I've read through this whole discussion, and I'd like to point out a couple of things that made my teeth itch. Unfortunately, because there are SO many posts, I'm not going to directly quote, as it will take me longer to make my points, so I will instead paraphrase.
By the way, I want to make it clear that I am not participating in the boycott, as I still use my MAC products, but I have limited my MAC purchases to things that I cannot find elsewhere, and have greatly diversified my kit since this boycott was issued. I don't want to cut ties with MAC completely, but I am in support of them changing their practices.
It was mentioned that since some of the folks on here aren't FL MA's, then why should they care? What MAC consumers should realize is that because the these products aren't being used by FLMA's any more, the buzz is diminishing about MAC, and quickly. Hence, EL has to create their buzz somehow, so by giving away product and services to productions, be it film, photo or fashion, they get product placement instead. But it's not free; they still have to pay for the manufacturing, the artists still collect a paycheck, and all those people who work in corporate offices, booking those deals, need to get paid. So, what does that have to do with the consumer? YOU end up getting to pay their salaries by purchasing products. You may think it's not a big deal, because there hasn't been a dramatic increase in prices of product, but when EL came into play, they changed the formulas of the product so they would be cheaper to make. Think about it - if the product is suddenly cheaper to make, then why didn't they lower prices? Because they have to pay their people somehow.
Folks have said that they're going to continue buying MAC because of it's humanitarian efforts. If a person is truly concerned about the AIDS epidemic and wants to contribute to it, volunteering with AIDS charities, and straight up donations will get you closer. Buying a tube of MAC lipstick may help donate money to the cause, but you're still reaping a personal benefit. Do I have all of the lipsticks? You bet, but I still donate my time and money to various charitable organizations.
Sure, it's big business, and perhaps it may not be important to the collectors, consumers and/or occasional users, but it's important to the people who make their livings by doing makeup. If it wasn't for the FLMA's, MAC would still be a fledgling little company trying to make it's way.
The truth is, do I blame MAC for what's happening? No. I blame Estee Lauder. They have systematically gone about accumulating smaller, reputable makeup brands and turned them into lower quality, higher priced lines driven only by money.
There is a reason that people who apply makeup are called artists - because it IS AN ART. Sure, you can teach anyone how to do the basics from a face chart and they can pull it off. But people who know how to work with lighting, different skin tones, types, textures, film, print, and who are able to turn a concept into reality - that takes true talent and artistry. Makeup began as an art, and it should remain that way - and not at the cost of daily consumers, and certainly not at the cost of a FLMA's livelihood.
And lastly, what upsets me most, is the people who work for MAC are being treated as indentured servants. I can go do a gig, get paid, and get a tear sheet, and have proof of the work that I do. A MAC artist will do the same gig, get paid FAR less money, and once it's all said and done, they don't get the proof of their work. Once they leave MAC, their proof stays with MAC. So how are they supposed to prove that they did fashion week, or that they worked on such-and-such movie? They can't. And for those of us in the business, it's not about someone "taking my word" for it, it's about proving what we've done.
It's a tough business that's getting tougher and tougher - heck, just the fact that there are tons of makeup schools out there pumping out "makeup artists" by the 1000's who are flooding the market - having a major company scooping up big contracts is making it just that much harder.
It's a lot to think about, but it's worth the thought - for all of us.
