Bridal and celebrity makeup artist Michelle Wight shares her journey from side hustle to leading a thriving seven-figure beauty business, reveals behind-the-scenes stories from weddings and celebrity shoots (including the Seattle season of “Love Is Blind”), and dishes real talk on growth, hiring, and staying inspired in a fast-paced industry. From wild client moments to advice on hiring for people skills, this episode is packed with laughs, grit, and actionable insights for anyone working in events — or dreaming big.
Resources Mentioned:
- Michelle Wight Makeup Artistry: Website & Instagram
- Michelle’s Ultimate Makeup Pick: MAKEUP BY MARIO
- Alysse & Libby: Bios & LinkedIn
Connect with Us:
- Website: www.beatsworkingpodcast.com
- LinkedIn: @BEATS WORKING Show
- Instagram: @beatsworkingshow
- Facebook: @Beats Working Show
- YouTube: @BEATSWORKINGPODCAST
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BEATS WORKING is a platform on a mission to redeem work—the word, the place, and the way. We believe that work is the most honorable act in the universe, and through inspiring stories and practical insights, we want to transform the way people think about work and help them discover greater fulfillment in their lives. We invite you to join us as we build community through sharing and actively demonstrating what we learn.
If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email producer Tamar Medford at tamar@workp2p.com.
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Transcript
The following transcript is not certified. Although the transcription is largely accurate, in some cases it is incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors. The information contained within this document is for general information purposes only.
Michelle Wight [00:00:00]:
One of my stylists a very hard time. She had really limited hair to work with. Like, really limited shorts.
Alysse Bryson [00:00:08]:
Like in length.
Michelle Wight [00:00:09]:
Yes.
Alysse Bryson [00:00:10]:
It’s short. Okay.
Michelle Wight [00:00:11]:
Like short.
Libby Sundgren [00:00:11]:
Very short.
Michelle Wight [00:00:12]:
Very short.
Alysse Bryson [00:00:13]:
And. And maybe not very thick.
Libby Sundgren [00:00:14]:
Pixie cut.
Michelle Wight [00:00:15]:
Pixie cut. Pixie cut. Hair.
Libby Sundgren [00:00:17]:
Okay, got it.
Alysse Bryson [00:00:17]:
Okay.
Michelle Wight [00:00:18]:
Would not be an exaggeration. Pixie cut.
Libby Sundgren [00:00:21]:
You can do this. Pixie cut.
Alysse Bryson [00:00:22]:
Not a lot.
Michelle Wight [00:00:24]:
She kept asking for more volume. More volume. My stylist was trying so, so hard. She finally came up to me and she was like, I need your help. I can’t. I’m. She’s not liking anything I’m doing. And I was like, don’t worry.
Michelle Wight [00:00:38]:
I stepped in. And then I, you know, just really had to educate with a smile. Like we are trying to do give you what you want, but we have limitation. You know, we’re like limited on what we can do. And the daughter walked up and she’s like, this is the mother of the bride and you guys aren’t leaving until she’s satisfied.
Libby Sundgren [00:01:04]:
Oh, my God.
Michelle Wight [00:01:06]:
Yeah. And I’m like, so did you put.
Alysse Bryson [00:01:08]:
A wig on her? Like, what happened? Welcome to Beats Winning the Game of Events where we share stories and strategies to turn any event or life moment into something unforgettable.
Libby Sundgren [00:01:20]:
Events are wild and the people who work in them are some of the most resilient humans on earth. If you know, you know.
Alysse Bryson [00:01:28]:
So come with us behind the curtain for a look at their most memorable experiences.
Libby Sundgren [00:01:33]:
As they say, the show must go on. So let’s get on with the show. Welcome to Beats Working Winning the Game of Events today. I’m so, so excited to have my dear friend and event powerhouse, Michelle on the show. She’s a bridal and celebrity makeup artist. She’s a second generation Mexican American, and she is the founder of a seven figure beauty business. I mean, I knew her when it was just kind of a side thing, kind of a bonus thing. And now it is a full time dream job.
Libby Sundgren [00:02:13]:
And it’s just been so amazing to watch the transformation of this. You know, you can’t do something like that without serious strategy, a whole lot of heart and some real talent. I mean, she’s got 20 years behind the brush. She transformed brides, celebrities and brands with her signature blend of precision and personality. And yes, I have asked her to help me transform this face many a time. From the chaos of wedding suites to the high chaos pace of commercial shoots, Michelle is all about the beauty of the behind the scenes. We’re talking skin knees, hiring mishaps, and the moments that really tested her grit and shaped her success. So whether you’re in the glam chair or on the grind, Michelle’s got some stories for you that are real raw and rooted in resilience.
Libby Sundgren [00:03:06]:
Say that 10 times fast. Welcome, Michelle.
Alysse Bryson [00:03:09]:
Welcome, Michelle.
Michelle Wight [00:03:10]:
My God, you guys made me sound so good.
Alysse Bryson [00:03:14]:
Well, you made us look so good in our podcast photo shoots.
Michelle Wight [00:03:18]:
I’m a true that with those photos. They came out.
Libby Sundgren [00:03:22]:
They’re very fun.
Alysse Bryson [00:03:23]:
God, they came out so good. We totally look like real podcasters.
Libby Sundgren [00:03:28]:
Yeah, I know.
Michelle Wight [00:03:29]:
Yeah.
Alysse Bryson [00:03:30]:
And I loved how much, like, content you grabbed for us, like, behind the scenes. While you were waiting to, like, powder our nose, I was like, oh, my gosh, this is amazing. Amazing.
Libby Sundgren [00:03:41]:
It was awesome.
Alysse Bryson [00:03:42]:
And our photo shoot was done with Barbie Hull, who we have had on the show before. She was episode three.
Libby Sundgren [00:03:49]:
Maybe not three, but I’ll link it in the show notes.
Alysse Bryson [00:03:53]:
Okay.
Michelle Wight [00:03:54]:
Also one of my favorite humans of all times.
Libby Sundgren [00:03:57]:
Of the best.
