Business Card Template

Task 3 

So we have spoken about the benefits of business cards and a few estimates for having them printed, Business cards can be expensive, but they can be extremely beneficial to you.

They should include your name and title (Make-up Artist) and contact details and if you have a website or blog put that on their too.

You can design the layout and text however you like them, but just remember to keep them professional! Also select a strong image from your portfolio to use on the front and also to add to your brand personality and professionalism get a logo and put that on there too.

So with that all in mind I Jumped onto Vista print to through together an example template to show you. Using an on-line service is so simple it gives you a variety of different template options which you can then tweak to how you want it. I have gone for a double sided business card so that I can have an image form my portfolio nice and large on one side without cramping in my logo and contact details which are now on the other side.

I have kept it fairly simple just as an example, however, if I  were to print these cards I would like the font to match the font of my logo and I would also like the background to be black to match the background of my portfolio image. 

Advertising Companies.

Task 3 

Companies that specialise in advertising

Moo Business Cards are high quality, double sided Business Cards MOO gives you the option of having a different image on every card in the pack. The benefit of Moo is the also print your business cards double sided for no extra cost unlike other companies

Based on 50 standard Business cards double sided on 350gsm premium paper, these are there prices:

Other products they offer are:

• Luxe Business Cards

• MiniCards

• Luxe Notecards

• Flyers

• Postcards

• Stickers and Labels

• Gift Cards

• greeting cards

• letter heads

To have 50 matte DL flyers printed by MOO the prices are:

Instant Print  

100 Standard one sided business cards on 450 gsm stock from instant print plus with standard shipping would cost you £19.99  unfortunately you cannot print one set with more than one picture, If you have multiple designs you have to have them made separately.

Other services they provide are:

• Flyers
• FoldedLeaflets
• Business Cards
• Posters
• TableTalkers
• Stickers
• Roller Banners
• Letterheads

Vista print 

What products do Vista Print offer? well ... enjoy this list of services that could help you business.

• Business Cards
• Appointment Cards
• Websites
• Website Design Services
• Social Media Marketing
• Flyers
• Postcards
• Brochures
• Gift Certificates
• Loyalty Cards
• Banners
• Advertising Boards
• Plastic Signs
• Posters
• Address Labels
• Logo Design

If your looking for prices for business cards well then here you go 

Cover Letter

Task 3

What is a Cover letter?

Well put simply it is a letter you send with your CV to provide a little bit of additional information about yourself,  your skills and your experience. A good cover letter also explains the reasons for your interest in the job.

So without further ado... I selected one of the job advertisements I found previously and wrote a cover letter as if I were applying for the position. 

Chloe Stothard
Street name
Town
County
Post Code
Home Phone
Mobile

To whom it may concern,

Please accept the enclosed CV  as an application for the post advertised for a Part time Smash box Crew Member at Swindon Brunel Plaza.

I am currently studying a HND in Media Make-up and the nature of my course has prepared me for this position. My skill set includes bridal makeup, fashion makeup, theatrical makeup, character makeup and special effects make-up.

I have also gained retail experience in a variety of different environments over the past seven years. I am a highly enthusiastic individual who consistently delivers excellent customer service.

With my strong background and experience in retail, coupled with my make-up and fashion skills and knowledge, I am confident that I am a good match for this role and would thoroughly enjoy this position within your store.

My CV provides additional information on my background, qualifications and other transferable skills. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this vacancy in an interview.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Chloe Stothard

I have addressed the letter to whom it may concern , however, it is always best to find out who you are actually writing to, as my example job is actually an on-line application their is no name given. 

I have stared by confirming what position I am applying for as this makes it easier for employees if they have more than one vacancy. I't also shows that my cover letter has been tailored specifically for this role. 

You should create separate cover letters for each job you apply for to tailor them to each jobs specific requirements.  However  if you really want to work for a company but there are no jobs advertised, you may also have a letter of interest, or a speculative cover letter, this is an application to inquire about possible job openings.

