I have had my heart ache and disappointments regarding assistants. Over the years I have had assistants that steal my clients, those that never showed up and those that told me they were more talented than me and that I’m just lucky to be doing what I’m doing.
About 4-5 years ago I took under my wing an intern. I took her to a meeting with a film production company. First mistake: the Production manager mentioned he had other projects of his own and was working on a Playboy set in Dallas. He asked me to quote a weekend rate and expenses for my work and when I did he said “umm that’s very expensive and not in my budget” I asked him to get back to me and give me his budget and we can work some terms out. Later after our meeting, I turned to her and asked her this is what you need to bring and what I would like for you to do. The PM approached us to excuse himself for the evening and she held his hand and walked over with him handing him a business card and saying I can do it for less. That really bothered me, but I needed her for this project and I let it go. Next I took her on a model shoot where she exchanged info with a photographer and told booked him for her portfolio work. I had a music video and I didn’t even take her to meet the team and somehow she contacted them and told them that while I’m out of town she is to represent me. She went on to book my clients next music video when I was notified y the lead singer of how aweful she was and how she stirred up trouble on set t was clear to me that I send an e-mail notifying her that her services were no longer and that she is in no way to use my name or represent me. Aye Dios Mio!
Later on I “hired” a MUA friend that was going to help me prime and finish any client I needed and was going to pay him $300 for about 4 hrs of work. I double booked myself and he never showed up. Later he apologized. He got drunk the night before and did not get up. Luckily all my clients did not mind me running behind 15 minutes and I was able to do both my clients and his. Plus my cousin Gigi helped in any way she could what a lifesaver.
Recently, was the worst heart ache of all. I hired a girl to be my hairstylist for a show. I wanted to test her out and see if she could travel with me next season. I shared with her some personal business information, like how I would like to sponsor a show next year and maybe have my name on a banner on the stage. Her reply “What about my name? You need to add my name so people can know me too.” That was the first sign and first pain. After working the show and paying her she complained that I shorted her $50, yeah I bought all her hair products and styling tools even the ones she did not use which she returned even after I told her I have no use for them I can’t return brushes to the beauty store. I also bought her a $20 prejudging ticket last minute because she begged me she wanted to go. Finally, half way through prejudging she gets a call from a girlfriend and tells me ooh I got to go do makeup my girlfriend payed me to do her makeup for her son’s birthday party. I replied “you said you were staying the whole day and doing touchups which are part of your pay” she said “girl I got to go.” Long story short she also contacted a client and asked her if she was happy about her makeup. The problem was not the client was that I was not satisfied with the makeup job she did on the 2 clients had. She even went on to tell me that that client booked her for Halloween makeup because she was much better than I and said that I was lucky to be in the position I was in and have the opportunities that I have because I am not talented like her. There were many more red flags but that was the jist of it and the part that bothered me the most was the feeling I kept getting when she would say “I need you DAWG.” Not to mention that when my best friend (the top athlete in IFBB Fitness) met her she did not get a good feeling about her and immediately felt like she was drama and trouble. Thank GOD for good friends!
What heart ache! Although I have gone through some arduous times, I am still actively seeking an assistant and a hairstylist to add to my team. The names of these individuals are keep my secret forever so don't ask because I never tell. I am trying to share my experiance and share on the ehtics of assisting
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