When I went through my interview for MAC as a freelancer, the recruiter mentioned $18 an hour. Idk if that's standard throughout the company or just for the area I'm in, but that's what I was quoted.
Really, it depends on your region and what you bring to the table as far as experience. In our contracts it states that we're not to discuss our pay, but they pay very well and are more than accommodating when it comes to compensation
And on top of the money, they're an incredible company to work for. They take damn good care of their employees, both permanent and freelance!
MAC doesnt have freelancers per se. They have retail staff who get invited to freelance for them if the politics and ass kissin are right. Expect under 20 to start. Expect to wait a long time for a call.
Davis W wrote: MAC doesnt have freelancers per se. They have retail staff who get invited to freelance for them if the politics and ass kissin are right. Expect under 20 to start. Expect to wait a long time for a call.
That's not true, at least in my area. I am a current 'freelancer' for MAC and get called in all the time.
Davis W wrote: MAC doesnt have freelancers per se. They have retail staff who get invited to freelance for them if the politics and ass kissin are right. Expect under 20 to start. Expect to wait a long time for a call.
MAC doooes actually have freelancers "per se" and politics and ass kissing arent involved at all. You're paid based on region, experience, and knowledge...just like any other position. And If you're good, they'll call you A LOT.
Angel Graves
Posts: 2,355
Fort Collins, Colorado, US
Davis W wrote: MAC doesnt have freelancers per se. They have retail staff who get invited to freelance for them if the politics and ass kissin are right. Expect under 20 to start. Expect to wait a long time for a call.
Since MAC sponsors a huge amount of fashion shows in the GTA alone I beg to differ...
I have the reference letters to prove that unless... They discontinued that policy since '09...
Nonsense. There are no freelance MAC gigs here. I dont know where you get your information. They slug away in retail stores for 15 to 20 bucks an hour.
Angel Graves
Posts: 2,355
Fort Collins, Colorado, US
Davis W wrote: Nonsense. There are no freelance MAC gigs here. I dont know where you get your information. They slug away in retail stores for 15 to 20 bucks an hour.
#3507 361 Front St W M5V 3R5 - my address before I got a better working situation and moved here 9 September 2008.
This has inspired me to make a few calls now to see if the world of the M5V has truly changed that much since I left... Does MUFE now handle all of the shows or something? It used to be a fair split between the two.
Davis W wrote: Nonsense. There are no freelance MAC gigs here. I dont know where you get your information. They slug away in retail stores for 15 to 20 bucks an hour.
I have no clue what you are talking about and unsure why you are so stuck on your opinion only and not considering the many others of us who are legit telling you that your experience is NOT the norm.
Perhaps Canada is different however, I suspect it is only your experience . In the US they rely on freelancers for all events and call outs, period thee end.
JFord Creations Makeup wrote: What's the difference between working the counter and being a freelance artist?
In short:
Counter= you have set hours each week, you have $ goals and tasks you must reach to keep your position.
Freelance=they call you when they need you. You may get called 5x in one week or may not be called for 12 weeks. So, if you freelance with a company make sure they put you on the freelance call list so that other counters/stores can request your services and not just that one counter.
I freelance only (Dior and Mac) I do not want the hassle of counter goals and such but I am lucky that I don't have to earn a specific amount of money at this time to live. If I did, I'd most likely have to work a counter for sure or at least work my freelancing gigs more.
Side note:
I personally will not promote my makeup artistry services until I have mentored under a professional. I know this is always a sore spot with some as they just come out of "school" and think they are ready for a bridal party of 12. I find great value in apprenticing/mentoring and am looking to shadow a true pro for at least 6 months-1year before I feel I can proudly proclaim that I am a professional MUA's for hire.
Angel Graves
Posts: 2,355
Fort Collins, Colorado, US
Ok to put this to rest I made a phone call to both MAC on Queen W. & MAC Bloor and got the same responses (as I knew I would)...
Their policy is to bring in MAC affiliated artists who have been certified to represent the brand at events of any sort. They do not run an ad for random event help or anything like that. Also, they surely do still host events and sponsor or partner for events the same as when I lived there and worked with their team at events.
So I have no idea how Davis arrives at his passionate commitment to the contrary but things are as they were when I left! It's a group you have to pay some dues to belong to if that's your passion to do so but in the GTA they are a fun group to work along side of
Davis W wrote: Nonsense. There are no freelance MAC gigs here. I dont know where you get your information. They slug away in retail stores for 15 to 20 bucks an hour.
I just came home from a MAC freelance job. I'm being paid over $27/hr. That's more than I feel is appropriate to post. (I'm so embarrassed that I'm shying away from posting what a company is paying me. I have no trouble talking about my rates but when I'm working for others, I feel strange revealing it).
I'm not a MAC artist, I've never worked in their stores - strictly freelance. But they do most certainly have freelance jobs in the city and send out more than those who work in their stores.
#3507 361 Front St W M5V 3R5 - my address before I got a better working situation and moved here 9 September 2008.
This has inspired me to make a few calls now to see if the world of the M5V has truly changed that much since I left... Does MUFE now handle all of the shows or something? It used to be a fair split between the two.
Fashion week has Maybelline backing it I believe - most of the shows that I have seen come out of last week had Grace Lee as the key and she is head of Maybelline. I could be wrong though.
