Platform Artist Defined

A platform artist is a hairstylist who performs on stage at beauty shows, industry events and advanced education seminars throughout the country (sometimes throughout the world) to train, educate and entertain other cosmetologists, cosmetology students and industry peers.

Part educator, part entertainer, part salesperson, and part hairstylist, a successful platform artist possesses outstanding technical skills, a contagious level of enthusiasm and unwavering professionalism. It is the job of every platform artist to engage their audience and get them involved and excited about what they’re watching. While this combination of strengths is hard to come by, successful platform artists have it all.

What it Takes
You’ll need a few years of proven success, a high level of confidence, strong sales skills, flawless technical ability and a gift for educating, performing and public speaking to become a platform artist. Most platform artists get their start as educators contracted part-time by product or supply companies to go into salons and educate stylists on the use of their products. If they excel at this task, they may be given the opportunity to become part of a Design Team…Platform Artists!

What You’ll Make
The average starting pay for platform artists is $600-$800 per day (plus travel costs) depending on their technical and presentation skills as well as their reputation. While the job of platform artists is very rarely full-time, some top platform artists in the country make an income in the high six-figure range while others who don’t perform as frequently or who are lesser-known will make substantially less.

Working World
As a platform artist, you’ll probably work in a salon full-time and do platform work on a freelance basis. You’ll travel quite frequently to perform at high profile events such as conferences, conventions, hair shows, advanced training centers, corporate events, and any other hair industry function imaginable. Each performance is different; some performances are designed to promote a product or a technique and others are designed for the simple purpose of getting others in the industry excited in general. The more the audience loves your performance, the more excitement you’ll generate about the company you work for and for your individual work as well.

When you’re not working behind the chair or performing, you’ll need to attend continuing education classes, jump at every opportunity to learn new techniques, and actively work to bulk up your achievements to build a fantastic resume. Platform artists are expected to always expand their knowledge and abilities, and have a jaw-dropping portfolio to prove it.

Platform artists are chosen because of their ability to make fashion, not just replicate it. They invent trends and styles and they project a hip, stylish image. They step outside the norm and create looks that are part fantasy, part reality. Just like fashion designers, the work displayed by platform artists isn’t necessarily something you’d see every day on every person; but it sure is fun to watch.