Advice for a make up trial, or 1 or 2 or 3.....

[lipstick]

Hello there any advice on this one please!!
I have been applying make up on people for such a long time now and have been pro for about 1 year and a half. Now i had a trial booked for the other day for bride and bridesmaid and before i got there she was asking aleady for possible 2 or 3 more before the wedding so i knew this was one of those!!
After spending a along time on both making sure i asked them the look they were after instead of what i would advice straight away, they were suprisingly quite open to suggestion, although i made sure i demonstrated all products used before i applied ANYTHING!!

A the end of both trials i had added shimmer where they asked, added more depth where they asked. Now i have an email asking for another trial and politely but never the less asking for everything to be changed colour wise, texture wise and complete different look.

Like i said i have been doing this a year now and know what people are like and realise they are paying and it is their choice, but i made sure they got this!

Can i ask you do you think i should recommened another make up artist as they are just one of "those" customers. Are some people just not worth the agrow? They want 4 people doing on the wedding too so is this just asking for trouble???

Thank you rant over...:lol::lol::lol:

 

[Ethos]

I charge the client for ONE trial of AN HOUR prior to their wedding for the BRIDE ONLY!!! I really do state it like that lol!!

If there bridesmaids want a trial they pay additionally and the bride and her party get me for TWO HOURS ONLY on the day with each additional hour being chargeable at my hourly rate regardless of whether I run 15 minutes over or 40 minutes over that hour.

Have they paid you already?

This is one of those that you need to spend more time on or let go as you said. If you spend more time with her explain theres an additional charge, take books and try hone down what it is she is after.

If she says shes not happy then meet her 50/50 on price.

If after 2nd trial she still hates it, suggest she finds someone else and refund her money minus your hours worked.

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

I
If she says shes not happy then meet her 50/50 on price.

If after 2nd trial she still hates it, suggest she finds someone else and refund her money minus your hours worked.

I would never agree to meet her 50/50 on the price if she is not happy. The point of the trial is to work with the bride to be to achieve the look they want on their wedding day. Sometimes this can't be done for whatever reason and no matter how hard you try to please. However, whether or not she likes the make-up, as a professional make-up artist, you have provided a service to the best of your ability which needs to be payed for in full.

My trials stipulate 2 to 2 1/2 hours and if the bride wants another trial, she is entiled to it at additional cost. Her trial, her wishes, her money!

Additional bridal party members are charged for at additional cost. If they are happy with the trial then ask for 50% of wedding day cost there and then to secure the wedding day with the additional 50% payable 2 weeks in advance of the wedding and the 50% is non refundable. Either they want you or they don't!

Lipstick, I don't mean to sound blunt and harsh, but I am trying to run a business and so are you. I mean well for you. Good luck.

 

[lipstick]

Thank you for replying,

She has paid and so to has the bridesmaid for the first trial, no deposit or payment for the wedding date has been taken, so everything is square and no other payment is needed.

I always ask clients to try to find some pictures if they have a certain look in mind, but what i cant believe about this one is things i suggested in the first place and she did not like the sound of are what she is requesting now. After tpriple checking everything that went on her face my main worry is she wont be happy with the next trial either.

Is it un professional to pass her and others off just because they changed there minds or are they taking the whats it a lil bit!!!

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

Thank you for replying,

She has paid and so to has the bridesmaid for the first trial, no deposit or payment for the wedding date has been taken, so everything is square and no other payment is needed.

I always ask clients to try to find some pictures if they have a certain look in mind, but what i cant believe about this one is things i suggested in the first place and she did not like the sound of are what she is requesting now. After tpriple checking everything that went on her face my main worry is she wont be happy with the next trial either.

Is it un professional to pass her and others off just because they changed there minds or are they taking the whats it a lil bit!!!

I was trained by Nathalie Page Make-up School in Telford (she has heaps of experience) and I favour the method she taught me... That is to follow the brides wishes but to start work on one half of the face only. Start light and build as the bride requires. It's easy to add than remove make-up. If she likes the look on that one side then move to the other and continue.

I have no doubt many brides don't even have an idea of what they want or how they want it, which is why they choose a make-up artist. Even then you can only please some of them.

This client is trying to book another trial with you. If she thought you were bad then I am sure she will run a mile ..... which she hasn't. Therefore, don't fob her off. She is entiltled to another trial, but at her cost. If you are worried that she might be taking the proverbial p!ss, then ask for a deposit which is non refundable if she cancels otherwise you can't secure the trial date.

