Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rikki Tea. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Rikki, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s easy to look at a business or industry as an outsider and assume it’s super profitable – but we’ve seen over and over again in our conversation with folks that most industries have factors that make profitability a challenge. What’s biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?
Being in the Pro Makeup Artist Industry is not for the faint of heart, you have months where you will have a massive amount of success and you feel like your dreams are being heard and met with good fortune. Then other months were you have little to no work and you feel like your failing at life. Profitability is something that all people should strive for success in, and being a Makeup Artist is no different. However in todays age the industry at times can feel over saturated and monopolized by big name artists. Which is in no negativity to them, society has made a social stature of having your makeup done by certain people for the sake of having your makeup done by them. Similar to wearing a designer bag, you are having the equivalent of a designer face done. To combat this you have to make a name for yourself and your style as a artist.
The number of followers you have does not translate to the the number of clients you have, and I feel starting artists often get this confused with one another. Focusing on building a strong clientele that not only loves your craft but also recommends and shares your work is the best type of publicity to have. Once I spoke to a very wise, and very wealthy business investor, and his advice for life was “Don’t focus on the money and don’t focus on the number of people, but focus on the Quality of work, the Quality of Product, and the Quality of the customer and everything will follow after”. These words have stuck with me my whole career because if I can show my best to the best, Success will follow with hard work and dedication to my work.
Rikki, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
For folks who do not know me, my name is Rikki Tea, I am a San Diego/Los Angeles based Pro Makeup Artist for Charlotte Tilbury. I became passionate for the world of Beauty from my Mema (grandmother) Shirlee Baker a woman who was devoted to making the world more beautiful one person at a time being a Hairdresser and Makeup Artist her entire life. Growing up in the salon, seeing the smiles, and tears of joy from her work created a lasting impression on me that could never be replaced by anything. And now in my life I have chosen the same path to continue creating positive and lasting memories for others when they look in the mirror and seeing the beauty that they already have just enhanced with the power of makeup. I have worked in the industry for 5 Years now as a professional and have worked on every type of model across a broad range. The beauty industry is something that changes every single day with new trends, new focuses, and new visions to create. Being a good makeup artist that is willing to change with the times and also accepting that you will NEVER know everything in the makeup world is truly the key. Learning new techniques, learning new styles, and new ways to do just about everything is how you will adapt and form your craft into something that is unique and sought after.
What sets me apart from other artists is that I want to care for not only how you will look at the end of me doing your makeup, I want you to enjoy the whole process and have a fun experience, I want to care for your skin before makeup is on it with high quality skin care that goes well with makeup and makeup that has skincare properties in it already so that after your done with your event your skin still looks like the best it ever has. At the end of the day good skin makes the best makeup, so for me caring for the skin first even if its just taking 10 minutes to put on a mask to prep is the number one way that I make the makeup that I do look the best it can.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My Goal in the Makeup World is to give a name for other trans folk to know they can make their dreams a reality. As someone who came from a life where my parents were absent and coming out I wasn’t accepted and forced to move, I feel as if I have a responsibility to be there for others in their journey of coming out and feeling acceptance.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of my Artistry is seeing the final product and seeing the reaction of the person to seeing themselves in the makeup I’ve done. The Smiles and the joy that they have is a indescribable kind of payment for me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rikki_tea/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RikkiTeaBeauty
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikki-price-517549230/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/rikkitea
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi6SS9UbYREnY3SnJ8_K23w
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rikki_tea?lang=en