September 12, 2016

Meet the Multi-talented Monique Madrid

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique Madrid .

Monique, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I actually always knew I wanted to be an actress and a writer, but since I’d been a waitress all through high school, I didn’t want to be a “starving artist” while I pursued this dream and be stuck waiting table my whole life. No offense to those who do. But that’s some hard work! It turned out, I was already doing all of my friend’s hair and makeup anyway, so it made the idea of going to cosmetology school perfect. I’ve been a licensed hairstylist now since I was 19. Pretty quickly I went from working in salons, to working freelance on my own. It just made it easier to pursue my other passions. I started in Kansas City, then moved to Chicago in ’03 where I quickly became the “go-to” in the wedding world. I have literally taken care of hundreds of brides for their big day. I made some wonderful friends and also now have some wonderful, crazy stories because of course, the bridal world can be nuts. Since I was immersed in the Chicago comedy scene as well, I also did a ton of headshot work, short films, commercials, and I even got to do the hair and makeup for a National Geographic/History Channel docu-story about the World’s Fair and America’s first serial killer, H.H. Holmes.

What’s so great about being a hair and makeup artist and an actress, is that the worlds collide so much. I know what it’s like to be in front of and behind the scenes, and I often find myself collaborating artistically with my clients. As a comedian and someone who’s constantly creating, I’ve found fun ways to combine my two worlds. I even started a show called “Bitch, I’ll Cut You.” It’s a late-night talk show in an on-stage salon, where my sassy character, hairstylist Monica Barcelona, gives an actual haircut to a special guest right there on stage in front of an audience. It’s a really fun (and funny!) way to get to know my guest in a more intimate setting. Because we all know you tell your hairdresser secrets you wouldn’t tell anyone else. The show did really well in the festival circuit and eventually I plan to bring it to LA. In 2013 I moved to Los Angeles to further pursue my comedy career. Fortunately, there’s been a big migration of Chicago people, so I able to rebuild my clientele pretty quickly. Most of my haircut and coloring clients are other artists, other actors and writers in the business. It’s such a great way to learn from each other and again, we often end up collaborating together. I’ve also worked on commercials, for the USC Opera, headshots, and I’m even the regular hair and makeup artist for an online eSports streaming show. Plus I get to work on other cool projects that my friends and clients bring me and they have a good time when they come see me because I’m fun to be around! I feel like I’ve really been lucky to have a great balance and having this skill as a stylist has been the perfect way to pursue what can be a really tough career. Going to cosmetology school when I was 19 is probably the smartest thing I ever did and is certainly the smartest thing I did at age 19.

Has it been a smooth road?
There’s a say about how even in war, women will buy lipstick. Maybe I wasn’t in a war, but during the recent Great Recession, I saw a lot of people struggling. Fortunately, I didn’t feel the effect too much because brides were still getting married and people still needed a haircut. Plus I try to have reasonable prices because most of my clients are in the same entertainment industry as me and I know how hard it is to treat yourself to even the basics like some nice highlights or new headshots. I think probably the toughest struggles comes from being a freelancer. I really had to learn to have work home life balance. I’m already someone who’s constantly on the go and is super motivated in everything I do, so I really had to learn to say no. It’s also so important to learn your value and work smarter, not harder… all those cliches that are so true. Plus of course working with the occasional bridezilla, or diva on a shoot can be challenging, especially because I really try to be grounded and friendly. Besides doing great work, I feel that part of my job as a hair and makeup artist is to keep things calm, be prompt and absorb some of the stress others are feeling, so that the overall set, actress or mother of the bride can stay calm and we have the best outcome in the end. Or at least I try to do my part with that. If I let the demands of others or overbook myself and not give myself a day off, it becomes too much. I’ve gotten much better about that balance though.

Any predictions for the industry over the next few years?
The biggest shift I see is just like any industry. It’s all about social media, self-marketing, and being creative with how you show off your work and tell potential customers about yourself. There are plenty of talented hair and makeup artist out there, but what makes you different? For example for me and my business, I don’t take things too seriously. I’m down to earth, like to have fun and love making people laugh. I feel like my social media presence really conveys this. So beyond a nice portfolio and resume, it’s my personality that shines through as much as anything. This way my future clients know what they’re getting when they work with me.

What has been the primary challenge you’ve faced?
For me, it’s mostly been balancing work and home life. It’s really easy to say yes to every job, big or small and to comprise my downtime, out of fear of turning work down. When I was still in Chicago, there were a couple years there that I was booked for weddings nine months in advance and would sometimes do as many as four weddings in a weekend. It was exhausting and couldn’t have been good for my health and well-being.

Finally, in 2016, I really focused on having more “me” time. This means I (usually) don’t work on Sundays and if it’s a job I’m questioning taking for one reason or another, I try to listen to my doubts. Because if I don’t put myself first, no one will.

What would you tell someone who is just starting out?
Find what makes you happy and focus on that. You don’t like working in salons or aren’t into doing wedding work? That’s cool. You don’t have to! You can zero in on your personal passion or narrow in on the specific clientele you like working with.

I also tell people starting out in the field, “Remember, you now have a tangible specialized skill.” You will be in demand. These skills can be as good as currency. I’ve traded for all sort of other “currency,” including getting massages or help with my comedy projects. I even once traded haircuts with a friend in exchange for him building me a bucket pulley system on my balcony, so my neighbor and I can send stuff back and forth to each other. We call it the “Robuck 3000” and yes, it is awesome!

Also, remember, there’s room for all of us to success. Unfortunately, our industry can have a reputation for being competitive and petty, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Help others, give advice, pass work along. Be a good person who others enjoy working with, because you never know what it’ll lead to. The more people you’re good to, the better you’ll do. Not to mention, wouldn’t you rather have friends in the business than a bunch of “competitors” to worry about?

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