Meet Cat Elrod | Makeup Artist & Costume Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cat Elrod and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cat, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Pre-Covid I worked very regularly and I might say successfully as a makeup artist and Costume Designer. I was personal makeup artist to Margaret Cho for a while then for Uncle Charlie Wilson, the musician, for many many years. I was on my TV show Outrageous Acts of Science on Discovery for a very long time and then I was also doing movies and theatre. I was busy. I missed holidays, canceled vacations. I was really focused on work. I loved to take vacations and I would, but work was absolutely my priority. Post Covid, things have changed, certainly the industry, but also my desire to be a workaholic. I take twice as many vacations now and work a little bit less than I did before. I’m not so much focused on being a make up artist now. I’m back in school getting my Masters in library science and information technology from San Jose State. And I’m shifting, I think I want a quieter life, I want to enjoy my time because I’m not the same person I was before Covid. My career changed, my life changed and my priorities changed. I’m teaching now as well, at a Performing Arts High School in Orange County. And I’m still designing costumes and makeup for my big show Delusion. It’s an immersive horror play with a cast of over 50. We’ve been doing it every Fall since 2011. That’s one show I won’t give up. We are an institution in LA. www.enterdelusion.com

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I guess when I look back and think about being a success, I’m not sure I was in the way we traditionally think about it. I know for sure that for 20 years, I was a working make up artist and designer who paid all her bills by doing make up. I think about it now and I know that makes me a success because it is absolutely the hardest thing to do in Hollywood, to be the one thing that you want to be, working regularly, and I got to do it and I had a really great time. Now I’m focusing on school and working for a nonprofit theatre that I’m on the board and company for, the Garage Theatre in Long Beach, California. I’m designing costumes, directing and working in development and fundraising for them. I’m also traveling more. I’m back from the Oregon Shakespeare festival. I’m already planning my big trip to Nashville next year and Europe the year after that. I guess the biggest lesson I learned along the way was set your goals and jump in feet first. Because there’s no other way to live your dream than to just live it. I also learned to set manageable goals, sure, we all want to be famous and successful in Hollywood but until that happens, you need a lot of wins along the way to keep you motivated.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m originally from Long Beach and so of course I think that is the best town and it truly is a great place to bring friends from out of town. We have two things in Long Beach that we are famous for, dive bars and brunch spots. So if I had a friend from out of town, we would absolutely go barhopping and then the next morning we would grab brunch. The Observation Bar at the Queen Mary is a great place for cocktails at Sunset. Dive bars like The Flite Room and The Wicked Wolf have character and great cocktails. Then for brunch somewhere like Schooner or Later which sits right on the water is great for a hair of the dog and satisfying breakfast.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would absolutely dedicate this to my mom who encouraged my art as a child and then my journey to become a make up artist she’s supported me my first year after moving to LA and helped me get on my feet. I’d also like to dedicate this to all the Makeup artists that were in my network over the years, that I knew I could call to cover me or to assist or partner up on shows. Who all worked so hard and were just hustling. It’s harder than you think. I’ve lost some good friends along the way to the struggle that comes along with being freelance. Coming to a new town to follow your dream and finding out it’s not what you thought it was going to be. Dreams are hard won and success doesn’t always feel the way you think it will.

Website: www.cat-elrod.format.com

Instagram: @DeadLadyClothes