Alysse Bryson [00:03:58]:
The best.
Libby Sundgren [00:03:59]:
On other episodes, I’ve also said Barbie hole the best.
Michelle Wight [00:04:02]:
She is.
Libby Sundgren [00:04:03]:
Okay. So I was not just making up that intro to be, like, fantastical. It is all totally true. And whether somebody knows you personally or doesn’t, it is such an awesome story of how you got from, well, the Michelle of 20 years ago to the Michelle of today. What was the first moment where you thought, this really isn’t going to be a side hustle anymore? Like, this is going to be it? Because I don’t know if people can really. I mean, first I think you’re going to need to tell us how many artists work for you, how many events you guys typically do, you know, in your busy, busy season, which wedding season is almost all year round now, but give us a sense of the scope. And when did you know that this was. This had to be something that you committed to full time.
Michelle Wight [00:05:00]:
So now we are a team of 16 hair makeup stylists, plus me.
Alysse Bryson [00:05:07]:
16, plus you. That’s. That’s a lot. That’s more than a basketball team.
Michelle Wight [00:05:13]:
It’s. Oh, yeah, it’s. And we need more.
Libby Sundgren [00:05:18]:
I don’t know basketball, but I believe you.
Michelle Wight [00:05:19]:
I know. I was like, I don’t know basketball. My kids. I was, like, trying to count really quick in my head. Yeah, it’s never boring. Never the same day twice.
Libby Sundgren [00:05:30]:
And how many events do you. I mean, in a busy month. How many events are you guys doing a month?
Michelle Wight [00:05:38]:
Oh, well, for the year, we do 200 weddings. So the last three seasons, we’ve capped out at 200. But that doesn’t include, like, during the week, we do tons of special events. So boudoir branding, shoots, corporate stuff. We get to work with Meta this week, which is fun with Barbie. And so we get to do, like, lots of other sprinkled events on the weekdays. So I would get, if I had to guess, probably like, 300 events a year for special event hair makeup.
Libby Sundgren [00:06:18]:
And that’s not. It’s not just one person typically going to one of these events. You have. I mean, multiple stylists need to be there.
Michelle Wight [00:06:26]:
Yes. Like, for our Meta day, where there are two days and there’s going to be two of us just because of the volume of people. Like, one person can’t do it. And then for wedding, there’s minimum shoe stylists that go. Sometimes four stylists go, oh, wow, the glam squad. The glam.
Alysse Bryson [00:06:47]:
You know, when you said Vol. When you said volume, I was thinking, like, volume of people’s hair. I was like, oh. But I realized volume of people.
Michelle Wight [00:06:55]:
Yeah.
Libby Sundgren [00:06:56]:
Sometimes depending on how big you want that hair, you know.
Michelle Wight [00:07:00]:
Exactly.
Alysse Bryson [00:07:01]:
Have you done makeup, like, your whole life or, like, how did you get started back pre side Hustle?
Michelle Wight [00:07:08]:
I started by accident. I was going. I loved theater. My stepdad worked in the entertainment industry. So we grew up really going, like, we were on this side. Married With Children, Saved by the Bell, like, all of these sitcom shows. And.
Libby Sundgren [00:07:26]:
Wait, you were on the Saved by the Bell set? How did I not know this about you?
Michelle Wight [00:07:32]:
I was so young. I was, like 8 years old.
Libby Sundgren [00:07:36]:
Do you remember the actors?
Michelle Wight [00:07:38]:
I think I remember because there’s tons of photos, and so you kind of have a fuzzy memory of being on set. I remember just being fascinated that you would, like, go through a door and then you’re just backstage somewhere. And I was like, well, it’s just nothing. There’s just no neighborhood, no anything. But that’s really when, like, my love for production came. Came to light, sparked to life.
Libby Sundgren [00:08:04]:
So that’s where it started. It started with Married With Children and Saved by the Bell. And then how. How did that progress?
Michelle Wight [00:08:12]:
Okay, so then I wanted. When I went to college, I wanted to be a theater major. I wanted to learn everything production. And so in that, I had to take a makeup class, and I was literally 18 years old in class making. We had to make ourselves old. And so I’m, like, drawing lines on my face, making myself look crazy. And the teacher came up behind me, and she’s like, do you do makeup? No, I’m, like, 18. I know nothing.
Michelle Wight [00:08:44]:
I had, like, a Clinique compact in high school. That my mom gave me, like, that was my extended makeup.
Libby Sundgren [00:08:49]:
And that’s like, basically what I have. I’m still living like. Like a high school girl from the.
Michelle Wight [00:08:55]:
90S with a sponge. And you’re just like a little powder puff. Yes.
Libby Sundgren [00:09:00]:
Like the flat one. Just.
Michelle Wight [00:09:02]:
Just a little. But she, like, tapped me on the shoulder and she was like, well, maybe you should. And I. It was literally, I was in San Diego and I forgot where I was working, but I walked myself up to the mat counter and I was like, oh, hey, I do makeup. You should hire me. Even though I didn’t, my teacher just told me I was good. So it’s like, oh, it must be good. And, oh, my.
Libby Sundgren [00:09:29]:
Good for you.
Alysse Bryson [00:09:31]:
Once you go Mac, you don’t go back.
Michelle Wight [00:09:34]:
It is so true. I stayed there for 10 years.
Libby Sundgren [00:09:36]:
My gosh.
Michelle Wight [00:09:37]:
Yeah.
Libby Sundgren [00:09:38]:
So did you. Your first, like, time doing somebody’s makeup at the Mac counter, did you just, like, naturally know what to do or did you, like, have to watch other people? I still couldn’t do makeup at the make at the Mac counter. Let’s be clear.
Michelle Wight [00:09:53]:
It was very intimidating. Like, very intimidating. Because they. There were some artists at the Mac counter. Yeah.
Alysse Bryson [00:10:01]:
Yeah.
Michelle Wight [00:10:02]:
Lucky for me, they don’t just throw you out there. You have to do, like a two week. They call it Mac Basic and they send you to school. So.
