Some makeup artists are busy on the weekends...though they are fighting for clients now. MUAs generally have no work during the week though, hence the trend in opening academies. But to me it doesn’t make sense to spend Mon-Thu teaching people how to do the work you charge for on Fri & Sat?!
In terms of tv makeup work, this is usually entry-level artists who think they’re going to make it by saying they’ve worked on Coronation Street... they’re usually incredibly low paid or no pay at all, because the tv companies know they can take advantage of entry level artists in this way. Take Gok Wan for example - last year he wanted an MUA for his tv show... his casting agency said that the MUA would not only receive no pay, but had to pay then m £1500 for the “privilege” of working on his show, and had to use their own products and tools too.
The only way in which you’re likely to earn any decent money is in special effects IF you’re lucky enough to get a film job... though these days, a lot is done with special effects.
It’s a dying industry, and I’m amazed that Paige is still conning young girls into believing that their “dreams will come true”!