Starting a Makeover Business

[JaclynFashion]

Am starting a makeover business. How much should I change to fix people avatar up, if there new to second life. 

[Tazzie Tuque]

Well before you decide what to charge, there are a few things that you need to be sure of..  perhaps you already have these things covered but in case you don't here are a few things to consider.. Firstly your own avatar has to be exceptional in appearance and that includes a good wardrobe that fits well,  hair, skin, shape and all that.  And you need to have some really good promo photos of yourself and perhaps some before and after photos of someone you have already helped do a make over.  Something else to consider is that a lot of folks in here enjoy helping friends and new comers get themselves all fixed up and they do it for free.  Also most folks in SL do not have a whole lot of lindens to play with so by the time they pay for mesh bodies, heads, skins, hair that you will be suggesting they do,  there won't be a whole lot left over to pay you.  And especially new folks to SL,  they most certainly will not have a lot of lindens, and probably won't be to open to buying lindens with real money either.  I have been here almost 15 years and I speak from a place of some experience.  But I wish you luck in your new business.

[Nick0678]

1 hour ago, JaclynFashion said:

Am starting a makeover business. How much should I change to fix people avatar up, if there new to second life. 

5000

[shiviex]

21 hours ago, JaclynFashion said:

Am starting a makeover business. How much should I change to fix people avatar up, if there new to second life. 

Depends on how good you are... if you think you are really good, then i say about 3000-4000 lindens. But that completely depends on you<3

[Alwin Alcott]

22 hours ago, JaclynFashion said:

How much should I change to fix people avatar up, if there new to second life. 

if they are new to SL you will need to know where to find the quality freebies and charge nothing. If they are more estabished account you can start earning some money, but only when you again.. know where to find what people want. And not just have 5 standard shops, but a broad and diverse experience.
Asking 3-4 k just for the help is way to much unless you shop for the clothes too.(and newbies don't have such amounts)
A stylecard is bought within a minute on MP, and costs at max 1k... with the same directions a make over help gives.

[MelodicRain]

I have never heard of someone needing to pay someone else 5k just to get a few tips on where to shop. This kind of thing barely even exists in RL, probably only billionaires have "outfit consultants". That's what friends + marketplace + google is for. If people are so clueless in what to wear they need to pay 5k for a style card then they probably shouldn't be playing SL aka dressup simulator.

Edited August 22, 2020 by MelodicRain

[MillyWH]

On 8/22/2020 at 3:56 PM, MelodicRain said:

I have never heard of someone needing to pay someone else 5k just to get a few tips on where to shop. This kind of thing barely even exists in RL, probably only billionaires have "outfit consultants". That's what friends + marketplace + google is for. If people are so clueless in what to wear they need to pay 5k for a style card then they probably shouldn't be playing SL aka dressup simulator.

I've helped several people update their avatar or helped them find outfits. SL is more than a dress up simulator , there are lots of other things to do besides dress up your avatar. Plus not everyone knows where to find things or they need help figuring out how to work huds or the best way to tweak their shape or whatever.

There are people who do makeovers in SL  as a business and there are people who do it as a hobby.  The people I helped do a full avatar make over mainly just needed some advice and help on working huds and wanting to know where to shop or needed an opinion of what looked (not everyone has a fantastic sense of fashion). I've also walked people through Bakes on Mesh or helped when someone was trying to find an outfit or dress for an event. I've never charged for it but almost everyone has compensated me in someway, even if it's just  giving me an extra gacha thing. Sometiems I only spent 15 mins but with one friend over the course of a week I helped me go from a 10 year old avatar to full mesh. 

 

Just because you find something easy or simple doesn't mean everyone else does. 

[Rowan Amore]

On 8/22/2020 at 3:56 PM, MelodicRain said:

I have never heard of someone needing to pay someone else 5k just to get a few tips on where to shop. This kind of thing barely even exists in RL, probably only billionaires have "outfit consultants". That's what friends + marketplace + google is for. If people are so clueless in what to wear they need to pay 5k for a style card then they probably shouldn't be playing SL aka dressup simulator.

