The Electrician and the Makeup Artist Should be Friends

One of my favorite bloggers has an interesting post about hairdryers and electricity. Even if you don't know a lot about electricity, it helps to know how much power you are really using! Of course, we may be at cross purposes, because the higher wattage a dryer is, the faster your hair dryers, so the less exposure to damaging heat.

This of course, calls to mind an experience I had a few years back. One of the first things I learned on set is that before you plug anything in, you check with the Best Boy Electric. Because I work on low-budget films, I am often (okay, always) the makeup artist and the hairstylist. And, because I work on low-budgets, I don't get one of those cushy hair and makeup trailers you think of. I get a bedroom. Or a kitchen. Or a park bench. Or the bathroom (and whenever a well-meaning but clueless AD or PM tries to put me there, I desperately try to find a different spot. Imagine trying to do hair and makeup on talent and being interrupted every time a crew member has to 'go.' And remember that crew members drink A LOT of coffee.

Anyway, on this one film we were in a Brooklyn apartment for a week. It was September, but it was hot! Like a good girl, I would talk to Billy every day to find out what and where I could plug in. He appreciated that and knew that we were both professionals in a land of fools. One day, I knew I wouldn't need to plug in at all, and good thing too...Billy was having a hard time keeping all the lights on (and because this was a low-budget, he was also Gaffer and 1st AC). So, Billy very specifically asked me NOT to use a certain outlet. No problem. Until the AD came back to the makeup/holding area/craft service room. Remember, it was a hot September. He wanted to plug in a floor fan....in the forbidden outlet. I told him no, Billy said not to. We went back and forth, I insisting that the outlet was not to be used, he insisting that it would be okay. I thought the issue was settled. I turned my back. He plugged in. The circuit blew.

No, I was not blamed.

Ther point is, when using a lot of wattage on your hair, have a basic idea of how your electricity works. Even at home, there is only one circuit I use for my hairdryer-the other circuit in my room has too much going on.