 

[lipstick]

Thank you very much for that answer, i have never thought to try the half side of the face approach, very useful particularly with eyes i would imagine.

I did actually think to myself well she is paying she can have as many trials as she wants, just came as a slight shock when both turn around and want something completely different.

Will go with your very good advice, just one thing is it even worth mentioning to her that i did point this out about certain looks and styles before we went with her idea or is it a waste of breath do you think?

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

Will go with your very good advice, just one thing is it even worth mentioning to her that i did point this out about certain looks and styles before we went with her idea or is it a waste of breath do you think?

No proplem if you have to repeat yourself and remind her. Just don't let it look like an 'I told you so', lol.

I created my own mood board for my clients. You can create as many as you like. I cut out pics from bridal mags which include minimal make-up looks to neutral through to dramatic make-up. Helps to give them ideas for different looks.

Don't beat yourself up. Remember .... you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the time :lol:.

 

[Ethos]

I would never agree to meet her 50/50 on the price if she is not happy. The point of the trial is to work with the bride to be to achieve the look they want on their wedding day. Sometimes this can't be done for whatever reason and no matter how hard you try to please. However, whether or not she likes the make-up, as a professional make-up artist, you have provided a service to the best of your ability which needs to be payed for in full.

My trials stipulate 2 to 2 1/2 hours and if the bride wants another trial, she is entiled to it at additional cost. Her trial, her wishes, her money!

Additional bridal party members are charged for at additional cost. If they are happy with the trial then ask for 50% of wedding day cost there and then to secure the wedding day with the additional 50% payable 2 weeks in advance of the wedding and the 50% is non refundable. Either they want you or they don't!

Lipstick, I don't mean to sound blunt and harsh, but I am trying to run a business and so are you. I mean well for you. Good luck.

Errrr if you run a business and dont refund what the clients paid if you refuse to offer the service paid for is a good way to end up in court and out of business. If my clients paid £200 upfront for a 1 hour trial and 2 hours on the day and isnt happy after the second trial I would give her £100 back! I get paid for my time on the trials and she gets her money back for the day WHICH I WOULDNT BE WORKING! Why the hell should she pay me to not be there on her wedding day!

The way some people treat clients is disgusting!

 

[cathill]

Thats the whole point in having a trial isnt it? to try different looks i do a trial at a set amount and its for an hour after that if they are still not happy or want to try more things they have to pay me for another trial if they book the wedding day they pay a depoait and if they dont hey ho thats up to them. if they booked the wedding day then decided not to have me after all they loose deposit its non refundable unless of course its like a months notice where i can fit someone else in.

 

[lipstick]

Errrr if you run a business and dont refund what the clients paid if you refuse to offer the service paid for is a good way to end up in court and out of business. If my clients paid £200 upfront for a 1 hour trial and 2 hours on the day and isnt happy after the second trial I would give her £100 back! I get paid for my time on the trials and she gets her money back for the day WHICH I WOULDNT BE WORKING! Why the hell should she pay me to not be there on her wedding day!

The way some people treat clients is disgusting!

I think there is a little bit of confusion here, the client in question only paid for the first trial and would like to pay the same amount of money for a second trial. I never presume that i am wanted on the wedding day for the very reason that they dont like the work. So no money was taken for the wedding day. I cant really see where i would need to refund her as my time and products are used in any number of trials surely?

 

[tog]

Maybe she would like to see one or two different loks before she makes up her mind.
She obviously has faith in your abilities or she wouldn't rebook with you for another trial.

Definitely charge her for HOWEVER MANY trial makeup sessions she has - it is your TIME as much as anything else which she is paying for, after all. If there is any doubt TELL her before she books that each appointment will be charged for, this saves any confusion and ill-will.

And what a good idea of someone to take a deposit if she then goes ahead and books the makeup for the wedding day. I have had one or two clients over the years not turn up for wedding makeup on the day, and why should you be completely out of pocket if she turns out to be one of those?

You are a professional, and it is your living. You sound as if you are taking this very seriously and talking your clients through everything and spending plenty of time and care over the whole thing. Just remember you also have to make it worth your while - you are not doing this for the good of your health are you?!

Good luck, I am sure your client appreciates all your hard work.