Libby Sundgren [00:10:11]:
Okay, well, that’s good. So you learn how to use, like, we’re learning. Well, how they want you to use, like, the products and like, the mix. Okay.
Michelle Wight [00:10:17]:
Color theory. Brush it, like, literally everything. And then they throw you out on the floor. And it’s still kind of scary, but at least you feel like you. You’re not as wobbly. You’re like, okay, I know some things, so.
Libby Sundgren [00:10:29]:
Yeah, I can see you get to.
Alysse Bryson [00:10:30]:
Wear all black all the time.
Michelle Wight [00:10:32]:
Yeah.
Alysse Bryson [00:10:33]:
Also, can I just be, like, rest in peace to their recycle program? Because I miss it so much. You used to be able to, Libby. You won’t know this because you were.
Libby Sundgren [00:10:43]:
I won’t because I’m still using my high school Clinique contact.
Alysse Bryson [00:10:47]:
But after you go through six items, it didn’t matter what it was. When they’re empty, whether it’s a tube of lipstick or whatever eyeshadow, you can return six containers and you would get a free lipstick. It was my favorite thing. I loved it so much.
Michelle Wight [00:11:03]:
Yeah.
Alysse Bryson [00:11:03]:
And it stopped somewhat recently by that. I mean, in the last five years, I think.
Michelle Wight [00:11:08]:
Yeah. Really sad.
Alysse Bryson [00:11:10]:
Like, so sad.
Michelle Wight [00:11:12]:
I know. And I got to work at Mac before there was social media. Or YouTube or, like, all these people calling themselves makeup artists. I got to really be on the ground learning how to do makeup, and it was awesome.
Alysse Bryson [00:11:26]:
Do you have an opinion about YouTube and TikTok makeup people?
Libby Sundgren [00:11:30]:
I feel like you’ve got an opinion. Do you have an opinion that you’d like to share? Do you have an opinion that you’re comfortable saying out loud to the public?
Michelle Wight [00:11:38]:
I will just tell you a little story. So when there was some makeup artist who became really the guy who did the guy who started morphe.
Libby Sundgren [00:11:49]:
Oh.
Michelle Wight [00:11:49]:
Huh. And he influenced my oldest child. And she came up to me one day and asked. She was like, mom, do you follow this makeup artist? And I didn’t know who it was. And then she was like, he’s a real makeup artist. He can draw rainbows on his face. And then she showed me, and there was like, you know, a rainbow and clouds, and it was awesome. But he was a real makeup artist.
Alysse Bryson [00:12:16]:
Isn’t that called face painting? Isn’t that just called face painting, like, at the carnival?
Michelle Wight [00:12:22]:
Yeah, you know, so I just have certain feelings about it ever since.
Alysse Bryson [00:12:26]:
No, I get it.
Libby Sundgren [00:12:29]:
I mean, it’s like if I called myself a makeup artist. Just kidding. Not to diss myself too much, but people would be like, no, it’s not true. They’d see right through me. Okay, so I knew you when you were. Well, I’ve known you for a long time, but I remember when you were. You worked at Seattle Children’s, a children’s hospital here in Seattle, but you were also doing beauty. And then it just kind of gradually, over the years, like, skewed less towards Children’s and more towards Beauty.
Libby Sundgren [00:13:01]:
How did you. What was the tipping point where you made the jump to just beauty all the time?
Michelle Wight [00:13:08]:
Working in a hospital during a pandemic will really make you question your life choices. Well, after I was already kind of on the trajectory of. I’m probably going to need to leave the hospital. It’s really a lot to do both. I had started looking for a studio space, and at that time, I’m like, okay, I’m really going to need to make the leap. And then I found a studio to share in Pioneer Square, and I just. I was like, I don’t want to come to the hospital one more day of my life. I just can’t.
Michelle Wight [00:13:44]:
And, yeah, I signed a lease and I quit, and I thought my husband was going to have a heart attack. And now I know.
Libby Sundgren [00:13:51]:
I remember because you were kind of like. You’re like, I’m excited, but I’M really nervous. Like, what if this just doesn’t ex, you know, like, grow the way. And it blew up, like, immediately. I feel like you were slammed all the time immediately.
Michelle Wight [00:14:06]:
And you know what? I. It a hundred percent was because of the nurses at Children’s. Everybody hired me. Like, when I hired. Got hired for Lauren’s wedding. After that, it was like a domino of nurses for two years. They were hiring me. And so honest.
Michelle Wight [00:14:25]:
Like, I don’t know what would have. I don’t know if it would have exploded like that if I didn’t have, like, that huge group that just kept hiring me and hiring me over and over.
Libby Sundgren [00:14:35]:
It’s like that word of mouth, like, personal testimonial that they’re given. And also, you did a lot of these women, they were bridesmaids in each other’s weddings. So you would do that as a bridesmaid and then do them again as a bride or, like, vice versa.
Michelle Wight [00:14:49]:
Yeah, like four in a row. It was the craziest thing. It was awesome. Like, so special.
Alysse Bryson [00:14:54]:
But you must have gone from just you to 16 people, like, in a very. In a. Two years, three years.
Michelle Wight [00:15:01]:
Yeah, I went from me to like, five immediately because you can’t take on weddings, really, if you don’t have an assistant. And so luckily I was able to reach out to some gals that I worked with at Mac, and that was like, my first pool that I was like, you want to help me out? And that’s really kind of how it started. And then once people weren’t really, like, building teams or doing branding shoots or having their own studio, you know, makeup artists really were. It was kind of like a side hustle. You know, you went to people’s houses, you figured it out. And I really wanted something because I got to do it full time. And because I left my stable job and I’m like, no, I really need it to be professional, have my own space, have a team, have a brand, all the things. And we just, like, kept growing and growing.
Alysse Bryson [00:15:54]:
That is so incredible to me that to have that much growth that fast, that must be terrifying and amazing, like, at the same time.
