This question popped into my head while reading the "You know what I hate" thread with regard to assistants. I know a lot of you do mostly print work, and a lot of my work is TV, but I do the same thing no matter what the media is.
Do most of you allow your assistant to do make-up independently? I had the same assistant for over 2 years in the midwest, and while I trusted her implicitly, I always had her assist on the talent that I was working on, rather that doing a complete make-up job on her own. I will still call her for jobs, because I think it is worth the airline ticket. She would do things like prep and apply lashes, flat iron or curl hair, mix the AB foundation, clean the AB and the brushes, while I would always do the entire eye make-up, run the AB, perfect the lip, etc.
Sometimes we would work on two people at once, but I still did all of the
important things. Exceptions were last looks on extras, etc, but I always feel like the client is paying for me, and the assistant should do just that--assist.
So is my way of utilizing an assistant out of the ordinary? It's the way it worked when I assisted, so I guess it's what I've always known, and what worked for me. Obviously, I can't wait to hear your responses. : )
Do most of you allow your assistant to do make-up independently? I had the same assistant for over 2 years in the midwest, and while I trusted her implicitly, I always had her assist on the talent that I was working on, rather that doing a complete make-up job on her own. I will still call her for jobs, because I think it is worth the airline ticket. She would do things like prep and apply lashes, flat iron or curl hair, mix the AB foundation, clean the AB and the brushes, while I would always do the entire eye make-up, run the AB, perfect the lip, etc.
Sometimes we would work on two people at once, but I still did all of the
important things. Exceptions were last looks on extras, etc, but I always feel like the client is paying for me, and the assistant should do just that--assist.
So is my way of utilizing an assistant out of the ordinary? It's the way it worked when I assisted, so I guess it's what I've always known, and what worked for me. Obviously, I can't wait to hear your responses. : )
i saw your post and thought i would respond. i live in a town where the industry is very small. i told my assistant that she would be paid equally because i needed her to do 4 models while i did the other 4 models and two male models. but in the end she would do most of the touch ups and any lip changes. i have worked with this girl many times in the past and trusted her as an equal. i only billed her as an assistant because i was hired as the key and subcontracted with her. well, needless to say, i learned my lesson and hired an assistant this year that would basically just assist! no equal pay ( i musta been crazy last year) and hopefully no worries. so eveyMUA was right,,you are totally accurate in the way you use your assistant...