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

Errrr if you run a business and dont refund what the clients paid if you refuse to offer the service paid for is a good way to end up in court and out of business. If my clients paid £200 upfront for a 1 hour trial and 2 hours on the day and isnt happy after the second trial I would give her £100 back! I get paid for my time on the trials and she gets her money back for the day WHICH I WOULDNT BE WORKING! Why the hell should she pay me to not be there on her wedding day!

The way some people treat clients is disgusting!

Before you throw all your toys out of the cot may I say that you have totally misunderstood me. Lipsticks initial post was about the trials regarding her clients. When you mentioned the 50/50 you did not say that you were referring to a trial and wedding charge combined. My post was clearly about the trial before going on to explain securing payment for the actual day. Perhaps you should go back and read it again?

I charge separately for a trial which the bride has to pay for in full whether she wishes to book me for the big day or not. If I give a full service to the best of my ability then I expect to be paid in full. If the bride wishes to secure my services for her wedding day, then a 50% non refundable deposit is required. Either she wants my services or not. If she wishes to book me at a later date then that is fine, however I cannot secure her date without the deposit.

There is nothing disgusting about the way I treat my clients, so may I suggest please that you retract your last statement!

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

And what a good idea of someone to take a deposit if she then goes ahead and books the makeup for the wedding day. I have had one or two clients over the years not turn up for wedding makeup on the day, and why should you be completely out of pocket if she turns out to be one of those?

You are a professional, and it is your living. You sound as if you are taking this very seriously and talking your clients through everything and spending plenty of time and care over the whole thing. Just remember you also have to make it worth your while - you are not doing this for the good of your health are you?!

My point exactly! I put aside alot of time for my bridal clients and cannot afford to have them 'just not turn up'.

 

[dee]

tracey hun, we all know you are a total professional and know you dont go round ripping people off :hug:!!

i dont think the poster "got " what you were trying to explain xxxxx

 

[Ethos]

I think there is a little bit of confusion here, the client in question only paid for the first trial and would like to pay the same amount of money for a second trial. I never presume that i am wanted on the wedding day for the very reason that they dont like the work. So no money was taken for the wedding day. I cant really see where i would need to refund her as my time and products are used in any number of trials surely?

Then I dont understand what the problem is.

If she wants a second trial and will pay you then theres no problem. If she wants ten trials and pays you then no problems.

Its just procedure with make up artists I know to take the entire payment up front for the trials and the day with any additional hours or trials being chargeable at an hourly rate.

If my client cancelled I would give her back half her money which is money I would make back for working on the day at another wedding anyway.

I just presumed you had been paid completly upfront.

Some clients are there to trial us. Some are easy, you just have to get on with it and as long as there happy paying us for our time, I will take all the hassle they give me.

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

Then I dont understand what the problem is.

If she wants a second trial and will pay you then theres no problem. If she wants ten trials and pays you then no problems.

Its just procedure with make up artists I know to take the entire payment up front for the trials and the day with any additional hours or trials being chargeable at an hourly rate.

If my client cancelled I would give her back half her money which is money I would make back for working on the day at another wedding anyway.

I just presumed you had been paid completly upfront.

Some clients are there to trial us. Some are easy, you just have to get on with it and as long as there happy paying us for our time, I will take all the hassle they give me.

It is not the procedure with all make-up artists. Many MUA's ask for a deposit for the trial (a web search shows this) which goes towards securing the wedding date. This amount is deducted from the actual trial charge, whereupon another deposit is asked for to again secure the wedding date if the bride wants the services of the MUA after the trial.

Asking for both trial and wedding fees upfront may be common in your area, but certainly not in mine and not with every MUA as I have researched this indepth. No need to presume here as it was all made very clear originally!

 

[number1kitty]

What exactly is the problem? She wants another trial and is willing to pay you. I know loads of brides that want to see a few different looks or they ask there mum or friends if they like what you have done and they make suggestions which call for further trials.

You seem to be makeing a mountin out of a molehill. I have to agree with Ethos here, but yet again a newbie geek has her head ripped off because she obviously cannot have a valuable opinion. Its a sheer lack of professionalism again on this site.

I always get my bridal party to pay upfront. That includes their basic trials and two hours on the day. Same as many professional make up artists across the UK.

If afterwards the bride decides not to go with me, which only ever happened once in ten years I refund part of the money providing its within enough time to refill the space. As a makeup artist I often have someone waiting for a slot anyway. If they cancel big deal I replace them with another wedding.

