What do you find is the best way to connect with MUAs?

A few days ago, I called, emailed, and messaged 6 MUAs about a corporate gig I was going to bid on and got no responses from any of them.  Since the timeline for this job is rather short, I think I'm going to have to pass on it, since I would want to work with the MUA in a test environment prior to doing the big job.  The fact that they haven't responded at all to an inquiry for a paying job also leads me to believe that I wouldn't want to be relying on them to show up! 

So, what I've learned from this experience is that it's in my best interest to develop a "team" of sorts that can be called up when necessary.

In your experience, do you find your MUAs through MM, or do you call up salons, or just Google them?  I'm not sure how to proceed, but I'd like to work with a few on a test basis just to see if we gel or not, get a feel for their work, their speed, etc. 

Beyond that, what do you look for in a MUA?  I've heard horror stories of MUAs that put false eyelashes on a client and the client's eyes had an allergic reaction to the glue and it ruined everything, the client not liking the makeup, etc.  Hygiene would be key, I suppose.  I'm just not sure I'd know what to look for.

I put up a casting call looking for them this morning.

casting call usually works for me.

Drop your card off at local school of cosmetology.

Call a local fashion agency and ask for some referrals.

As ironic as it may seem, I have had a good experience with Thumbtack.com.  Yea, I know...really.   But... so far I'm 2 for 2 with good people.  Who knew.

What you have learned is there are a limited number of good MUA people out there, and getting one on short notice, is not easy to accomplish.

Find those whose work you like, and build a relationship for your own projects, recognizing it will take more than one to be able to schedule well. Also realize many of them are prone to moving at a moment's notice, etc.

When I was in Dallas, I lost a really good one to LA. She could do it all.......make up, hair, and styling.

Could be a regional thing, I am having no problem to find and do a lot of trade with MUAs, although I often need to accommodate a few particularities that they come up with. Can't be sure why paid jobs are not answered, in such case something in the supply/demand chain is not on your side in your region.

If for trade, you also need to understand that your style of work (BW) may not be of value for a MUA (this is not a qualitative comment in anyway), only that black and whites by default, tend to drop most MUAs interest because the large majority want their choice of colors to be clearly shown in it (this is my perception based on my experience with MUAs), could be wrong and even if right there are always exceptions.

Back to paid jobs, another reality is that very few are full time independent make-up artists, even if they often claim/pretend to be so, but in the end, a lot have full time or part time jobs, related or not to make-up. Point of this, is that the availability is often very conditioned, by the other jobs and personal life, since internet free lancing, is often an extra on the side, done here or then when possible.

Regarding advanced pre-trials and concept experimentation (if that was what you meant), I don't see that coming through... for them to come and do the work yes, but unless you are paying serious money, I don't see many of them coming ahead to do a trial, because materials cost a LOT of money than we photographers think or guess, to commute can sometimes be a pain and time is time... They do this for weddings, but not for photography that I know of. It would be desirable for us... but happening is a different story.

In my experience one has to be a bit careful about artists that primarily do weddings, in that they can tend to be a little heavy handed because they're used to working with real people. Now that's not to say one should stay away from artists that do this - as it is often good additional bread-and-butter work. But ideally you want someone who has experience with and regularly does commercial print - and if you're using agency or even agency-caliber girls, you want someone who functions regularly at that level.

In a word:     Networking!

The problem with casting calls or cold calls is that often the MUA doesn't know you, you don't know the MUA, and therefore working together is a bit of a risk.

I'm a big, big believer in taking the time to build a little local photographic community.  Get to know your local photographers, models, MUAs, stylists, etc.  One of the best things you can do is to share recommendations & references.  If I wanted to work with an MUA, I would call one of the most popular local models who is interested in doing more MUA work and ask her -- she knows me, and if she can't do the job, she knows MUAs.  With a common acquaintance (the model), I would be more confident about getting together with a recommended MUA.

Now, I acknowledge that some people really don't want to get involved with the local community -- they are competition, or it would take too much time.  That's fine -- different strokes for different folks.  But I've not experienced a downside from spending the effort to get to know the other folks in my local area.