VaMua wrote:
Yes. I am familiar with the school. More than I care to admit...but for the sake of possibly preventing someone else from having the experience that I did, I will share the basics, and even at that, this is going to be long. Sorry...

Now, I don't consider myself naive. That is, I didn't until I had this experience. Like many, I was more of a self-taught artist and had no formal training to speak of. The training I did have was from buying the time of other artists to show me the basics of what I needed to know. Not only was this costly on an hourly basis, but as someone who was pummeled with the concept of formal education growing up, I felt I was missing something. I trust anyone artist is also familiar with how consumers love the warm fuzzy feelings that words like "Certified" and "Graduate of blahblah Makeup Academy" can give them. I had looked at many schools, but most are far from me - too far for me to go for any period of time as I have children I cannot leave for weeks, or a year on end. This school was 90 minutes away and offered satellite classes in my area that were quick and consecutive, so I went for it.

5 thousand dollars later, I can honestly say I learned nothing and feel ashamed for having invested that money on such a sham.

Shortly after paying for my class, I got a call asking me to postpone it to an undetermined time. I refused that option. Then, the morning of class, I was told the location was under construction and not going to work out. I asked Michelle (since she was obviously staying locally for my 8 day class...) if I could still take the class and she said we could do the instruction in her hotel.

So, Travel - Lodge it was. The class size was a whopping ONE - me. So, I figured with it being just me, I would probably get more education than most and as it turns out, I got none.

I won't go into what each day consisted of since it was mostly her family stories, industry stories, other students' stories (and names, yes...she gave me former students names..) and stories of other makeup schools who "ripped her off" or that she "put out of business" and talked about how she had friends in the State Council for Higher Education in VA ( the place that enables her to offer a 'certification' for her classes) but suffice to say my 8 day class lasted only a very tense 4 days and she left town early on the 5th day citing that she had to pick up her children from school in Richmond. What was I supposed to do? Beat her into staying? No. Waste of time. She wasn't going to teach me anything anyway. I helped her pack her Land Rover and I watched her check out of the hotel and leave. Bye Michelle. Bye 5 thousand dollars...

After repeated calls that went unanswered about how we would compensate for the missed days the missing items from my "kit" that I was required to purchase ( it didn't arrive until day 4..) I managed to finally get the underaged receptionist on the phone. She attempted to make excuses and blow me off at which time I told her if I didn't get a call back from Michelle, I would be forced to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I then sent a detailed email to Michelle with my disappointments and she responded with a long winded email calling ME a scam artist and told me she was calling her attorney since I "threatened" her?

She must have that attorney on speed dial.

Some of the highlights? Well, I decided since she wasn't taking the reigns and actually teaching me anything, I would start just asking questions. My first? "Is there a recommended portable lighting system that would be ideal for me to take along to appointments?"   Her answer paraphrased as I cannot recall the exact words- 'I never bring any lighting. It's a waste and you don't need it.'

Another question - "Do you teach color theory?" Answer?  (again paraphrased) 'No - I have been a professional in this business for 16 years and never needed it. You won't either. It is a waste of time and will limit you.'

???

Another  - "Is there a preferred place to get discount disposables or bulk supplies for my kit?" Answer?  " I don't tell students where the school gets it's supplies, but you are welcome to buy them from us."  

Of course;) 

Well, now I sit with a complaint in my banks fraud department. It can take up to 120 days to process and I have no idea how it will turn out but I do know that I am very soured on classes and my sense of trust is all out of whack. I recently separated from my husband and with 2 kids, I was going to have a difficult time going back to school full time. I have no illusions of grandure. I won't be jumping on a plane to do runway makeup in Milan - I just wanted to feel confident doing something I loved to do and if it meant I would do Boudoir and Bridal makeup , then I was ok with that. Now, here I sit feeling guilty that I could have put that money into something mainstream like community college classes or put it into a college fund for the kids and done something for them instead of something that would have wasted so much money.

I am frustrated. I am embarrassed. I am angry and I am sad. 