I really do not see the point of this thread. It seems a case of put up and shut up on the clients behalf. I am embarrassed when my clients mention they use this site as they are shocked about how they are talked about.

At the end of the day those clients keep ME in business, they pay my mortgage and my bills and I will do anything they ask me even if it secretly drives me mad, I keep it to myself!

Your just creating a culture of clients too scared to speak their minds in fear of being shot down in flames on here for 'putting you out!'.

Your supposed to all be professionals, act like it. Theres no need to insult clients or other forum members.

Kate

 

[bombini]

I think the very fact that she told you before the first trial that she may want 2 or 3 is a actually a good sign as it shows she knew beforehand she would want to experiment with different looks.

I agree with another poster about her obviously liking your work so far as she wouldn't have asked for another paid trial. If she hated what you'd done she'd either of cancelled you or basically told you she didn't like it and ask for another free trial.

If she is happy to pay and you are happy to do it then go for it.

With regards to payment then I would be inclined to ask for a deposit for the wedding day once she has decided she is happy with the trials. I prefer to take the full payment for the wedding day at the trial or 2 weeks prior to the big day because once I ended up waiting over 45mins to get payment off the bride as she'd gone off to have some photos taken in the garden ! If they come to salon I still take the final payment in advance to as it saves messing about on the day.

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

I think the very fact that she told you before the first trial that she may want 2 or 3 is a actually a good sign as it shows she knew beforehand she would want to experiment with different looks.

I agree with another poster about her obviously liking your work so far as she wouldn't have asked for another paid trial. If she hated what you'd done she'd either of cancelled you or basically told you she didn't like it and ask for another free trial.

If she is happy to pay and you are happy to do it then go for it.

With regards to payment then I would be inclined to ask for a deposit for the wedding day once she has decided she is happy with the trials. I prefer to take the full payment for the wedding day at the trial or 2 weeks prior to the big day because once I ended up waiting over 45mins to get payment off the bride as she'd gone off to have some photos taken in the garden ! If they come to salon I still take the final payment in advance to as it saves messing about on the day.

Exactly, and it can end up being a wee bit embarrassing asking for final payment on the wedding day when everyone is stressed.... bride, father and mother of bride, bridesmades etc...... coupled with a photographer trying to take pics.

Therefore, ask for final 50% 2 weeks before wedding. Shows that the bride is committed to the service and your professional time and saves any discomfort of asking for payment in the middle of a stressful situation!

I truely value the excellent advice I was given in my bridal make-up training.

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

What exactly is the problem? She wants another trial and is willing to pay you. I know loads of brides that want to see a few different looks or they ask there mum or friends if they like what you have done and they make suggestions which call for further trials.

You seem to be makeing a mountin out of a molehill. I have to agree with Ethos here, but yet again a newbie geek has her head ripped off because she obviously cannot have a valuable opinion. Its a sheer lack of professionalism again on this site.

I always get my bridal party to pay upfront. That includes their basic trials and two hours on the day. Same as many professional make up artists across the UK.

If afterwards the bride decides not to go with me, which only ever happened once in ten years I refund part of the money providing its within enough time to refill the space. As a makeup artist I often have someone waiting for a slot anyway. If they cancel big deal I replace them with another wedding.

I really do not see the point of this thread. It seems a case of put up and shut up on the clients behalf. I am embarrassed when my clients mention they use this site as they are shocked about how they are talked about.

At the end of the day those clients keep ME in business, they pay my mortgage and my bills and I will do anything they ask me even if it secretly drives me mad, I keep it to myself!

Your just creating a culture of clients too scared to speak their minds in fear of being shot down in flames on here for 'putting you out!'.

Your supposed to all be professionals, act like it. Theres no need to insult clients or other forum members.

Kate

In all honesty I don't think anyone is making a mountain out of a molehill here. A geek came on here asking for advice. Advice was given. Geek was appreciative. No clients names have been used and the enquiring geek used her geek username so nobody knows who she is or if she lives just down the road from them...... undoubtably the client.

A newbie geek chose to insinuate that another geek treats her clients badly by ripping them off! Mmmmm talk about lack of professionalism?

If said geek wishes to remove her very unprofessional comments, then I will be happy to retract and delete my following comments. I did politely ask her in a pm which has been ignored!

Lipstick posted because she had a genuine query having never been asked for a retrial before. By posting answers other geeks share and learn. Differences of opinion are allowed but not insulting somebody elses professionalism and integrity in an open forum.