3. The Two-Way Street of Affiliation
How does the brand promotion work?
When you add an academy's logo to your pictures, you bolster your credibility as a brow artist and promote another brand. This addition is more than a mere symbol of achievement; it's a statement that you are working to extend the academy's reach.
Becoming essentially a promoter
Gaining “authority” in the field is often related to becoming a promoter. Undoubtedly, the certification lends credibility and sets you apart as a professional. However, it's essential to understand the underlying dynamics of this relationship. Most academies, whether in powder brows, hairstrokes, or microblading, depend on constant growth to thrive. The "golden opportunity" to use another company's logo is, in essence, a collaboration where you become a promoter, producing content for someone else.
Academies only survive if artists work as promoters. This is not to say that affiliating with an academy is without benefit for the artist, but rather that it is often vital for the academy's survival. Both parties may benefit, but the balance of this relationship should be carefully considered. Thus, affiliating with any academy in the powder brows or other fields is a complex relationship that offers both opportunities and responsibilities - gives you both possibilities and limitations. While the recognition and resources of a large academy can accelerate your growth, it is also a partnership where you actively contribute to the academy's brand.
Understand the rules of hierarchical structure
When it comes to any academy operating in brow business, the underlying structure is the same - a hierarchy. It doesn't matter if the owner portrays herself as a benevolent giver, continually giving and nurturing, supporting students even months after training. Similarly, some leaders of academies may present themselves as guarantors of student success, sometimes even promising "lifetime" support.
One should still not forget that in the hierarchy, all the higher levels are absolutely dependent on the lower ones, and you should not cultivate any illusions about that.
