Beyond the Brush: Producer Chelsea Nieper on What Really Gets Makeup Artists Hired
This week: getting personal with Chelsea Nieper, an experienced advertising producer who pushes boundaries to make the impossible, possible.
Producers are quintessential in aligning a client’s vision with the agency’s brief. With over 15 years’ experience, generally in the advertising agency realm, Chelsea reveals her top tips to getting a foot in the door with producers, gives insight into makeup clients through case studies and offers some sage advice for up-and-coming mua.
“BE GOOD AT YOUR CRAFT. BE EXCEPTIONAL. THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER. BUT… WHAT PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER MORE, IS THE CONVERSATION YOU HAD ON SET. THE LAUGHS YOU SHARED OVER COFFEE… THEY’RE THE THINGS THAT MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU AGAIN.”
Chelsea Nieper
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
IS HAIR IMPORTANT?
A common question in the makeup community is what value being a trained hairdresser adds to a makeup artist’s portfolio (and over-all value).
Producers favourite go-to mua’s are often hairdressers too, put simply, Chelsea says ‘it’s not required, but very helpful. It’s that extra level of comfort on the day of your shoot’ – and why hire two people, when you can hire one?
Being a certified hair and makeup artist makes you more competitive in the saturated market – you can offer a complete package and negotiate your rate.
IT’S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.
What do we mean about relationships? While it’s not a love affair (maybe!), working in a people-focused industry lends itself to the importance of good relationships. You’re dealing with people, daily, sometimes up to five times a day – it’s quite an intimate bond you develop and Chelsea pleas, DON’T BE A JERK.
Same goes for ‘favours’, Chelsea says. You may be asked to do a 10-for-8, which is a paid 8-hour shoot day undertaken across a 10-hour working day. Favours need to be reciprocated, while there’s an expectation to prove your value and build your portfolio, make sure you’re getting something out of this type of work too. It comes down to relationship management.
Yes, a producer may call on their reliable go-to makeup artist, BUT to make that short list is nothing short of hard work and good work!
DREAMING OF WORKING ON SET?
Production company producers will engage with the makeup artists on the shoot 90% of the time.
Intro emails are my go-to recommendation, says Chelsea. Don’t expect every producer to reply, but if you have a company or brand you want to work with – send them a copy of your reel or curated Instagram portfolio, outline your skills and introduce yourself in a fun, fresh way. If you make the effort, that’s what is going to get you noticed.
There are lots of things at stake on set, you’re working in a high-pressure environment that needs you to understand where you sit in the ‘crew’ and what’s required of you.
“We need our ‘crew’ to be human, be nice, to de-stress our talent, have a laugh and be prepared for the day ahead. Anyone can have skills, but what will get you hired is having the whole package.”
Listen to the episode.