Fashion shows are big business. Here, Billy B. responds to a reader's question and gives us a rundown on working the runways.	February 1, 2003 American Salon
	The question of the moment seems to be, "How can I break into the fashion business?" I've been asked to divulge my secrets for doing runway work many times. I must say, fashion shows are glamourous. I've been lucky enough to be in the front row as a spectator and backstage as the head makeup artist. It is very exciting either way. Fashion shows are big business. For a designer, it's the two times a year they get the most press. All the magazine editors sit along the runway with pen and pad preparing to give a rave or sometimes a scathing review. In the past few years, the shows have also become a battle between designers to see who can have the most star power in the front row. The growing popularity of magazines such as InStyle wield a tremendous amount of clout in the fashion industry—a mention in their pages is as good as gold! Behind the scenes, fashion collections involve a large cast of characters. Designer may book editorial makeup artists and hairdressers such as Pat McGrath and Orlando Pita to create the hair and makeup looks to complement their clothes or they may call on corporate sponsors such as Redken and MAC to provide teams of artists backstage. With the fashion designers' input, these beauty pros create the looks that get photographed, written about, and released to a public who eagerly awaits news of the latest hairstyle or makeup trick. It's deinitely rewarding to play a part in the trend-making process. This past season, David Dalrymple, who is the designer for the House of Field, asked me to design the makeup for his show. I was so excited. I had a team of talented MAC makeup artists to expedite the process of applying the makeup on 20 some-odd models including singers Eve and Mya. The task was daunting, but extremely rewarding to see the mdels stomping down the runway in front of the likes of Britney Spears, Joan Collins, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, and Debbie Harry. I love doing shows, but could I support myself and my career by only doing them? No! Shows only happen two times a year in New York, Paris and Milan. You cannot make enough money to support yourself just by doing runway. It is primarily for the prestige, and maybe a lot for your ego. If your ego needs stroking, you can try to get into the extremely competitive business of fashion runway work by contacting the agents of some of your favorite, high-profile hairstylists and makeup artists. You can also contact major hair and makeup manufacturers to inquire about assisting on the shows.