I read the job description and picked out what the company were looking for and then evidenced it in the letter. So this role is for a make-up artist on a retail counter so i have included both information about my course and make-up skills and also my retail experience. 

Finding a job!

Task 3 

Coming out of education and finding a job can be very daunting and difficult! 

Of course if you market and advertise yourself correctly as we have gone over in previous posts there are some people that will come to you with jobs but probably not till your well known and I certainly wouldn't rely on that alone

Luckily there are a lot of different sources for finding jobs.  Newspapers, company websites, Window advertisements, recruitment websites, recruitment agencies, forums and of course word of mouth after all they say it's not what you know it's who you know!

So from a quick search of a couple different sources I have come up with these

As a Smashbox Crew Member you have the reputation for being both approachable and enthusiastic to customers and colleagues and see yourselves as an ambassador of both Smashbox and Boots - ensuring customers enjoy their shopping experience.You’ll be full of energy and always looking to find out about the next new thing that’s coming and the latest styles and fashions. You are passionate about learning the best make-up techniques and you won't be able to wait to get back to store to share these new products and techniques with your customers. You’ll use tablet technology to bring the brand to life with your customers and to have an online connection with them."

From a search on Gum Tree (forum) I came across this A Trainee stylist at PanacheDisplay Wigs a specialist manufacturer of handmade wigs London

The advertisement tells me to apply for the role by emailing a copy of my CV along with a covering letter.

"Our candidate must be creative and preferably have experience in wig production and styling, must be able to work independently and as part of a team working to deadlines.

Experience of hair dressing and working with different fibres other than hair is an advantage."

These are some requirements stated in the advertisement these let me know essentially what I should evidence in my cover letter and CV.

A search of the company website for Boots turned out this Crew Member in Swindon for Smashbox , fashion forward cosmetics company.

this part of the advertisement tells you what they expect from applicants "

With your passion for the latest fashion forward make-up trends you will provide exemplary customer service by ensuring that your customers select the right products for them, to make them look and feel better than ever before. Your reputation for outstanding customer service and on trend make-up advice will ensure that you build up a regular customer base who will visit you time and time again, eager to here the latest make-up style advice and buy the latest must have products.

Again this is what I would evidence in my Cover letter and Cv.

So my last job I found was essentially through a modern equivalent of "Word of mouth" Dave Elsey posted a Facebook status about a job, which was then shared by Ellie Baskerville and then seen by me =)

 Dave Elsey

16 February at 11:44 · Edited · 

Hi creature crews...., looking for hair knotters, wig makers, hair punchers, and fabricators to work with me on Beauty and the Beast. Apply to Dave@igorstudios.com ASAP! Must be able to work in the United Kingdom.

If you are looking for Make-up artist jobs here are some links you may find helpful

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/make_up_artist_vacancy_sources.htm

http://www.theknowledgeonline.com/

http://www.stagejobspro.com/uk/

http://www.thestage.co.uk/recruitment/

Insurance

Task 3

So as a Make-up artist is a risky business,  a priority should be getting insurance! now this isn't just for all those beautiful things in your kit (although you may want to think about kit insurance too) this insurance is for your clients, after all they rely on your care and expertise . If something goes wrong say, accidentally causing injury or harm to a member of the public or damaging somebody else´s property, then you're to blame and there is risk of someone claiming against you. You need to be covered for anything and everything, Public liability insurance is just the ticket, It will ensure you're covered  for as little as someone tripping over your kit, to someone having a full blown allergic reaction to products you've used.

