I'm doing research into education for MUAs at the moment, and finding that almost everyone says that make-up schools don't do enough for artists when it comes to teaching them business skills and the kind of industry knowledge that actually helps you get a job.
So, if you were to design a course entirely dedicated to teaching people how to get work, what would your must-include parts be?
Responding to an old thread...
This is true. I took my training in the late 90's, even then as-it-is-now, make-up schools don't cover this topic in any substantial way.
Our Union, in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Government, offers an Apprenticeship / training program for just recently graduated Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists who have an interest in pursuing a career in the Film and Television industry. The positions are fully paid and the hours they earn fast tracks them into Permit status.
This is where they learn how the working structure of Production and Unions work and learn how to network with them, and possibly in them hiring you.
To answer your above question... What would your
must include parts be?
1. Is to follow your Department Head's instructions. That's it.
This may seem fairly easy to follow, yet it isn't due to simple human nature.
The issue is, potential candidates come in to the position with high expectations... (
They want to work on actors right away.) Yet the reality is they are relegated to just observing and doing very menial tasks. So they become bored very quickly, and then they take the initiative upon themselves and do things that are not asked of them, or do more than what was asked of them, or talk / chat in inappropriate moments which all leads to conflict.
(From what I am told Hair Salons have been doing this since the beginning. However, Salon Hair Stylists don't know how to do "Film Hair", so the transition from Salon Hair to Film Hair is frustrating for experienced Hair Stylists because of the boredom factor and their ego.)
Due to this, there is a huge turn-around in the Make-up and Hair Departments in potential hires.
Essentially our apprenticeship program is one long personality test which lasts for a couple of months.