Michelle Wight [00:16:03]:
Yes, both feelings at the same time. Extremely terrifying. I knew that I could be successful on my own just because I. I’d been doing it for so long. And because I had four kids, it, like, was never an option that I wouldn’t be successful on my own. But I just didn’t know that I could grow a team, that I could keep them busy, that I could, like, I was never really a leader like all of a sudden I had to become all of these things and then people pulled up to me or ask me questions about things and I’m like, I better figure it out.
Libby Sundgren [00:16:37]:
Time. I’m on the stage, lights are on.
Michelle Wight [00:16:40]:
Yes.
Alysse Bryson [00:16:41]:
Well, okay. So speaking of stage lights, let’s talk about like middle of events. Because you’ve seen it all, you celebs, brides, everything in between. So that means you’ve seen a lot of things go off the rails. And we love to talk about how things go off the rails and how you keep it together. This is when Libby starts to do her little duck impression for those of you which I saw on swimming this.
Libby Sundgren [00:17:07]:
Weekend over on the islands. And I mean, it was actually quite graceful. It gave me a different view of the goose anyway.
Alysse Bryson [00:17:14]:
Yeah, she’s kind of anti geese. Just for those of you listening.
Libby Sundgren [00:17:18]:
Yeah, I usually don’t like these shit everywhere. They’re the worst.
Michelle Wight [00:17:23]:
They really do.
Alysse Bryson [00:17:24]:
Okay, but so, so can you give us an, can you give us a moment or two where things went off the rails?
Libby Sundgren [00:17:30]:
Like, do you have a crazy mom moment?
Michelle Wight [00:17:32]:
Yes. Oh my God, yes. 99.9% of the time it’s a crazy mom. Sorry, moms.
Alysse Bryson [00:17:38]:
But like, like mom of the bride, mom of the like. Is that what you mean?
Michelle Wight [00:17:44]:
Yeah. So I have a very strict rule. Oh, I have two stories for you. I have a very strict rule. I do not allow anybody to come to trials with brides because of some mom incidents. So during trials I was really easy breezy and I would let you know, moms come and try to have fun. And before a client could even see themselves in the mirror, they saw their mother’s face. And you know, you know when there’s disproval or like they don’t like something or they wanted you to wear your hair up, but you want to wear your hair down.
Michelle Wight [00:18:24]:
And I went through like a full season of brides, like second guessing their look or da da, da because of their mom’s opinion. So then I just made it such I’m like, no, you’re not allowed in. I’m sorry. We’ll send you pictures, we’ll FaceTime, but you’re not allowed to come. So then last season, this ended up being like my favorite mom of the whole season. She asked me to come and I said no, sorry, I love you. No. She came anyway.
Michelle Wight [00:18:59]:
She showed up with her daughter at 9am and she stood outside the door and, and she was like, I know you said I can’t come, but I know there’s A story. Please tell me what the story is and then I’ll go. And I was like, okay, you’re kind of my. You’re my kind of human. I like you. Come on in.
Alysse Bryson [00:19:20]:
So you would totally do that, Libby, you and I both know you would totally do that.
Libby Sundgren [00:19:24]:
I just want to know the story. I just want to know the details. Give me the slack channel discussion. I want to know everything that’s happened.
Michelle Wight [00:19:33]:
But, you know, I just really appreciated it. I was like, you gave zero Fs that I told you you can’t come. You want to know the tea? Like, okay, you can come in and join us. Why not?
Libby Sundgren [00:19:45]:
That’s fine, right? You’re going to have your opinion anyway.
Michelle Wight [00:19:49]:
Yes. Oh, my God. But day of the wedding, I am still traumatized from this. There was a moment who was giving one of my stylists a very hard time. She had really limited hair to work with. Like, really limited.
Alysse Bryson [00:20:07]:
Short, like in length. Yes, it’s short. Okay, Short or short? Very short and maybe not very thick.
Libby Sundgren [00:20:14]:
Pixie cut.
Michelle Wight [00:20:14]:
Pixie cut. Pixie cut. Hair.
Alysse Bryson [00:20:16]:
Okay, got it. Okay.
Michelle Wight [00:20:17]:
Would not be an exaggeration. Pixie cut.
Libby Sundgren [00:20:20]:
You can see who the fancy cut.
Alysse Bryson [00:20:22]:
Not a lot.
Michelle Wight [00:20:23]:
She kept asking for more volume. More volume. My stylist was trying so hard. She finally came up to me and she was like, I need your help. I can’t. I’m. She’s not liking anything I’m doing. And I was like, don’t worry.
Michelle Wight [00:20:37]:
I stepped in. And then I, you know, just really had to educate with a smile. Like, we are trying to do give you what you want, but we have limitation. You know, we’re like, limited on what we can do. And the daughter walked up and she’s like, this is the mother of the bride, and you guys aren’t leaving until she’s satisfied.
Libby Sundgren [00:21:03]:
Oh, my God.
Michelle Wight [00:21:05]:
Yeah. But I’m like, so did you put.
Alysse Bryson [00:21:07]:
A wig on her? Like, what happened?
Michelle Wight [00:21:09]:
No, I. At that point, I was like, I’ve done what we can do. If you want to, like, run your hand, whatever you want to do that makes you feel like you go for it. Like, what are you going to do?
Alysse Bryson [00:21:22]:
You know, people like that, though, it doesn’t matter. You’ll never make them happy. There are just those people in the world that they’ll just never be happy about anything. They just won’t.
Libby Sundgren [00:21:31]:
You are not leaving until she is satisfied.
Michelle Wight [00:21:35]:
We literally looked at each other like.
Libby Sundgren [00:21:37]:
Well, first of all, it’s like, get real. Like, I am leaving. Sorry. I will be leaving. Not nothing else. We can do. But also that’s just. I find people who have that kind of like, demeanor with anyone they work with either.
Libby Sundgren [00:21:58]:
Like a. Have not worked in the service industry as in like retail or restaurants or something like that. So you don’t understand that when you’re in customer service, you, I mean, you don’t talk to people like that or they’re just people, you know, I feel like every job that you have, you are in the service industry, no matter what you’re doing, you know, you have a customer, it might be a different customer than somebody else’s, but you have somebody that you’re trying to make happy and collaborate with and you’re never going to get anywhere by trying to strong arm someone into doing something that they can’t even do, you know? But like, coming at that with honey would have been so much better than.
