The Trainee Role Is Where You Really Start To Learn Make-Up

You don't really learn to drive properly until after you've passed your driving test. The same is true of make-up artists - it's the work experience you gain on professional productions after graduating from your make-up course that lets you take your newly learned skills to the next level.

The way you gain this experience is to contact working make-up artists and ask them to take you on as a trainee - for a day, a week, or a month. If the tutors you meet on your course are working make-up artists, they may be able to place you with a colleague. (This is one of the benefits of attending classes at a make-up school where the tutors all tend to be professional working make-up artists!)

You need as much work experience as you can get in the first year after graduation. Every job you land - however small - will always lead to others and you never know who you'll meet or what contacts you'll make. Trainees are only paid a minimal amount - usually just enough to survive - but you should regard this period as a continuation of your training process. It should also be done with enthusiasm.

The make-up artist that takes you on will expect you to be a runner or gofer (go for this, go for that), to assist the rest of the team, get the coffee, clean the make-up places, check the stockroom, and perhaps do make-ups when there are crowd artists on busy days. Above all - they will expect you to always be on time and ready to start work with a smile.

A Solid Grounding for Future Success

Never think of being a runner as inferior work. It's not, so try to do everything with good grace. When running errands, you will get the chance to meet members of other departments and get a better understanding of their roles. At the same time, you'll gain contacts with other make-up artists on crowd calls and learn about make-up products when sorting out the stockroom. When you clean other make-up artists' work stations, you also will learn a great deal about how the make-up was applied - particularly beards, moustaches, wigs, and prosthetics.

Every make-up artist started this way; we've all been there. Watch, listen, and learn.

When you were in the make-up school on your training course, you were the customer. You had experienced make-up artists teaching you and considering your needs. Now, you will be expected to anticipate the needs of the make-up designers.

In quiet moments, you may be taught about lighting, lenses, and continuity. But don't ask questions when people are busy and don't stand talking to other crew members when a make-up artist needs your assistance. Above all, do everything you're asked to do immediately and willingly. Your attitude is everything.

"Melanie came from Germany to do the 1-year HE Certificate Course 2006-7. She says of her time at Delamar Academy : "Doing the 1-year Course at Delamar Academy was the best decision I have made in my life. The Academy brought me into the make-up world more than I thought was possible. I learned so much about the different areas of make-up, met so many amazing people, and got closer to the business I want to work in. I have also made some very good friends who have the same passion for make-up that I do. Since I graduated I have not stopped working - Thank you, Delamar, for giving me the time of my life!""