Even Target has style consultants and I'm not sure too many billionaires shop there.

https://jobs.target.com/styleconsultant

[MelodicRain]

13 hours ago, MillyWH said:

I've helped several people update their avatar or helped them find outfits. SL is more than a dress up simulator , there are lots of other things to do besides dress up your avatar. Plus not everyone knows where to find things or they need help figuring out how to work huds or the best way to tweak their shape or whatever.

There are people who do makeovers in SL  as a business and there are people who do it as a hobby.  The people I helped do a full avatar make over mainly just needed some advice and help on working huds and wanting to know where to shop or needed an opinion of what looked (not everyone has a fantastic sense of fashion). I've also walked people through Bakes on Mesh or helped when someone was trying to find an outfit or dress for an event. I've never charged for it but almost everyone has compensated me in someway, even if it's just  giving me an extra gacha thing. Sometiems I only spent 15 mins but with one friend over the course of a week I helped me go from a 10 year old avatar to full mesh. 

 

Just because you find something easy or simple doesn't mean everyone else does. 

 Read the part where I said "for 5k". I never said "no one should get help with styles". I said "no one pays 5k for a stylecard", because that's what friends are for, which is pretty much the same thing you're describing. If you have a business and all you're selling are 5k stylecards, well you wouldn't have a lot of business would you?

11 hours ago, RowanMinx said:

Even Target has style consultants and I'm not sure too many billionaires shop there.

https://jobs.target.com/styleconsultant

Do they charge 5k for it? I highly doubt your average shoppers who walk into a local Target can afford to dish out 5k for a RL style card. Your style consultant opening probably does it for free or very cheap.

Edited August 28, 2020 by MelodicRain

[Rowan Amore]

24 minutes ago, MelodicRain said:

 Read the part where I said "for 5k". I never said "no one should get help with styles". I said "no one pays 5k for a stylecard", because that's what friends are for, which is pretty much the same thing you're describing. If you have a business and all you're selling are 5k stylecards, well you wouldn't have a lot of business would you?

Do they charge 5k for it? I highly doubt your average shoppers who walk into a local Target can afford to dish out 5k for a RL style card. Your style consultant opening probably does it for free or very cheap.

Well since I'll assume you mean 5000L than yeah, pretty sure they would charge more than $20 in RL.  Cause ya know no one is paying $5000 in SL.  And who said it was for a style card?  I've spent hours helping someone for free.  If someone offers to pay, I wouldn't say no.

Edited August 28, 2020 by RowanMinx

[AdminGirl]

Depends on the scope of your makeover service. Are you only helping them by giving them tips and advice?

People new to sl don't generally splurge all that much initially. I spent my first year with freebies. And in terms of tips, I got all I needed via google, youtube tutorials and of course, helpful people here. There are also help areas and people inworld dedicated to helping newbies for free, so if they're your target clientele, I probably wouldn't bother.

You also gotta keep in mind that whoever's getting the makeover also has to fork out lindens to buy their new look. To get all meshed up, excluding clothes.. what is that, L$10k ? If all you're offering is assistance, I honestly think it'd only be worth 10% of that at most and only if it comes with a guarantee that they achieve the look they want by the end of it and if it's like super awesome full service kind of thing.

[Rowan Amore]

23 minutes ago, AdminGirl said:

Depends on the scope of your makeover service. Are you only helping them by giving them tips and advice?

People new to sl don't generally splurge all that much initially. I spent my first year with freebies. And in terms of tips, I got all I needed via google, youtube tutorials and of course, helpful people here. There are also help areas and people inworld dedicated to helping newbies for free, so if they're your target clientele, I probably wouldn't bother.

