Freelance Advantage

A Marketing Funny, But Not Really

A business card I received last week detailed the a gentleman's specialties as 13 different things, my boyfriend said, he sounds like DJ All-In-One.

Positioning

Today is a day of brunches and football, shopping, relaxing and preparation for the week. Before you take another dime out of your purse/wallet to buy another thing you may or may not need, ask yourself if what you are about to do is going to put you IN, or take you OUT of position of your dreams.

Plan to Work and Work the Plan. Just a thought.

----------- For 24 years Crystal Wright represented some of the most talented freelance makeup, hair, fashion stylists and manicurists in the entertainment and fashion biz. Now she teaches them how to present, market and brand themselves through her 2 and 3 day portfolio building and marketing classes which are held in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago.

If you are an artist who dreams of working behind the scenes in print, video, film or TV. Run, don't walk to one of her workshops.

Pictured at left, 2011 NYC PYP Students Ann Loperena and Shaybana Syed

Strictly Business - Day 3: Show Me The Money

DAY 3
SHOW ME THE MONEY

Why the name, DAY 3?
Because, for the artists who are taking my 3 day workshops in 2012,
this will be their DAY 3.

Strictly business IS interactive, get your hands dirty training
that freelance artists need to:

• gather information over the phone when being hired and/or cosidered for a job,
• complete the paperwork (deal memo-credit sheet-invoices) necessary to get paid
• choose the correct business entity (sole proprietorship, LLC, C|S Corp)
• file taxes on time
• save money
• collect receivables (outstanding invoices) and follow-up
• use appropriate business phone etiquette
• successfully negotiate with decision-makers (role playing)
• complete and understand paperwork (w-9, 1099, etc.)

necessary to get paid, flourish and stay in business.

This day 3 will be taught by Crystal Wright and other financial & business experts
who work with freelance stylists every day.

WHAT WILL BE COVERED:

Structure: Corp vs LLC vs Sole Propietorship
The Freelance Friendly Way to Purchase Anything
Deal Memo's, Invoices & Credit Sheets
Receivables (Collecting Your Money) & Payables
Taxes, Filing, Forms & Receipts, Call Sheets,
Expense Reimbursement
Role Playing

What to bring
Laptop
(if you have one)

Favorite Notepad

Cell Phone

PLEASE NOTE:
There will be an additional materials fee of $20 - $25
that will be collected just before or at class.

PYP Grads Add Support to Beauty For Empowerment Event in Washington, DC.

Last night several PYP Grads rallied around their sister Kenyetta Greene to support her efforts to eradicate domestic violence in the DC/VA/MD area. This year as part of her 2011 internship assignment with me which required giving back to the community, Kenyetta created Beauty for Empowerment in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness month.

In this her 2nd time producing this wonderful fundraising event to raise money and awareness for Washington Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE) DC Kenyetta was able to tap into the strength and talent in our Packaging Your Portfolio Workshop Group to staff her event with Makeup Artists, Hair Stylists and Manicurists who were more than willing to give to the women in the community who benefitted greatly by a few hours of feeling GREAT.

Says Kenyetta, "Beauty for Empowerment is a community event that supports WEAVE DC. Our mission is to raise awareness and provide victims of domestic violence and abuse with support, counseling, and legal services which are sustained by your financial contributions."

Congratulations Kenyetta and thank you to all of your PYP Sisters who gladly stepped up to support you.

Pictured from left to right: Manicurist Titilayo Bankole, Hair Stylist Shante Harris, Makeup Artist Keisha Willis, Hair Stylist Lisa Anderson and Makeup Artist Shana Janelle Swain––All PYP Grads.

 

----------- For 24 years Crystal Wright represented some of the most talented freelance makeup, hair, fashion stylists and manicurists in the entertainment and fashion biz. Now she teaches them how to present, market and brand themselves through her 2 and 3 day portfolio building and marketing classes which are held in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago.

If you are an artist who dreams of working behind the scenes in print, video, film or TV. Run, don't walk to one of her workshops.

