Here I sat pondering how to make my 13-16 year old girls look 40-65ish, aside from their costume, and remembered that years ago, a theatre at which I worked asked the local Vo-Tech School to set our wigs prior to our run (Scrooge!  A 4 show run.)

I contacted the local "beauty school" and asked the manager if she wouldn't loan out a few of her students for each night of the show to set hair.  VOILA!!!  I have 3-5 students coming for both shows, AND for two rehearsals (to practice) on my "old ladies".  They get credit for the work (at school and in the program), and I get my girls to look like old ladies .... for free!!!

It never hurts to ask!  :o)

Hey, TonyDi (or anyone else that has a suggestion):|

Do you have a method for keeping the "leads" in eye/lip pencils from breaking off when you sharpen them?  I have yet to find a brand (even Bob Kelly) that doesn't have this problem.....or maybe it's my problem!!!

Any solutions or ideas?  I have this problem not just in stage makeup, but in my "real-life" make-up too.

Thanks in advance.

That's a constant problem for me also.  Ben Nye eye pencils don't seem to break as often, but they are a bit expensive.  Using a really good quality pencil sharpener designed for makeup pencils helps a lot.  I borrowed (ok, stole) my wife's Clinique sharpener years ago, and it has been a real champ!  It also helps to keep the pencil lead from getting too soft.  Store the pencils in your basic "cool, dry place", and keep them and your kit away from the makeup lights, heat vents, etc. during a production.

I'm no TonyDi, but I hope this helps.

Tom

Thanks for the advice, Tom!  I'll try your suggestions.

Any other ideas?