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Michele Combing the Flyaways |
Michele Taylor is one of our Production Services artists (and a Royals fan) who recently worked on set for the World Series. Based in Kansas City, her portfolio is filled with over twenty years of experience doing hair and makeup for live broadcasting events, editorial and commercial work. We wanted to know: what is it like to be working hair and makeup for one of the largest events through out the year? The short answer: fast.
Unlike most editorial and commercial work, she was working at a live event. She noted that on typical sets, she provides support for wardrobe as well, but at an event this size, it's all about efficiency. Everything is contingent on
how the game plays out, so it's important to stay alert and flexible. For this event, the artists were put on hold a couple weeks out, but were not confirmed until the day before the big game. The Royals won the pre-season game on a Thursday, and that Tuesday they were on set ready to play ball! The first game was a nail-biter, going into 14 innings...lot's of touch-ups. Watching the game from the tent to stay out of the rain, they were running back and forth to the platform to keep the fly-aways in place and get rid of the shine.
So how does a Production Services artist work on these kinds of opportunities? Here's Michele's top 5 pieces of advice for artists:
1) Be kind to your peers. Be kind to other makeup artists.
1) Be kind to your peers. Be kind to other makeup artists.
2) Be prepared for anything. Be prepared for weather and working conditions: bug spray, sunscreen, first aid kit, energy bars, rain coat, hand warmers. If there’s something I don’t have and someone asks me for, I will write it down and grab it later.
3) Networking is key. Get online and market yourself.
4) Reliability & timeliness. Always arrive 15-30 minutes early.
5) Always keep up with trends: scour magazines, Youtube, Google Images, Test shoots. Educate yourself and learn from other professionals.
Michele loves working on set because she has the chance to "create and collaborate with other professionals". When she's not working, she is spending time with her 9 month old grandson and riding horses. As an equestrian, she has always wanted to work on set for a Budweiser Clydesdale commercial. "On the people or the animals?", I asked. Michele laughed and said "The people, but why not the horses?".
We look forward to seeing more inspiring work from Michele: live broadcasts, editorial shoots, or who knows, maybe some new ventures into equine styling!