Also, MAC will totally take any freelance job. I work weddings where I'm doing hair and the makeup artist has been hired through MAC.
Angel Graves
Posts: 2,355
Fort Collins, Colorado, US
Ashley Readings wrote:
Fashion week has Maybelline backing it I believe - most of the shows that I have seen come out of last week had Grace Lee as the key and she is head of Maybelline. I could be wrong though.
Also, MAC will totally take any freelance job. I work weddings where I'm doing hair and the makeup artist has been hired through MAC.
Ashley!
I'm glad you're still around the GTA! I was startinting to think I was really getting out of the loop being down here!
I heard Grace was keying 'a lot' but since I've been busy down here I stopped getting the invite I'm glad to hear such a commercial powerhouse is in fashion week, it lends much to the people showing there.
Good to hear you're still working away at it
In short:
Counter= you have set hours each week, you have $ goals and tasks you must reach to keep your position.
Freelance=they call you when they need you. You may get called 5x in one week or may not be called for 12 weeks. So, if you freelance with a company make sure they put you on the freelance call list so that other counters/stores can request your services and not just that one counter.
I freelance only (Dior and Mac) I do not want the hassle of counter goals and such but I am lucky that I don't have to earn a specific amount of money at this time to live. If I did, I'd most likely have to work a counter for sure or at least work my freelancing gigs more.
Side note:
I personally will not promote my makeup artistry services until I have mentored under a professional. I know this is always a sore spot with some as they just come out of "school" and think they are ready for a bridal party of 12. I find great value in apprenticing/mentoring and am looking to shadow a true pro for at least 6 months-1year before I feel I can proudly proclaim that I am a professional MUA's for hire.
Thank you for the reply! How did you get into freelancing. Did you do it through applying at the counter as a freelance or do you have agency representation?
I'm a MAC freelancer in WA and have hardly gotten any calls over the course of three years. Last month I went in and had a talk with a local manager and she explained that MAC has an allotted amount of hours they can delegate between their freelance artists. In recent years due to budget cuts the company cut freelancing hours nearly in half, meaning they can't call people as often as they used to. Combine that with seniority of freelancers and it could explain why some areas are busier than others.
Thank you everyone for the information! It was exactly the type of info I needed. And thank you very much to those who posted thier actually rate, it is always helpful to understand the market rates in different areas! Cheers!
I have no idea what you are talking about Ashley. I spoke to a half dozen MAC counter managers and the story is, they have an abundance of MAC artists waiting for such an opportunity, who have been with them for many years. They do not hire outside freelancers.
Maybe we are on two different planets. MAC brings their own to events and they have many waiting in que for an opportunity. But if the OP still wishes to dream of being someone so amazing that MAC will ignore hundreds of their own trained staff and focus on her skills, more power to her.
Personally I think its more likely to see snow in July. But if you want the fantasy, enjoy it.
Thank you for the reply! How did you get into freelancing. Did you do it through applying at the counter as a freelance or do you have agency representation?
I did apply at the counter. I became friendly with the counter staff over time which surely helped me vs a random app. When you show up for an application or to inquire, be sure you are dressed in MAC black (all black and only metal jewelry, no resins or plastics). Eyeliner needs to be clean. Must be very happy and friendly. I know 2 managers that only hire staff that basically beg and or cry for the job! Extreme yes but They seriously want people who really really want to be there.
To the OP, I merely stated a rough estimate of what I'm paid by MAC. I did not mean to imply that they have plentiful jobs and would hire everyone and that you would work for them tons.
If you were to ask my advice on whether you should count on freelance work for MAC (though I realise you didn't ask that so feel free to skip my opinion!) I would tell you that personally, I focus on booking my own work and when work from a brand comes up, it's a nice change of pace but it's also a change of rate and I'd rather book jobs where it goes all to me!
Davis, all I know is my specific encounter with MAC as a freelancer. I would guess that their counter artists are not all trained for television work. They work at a counter or at events. I was working for an organization that regularly works with MAC and for this job they needed an artist who worked in television and MAC called me. Maybe their MAC freelancers who have television experience were busy. Maybe they just think I'm as awesome as my mum thinks I am. Probably the former. Either way, that's how I specifically was booked.
At no point did I imply that they had a ton of jobs available and were regularly hiring freelancers. Just wanted to state that they did hire freelancers, and I was one of them and for (roughly) how much.
Angel Graves
Posts: 2,355
Fort Collins, Colorado, US
Davis W wrote: I have no idea what you are talking about Ashley. I spoke to a half dozen MAC counter managers and the story is, they have an abundance of MAC artists waiting for such an opportunity, who have been with them for many years. They do not hire outside freelancers.
Maybe we are on two different planets. MAC brings their own to events and they have many waiting in que for an opportunity. But if the OP still wishes to dream of being someone so amazing that MAC will ignore hundreds of their own trained staff and focus on her skills, more power to her.
Personally I think its more likely to see snow in July. But if you want the fantasy, enjoy it.
Lol go to my facebook page and open the album 4th of July in my photos.... That is snow 20 mins from my house on 4th of July the first year I was here lol so there you go
I'm glad to hear such a commercial powerhouse is in fashion week, it lends much to the people showing there.
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