First Round Draft Picks

Last week I was asked by a top NYC makeup hair & styling agency, who is looking for new artists to develop, if I had any recommendations for manicurists. Imagine how excited I was that more manicurists have started taking my workshops and that I was able to recommend and submit the artists along with their websites (not their facebook pages) for consideration.

I am happy to report that 3 artists took or are still taking meetings with that agency in NYC today and I have heard good reports from 2 so far.

I'm very proud of Titilayo Bankole, Nia Cooper and Angel Williams who are on path and on point, working their plan and poised to do big things in 2012.

Congratulations Ladies, this is ONLY the beginning and the sky is NOT the limit!

----------- For 24 years Crystal Wright represented some of the most talented freelance makeup, hair, fashion stylists and manicurists in the entertainment and fashion biz. Now she teaches them how to present, market and brand themselves through her 2 and 3 day portfolio building and marketing classes which are held in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago.

If you are an artist who dreams of working behind the scenes in print, video, film or TV. Run, don't walk to one of her workshops.

My iPhone reminds me twice a day

Everyday at 10:30 and again at 3:00pm my iPhone alarm pops up with the words, "BREAK STRONGHOLDS" and feeds me these words.

2 Cor 10: 5. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive (We lead every thought and purpose away) every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

I am happy to say that I spent at LEAST 30 min 4 out of 5 work days starting my day with the word.

That's what's up.

Do not be consumed with doubt and unbelief. Instead exercise your muscle of faith until' it fits u like a coat that was always yours.

Hair by Jennifer MacDougall

While it's not unusual for my PYP Grads to take the bull by the horns and GO FOR IT! It still always amazes me when I watch them embrace what they learned, add to it their own skills and talents, add two tablespoons of living life at 100% and then refuse to take no for an answer by moving forward, above, around, below and through obstacles to get to the destiny that they envision on day one of class and claim outloud on day two.

Jennifer MacDougall is one of those artists. Just 4 months after walking into class in the summer of 2011 with no website, comp card or business card for freelancing she now has all three, and has completed numerous tests (without paying a single photographer for those of you who are stuck in that rut!) and jobs.

I have seen artists show up with no website, no business cards, no comp card, and no map. But after two days and a couple of conference calls I watch them absorb, apply and move, absorb, apply and move. Because in the end, it is always action, action, action that separates the men from the boys.

I wonder how many of you who are reading this are STILL claiming to be putting their website together, to be getting new business cards printed, or to be working on their comp card?

Jennifer, CONGRATULATIONS! I am so proud of you and the rest of OUR PYP Family for the support, encouragement, motivation and inspiration you give each other 24/7. Continue to sow success into each other's Spirits. It's WORKING!
------------

For 24 years Crystal Wright represented some of the most talented freelance makeup, hair, fashion stylists and manicurists in the entertainment and fashion biz. Now she teaches them how to present, market and brand themselves through her 2 and 3 day portfolio building and marketing classes which are held in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago.

If you are an artist who dreams of working behind the scenes in print, video, film or TV. Run, don't walk to one of her workshops.

A SWEET Deal

If you like the Hair Makeup & Fashion Styling Career Guide you'll love the webinar.

Take the next step, ATTEND our 3 Hour webinar and we'll SWEETEN the deal.

If you like the webinar so much that it inspires and motivates you to take your career to the next level, I'll refund the price of the webinar by subtracting $59.95 + $50 when you register for the LIVE 2 or 3-Day workshop with me. That's $109.95 off the price of the Live Event!

I want to unblock your creative potential and get you Un-Stuck. Don't be afraid. You'll be surprised at how courageous you become once you have the tools, after class support, coaching and opportunities that you receive when you become part of my PYP family.

Like I said the other day. RUN don't walk to this webinar. It will change your perspective, improve your focus and save you lots of money as you strive to create the kind of professional presentation that gets you the kinds of jobs the fashion, entertainment and commercial business demands.

That's what I call Win-Win.

Be and Feel Worthy

Be and feel worthy today. Do good and be good remembering that God looks at the HEART of a person, not the flesh (1 Sam 16:17).

