Don't Make This Common Mistake When Booking Additional Artists for Weddings

It happens all the time; freelance makeup artists & hair stylists find themselves in need of an extra set of hands to help them out with a big wedding. But are you being an unintentional jerk and not even know it when you are reaching out to other artists?

Here is a hint... you probably are!

Sadly this is rampant in the industry and for the most part the artists doing it have no clue and totally don’t mean to be rude to the subcontractors they are contacting.

Today we are going to talk about all the things that freelance makeup artists and hair stylists do wrong when booking additional artists that actually make life difficult for the people they are asking for help from.

But don’t fret! We are going to wrap things up by giving you a guide of how you should be reaching out to artists when you need more hands on deck. Trust us- it will actually make things so much better for you AND those other artists. You will be asking yourself why you didn’t do it this way all along!!!

SIGNS YOU ARE AN UNINTENDED RUDE JERK WHEN SECURING ADDITIONAL ARTISTS FOR YOUR GIGS

Let's play a game of Never Have I Ever... Ask yourself, Have you ever sent a text that goes a little something like this...

“Hi artist friend! Are you available July 5th?

OR

“Can you do a wedding with me September 29th?

OR

“Hi, this is xxxx. Are you available for a shoot on Monday, December 21?”

... Then you might be an unintended jerk!

Have you ever sent out something like any of these after they said they have the date available?...

"Great! Can you hold that date for me?”

OR

“Fabulous I’ve got you down for 4 makeups that day.”

... Then once again, you might be an unintended jerk!

Have you done something resembling this after they agreed to do the gig with you?...

“ Hi (person that’s helping me), here is the timeline!" (and there is a 6am arrival that you never mentioned on it)

OR

“ Thanks for doing this with me, we will get most people ready at the location I told you, then you will go to (new location you never mentioned before) to do the last person.”

... Then you know what's coming, you might be an unintended jerk!

We know what you are thinking

"BUT I DO THAT ALL THE TIME AND IT'S NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM"

What if we told you it is actually a big problem, your fellow artists are just being nice by not calling you out.

So let's break it down as to why this is NOT the way to ask a fellow artist to work with you.

* You didn't give them any details (like the time!) just a date

* You didn't tell them what it's for

* No mention of the location

* Didn't provide any insight into the scope of work (are they assisting or are they an additional artist or even worse are you expecting them to represent you and your business on this gig and you won't even be there)

*You never told them the rate you will pay them

Still don't think there is any problem with this approach? Telling yourself you are just being friendly and you will give them all that info later once they agree? OK- Ask yourself this... How do you feel when you get an inquiry from a client that just says "are you available on (insert date)?" It sucks! Now you have to respond back and try to pull the necessary information out of them to even be able to know wether or not you

a) can do it, and b) want to do it, adding extra admin time on for a gig you may not even be available for.

Here's the thing... You literally are doing that exact same thing to these other artists. One of the reasons you are able to take a cut and pay them a commission rate is because you are the one handling all of the admin work, and they literally are supposed get to roll up and do makeup or hair. If you aren't providing the info they need right off the bat then they are no longer getting to just roll up, you have created admin work for them now putting it on them to ask all the questions and gather the necessary info, PLUS by not providing all the details you took away their option to turn it down if those details don't work for them, and that means the difficult client for them is YOU.

Now that you understand how NOT to reach out to other artists you didn't think we would leave you hanging did you?!

HOW YOU SHOULD BE REACHING OUT TO SECURE ADDITIONAL ARTISTS

We have made a handy dandy template that you can save so it's as easy as plugging in the info and sending it off to the artist you would like to book to help you out.

☟☟☟

Hi Artist Friend! Are you available (date) to do a wedding with me? Wedding is at (venue). I need someone to take care of (# of services) and I can pay you ($$) per service, so it would be ($$$) total plus any tips. Start time is (time) and we would be all done by (time). Let me know if you are interested.

If you don't have all of the details completely nailed down it's perfectly fine to let them know that and give them at least an educated guess. ie. "The ready by time isn't fully confirmed but the ceremony is at (time) so I would guess that we will be done by (time)."

If you don't have any of those details then you aren't ready to book an additional artist. PERIOD.

Not sure where to find additional artists to help you out if you don't have a network of colleagues you can reach out to directly? We have the perfect resource for you here in San Diego! Click this link to Join our San Diego Beauty Community

We hope you found this not only informative, but also helpful! Let's raise the bar in the beauty industry together and promise to be better and do better. Want more posts like this? Make sure to subscribe to our Newsletter so you are the first to know about any new content.