The Hair, Makeup & Styling Career Guide [Paperback]

Crystal A. Wright (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0964157225 | ISBN-13: 978-0964157224 | Publication Date: October 1, 2000 | Edition: 3rd

The Career Guide is a 400 page how-to text and workbook that is filled with practical advice and rare insights to help anyone launch and sustain a successful career as a freelance hair, makeup or fashion stylist in print, video, film and TV.

Topics covered include step-by-step instructions for building a portfolio, getting into the TV & film union, signing with an agency, working with record labels, top magazines and more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is the most amazing and essential tool for anyone getting started in this [fashion and entertainment] industry," -- Michael DeVellis, Director of Marketing at MAC Cosmetics

"This is the greatest resource ever written for anyone who wants to pursue a career as a freelance artist." -- Reesa Mallen, Director of Photography/Teen Magazine

The Career Guide gives an in-depth, focused, easy-to-understand, step-by-step breakdown of every facet of the business... -- Albert Smith, Photo Editor, CODE Magazine

From the Author

A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR

In 1986, a well-known makeup artist by the name of Tara Posey asked me to represent her. I had no clue what I was getting into. I didn’t know what it meant to be an artist’s representative. Fortunately, she knew more about being a makeup artist than I did about representing one. So, with her portfolio and a phone list in hand, I set out to take on the arduous task of gathering contacts and getting her work. Tara changed the direction of my life.

This book is an anthology of our travels together and beyond. It’s what I’ve learned these last fourteen years of representing hair, makeup, fashion stylists, manicurists and photographers. This third edition of the Career Guide is a labor of love. It is my way of giving something back to a business and artists that give me so much.

I became inspired to write the first book after receiving a phone call and letter from an aspiring makeup artist. This young woman, having recently graduated from a well known Los Angeles based makeup academy, was working diligently to attain work. After six months of laborious phone calls and strings of unmeaningful interviews, she was still unemployed. In her letter, she asked that I offer her suggestions on creating a portfolio. I was astounded that even though she had spent time learning techniques of makeup application, she had never been taught or informed of ways to present herself in the job market.

This fourth edition is a further opening of a door that will help to close a chapter of exclusion to a great number of young people who want so much to be a part of this exciting and challenging business.

I hope to show each of you the best way to achieve your goals and dreams. Whatever your choice, print, television or film, the Career Guide will assist you in making informed decisions about which route to take from the start, so that your journey begins from a position of power and information. Together, we will create a plan, locate your best resources, and finally, point you in the RIGHT direction. Throughout the book I’ll share with you the secrets of successful artists who have already done what you’re about to do.

The fourth edition of the Career Guide has lots of new information. A wholly expanded agency section, a chapter on fashion styling, new tools of the trade, new glossary terms and Reesa’s FYI; a compendium of observations and ideas from Reesa Mallen, former artist rep extraordinaire. Reesa brings a wealth of information about how to do business from her unique perspective as a rep on the front lines. She spent two years meeting, greeting and changing the minds of clients who were used to working with the same agencies day in and day out.

I intended the Career Guide to be well used by you: the reader. I can only hope that by the time you reach the end of this book, you will have personalized your copy with lots of pen, pencil and highlighter marks, staples, and post-it notes. Treat it like a favorite homework assignment and it will serve you well.

Sincerely,

Crystal A. Wright
Author --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Set the Pace; 3rd edition (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964157225
• ISBN-13: 978-0964157224
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,118,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As president of Crystal Agency for makeup, hair, and fashion stying, Crystal elevated the careers of aspiring makeup artists, hair stylists, fashion stylists and manicurists to celebrity status by securing work for them behind-the-scenes in print, video, film and television.

Her mentorship and guidance led artists such as Neeko, Lisa Michelle, Hollie Williamson, Monifa Mortis and Maxi Maxi Maxi to serve as fashionistas for celebrities such as Pink, Halle Berry, Will Smith, Andre Agassi, Queen Latifah, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga on CD covers, commercials, music videos, advertising campaigns and more.

Pursued for advice by a number of young hopefuls in the industry, Crystal set out to write a 16-page manual that became the 400 page Hair Makeup & Fashion Styling Career Guide. With it, aspiring stylists are able to develop the right tools, skills and professionalism necessary to soar above the competition in the fields of entertainment, fashion, beauty and advertising.

Now in it's 5th edition, the Hair Makeup & Fashion Styling Career Guide is used as a textbook for the fashion styling courses at The Fashion Institute of Technology, F.I.D.M, the Int'l Academy of Design, Miami Int'l University, George Brown College, and the new Fashion Styling Program designed by Crystal Wright at California State University Los Angeles that begins March 2010.

Professional Makeup and Hair Schools such as Makeup Designory, and Downey Adult school have incorporated it and Crystal's two and three day "Portfolio Building and Marketing Workshops" into their curriculum as a finishing program prior to graduation.

Today her website CrystalWrightLive.com offers tons of valuable information for the freelance hair, makeup and styling community. She also produces a national portfolio building and marketing workshop, and speaks on tour for beauty companies.

Throughout the year Crystal teaches a 2-day portfolio building and marketing workshop in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Chicago and Toronto. For more information about Crystal, or her classes call 323.299.0500 or viset her on the web at crystalwrightlive.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best investment to start your career, January 13, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Springfield, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hair, Makeup & Styling Career Guide (Paperback)

This book is an artists encyclopedia for the business. The information provided in the pages is pure gold. Anyone interested in persuing a career as a hair/makeup artist or stylist must pick up this priceless reading material.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book to help you get focused, October 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hair, Makeup & Styling Career Guide (Paperback)

The Career Guide is an excellent book for people just starting out or those wanting to fill in the blanks of their already established careers. The information is great for those wanting to pursue a print or film/tv career. Blanks that were filled in for me after I read it were things like the sizing and style of a portfolio, the importance of promo cards and approaching agencies. These are things you would otherwise probably find out through trial and error.

Speaking of errors, the book is full of them - both spelling and punctuation errors. Being a third edition I was disappointed in the lack of proof reading done. It was distracting to read ("a lot" spelled "alot") and makes an otherwise perfect book very hard to read!

Overall, despite the errors, I highly recommend this book!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding reference for freelance Makeup Artists, August 24, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Phoeniz, Az) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hair, Makeup & Styling Career Guide (Paperback)

I'm an aspiring makeup artist. I live in Phoenix Arizona and couldn't find anything on the subject of freelance styling as I want to do makeup for music videos and fashion shows. When I found this book it changed the direction of my work, helped me set goals and taught me how to find the right photographers to test with. It's invaluable and I recommend it to anyone who says they want to get in the business. Also, it has great resources and now they have a website at: setthepacepubgroup.com