Alysse Bryson [00:22:46]:
Yeah, you always get more flies with honey. Always. Always. Every single time.
Michelle Wight [00:22:51]:
Yes. I tell my admin team this too because sometimes, you know, you’ll, sometimes you’ll get clients who are just really particular. Right. And so I listened to another podcast and they were saying like, sometimes when emotions are really high or you’re in a high stakes project or whatever, the people create problems that aren’t really there. They’re like invisible problems. And so sometimes we’ll get frantic emails and then my admin team will be like, oh my God, they wrote da.
Alysse Bryson [00:23:22]:
Da da da da da.
Michelle Wight [00:23:23]:
And I’m like, let’s just take a.
Libby Sundgren [00:23:25]:
Breath, take a breath.
Michelle Wight [00:23:27]:
Let’s just read that again. Clearly something happened to set this person in a spiral. We haven’t even met them. So it 99.9 has nothing to do with us. Like, let’s just calm down here. And I’m 100% of the time right. When it comes to that, like you just a little honey. And people usually will just calm down, you know.
Libby Sundgren [00:23:54]:
Yeah. You know, my cousin, Donna Bellinger, so she ran the retail store for the. Our family’s. My other. My cousin’s farm, it’s Watermelon farm in Hermos in Oregon. Bellinger Farms plug. Best watermelon in the world. You’ll find them in the grocery stores in Costco between July and September.
Libby Sundgren [00:24:17]:
Oh yes. The best you’ll see Bellinger Farms on the, on the watermelon palette. So anyway, she. I was working in the store. I was, you know, 15 or something. So getting paid under the table or legally, who. It depends on who’s listening. I was 16.
Libby Sundgren [00:24:33]:
Anyway, she. There was a woman who came in, was so rude. I Mean, I was just this. I was very shocked at this woman’s attitude, and Donna was so kind to her and really helped her and just, like, you know, just did what, you know, just didn’t let it bother her. When the woman left, she told me her motto as someone who’d been in banking for a long time and now was running the store. And she was like, I just. You never know what kind of a day someone’s having. They’re probably just having a bad day, or maybe their son died.
Libby Sundgren [00:25:06]:
You never know. So it’s just. It’s not personal. It’s not about you, but I clearly always take it personally.
Michelle Wight [00:25:12]:
So, anyway, it’s really hard not to, but working in a pediatric ICU for eight years really helped put things in perspective for me.
Alysse Bryson [00:25:21]:
Oh, I bet. I bet.
Michelle Wight [00:25:22]:
And so when people, you know, are. Have, like, these heightened emotions, I’m like, okay, this is not life and death. No, we’re good. This is. We could change a lipstick color. Like, it’s not that serious, you know? So.
Alysse Bryson [00:25:35]:
Have you ever. Okay, I. I have. I have so many questions. My first question is, have you ever had something where, like, the bride or one of the bridesmaids shows up and, like, something bad happened, like a spray tan went wrong, or their eyebrows got overly waxed or their eyelashes fell out, like some kind of situation that was, like, a situation that you had to fix? Yes, that’s my first question. And then my second question is, I want to know what you pack. That might surprise us. Like, obviously, no.
Alysse Bryson [00:26:04]:
We know you’re going to take your brushes and your makeup and stuff, but I know you’re taking other stuff because something’s happened and you’ve learned along the way to pack these other things. So those are my two questions for right now.
Michelle Wight [00:26:16]:
Okay. Yes. So, funny enough, this has happened to me twice. Grooms have gotten black eyes, like, at.
Alysse Bryson [00:26:24]:
Their bachelorette party or what?
Michelle Wight [00:26:25]:
No, like, ward. Like, horsing around at the, like, rehearsal dinner.
Libby Sundgren [00:26:31]:
And then they get too wild and crazy, and then twice.
Alysse Bryson [00:26:35]:
Wow.
Libby Sundgren [00:26:36]:
Wow. Yep.
Michelle Wight [00:26:38]:
So I’ve had to cover black eyes, which, if it’s not too bad, it. Color correction. It’s easy. You really cannot even tell.
Alysse Bryson [00:26:46]:
And I need to filter the photos and stuff.
Michelle Wight [00:26:48]:
Yeah.
Alysse Bryson [00:26:48]:
Yeah.
Michelle Wight [00:26:49]:
So thankfully, not really with the bridesmaids. Nothing tragic has happened with the grooms. Yeah. What is in my kit? That would be surprising.
Libby Sundgren [00:26:59]:
Well, you know, Michelle just did my makeup the other day for the Our lady of the Lake School auction. I know Elise is not tired of hearing about this.
Alysse Bryson [00:27:08]:
I love to hear about all things school related all the time. Is this the set where you are disco 70s vibe?
Libby Sundgren [00:27:15]:
It was.
Alysse Bryson [00:27:15]:
It was. She looked great. You looked great. You look great.
Libby Sundgren [00:27:18]:
It was 70s themed. I looked amazing. But I asked Michelle if she would come do some cool eye makeup for me. Joke surprise to Michelle. When she got there, I had zero makeup on. That shouldn’t shock anybody. But I was like, sorry, I’m still diffusing my curly hair. I didn’t have time to do anything.
Libby Sundgren [00:27:36]:
She was like, don’t worry, I got you. But she brought a chair because it was a tall, like a bar.
Alysse Bryson [00:27:43]:
I think Libby would have chairs in her house. She does have a lot of lamps.
Michelle Wight [00:27:46]:
No, I was like, I’ve got chairs.
Libby Sundgren [00:27:48]:
But she was like, no, this is the right height and I don’t like to bend over and like. Yeah, yeah.
Alysse Bryson [00:27:54]:
So you have a travel chair.
Michelle Wight [00:27:56]:
Yep, a travel chair. I do bring lighting sometimes. People are surprised by that. I. I knew you had good lighting, Libby. That’s why I didn’t bring light.
