need to do their job.

 

[calbear]

Actually - it is in your best interest to be really protective of your brushes (even though they are MAC's property). The brushes are logged out/checked out under your name. If it comes up missing you are responsible. It is really easy to loan someone your brush only to have them leave it lying around and we all know about the sticky fingers of some of our customers. We have had customers ask to borrow a brush and then try to walk out the store with it.

As far as freelancing - it's up to you. You can bring a set of brushes and keep your eye on them OR you could bring nothing and hope it all ends well. I have shown up for a freelancing gig only to have the store only have one brush available for my use. Some stores were low on all supplies and I was the only one in the store with a lacquer wand - so having my own supplies in my own brush belt with brushes was an advantage.

At my store now - there can be anywhere from 1 - 5 freelancers on the floor at any given time - so the few brushes we have can only go so far. The store is really not trying to tester out toooo many brushes since most times we only have one freelancer.

Plus some locations would make the freelancers clean all day or do stock (some areas don't have full time stock personnel) anyway - so a brush wasn't really necessary. I guess MAC could go that route which would free up some of the permanent employees to actually deal with customers.

 

[ms.marymac]

At this particular counter they did not log out the brushes under anyone's name, but I can see why they would. If anything happened to brushes whether entailed damage or being stolen, the manager would of course deal with it.

I can understand why a counter or store wouldn't want to tester out too many brushes but I still don't think it's right a freelancer should have to bring their own brushes to work, but that's just my opinion. I just feel like they should have a few basics at least.

And why is it the lacquer brushes are always the first to go!?

 

[SARAHluvsMAC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms.marymac And why is it the lacquer brushes are always the first to go!?

lol...because the disposable doefoot ones suck! they dont pick up anything

 

[FacesbyNiki]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SARAHluvsMAC lol...because the disposable doefoot ones suck! they dont pick up anything

I hate those wands. They really don't pick up anything.

 

[MisStarrlight]

Lacquer brushes? I don't think I've ever seen those...(or are they the lustreglass brush ones?)

 

[calbear]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisStarrlight Lacquer brushes? I don't think I've ever seen those...(or are they the lustreglass brush ones?)

Lacquer wands are the official title of the applicators that look like the brushes in lustreglasses.

 

[MisStarrlight]

ah...see, I had no idea...Thanks!
hahaha

 

[calbear]

No problem - they are in such high demand that we sometimes will get a shipment and hide them in our lockers so we'll have our own personal stash. As everyone mentioned above, the other applicators (the doefoot applicators -- the ones that are inside lipglass tubes) don't really pick up any product so it's hard to show a customer the product that way.