-HOW IT ALL STARTED...-
I quit my corporate job to become an agent.
I initially didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew there was more to life than selling copiers. Frankly, I wasn't happy, I wanted something else.
What inspired me to change my life was a conversation with a photographer at a Hollywood party at Muhammed Ali’s home.
He wowed me with stories of shooting celebrities like Denzel Washington for magazines and ad campaigns for Coca-Cola.
I was faking cool, but I was mouth-open star struck.
A week later, I left Xerox to do a job I didn’t even know existed seven days earlier. I became an agent.
I learned quickly that the process of marketing an artist was exactly the same as what I had been doing at Xerox for 5 years.
Soon, I got phone calls from makeup artists, hair stylists, fashion stylists and photographers who needed my help getting work at record labels,
ad agencies, and magazines. Their confidence gave me the courage to take the next step and open The Crystal Agency..
While there were certainly some tough times, I loved what I was doing and couldn’t think of anything that would be more fun or financially rewarding.
-THE CRYSTAL AGENCY...-
Opening The Crystal Agency and representing artists took my hustle to a whole new level.
There were times––when Volkswagen was trying to repossess my car or I was waiting on an overdue check from a client––that I wondered if I would make it. But that experience taught me how to be courageous, lean in, and ask for what I want.
I spent years learning who the real decision-makers were and fine tuning my approach to secure face-to-face meetings, which now take place on Facetime or Zoom. The process for capturing the attention of high profile clients is the same, whatever the product.
I know how difficult it is to get a single art director, producer, or beauty editor to choose one of my artists to work on projects with celebrities. A portfolio, the right messaging and engagement on your social media, and knowing how, when and how often to reach out and what to say when you do, can turn a $500 per day artist into a $2,500+ per day celebrity in their own right.
This is one of the strategies I teach my mentees and students.
I help eliminate the doubt and uncertainty you feel that is stopping you from putting yourself out there as a full-time artist.
Working with celebrities and on ad campaigns may seem like a fantasy, but I want you to hold onto that dream because I’ve made it happen for thousands of artists.
If you’re willing to put in the time, I can help make it happen for you too.
I’m so proud of what my artists and I accomplished together for our clients. We worked on some of the hottest fashion and celebrity layouts in leading magazines, national print ads, advertising campaigns, TV shows, and feature films such as Entertainment Weekly, Essence, Allure, Sassy, Vibe, Fox, Sony Music, HBO, Warner Bros., Revlon, Levi's, L.A. Gear, Budweiser, Covergirl, Microsoft, Nike, Mc Donald’s, Gap and more.
It seems like a dream, but the dream produced hundreds of jobs with Halle Berry, Alec Baldwin, Tyra Banks, Jim Carrey, Pink, Denzel Washington, Snoop Dogg, Jon Hamm, Kerry Washington, Natalie Zea, Nia Long, Janet Jackson, Lil' Kim, Queen Latifa, Will Smith, Britney Spears, Bono, and Simon Baker
to name a very few.
As President of The Crystal Agency, I represented some of the most recognized artists in the US including photographers David Roth (Nordstrom, EnVogue) and Jeff Katz (Prince, Tia Leoni), Makeup Artist Reann Silva (Beauty Blender), Celebrity Hair Stylist Neeko (Halle Berry, Pink, Tyra Banks), Fashion Stylist Lisa Michelle (Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank),
and Lifestyle Wardrobe Stylist Melinda Tarbell (Aeropostale, Subaru).
-CRYSTAL WRIGHT-
Career Coach | Business Consultant Author | Educator | Speaker
I am Crystal Wright, a business coach, consultant, an author, educator, and speaker who has taught, inspired, and built six-figure careers of fashion & beauty professionals for over three decades.
Making the initial choice to pursue a career as a hair, makeup or fashion stylist for the entertainment, print and fashion industries may be one of the boldest decisions to make.
However, I believe that every freelance artist can turn their dream into a creative and stable career by transforming their artistry into a successful business enterprise. I always tell my artists,
you can choose to do something, or choose to do nothing.
Dedication and commitment to the highest professional level are the true keys to success. A commitment to excellence is what I demand from my artists, and I demand it from myself. If it takes all day to do it right, then take all day. I expect 100% all of the time.
Though I no longer represent artists, I continue to coach and educate many artists in negotiating deals and contracts with some of America’s top brands, including Dove, Make Up For Ever, and Carol’s Daughter and agencies.
I wrote my book, "The Hair Makeup & Fashion Styling Career Guide"
to help artists develop the tools, skills, and professionalism necessary to make a successful career in the beauty and fashion industry. The Guide, together with my classes and business coaching continues to launch and boost the careers of many Beauty and Fashion Pros.
My goals for each of my artists are to be confident and courageous, to use their voices to achieve their goals, be productive, and feel respected and hopeful about their futures. I take the mystery out of working as a makeup, hair, or fashion stylist for print, video, film & TV.
I want each of you to master self-promotion, be able to secure your own paid jobs, use the tools at your disposal to build an attention-grabbing presence, connect and network professionally at every level, set and achieve goals with realistic timelines, and solidify & strengthen your brand while maintaining valuable and lasting relationships within the beauty and fashion industry.
Let me help you and together, we will get you unstuck and on your way to becoming a confident and courageous boss.
The Hair Makeup & Fashion Styling Career Guide
The insider’s guide to starting a career behind the scenes in print, video, film and television. Everything you need to start your career.
Win Now
Mentorship Program
My 12-Week Program teaches makeup, hair, fashion stylists, and manicurists the essentials of building a successful freelance business.
Business Coaching with Crystal Wright
I get people UNSTUCK! I coach makeup, hair, and styling professionals who are ready to take their freelance careers to the next level through proper planning and implementation of business strategies.