Libby Sundgren [00:28:04]:
We do, we have lots of windows, so.
Michelle Wight [00:28:06]:
Yeah, we have lots of windows. But like, there’s some venues that I a hundred percent know I’m going to need my lighting because it’s, it’s just dark. But yeah, nothing. I don’t like to pack a lot and my kit’s already 60 pounds, so I do not like to put anything extra.
Libby Sundgren [00:28:21]:
60 pounds. Wow.
Michelle Wight [00:28:24]:
Yes.
Libby Sundgren [00:28:25]:
What’s your favorite tool in your kit?
Michelle Wight [00:28:28]:
A blush brush. I love blush.
Alysse Bryson [00:28:33]:
What’s your, like, can you say a favorite brand or favorite product? Like this is. This is the end all. Be all of this.
Michelle Wight [00:28:40]:
Yeah. If somebody said today, like, you have to empty your kit and you can only have one makeup line, it would 100% be makeup by Mario.
Libby Sundgren [00:28:48]:
Makeup by Mario. Okay, let me write this down. I’m always asking Michelle sending her videos of things I get. I get targeted with all these like busy mom makeup kits. And so I’m always sending them to her. I’m like, do you think about this?
Michelle Wight [00:29:02]:
That was a good of me.
Libby Sundgren [00:29:04]:
I was like, oh, like voice memos and be like, oh, yeah, that could be.
Michelle Wight [00:29:08]:
That is actually good.
Libby Sundgren [00:29:09]:
Or like do this but don’t do this.
Alysse Bryson [00:29:11]:
Are you talking about the ones where they come in like a stack and it’s like they do everything in this one little stack.
Libby Sundgren [00:29:16]:
Oh, no, not that one. It’s the Jones beauty. I think I use Jones beauty.
Alysse Bryson [00:29:22]:
I like.
Libby Sundgren [00:29:22]:
There’s like a bronzer stick and then like a blush and an eye or blush.
Alysse Bryson [00:29:26]:
Their balm is great. Yeah, yeah.
Libby Sundgren [00:29:28]:
Yeah. Okay, so makeup by Mario.
Michelle Wight [00:29:32]:
Yes. Because it’s just the style of makeup that I do. I don’t really do transformative unless you’re going to a 70s auction. Get a little creative. But I really like people to look like themselves, so he does a beautiful job. Everything he has is just the best.
Alysse Bryson [00:29:53]:
I have another question. Now, it’s obviously not for anyone on this call, but if you had to give tips for, say, aging skin, obviously, again, no one on this call.
Libby Sundgren [00:30:03]:
So youthful, so hydrated tips would you.
Alysse Bryson [00:30:07]:
Give for aging skin?
Michelle Wight [00:30:09]:
It’s mature skin, and I would tell you, I’ve done your makeup. Your skin is amazing. And skin care, you have got to take care of your skin before a drop of makeup goes on it, because if you don’t, it doesn’t look good. So that would be, like, my number one pro tip. And then use, like, makeup that is infused with skincare. So cosmetics is a really good one. Ilia is really great. You just want to use, like, a lot of cream products.
Michelle Wight [00:30:40]:
Things are going to keep your skin feeling, like, glowy and hydrated and youthful.
Alysse Bryson [00:30:45]:
Do we have to drink all the water that they say we’re supposed to drink? Okay. Yeah.
Libby Sundgren [00:30:50]:
Well, I just want to say this isn’t a humble brag, but it kind of is. But I actually have always been blessed. Blessed with really, like, fairly even and hydrated skin, even when I don’t take care of it. So that is why I never really learned or got very good at putting on makeup, because also, I just, like, didn’t have the patience to do it. And I don’t think I can’t do it very well. So that’s the other thing. I was like, it doesn’t look good. Just wash it off.
Alysse Bryson [00:31:19]:
So well, I also, yeah, I think fair skin and blonde and light eyes like you. And I like, if you do too much, like, you look like a drag queen, and I love drag queens. That’s not a knock.
Libby Sundgren [00:31:30]:
But, like, we do.
Alysse Bryson [00:31:31]:
If you’re not a drag queen, you probably don’t want to look like a drag queen.
Libby Sundgren [00:31:34]:
Yeah, it’s true. The fair skin, you can’t go, like, I can’t go too crazy. No, it’s not a 70s auction every day, even though I wish. Okay, so after two decades in beauty, I literally can’t believe you started doing this when you were 10.
Alysse Bryson [00:31:51]:
Yeah. That’s amazing.
Libby Sundgren [00:31:52]:
At least love amazing that I love that joke.
Alysse Bryson [00:31:55]:
I can never joke enough.
Libby Sundgren [00:31:57]:
Never gets old. How do you stay inspired and, you know, relevant and, like, coming back in an industry that truly I feel like changes faster than TikTok trends. And in an industry that is so full of so many influencers, you know, and people who do rainbows and clouds, and they’re all of a sudden like, that’s what people.
Alysse Bryson [00:32:26]:
Or lip kits or lip kits or.
Libby Sundgren [00:32:29]:
Lip kits or busy mom makeup hacks, you know?
Michelle Wight [00:32:33]:
Yeah. Honestly, I feel like I’m. I don’t even. Something is, like, brewing in me that I’m like. I sometimes feel like a creative director. I do a lot of creating, so I do styled shoots. I come up with concepts. I’ve transformed my studio into a million different things.
Michelle Wight [00:32:52]:
I am very cre. Just innately creative. And so I think that really plays a huge role in how I stay. Like, I love a new trend. I love learning new techniques. I. Today I had two brides who were super modern, like, editorial vibes. And they.
Michelle Wight [00:33:12]:
Because of things I was posting, they booked me because they were like, you’re just not doing the same same. And that is just me, I think, which is why it comes easy. But I have had a lot of conversations with other people, and it is tough. It’s not always easy. You have to be intentional about, like, finding things. This sounds so lame, but truly that, like, spark joy or will, like, spark your creativity or that you’re interested in just to stay in that space. Because the worst thing is, like, stopping. Being inspired.