You also gotta keep in mind that whoever's getting the makeover also has to fork out lindens to buy their new look. To get all meshed up, excluding clothes.. what is that, L$10k ? If all you're offering is assistance, I honestly think it'd only be worth 10% of that at most and only if it comes with a guarantee that they achieve the look they want by the end of it and if it's like super awesome full service kind of thing.

As someone mentioned in another thread, a lot people don't mind spending the money to have someone else do all the work.  Whether it be lack of time or just not interested in that aspect of SL, no one is forcing anyone to pay for the service.  I, personally, wouldn't charge anyone but if someone wants to try and make a business out of it, I don't see a problem with that.  It's the same with any 'service' in SL.  You're paying basically for someone's time.  Why do you think escorting is still alive and well when all they are paying for is time and attention.  Kinda, sorta the same thing-ish.

[AdminGirl]

9 minutes ago, RowanMinx said:

As someone mentioned in another thread, a lot people don't mind spending the money to have someone else do all the work.  Whether it be lack of time or just not interested in that aspect of SL, no one is forcing anyone to pay for the service.  I, personally, wouldn't charge anyone but if someone wants to try and make a business out of it, I don't see a problem with that.  It's the same with any 'service' in SL.  You're paying basically for someone's time.  Why do you think escorting is still alive and well when all they are paying for is time and attention.  Kinda, sorta the same thing-ish.

Sorry I wasn't trying to imply there's any problem with starting this business. It's my honest opinion on whether newbies would realistically spend on it. And I gave my best estimate on what other non-newbies might pay (c. L$1k). If I didn't believe it was a viable business, I wouldn't have bothered giving an estimation at all.

[MillyWH]

 

On 8/28/2020 at 10:03 AM, MelodicRain said:

 Read the part where I said "for 5k". I never said "no one should get help with styles". I said "no one pays 5k for a stylecard", because that's what friends are for, which is pretty much the same thing you're describing. If you have a business and all you're selling are 5k stylecards, well you wouldn't have a lot of business would you?

Do they charge 5k for it? I highly doubt your average shoppers who walk into a local Target can afford to dish out 5k for a RL style card. Your style consultant opening probably does it for free or very cheap.

A couple of things:

1- you keep bringing up a style card as if that is what the business will be - just a style card. It's not what I saw as being offered . What is being talked about is helping someone make over their avatar--taking time to find out what they like and don't like and helping them find a new look and put it  together and offering advice and suggestions. That's not a style card.  I don't know where you got the idea that this would just be about paying for a style card.

 

2. People pay a lot more than $20 US dollars for personal shopping hep. Because that's what 5000L is the equivalent too in US money, I don't know about other currencies.  For $20 you can subscribe to Stitch Fix, where they send you clothes based on your needs and you keep what you like and send the rest back and are only charged for what you keep. For $25 styling fee (person time you use the service) you can use Nordstrom Trunk Club. For $40 a month you could go with DailyLook. And those are just online services not actual in person personal shopping.

 

3. What have I been paid? I'm trying to think but I guess the SL monetary equivalent for help I've given with updating avatars and stuff has been about... 3K all told, I'm not sure since it wasn't all in lindens.  I wasn't looking to do this for a business, although it has been suggested that I should by someone but it's not something I want to turn into a business. The simplest thing took maybe 15 mins. The longest was several hours a day for several days, I didn't charge that person because I didn't realize how long it would take and I never talked about compensation but if it had come up I wouldn't have hesitated to ask for 5000L for the help I gave them. Again, it is about 10 hours of total time and my time is worth it.

 

 

 

[Alwin Alcott]

7 minutes ago, MillyWH said:

it is about 10 hours of total time and my time is worth it.

it has to be a exceptional good advice you need to present for 5K in SECOND LIFE  your whole 2nd point is a absurd example.
And yes... it's about the same as creating stylecards. People choose one they like, so your whole thing about what they like or not is solved already.
It's your job to create a stylecard in your thoughts while you do the intake, than do your homework, and the day after hop and shop.
If you don't like to do it... don't... just don't rip people off for something that's not worth that amount of money.
If you need multiple hours, multiple days... is a bad sign... for you... clearly no idea what the client wished and where to get it. In special that last IS your job.

