Whether it’s for charity or for a special occasion, theatricals are an enjoyable and memorable way to celebrate and conclude an event. It may be a strictly one-off amateur affair, but staging a show need not look amateurish. A little expertise in the ancillary stage arts can make a hodge-podge cast look well put-together, and the star talents seem positively, well, stellar. The trick is deciding what to DIY and when to seek professional help.
Make-up sounds like something any career woman or fashion-addicted adolescent can do. While women do get adept at using cosmetics, they do it to suit an up-close-and- personal style. Putting on the greasepaint is completely different. Stage make-up needs to project a dramatic character to an audience, some of whom will be seated a good distance away. Also, the expense of buying cosmetics made for the stage – particularly those that won’t melt off – may be stretching the budget especially since they will be used only once. And a further but important point, what about the men in the cast?
Going through Oneflare’s one stop, on-line directory for everything will yield a host of make-up artists. Most specialize in make-up for weddings, formals and photography, many in personal styling and skin care, but surprisingly none in stage make-up. This may look like a dead end but for the narrow niche that amateur theatricals occupy in the cosmetic landscape, a professional stage make-up artist might just be too professional for this picture.
The best option though for this type of show, considering both skill and cost, would be a wedding make-up artist. After all, isn’t a wedding an amateur theatrical – it has a cast, recognizable characters, a plot and an audience. And it’s for one performance only too. Make-up artists specializing in weddings would have the skill to bring out the individuality of each character, the men as well as the women and children. They will know how to make the cast members look good for an audience and for the requisite photo ops. Long wearing make-up, a portable kit, touch-up and repair techniques – these are all part of the wedding make-up artists’ arsenal. And as long as it’s not a cast of thousands, they can cope with multiple clients or can secure an assistant who will work collaboratively with them.
Oneflare’s unique Request A Service system is versatile enough for describing specifically the make-up service required by these circumstances. The service providers who submit quotations can be individually contacted to discuss further what the job will involve. This will also help them give a more accurate estimate of cost. Alternatively, the directory listings provide a short resume of each artist and their contact information, together with portfolio samples, rates, personal opinions and customer reviews.