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Erin
Dedicated August 2020

Thumbtack experience - advice needed about a proposal from a Mua, details in post

Erin, on December 9, 2019 at 2:41 PM Posted in Hair and Makeup 0 13
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A bit of backstory: I regularly (mostly) wear makeup to work and did my makeup for my engagement photos. It looked really good. When we started planning for the wedding I was planning on doing my own makeup. However, my future SIL has been in quite a few weddings and my matron of honor both recommended to me that I find someone to do it for me. Decided to take their advice and have been looking at several different MUA.


I'm in the process of comparing prices for various MUA and had decided to look on Thumbtack. Have been in contact with someone that is a little higher than my budget. I told her so and then she asked what my budget is. I then let her know of my budget and she responded with the following, "That’s going to be a bit hard to find, I’ll do it for you in return for a review after, a couple pics for my portfolio and a follow on my insta page @marinaraquelhairandmakeup Smiley smile," along with information about gratuity and contracts - general vendor stuff.


I don't mind the pictures for the portfolio, but I don't like the idea of getting a discount for giving a review. Seems like a "pay to play" kind of thing. Thoughts?


13 Comments

Latest activity by Erin, on December 9, 2019 at 8:55 PM
  • Vannesa
    Expert October 2021
    Vannesa ·
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    Sounds like she can do it for your price but she want something in return. I don't get why she is asking for a review a good review should only come if you like the service.

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  • Erin
    Dedicated August 2020
    Erin ·
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    Yeah, the review part is what I don't get either. Which is why I thought WW might be able to help! Smiley smile

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  • Vannesa
    Expert October 2021
    Vannesa ·
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    To be honest I might try and find someone else. Because she's asking you for something just so you could be in your price range it's like a bribe.

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  • V
    Champion July 2019
    Veronica ·
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    I have never heard of a vendor offering to do something for cheaper if you give them a good review. I would probably continue to look for someone else. I have never used Thumbtack. I would personally try to find a vendor on here or The Knot.
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  • Erin
    Dedicated August 2020
    Erin ·
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    I do have someone else in mind but have wanted to make sure I've had my bases covered. Thanks for the advice!

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  • Erin
    Dedicated August 2020
    Erin ·
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    I've had someone else in mind, but was trying to look at a lot of options! Appreciate the recommendation to find someone on here or The Knot, however the MUA I found were out of my budget.

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  • V
    Champion July 2019
    Veronica ·
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    Not sure what your budget is but a good MUA isn't going to be cheap. Are you planning on paying for your bridesmaids makeup as well? Because unless you are requiring them to use their services then they pay for it themselves.
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  • Erin
    Dedicated August 2020
    Erin ·
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    As with many wedding things, I'm sure location depends on how cheap or not a good MUA is. In the St. Louis region, I've found a couple makeup artists in my budget using social media tags. At this time, I'm providing my wedding party the option to use my MUA, but I'm not requiring it.

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  • Jennifer
    Super March 2020
    Jennifer ·
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    I don't find asking for a review too terrible. I have been asked for reviews many times. Many times, businesses actually give bonuses to their employees based on reviews.


    So while it may be weird to get a discount, she may just be trying to build her business. Kind of like a photographer starting out who may only have two or three reviews. You may get great photos for a small price verses a professional who can charge 8k and has 200 great reviews.
    Just remember, everyone starts somewhere!
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  • V
    Champion July 2019
    Veronica ·
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    Location is definitely a fact in regards to cost. I hope you are able find some good and reliable within your price range.
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  • R
    Super September 2018
    Rachel ·
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    I think she’s being very flexible and generous!! She didn’t say what the review needs to say, just asked for a review. For perspective, every proposed contract for HMUA (and most other wedding related vendors) that I received set the expectation that the vendor would get copies of my pro photos and could use them wherever they wanted, website, Instagram, etc. There was no discount given and not much budging on them using our wedding photos as free marketing materials.


    If you’re looking for the most competitive price, you’ll likely have to look at less experienced or less know HMUA or someone from a nearby smaller town with a lower rate (though watch the travel fee to make sure once that’s added in it doesn’t take you back to the local price).
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  • Erin
    Dedicated August 2020
    Erin ·
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    I wouldn’t mind it if she had asked for the review after the fact at all or if it was because she was just starting out if she did a good job. It’s a little odd to me to ask for the review though since it was listed that she had several years experience.


    I definitely agree that everybody starts somewhere!
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  • Erin
    Dedicated August 2020
    Erin ·
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    Thanks for sharing your experience! With a MUA, it definitely makes sense to me if she had asked for copies of a before/after or getting ready. However, to assume her services were worthy of a review is a bit presumptuous to me. I also totally agree that vendors can use wedding photos as their marketing materials because many times it’s hard for them to provide their service and take pictures at the same time.


    I mentioned earlier, but I was comparing options and already have a MUA in mind and just wondered if asking for the review was weird or not. This MUA’s discount put her in near or better than my previous first choice.

    As a side note: I think it must be a regional thing to mandate professional photos in a contract. We’ve only talked with one vendor about sharing them... and only because we were talking about the pictures they had shared. Where we are people haven’t asked about it.
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