I SHOULD have seen it coming. Yes. Go ahead. Tell me what I already now. I should have, but I trusted and it burned me. They saw the "sucker" sign on my head and rolled out the red carpet for me;) 

Please, to anyone who considers this 'school'. Don't. Don't risk the investment and waste the time. Look up KNOWN and PROVEN industry professionals and get THIER recommendations or advice. For every lousy rip-off place like that, there are many GREAT artists who are more than happy to point you in the right direction. Save the money. If you are serious about wanting to be in this industry and want some help along the way in the learning process then take your time, do your research, be patient and don't fall for the allure of the 'quick and easy' because there really is no such thing. Only now am I realizing that the good people are out there. I talked to one on the East Coast just the other day and she was angry to know that schools like this are giving legit artists and legit classes/worshops a bad name. She has more than gracious with her time and advice and I feel like I am headed in a better direction because of her. There are more artists like her. Reach out to THEM, not the 'fast food' schools. 

And no. The owner of this school is not honest about career options. She told me on my first day that fresh off a 3 day class that I can and should charge $250 for bridal makeup. 

Yeah. I laughed a little too. 

It all sounded good when I scheduled the class, and then class began. Yeah, I learned a lot. But, I didn't learn a thing about makeup.

I apologize for this lengthy post. I just want to make it is crystal clear as possible what can happen when you don't look before you leap. Even the best of intentions can get you burned. I wanted to show details. I want people to understand. I want NO ONE ELSE to be taken like I was.

If I prevent one more young, passionate person (or even a single mom like me) from being taken advantage of, then the long post will be worth it to me.

Thank you for your time. 







thank you for posting your experience.  I'll leave this school out of the discussion from here on and just talk in general. Because this is NOT new and people need to know what to look for...again, I know nothing about this school outside of what has just been posted..... the following is a general statement and not about any one school. 

It is embarrassing to trust and get taken..... It happens to people everyday and it happenes to very bright prudent people. Look at the Maddoff investors just as an example of very smart business savvy people that were swindled....  In all the years I have been in this business I have heard this same kind of story over and over and over...I can't even count the people out there stealing money as I type away.

Please, anyone thinking about classes or schools ask the following questions

1)   Who is your instructor going to be?  Have you heard of them outside of what they say about themselves? Do you have a guarantee in writing it will be who they say it will be?
2)  Do they have an easily to access portfolio on line?  one that backs up their extensive resume?  if no portfolio can you find them as Key artists in IMBD...KEY! not assistants
3)  Do they still work in the industry?  are they still relevant in the industry?  if they are, you should find some evidence in current work on the net.  Your shelf life in this business is about 2 years after you leave it, that's how fast things change.
4)  Do they make promises that sound too good to be true?  They say if an investor offers you anywhere in 10% annually to run, same with makeup, RUN if they tell you that you will make money in the first few years.
5)  Does their pitch sound like a sales pitch? really good artists are very busy people... they don't need to make big promises and run around the world on  teaching tours
6)  Does the school ask you to take out a loan? do they encourage it?  as a human being, a mother and someone with a conscious  I would never watch someone go into debt knowing very well they can't make payment on it for years.... This is not the kind of business that affords you an instant career... you will be working on your portfolio for years and it's unconscionable that anyone would ever encourage someone to borrow at interest money that can't be made back right away.  If someone came to me on borrowed money I would send them packing....seasoned artists know better than to take borrowed money on a career like this...I need to sleep at night.

when you have been taken or feel ripped off....please tell people, announce it....be brave and help other people like you that will lose their money just like you did if you keep quiet.  Scammers count on your embarrassment to keep you quiet and usually it works and so they continue year after year...remember Russ and Dawn? Years they took money until they were finally put out of business, I am guessing millions these 2 got away with and they had advertising in the major makeup magazine, they looked very legit...  They threatened unhappy students with lawyers, and even physical violence....thanks to the few brave x students  that took action, Russ is in jail (or on probation now?) and Dawn works under an alias, I doubt she will ever work under her real name again.  A few that dared mention them on the message boards and spread the news were harassed all hours of the night and day  and even personally stalked in the world off the net (for years not months)  I'm recovered from that now and much more experienced, like a battle hardened warrior... so to all the scammers out there.... bring it on

Edited 2 times by makeupmary Mar 27 11 9:22 PM.