Michelle Wight [00:33:52]:
Stop educating yourself. Like, I’ve done this for 20 years. I still take a master class every single year. Because I want to see. Yeah. I want to know what other people are doing, what they’re using different techniques. And even if I’m not really, like, learning anything on the makeup side, I’m still learning things because everyone had, like, a different way of doing running their business.
Alysse Bryson [00:34:15]:
I mean, I have to say, oh, God. Outside of the master class, where else do you look for inspiration? Like, are you still looking at magazines?
Michelle Wight [00:34:24]:
Are you, like, I follow, like, mostly on social media. I follow just for example, like, the WED or brides magazine or just different dress designers who I’m obsessed with. And, like, we’re doing. I’m doing a styled shoot tomorrow that I created the concept, and it’s very. Like, we’re wearing a big, oversized blazer and this silky, very simple wedding gown underneath. And just, like, a different type of dessert that you wouldn’t think of. It’s traditional. Just I get inspired by, like, all different areas of the wedding.
Michelle Wight [00:35:04]:
Wedding worlds, people are creative. They’re doing cool things. Like the dessert that we have tomorrow, it’s like, this long. It Kind of looks like a Lego, like a very long, skinny Lego. And then there’s just all this art, like edible flowers, and it has, like, greens and blushes. It’s just, you know, I like things that are different.
Libby Sundgren [00:35:28]:
You know, people are so creative. I’m not that creative. I. A little more of a. I’m a simple gal, but I have to get my creativity from other people’s creativity, so it’s infectious.
Michelle Wight [00:35:44]:
It is.
Libby Sundgren [00:35:45]:
It is. And I do have to say, you. Your brand is very. You are always posting new things. You are always sharing stuff you will share, like, video tips and, like, just tips and notes, like, for brides or anyone who’s doing any kind of an event or any kind of, you know, styled shoot. And you are very authentic in those. And I think it really. It just makes you feel like a really credible source.
Libby Sundgren [00:36:13]:
Thanks for the hair and beauty tips.
Michelle Wight [00:36:15]:
You know, I really want people to land in my inbox or on my website and see things that I have fully created from start to finish. I didn’t even know that I really ever cared about that, but once I started doing it, I’m like, oh, no. I want it to be my brand voice, my creative, whatever, like, from start to finish. And I think I’ve really been able to create that, which has been cool.
Alysse Bryson [00:36:45]:
What is something that. I mean, we talked earlier about your skin, knees, and hiring misfires. Like, what’s a mistake that you’ve made? Because you’ve built this business very fast and it’s scaled really big, really fast in a short time. So what’s something that was a mistake and it hurt at the moment, but you look back now and you’re like, that had to happen so I could level up.
Michelle Wight [00:37:07]:
Two things. I hired too fast in both spaces. On my back end and on for my team. And so hiring wrong in your back end, that is just. That will make the ship sink. So I was already. I didn’t really have systems in place, and I was learning what that even meant and what my business needed for that. And so I knew that everyone was like, get an assistant.
Michelle Wight [00:37:35]:
Get a virtual assistant. You need help. And I’m like, okay. And then I got one. And she’s like, what do you want me to do?
Libby Sundgren [00:37:41]:
Oh, that’s so hard to get the stuff out of your head and onto somebody else’s plate.
Michelle Wight [00:37:45]:
Yes, well.
Alysse Bryson [00:37:46]:
And letting go of control, that’s. I mean, it’s hard.
Michelle Wight [00:37:49]:
It was horrible. And she didn’t know, and I did not set her up for success. And it was just more work Than not. And so I was like, okay, this is not going to work out. Let’s go our separate ways. And then I had to figure it out, and I did. I have an amazing assistant now, but on the styling side, I was like, I need someone who does beautiful hair and makeup. That was like my number one priority.
Michelle Wight [00:38:21]:
Wrong. That should not be your number one priority. Customer service should be the number one priority. Everything else is learnable. So you can’t teach people how to interact with people. You know, you either have people skills or you don’t, in my experience. And I went through. I took some hard knocks, some bad reviews, some pushback from a stylist when I’m trying to give feedback and, like, trying to be a leader.
Michelle Wight [00:38:49]:
It was a hot mess for a minute. And. Yeah. So now, honestly, makeup is like, the last thing in an interview that I care about. I want to know how you. How you handle people. Like, show me your people skills. And then, yeah, we get into me.
Libby Sundgren [00:39:09]:
I really love that. And I think that’s so true. I mean, in the many people I’ve hired in my life, I. But people that I work with, even, you know, I just feel like if you like them, if they’re a good person, if you get along, if they’re, you know, they can be the right kind of person, be super motivated and just up for anything and, you know, a lot of skills are teachable.
Michelle Wight [00:39:34]:
Yes.
Libby Sundgren [00:39:35]:
But just being like, you know, an agreeable, good person, that. That is like, a harder thing to teach.
Michelle Wight [00:39:41]:
It’s so hard.
Alysse Bryson [00:39:43]:
Well, let’s flip it to the other side. A segment that we like to talk about here on the show is it ain’t bragging if it’s true. What is something about you look back and you’re like, damn, I did that. Like, I did that. Well, I mean, obviously, besides, when you made over me and Libby, obviously, besides.
Libby Sundgren [00:40:00]:
That was a big. That was a career high. It’s never going to get better than that.
Michelle Wight [00:40:06]:
If every day could be like that, if every shoe, the dream was so good. Honestly, one of the things I’m probably the most proud of is just putting myself out there and the jumping on the love is blind train. I think it did. That’s right for my business that I predict.
Alysse Bryson [00:40:31]:
What?
Libby Sundgren [00:40:32]:
What?
Alysse Bryson [00:40:32]:
Hold on.
Michelle Wight [00:40:33]:
What?
Alysse Bryson [00:40:33]:
Hold on.
Libby Sundgren [00:40:34]:
Well, we’ve got a celebrity stylist in our midst.
Alysse Bryson [00:40:38]:
Very.
Libby Sundgren [00:40:38]:
I don’t know if you know about this.