NASMAH (who we spoke about them in the unions and trade bodies blog) offer a trade specific insurance policy in partnership with Just Hair & Beauty. Their freelance policy provides: -

• Public Liability / Treatment Risk
• Standard limit of indemnity: £3million
• Option to buy £5million cover to satisfy Production Companies requirements
• UK cover extended to temporary (31 consecutive days) Worldwide (ex USA*/ Canada*) assignments

Premiums start from: £45.15 per year they also offer Kit insurance up to £5,000, subject to additional premium. You can find out more and pay here 

BECTU (again we spoke about them before) also offer free lance insurance which provides:

•  cover for claims up to £10m
• third party Personal Injury
• third party Damage to Property
• obstruction, trespass, nuisance or interference with any right of way, air, light or water

As a member of the union you are able to opt for the cover under the group policy for just £21 per year. They also offer a kit insurance.Find out more here 

Salon Gold are a company that specialise in insurance for the beauty industry and offer public liability insurance to make-up artists. Their policy offers:

• Public Liability – £3 million or £5 million
• Products Liability – £3 million or £5 million
• Treatment Risk – £3 million
• Financial Loss – £10,000 or £50,000

They also offer additional policies for Stock/Equipment. If you are a student they can arrange cover at special rates. But their standard make-up artist insurance costs £41.16 per year if you buy online. You can find more about their policies here 

Although you could probably find cheaper insurance going through comparison sites, personally I would chose one through a know union or trade body as it would give your client a sense of security.

Finished Invoice

Task 3 


So I have spoken previously about invoices in a blog, but I thought I would share with you my finished my invoice ... Once I have my logo I will throw that in on the top too =)

Pretty plain really, but will do until I establish more of a brand personality =) At first I wasn't sure how to set it out including expenses as often as a make-up artist you purchase specific items for specific jobs, after playing around with it I settled on sub totals for services and then a sub total for expenses and then a grand total at the end. I think that this is very clearly set out and easy to understand, and that the payment terms are clear...after all surely the most important thing is that people know how to give you your money =)

Trade Unions & Associations

Task 2

All  workers in the UK are entitled to join a trade union, being a part of a Trade union can really help you as a freelancer. http://www.tuc.org.uk/join-union

a trade union is an organized association of members independent of any employer. Its aim is to protect and advance the interests of its members in the workplace. for a  regular subscription cost your Trade union can help you with a number of things for example negotiating better pay, better working conditions, provide training for new skills, provide members with legal and financial advice.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) to which the majority of UK trade unions are affiliated provides an information service which directs workers interested in union membership to the most appropriate trade union for their role/sector.

There are many trade unions you can join as a small business or freelancer You can use a trade union finder available here  to find unions appropriate for you however if you are a make-up artist there are also a few more specific unions, the most well known is BECTU , the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union.

BECTU Is a trade union formed in 1991 for non-performance  members of the media and entertainment industry this literally covers just about everything involved in this industry; camera, lighting, producer, director, hair and make-up, editor, researcher, writer, broadcast technician, engineer, lawyer, production assistant, usher, stagehand, box office, manager, floor manager

It represents staff and sometimes freelancers working for companies including BBC, ITV, C4, Scottish TV, Ulster TV, regional theatres, West End theatres, the National Theatre, Royal Opera House, RSC, ENO, Virgin Media, and Odeon cinemas.

BECTU services cover collective and individual support in the workplace, advice on legal matters and tax issues, insurance, copyright, script registration and debt chasing. The union also provides a range of training opportunities at low-cost or in some cases free of charge to enhance employment prospects. there is also a stakeholder pension available to freelance members.

Surely though when your working on a big film there would be no need to be part of a union? surely you wouldn't be treated unfairly then.....wrong

During the filming of Les Misérables between March and May 2012, 100 professionals joined a trade union due to the conditions on the set, Costume, hair and make-up were regularly made to work extra hours when shooting overran, sometimes into days off and they weren't  being paid for it.As this was breaking their 5 day contract, BECTU sent in officials to visit the set and negotiate with the producers to get extra pay.

You can read the full story here

There are also associations you can join such as APHAMA and NASMAH

Both of  these bodies were created to set the standard in the hair and make-up industry and promote the profile of hair and make-up professionals in the industry.

To become a member you must adhere to their high standards of practice, memberships provide you with a support, and training  business advice and they also add you to their directories for people searching for make-up artists.