[Tazzie Tuque]

2 hours ago, MillyWH said:

I wouldn't have hesitated to ask for 5000L for the help I gave them. Again, it is about 10 hours of total time and my time is worth it.

Sighs,  in truth  no one in SL actually gets fairly compensated for their "work" if you look at it that way.  It can take up to a full 40 hr work week to make one mesh clothing item and rig it and texture it, make a fat pack, made demos etc.  If these creators charged according to time spent working on something, none of us would be able to afford to buy it.  But they don't.    Just something to think about.

[Rowan Amore]

On 8/22/2020 at 3:56 PM, MelodicRain said:

I have never heard of someone needing to pay someone else 5k just to get a few tips on where to shop. This kind of thing barely even exists in RL, probably only billionaires have "outfit consultants". That's what friends + marketplace + google is for. If people are so clueless in what to wear they need to pay 5k for a style card then they probably shouldn't be playing SL aka dressup simulator.

And in case you missed it...

On 8/30/2020 at 12:29 PM, Rocky Rutabaga said:

I have burned through 3 different mesh bodies in the past 2 days and now I'm ready to burn down my sim. Let me backtrack. I've been playing SL for over 14 years. I've learned to build, modestly script, make sculpties, design amazing things, and build mesh furniture and houses.

But this Mesh/BOM avatar business is impossible to understand.

Currently my mesh mess is a Signature Gianni body, lelutka Skyler Head, IKON Promise eyes, and a Belleza Jacob skin. I'm sure that's half of it. But all I was trying to do, when this all started was to get my Aesthetic hands to match my Aesthetic arms. Now a few thousand Lindens later, I'm worse off: mismatching head and body. Invisible eyes.

I'd prefer to pay someone to get in my shoes and fix it and then explain what I did wrong. I don't want to read manual after manual of poorly written manufacturer instructions. The are uniformly difficult to comprehend.

If anyone knows of an image consultant or fixer, please contact me.

RockyR

 

Just saying there is a need and people willing to pay for a service.

[Janet Voxel]

Makeover services can start as low as 3k (or any other price you decide to set). Heck, someone paid me 3k for helping them to apply a skin to slink hands and feet! I'm not kidding it took about 2.5 hrs and in the end they gave me 3k for putting up with them.

I think people are confusing makeover with taking someone shopping. People do use makeover artists and the price is pretty hefty, because you are spending a lot of time doing this. Often it includes making a shape, choosing a skin and picking out clothing and hair to fit a certain look. Believe me...people that pay for makeovers are pretty "particular". People aren't going to be beating down your door for a makeover, but people will come a knockin'.

[Jordyn McGregor]

Once upon a time way back in 2014, I was hair shopping in what is now a popular mesh head store, but back then their hair was the big seller, and I stumbled across two....ladies.  I use that word in its broadest sense.  Both had shapes verging on the ridiculous, boobs bigger than their heads, lips like fat sausages, teeny tiny waists that flared out into hips for days.  Then their legs....  Saggy butts, humungous thunder thighs and calves that went down to tiny delicate ankles and feet.  I worried about them snapping!  Their skins weren't much better...shiny, bodybuilder type skins with ab muscles drawn on.  And did I mention they were both wearing STRING BIKINIS?  

Being the inquisitive soul I am, I profile perved them both.  After the shock of seeing that they were both partnered wore off, I bounced through their picks.  

Why am I telling you all about these two behemoths you ask?  Well one of them offered her services to "make you look as good" as she did...for a measly 20,000L.  

I still have their pictures on my hard drive to remind me that there really is someone for everyone...cept me 🤣

 

[Tazzie Tuque]

2 hours ago, Jordan Whitt said:

Why am I telling you all about these two behemoths you ask?  Well one of them offered her services to "make you look as good" as she did...for a measly 20,000L.