Alysse Bryson [00:40:40]:
I was just recovering from Saved by the Bell, and now you’re telling me you did the makeup on Love is Blind? Seattle edition is that true?
Michelle Wight [00:40:48]:
Yes.
Alysse Bryson [00:40:49]:
All of them?
Michelle Wight [00:40:51]:
No. So a few of them. Chelsea, Micah, and Bliss.
Alysse Bryson [00:40:57]:
Wow.
Libby Sundgren [00:40:59]:
I know.
Alysse Bryson [00:41:00]:
I just saw Micah’s Stagecoach outfits from over the weekend.
Michelle Wight [00:41:04]:
Oh, were they cute?
Alysse Bryson [00:41:05]:
Yeah, she looked great. She looked great.
Michelle Wight [00:41:07]:
I really want to go to Stagecoach in my life before, like, wow.
Alysse Bryson [00:41:12]:
Okay, so. Damn, you did that. Love is Blind, but that is really not okay.
Michelle Wight [00:41:18]:
Yeah. So I had just opened the studio and I had never seen it, and then my girlfriend was like, are you watching Love is Blind? They’re doing Love is Blind in Seattle. And so I, like, kind of did some searching, and I’m like, all these. This whole cast is based in Seattle. I’m just going to reach out to all of them. And I did. Every single one of you just proactively.
Alysse Bryson [00:41:41]:
Reached out to them.
Michelle Wight [00:41:42]:
Yeah. Because I knew they were going to. Because they’re from him. They didn’t have the reunion yet. They didn’t have after the altar. They didn’t have any of that filmed yet. And so I knew press was coming. And so I’m like, I’m just gonna reach out and tell them any events they have, any photo shoots, any.
Michelle Wight [00:42:00]:
Anything, like, please come. We’ll do your hair and makeup. And Bliss was the first one to take me up on it. She is.
Libby Sundgren [00:42:09]:
Who’s a beautiful person. She’s so stunning.
Alysse Bryson [00:42:11]:
Beautiful.
Michelle Wight [00:42:13]:
She is.
Alysse Bryson [00:42:13]:
And they have a baby now, right?
Michelle Wight [00:42:15]:
Yes.
Alysse Bryson [00:42:16]:
Yeah.
Michelle Wight [00:42:16]:
That was my first People publication.
Libby Sundgren [00:42:19]:
Ah, that’s right.
Alysse Bryson [00:42:21]:
That’s so cool.
Michelle Wight [00:42:23]:
Yeah. Their baby announcement.
Libby Sundgren [00:42:24]:
Which first People pub, Not the last.
Michelle Wight [00:42:27]:
No.
Libby Sundgren [00:42:28]:
My God, that’s so cool.
Alysse Bryson [00:42:30]:
But, yeah, Talking about when you and I get on the COVID Libby, Is that what you were talking about?
Michelle Wight [00:42:36]:
Duh.
Libby Sundgren [00:42:36]:
Yes, I am. Duh. Yeah.
Alysse Bryson [00:42:38]:
Because the events podcast goes viral.
Michelle Wight [00:42:42]:
It’s gonna.
Libby Sundgren [00:42:43]:
Yeah, totally. Is on YouTube.
Michelle Wight [00:42:45]:
They’re going to do live shows. I’m going to be in the front.
Alysse Bryson [00:42:48]:
Yeah. And you’re going to be there. Yep.
Michelle Wight [00:42:50]:
Yeah.
Alysse Bryson [00:42:51]:
You and Barbie. We already figured this out.
Michelle Wight [00:42:53]:
Yes.
Alysse Bryson [00:42:53]:
That’s really cool. That’s really cool. It was so. I’ve heard rumors about Real Housewives of Seattle. Are you trying to hunt that down?
Michelle Wight [00:43:01]:
Yes, I have been trying to hunt it down, and I have found no facts.
Alysse Bryson [00:43:05]:
I don’t. I don’t think it’s true. I don’t think it’s true.
Michelle Wight [00:43:07]:
Okay. Because I feel like I would know. So, like, one degree of separation.
Alysse Bryson [00:43:12]:
I would. I would know. I would know somebody. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. That’s possible. I just don’t think it’s likely at this point.
Michelle Wight [00:43:19]:
Yeah.
Alysse Bryson [00:43:20]:
All right, Libby, we could keep talking forever. But we do have to wind this down.
Libby Sundgren [00:43:24]:
We do.
Alysse Bryson [00:43:25]:
I know. Well, Michelle, where can our many, many, many, many readers and Libby fans find you?
Michelle Wight [00:43:34]:
You can find me over on Instagram because that’s where I perch most of the time at michellewhite hmu or my website, michellewhite.com.
Alysse Bryson [00:43:44]:
Love it. Love it. Okay, I have one more question. Just because we made it all the way to the end, only to find out at the end. You worked on Love is Blind. You had a couple cover on people. You’ve been behind the scenes on Saved by the Bell. Is there anything else I should know about?
Michelle Wight [00:44:00]:
Those were some high points.
Alysse Bryson [00:44:02]:
Okay. All right. Well, you just. I know you’re going to have more, so I want to be the first person to know. Yeah, I want to be the first person to know. All right, well, that’s a wrap for this episode of Beats Working. Winning the Game of Makeup. Just kidding.
Alysse Bryson [00:44:17]:
Winning the Game of Events. If you have an idea or you want to reach out, please do so. You can email us at infoeatsworking Show. And remember, every detail matters, every moment counts.
Michelle Wight [00:44:29]:
Every.
Alysse Bryson [00:44:29]:
And no matter what, the show must go on. Thanks for listening to Beats Winning the Game of Events, where we explore what it takes to make moments unforgettable.
Libby Sundgren [00:44:40]:
If you’re leaving with a little more inspiration, a little more perspective, and a big sideache from all of the laughing at our funny jokes, then we’ve done our job.
Alysse Bryson [00:44:50]:
Beats Working is a work. P2P production. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review us on your favorite podcast platforms.
Libby Sundgren [00:45:00]:
Your support helps us keep the magic going.
