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As aspring MUAs were always on the hunt for the latest tips and tricks that will help us in perfecting our skills and for any small nugget of information that will get us one step closer to making it in this industry.
With the use of applications such as Facebook and Twitter we have now have access some of the TOP celebrity makeup artist, who are more than willing to share their advice. You ask a question, they politely answer, they tweet and post pictures of work they’ve done, products they like and don’t like, if they are team foundation first or team eyes first, and while they are willing to give out the information we must remember to not abuse it and them.
Sometimes we are so eager to pick their brains that we seem to forget that Twitter and Facebook are not what got them to their Celebrity Makeup Artist status. If I had to choose I’d cast my vote in the categories of, desire, thirst for knowledge, practice, and education. These are things that some of us in this new upcoming generation know little of.
We are living in the times where the internet is taking over. If you had a question you used to “ask jeeves”, or go to the library and look it up in a book, now all you have to do is type in a couple of words in google and anything and everything you need to know about a certain topic comes up. We’ve been taught in school that there are no stupid questions and while that may be true that the question isn’t stupid, however it brings to thought were you stupid for asking it. You want to know what the best foundation is for oily skin, look it up! Someone has blogged about it, someone has made a you tube video, somebody has posted that information for you and all you have to go is go out get it. Want to know the best way apply eyeliner, want to know how contour and and highlight your face, want to know what a tear sheet is, or what makes HD makeup so different. LOOK IT UP!!! Read a book!!! Do your Research!!!
We call ourselves “Aspiring” makeup artist but what are we really aspiring for? Are we aspiring to grow and become the next leaders in this industry or are we aspiring to become the generation that feels they don’t have to work for results. Stop abusing mentors with basic questions they’ve already answered time and time again, stop getting mad when they point you to a source rather then come right out and tell you what you want to hear, don’t get upset when they don’t acknowledge a question you asked because they know you already know the answer. Think about where else the information can be found first, think about what they would have done to find the information, use your brain instead of theirs!!
Last night Jennifer James stepped on a lot of toes when she dished out much needed advice to new and aspiring Makeup Artist. She said things that NEEDED to be said and while for many it didn’t come across as good advice I took everything to heart and I could definitely understand her reasonings behind it. I made each one of her tweets a favorite because I could fill her sincerity, she is someone in the industry that I truly look up to.
Here are her tweets from last night listed below, read them, understand them, get offended if you must, and when you calm down understand that she’s only here to HELP you.
Follow her @JenJamesBeauty
UUHHH…NEW & ASPIRING MUAs: I am glad to share countless tidbits of helpful information – BUT NOT THINGS THAT YOU CAN GOOGLE!!!
UUHHH…NEW & ASPIRING MUAs: If I refer you to @Crystal_Wright‘s Blog & you actually READ IT – some questions are just.. #iCant!
UUHHH…NEW & ASPIRING MUAs: 1 . . . ONE post on someone’s FB wall is not equivalent to ambition, hunger & drive! #FollowUp #MakeupChat
UUHHH…NEW & ASPIRING MUAs: Your thin skin is undeniable when u react so dramatically to a necessary & deserved tongue lashing! #MakeupChat
UUHHH…NEW & ASPIRING MUAs: Whn u market urself as a specialist-@ some point ur WORK shd show said expertise! #NotJustOnUrSelf
UUHHH…NEW & ASPIRING MUAs: Our industry does not exist IN YOUR WORLD. It’s your job 2 make ur presence know IN THE INDUSTRY.
UUHHH…NEW & ASPIRING MUAs: I might be a maniac, but I will never lie to you or give you bad information. #MakeupChat
UUHHH…for all the churchy NEW & ASPIRING MUAs: Take the peoples’ of Berea “more noble” approach! #StudyDaily #ACTS17Eleven
(Acts 17:11 reads Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true”
UUHHH…NEW & ASPIRING MUAs: You cannot be Mr/Ms Congeniality on #YouTube & stand-offish snooty & unfriendly in person.
BLOGGERS, VLOGGERS, YOUTUBERS! People who know they are on camera, yet continue to chew their gum DO NOT DESERVE TO BE INTERVIEWED!
I don’t think you guys are understanding. This is the type of information that is priceless!!! Ms. James I thank you so much for your shared knowledge, your kind giving spirit and everything you do to help us along the way!
great post! I agree with her, people should be trying to make it on their own! =)
Thank you so much Melody!!!
A spark is a spark!
Your spark will fuel someone's fire so keep it up!
Growth HAS TO COME, even with a few "burns"!