OMG! thank you for my morning laugh!  I really needed that.. lol ..   But seriously, I am sure that the offer to "make you look as good"" as she did for a measly 20,000L  was not intended to be taken seriously. .  But then who knows, this is SL after all.. 

[Jordyn McGregor]

11 hours ago, Tazzie Tuque said:

But seriously, I am sure that the offer to "make you look as good"" as she did for a measly 20,000L  was not intended to be taken seriously. .  But then who knows, this is SL after all.. 

I can only hope it was a joke...

[Laurel Aurelia]

I have had some experience helping others with their looks over the years, and have discovered that more often than not people wanted my help realizing their own ideas about their avatar. And that didn't always align with what I personally thought was a good looking avatar. I taught these people how to use their heads and bodies,  and answered a lot of questions about where to find certain items.  They were all very happy with the help they received and paid me handsomely though I never ask for money. I never mind helping someone who has patience and willingness to learn.   All that being said I think you can definitely turn  something like this into a  money-making business.  There are people out there who find avatar tinkering frustrating or boring, and want something that looks good right now, and they trust your advice and experience to lead them. There are other people who like the role play experience of hiring someone to create a look for them as well, I think. It's a bit of luxury thing to have a personal stylist so I think there is market just for that as well. How much should you ask for? I have no experience in that area, but I'd probably do some research into others who are offering similar service, and price accordingly with that in mind. Others might scoff at the idea of paying, and that is totally fine too, but I try to remind myself that even if I would not find it useful, there might be someone else who does.

Sorry for the rambling wall of text. I am a bit of Chatty Cathy today.

 

[Carina Heartsong]

I think this is a good idea. It seems new accounts seem to have a better grasp on mesh bodies and BOM. I see some 10+ year old accounts that could use some advice. In a world where you can be anything you want and dress however you want, it baffles me why some choose to look so dated. I am not suggesting a ton of lindens need to be spent either. Genus is giving away their Strong head for free right now, that's a 5000L head, for free. I see some female avatars I can only assume are men (and yes, I have met quite a few who ARE men). I would say 2000-5000 based on the level and complexity of the makeover they are wanting. I would ask for a budget of what they want to spend on bodies, heads, skins, clothes, etc. and then make my fee based on that. A few tweaks here and there, a new skin, makeup, etc. probably would not charge more than 1000-2000. Best of luck to you!

[Claireschen Hesten]

1 hour ago, Carina Heartsong said:

In a world where you can be anything you want and dress however you want, it baffles me why some choose to look so dated.

Some people are very attached to a certain look they have crafted over time and may feel mesh and other upgrades that may be needed alongside cannot recreate their look. That was certainly something initially putting me off getting a mesh body and more so a mesh head before i transitioned to both 

[MillyWH]

On 9/2/2020 at 1:01 PM, Alwin Alcott said:

it has to be a exceptional good advice you need to present for 5K in SECOND LIFE  your whole 2nd point is a absurd example.
And yes... it's about the same as creating stylecards. People choose one they like, so your whole thing about what they like or not is solved already.
It's your job to create a stylecard in your thoughts while you do the intake, than do your homework, and the day after hop and shop.
If you don't like to do it... don't... just don't rip people off for something that's not worth that amount of money.
If you need multiple hours, multiple days... is a bad sign... for you... clearly no idea what the client wished and where to get it. In special that last IS your job.

I was helping a friend update their avatar and go from no mesh anything and never using mesh to helping them understand how mesh heads work and helping them learn how the huds worked, how to get appliers to work and BOM etc.   How to edit hair , their shape to get their face to look like they wanted. Taking them to different  stores after asking them what they wanted. They hadn't updated their avatar in something like 8 years, never really went shopping and had no real idea of how to achieve the look they wanted and wasn't really sure how to articulate how they wanted to look. Other than better than they did. 

 

 

I was just helping out a friend not running a make over business so probably it would be a bad sign if I was actually doing it as a business.