hey
I know you said you haven't found wedding fairs very useful but try looking for really high end ones for example I live in Edinburgh and they do a huge wedding fair at the corn exchange every year it's an annual fair and very successful so look for ones like that that are well established they have vendors travelling from all over and have people travel from all over Scotland to go. Speak to bridal shops about doing photo shoots with them and getting photos done then when they show the photos of the dresses you get a mention for hair and make up. If you can't have an online presence why not hold an 'open day' rent a hall have models walking around with hair and make up done by you in white dresses not necessarily wedding dresses just to give an idea of different looks you can create offer mini hair ups and taster make up you could even ask bridal shops and arrange a sort of fashion show or get someone in that sells tiaras etc take bookings on the day or work with a bridal shop to do a fashion show let people see the full look. Do you take a non refundable booking fee while taking a booking? People are less likely to cancel if they've already parted with some money. Also do you travel or it just your area you do? It would be a shame to have to give up when it sounds like you're really good if you've been published. Look into local bridal magazines aswell see if you can get an interview/ pictures into it/ an advert or something. I suppose the other thing you can do is speak to hotels about mentioning you if they have a client looking do it to a hotel that you've had a few brides use before. Speak to a wedding blogger about doing an interview loads of people go through tonnes of blogs for information on planning weddings if that's not too much on the Internet for you. Or speak to the editor of a magazine/ paper offer them a treatment in return for a review. I think you will have to work twice as hard as some other people if you can't have an online precence as so many people like to see websites/ Facebook for portfolios and reviews. Good luck xx[/QUOTE
Hi Nicky
I am a very experienced marketing professional too asand I have explored all avenues on this.
I also do camouflage makeup and casualty FX too.
To hold an open day and have models parading around with hair and makeup done by myself will cost money and i don't have it and then there is the cost of hall etc on top and insurance.
My new full time job is very full on and I don't have the time to organise one.
People who want taster makeup and hair again want to pay something for nothing.
I do take non refundable deposits.
There are no real local bridal magazines bear me that are willing to do editorial unless I pay silly rates for an advert and as the read ships are very low it's a waste of money.
I don't want to get into the habit of doing free makeup and hair for wedding shops as this commercial work for their business too and they have more of chance of someone asking which dress is that do you stock it in my size, than who did the hair and makeup.
This another reason why pro stylists are not being paid for their work as ppl suggest that they work for free for commercial shoots.
So really as a pro I should be paid.