Questions for Stage or Beauty Makeup Artists...

Hello there, hopefully this is in the right forum...So, I have been facepainting for almost a year now and am really interested in expanding to professional Stage Makeup/Special FX. I also assume it would be good to have a background in Beauty Makeup when going in this direction. I have no specific makeup schooling at this point and am wondering what track anyone here has followed to become a professional makeup artist. Here are a few questions I am interested in...

-Did you attend a school or teach yourself?
-What materials are necessary/good to have in a starting kit for this type of makeup?
-Do you know of any good resources (i.e. Shops selling product, instructional material)?
-Who was/is your inspiration? (I'd love to discover some new artists)
-How did you break into the business?
-How do you determine your rate of pay?

I will add more later if I think of any. Even if you aren't doing this as a profession but have some background in it I would love to hear from you.

Thank you,
Jinkxy

I attended school for a few years (for makeup, but I also have a business diploma).

Depends on the job - everything from beauty to character to sfx
range of foundations (to make any color) in liquid, cream, powder
cream/grease colors as well as water based colors
eyeshadows
lip sticks
SFX items you know how to use
blood/scab/wax/latex
prosthetic/mold making etc etc
spirit gum, prosaid, topstick
crepe wool for hair
really your kit is a combination of the "need this for everything" and "need this for the characters on this gig" - ie foundation etc is everything, wool or wigs etc is likely character specific.

When I'm not buying locally, I like
http://www.paintandpowderstore.com/ for SFX and HD

I like going to the trade shows and getting to know people and their styles at the workshops/seminars.

I knew producers before - was taking makeup classes to know better how to hire a makeup artist (was working as an assistant director), and ended up getting called to fill in, then getting called first.... the phrase "it's not what you know, it's who you know" comes to mind - you have to know the what, but you also have to know the who.... knowing what's what gets you called back, knowing the "who" gets you called in the first place.

In my case I might have a day rate, but the producer has a budget for the job - I either take it, or pass it up.

-Did you attend a school or teach yourself?

Both... was self-taught (life long costume addiction and Star Trek fan club!) then decided to go to school and learn ALL of it. Have a diploma in Make-Up Artistry with honours.

-What materials are necessary/good to have in a starting kit for this type of makeup?

How long is a piece of string? The list is endless depending on WHAT you want to create. There is "out of kit effects" which are the basics like bruises, blood and wax/putty - these usually don't require prep work as you have the required material in the kit and can create the effect on the spot. Special effects generally require preparation - sculpting, moulds, casts, pre-made appliances, latex or silicone prosthetics.

For out-of-kit effects I carry blood, silicone putty in three flesh colours and red (I use it instead of wax), neutral setting powder, spirit gum, tooth black/nicotine, liquid latex, tools (dental picks and scrapers, metal palette knife), a small collection of "texture" material like oatmeal/seaweed/seeds, Tuplast, Collodian, vaseline, Bruise Wheel, Burn Wheel, cream make-up in foundation shades, RMGP, castor oil, liner pencils, and the usual make-up products in any kit. I also carry a set of moulds for making bullet holes and scars - helps with continuity as they will be exactly the same size/shape each time I apply them.

-Do you know of any good resources (i.e. Shops selling product, instructional material)?

Any theatrical supply store will carry the essentials. I buy from who I know as won't shop on the internet.

-Who was/is your inspiration? (I'd love to discover some new artists)

Rick Baker and Michaal Westmore - and I've met both! I showed my Klingon to Michael Westmore and he liked it, he really liked it!!

-How did you break into the business?

Got my diploma, school gave my name to the union, they contacted me to come in for the union kit inspection and exams, passed, was given "Approval Pending" status (not full membership as I still needed the required number of film/tv credits, but was allowed to work on union shoots.) I got several referrals for film/stage and tv work from the school (I had graduated top of my class) which turned into gigs, which got me more referrals, did lots of theatre, got referrals for other jobs from those... etc.

-How do you determine your rate of pay?

Union rates for film, freelance - market rate or better. My day rate currently is higher than the union rates. Up here though, I don't do union work, just freelance and occasional small film projects.

With the full SFX work I quote for the project based on materials and labour.