Do not allow the tools of evil (doubt & unbelief) to be your undoing TODAY. If God has called you to do a thing by giving you desire, faith and ability, get your MIND in AGREEMENT with your Spirit. Get positive and believe that you can. Stop looking at the storm (Mat 14:24-32) and worrying about the conditions (unemployment, bad weather, people standing in line in front of you, more than one person up for a job you are trying to get). Stop talking about what won't happen. In fact, stop talking all the time PERIOD.

It's okay to be aware of your circumstances but choose to keep you mind on the possibilities that are the result from the actions you are taking.

I ask, "What is the point in believing in God, if you don't believe in His promises by exercising the muscle of faith by using His word to change your circumstances?"

If things are tough, tighten the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14). Speak His word over your circumstances and keep it moving. Don't succumb to the storm (feelings) in your life. God is a fact, not a feeling.

I am sharing my interpretation of what I read this morning when I [for the 3rd day in a row] made time for what makes me 100%––spending time in the word and reading my books.

For 24 years Crystal Wright represented some of the most talented freelance makeup, hair, fashion stylists and manicurists in the entertainment and fashion biz.

Two and a half years ago she decided to write and teach. She has been called many things, most often she's called "Empowerment Diva" because she inspires and motivates others to take responsibility for their choices, leave their excuses at the door, get control of their lives and take their power back.

She is a woman of unbounded energy who isn't afraid to expose her own frailties if it will help someone else change their lives in a positive way. Her friend, Founder of AmberMag.com Marcia Cole calls her a "Game Changer".

Her new book 30 Days at 100 Percent: Changing Your Life 30 Days at a Time challenges the reader to strive for excellence in eight different areas of their lives by tackling one thing every 30 days. You can order 30 Days at 100 Percent online in the CrystalWrightLive Store.

4 FREELANCE FACTS FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T AFRAID TO HEAR THE TRUTH

Just an hour ago I spoke to a young woman who has been paying photographers to test with her so that she can build a book for working in the entertainment industry. I have these conversations day-in and day-out.

It upsets me that some people would rather spend $1000 doing what they THINK they should do rather than spend $49 to get a book that will inform and empower them so they would KNOW what to do.

I could of course go on and on, but for now here are 4 things that may help. Don't shoot the messenger. I have plenty of success stories whose phone numbers and email address that I can give out to prove what I'm saying. Just because you don't like what you're hearing doesn't make it untrue.

1. If you're a freelance artist and you paid $1000 to have a website designed that you could have gotten for $24.95/month with all the bells and whistles from webphotomaster (http://www.webphotomaster/crystalwright) that would also allow you to upload your own pics WHENEVER you are ready, update and change your bio, and more––something is wrong.
   
   The question you need to ask yourself is why you let your cousin Mookie advise you or build your website in the first place.
   
    
2. If someone you know is calling themselves a celebrity artist and there are no celebrities on their website....guess what, they are probably doing certain kinds of work with certain levels of celebrities that doesn't pay them very much. Very much in the world of celebrities is typically $1500 + per day and in most cases $2500 + per day.
   
   
3. If a celebrity comes into your salon to have you do their hair but they never call you to work on their editorial print stuff, it can be because:
   
   a. they don't think your work is editorial enough, but they like what you do in the salon just fine for walking around the city.
   
   b. they don't think that your personal style or professional ettiquette fits in with the crew for set work.
   
4. If you are paying a photographer to test with you because someone told you that this is the way it's done in beauty, fashion and entertainment, you are listening to the wrong person and you have already overpaid. Stop it!

For 24 years Crystal Wright represented some of the most talented freelance makeup, hair, fashion stylists and manicurists in the entertainment and fashion biz.

Two and a half years ago she decided to write and teach. She has been called many things, most often she's called "Empowerment Diva" because she inspires and motivates others to take responsibility for their choices, leave their excuses at the door, get control of their lives and take their power back.

She is a woman of unbounded energy who isn't afraid to expose her own frailties if it will help someone else change their lives in a positive way. Her friend, Founder of AmberMag.com Marcia Cole calls her a "Game Changer".

Her new book 30 Days at 100 Percent: Changing Your Life 30 Days at a Time challenges the reader to strive for excellence in eight different areas of their lives by tackling one thing every 30 days. You can order 30 Days at 100 Percent online in the CrystalWrightLive Store.