Thank you!
Posted by Jewel on October 25, 2001 at 14:34:52:
In reply to: Very happy! posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on October 25, 2001 at 13:34:20:
: Very happy for you!:
: I'm very interested to know as much as possible about the transition
: of a household practice into a formalized industry ... (people's
: attitudes towards paying, expectations, professional standards)!
:
: Please keep telling me about all this!
: Tell me stories! Tell me stories!
Thanks so much, Catherine! Well, even though the art of mehndi has
been practised in Singapore for ages (I first saw it being done in
1994), it is only now that many brides (Malays in particular
'cos I know that it's being practised by most Indian brides
forever) adopted it as part of their wedding ritual. To most Malay
brides, it's just a fashion statement, a popular trend. Many of them
(the ones I did at least) have no idea at all about the history of
henna & mehndi. I talked to them about how henna in many cultures are
a part of a woman's life transitions. They were amazed by my stories
(I have a feeling most thought I made them up). Alot of people think
of henna as nothing but a plant that contains a red dye and they use
it to decorate their hands and feet (mostly those parts of the body)
at weddings and during Eid. Nobody cares about the history of henna
(many of them thought it's just a folklore).
Funny thing is, when I told them my rate is S$100 for everything
(hands both sides and feet), they thought it was expensive (despite
the fact that I travel to their place). Some haggled with me, most
didn't. Some paid more at the end of it when they saw how tedious it
was for me to beautify them. I normally give more than I take and I'm
glad that they appreciate it. But when they go to tattoo parlours that
do henna, they have no problems with paying S$20 - S$50 per side of
hand to have some substantial tattoo-like henna work done! I've seen
the work of those people, not what I'd like on me (sorry to be snooty
but I have high regard for good work).
In this case, I'm bewildered. Here I am offering good hennawork at the
comfort of their own homes and they complain (most of them would've
seen pics of my work by the time I get there). Some even told me that
they expect extra special treatment because I'm expensive (?!?!). Some
complained at the amount of time they lost the use of their hands and
feet. So far the brides I did have been good with payment though I've
heard of horror stories of brides who couldn't sit still and didn't
get a dark stain and blamed it on the artist :P. I think to most
people, it's just another paid service. The artist come, draw, get
paid, vanish. Poor work gets complaints, good ones get referral and
more business.
As for me, I'd show them my work beforehand, let them choose patterns
they like (I heard that most henna artists here don't do that), get to
their house in time, beautify them while telling them henna stories,
give them plastic gloves and aftercare advice, get paid, leave and
call them the next day to check on the stain or anything else. All
that comes with a hefty price tag of S$100. Hmmmm ....
Follow Ups
- the demon bride
Catherine Cartwright Jones 18:34:07 10/25/2001
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