Absolutely love the article. I also thanked Miss James for her priceless and much needed info. I really like your writing style straight and to the point will definetly be reading more.
LOVE THIS POST!!!!! A definite "I was thinking it but she said it" moment! We all must take responsibility for our own growth and many times we want to put our growth in the hands of another!!! Thanks for shedding light to this abuse! Our mentors are there after we have exhausted every avenue of finding the answer they are NOT the ONLY answer!
thank you for this. there must be some trial and error before knowledge takes root. ask questions as needed of others, but also be willing to research and find your own way. only through research and trial and error will growth and individual style emerge. blessings!
This is completely on point. Many who are aspiring forget that much of who you become is a result of your own blood, sweat & tears.
Blessed be the mentors who have the patience to gracefully deal with the ungrateful.
Fantastic post. :]
What a wonderful article and wealth of knowledge from inspiring individuals. Many, many blessings…
Melody… I bow graciously before you my love! THANK YOU! I often times cringe at some of the questions that I see on twitter and other sites. I find myself saying, "I can't believe you're asking that question!"
I feel that it is our responsibility as growing artists who should be evolving every day to search and find what we can for ourselves. Then when we do ask questions, we're able to ask accordingly. It shows that your ambition for your craft is real.
Hello Ladies,
I certainly agree that it is up to us ( New & Aspiring MUA's) To use our God given talent to break into the industry. Nothing replaces hard work and dedication. Talent is no where near enough.I am sure that the Guru's are bombarded with questions that they think are just stupid. I myself don't like having to be repetitive. HOWEVER when you have someone that you look up-to in the industry, addressing you in such a condescending and obnoxious tone, it's disheartening. I WAS a fan of Jennifer James on FB until yesterday. Everyone doesn't do the things that she addressed in her tweets/ statuses. Because she specifically addressed new & aspiring MUA's, I was offended. I could not wait for her to (Jennifer James) to come to the DMV area on June 20th but I'm skipping that class now. I wouldn't want to piss her off by asking her a question that I'd be stupid for asking. I am so happy for the ladies that found what she had to say inspiring, I however didn't. So I guess I fall under this one: Your thin skin is undeniable when u react so dramatically to a necessary & deserved tongue lashing! Guru's should not forget that they were once New & Aspiring MUA's. They should also not forget that we (New & Aspiring MUA's help them to be who they are as well.
Mercie,
I am a aspiring makeup artist also however, I did not take offense to her comments because I knew I was not guilty. I believe her entire point was to address several problems she'd been seeing in dealing with this group. Her way of doing this may not have been the nicest, but instead of sugar coating, she said what she had to say. If you choose not to take her class because she stated her opinion then I think you would be doing yourself a disservice and missing out. Taking a clsss with a veteran MUA, and asking them constant questions on social networking sites are two different arenas. The class will give you the opportunity to actually hold a dialogue without the 140 character limit. They might even answer your question before you ask it. If you feel that you can't take criticism, warranted or not you might want to think about getting into this industry because, regardless if you deserve it or not someone is always going to have something to say and it's up to you if you if learn from it and not let your emotions take over, or if you hurt from it and let it stunt your growth. Whichever you choose I wish you the best.
Thanks Melody,
I appreciate your advice, I work every day in this industry I have a full time job as a MUA. I do make up for photo shoots for a photographer that specializes in Alter Ego photography as well as editorial. Some of my work has also been in Sophisticated Black Hair Magazine(enough of tooting my own horn) lol.So I have has my fair share of criticism. As I stated before I am very happy for those of you who felt inspired by Ms. James however I did not. I've taken classes with Sam Fine, OCC,and MUFE& never experienced the tongue lashing as she put it in such a way You have to be careful how you come across even in 140 characters. I know that I am not guilty of the things that she was saying either but when people are paying you their hard earned money to come and sit in a class, they deserve respect. There is a lot of ways that you can get your point across without being harsh, I don't expect anyone to agree with me but I'm sure there are people who do, just not on this blog. That's fine with me. Ms. James will go on to teach her class, I will continue working and the world will be fine. I'll travel back to NYC and take another one of Same Fines OCCs or Eve Pearls classes. The Guru's who have tact that have also said the same things but just not the way that Ms. James did.
P.S. I'm loving my Glamcor Light Kit, Eric is the best. I ordered my kit on a Sunday got it on a Tuesday and I refuse to live without it. They have a big announcement coming up next week can't wait to see what it is. Oh and these people are an example of Excellent Customer Service.