Show Time!!!

2011 Spring Show season is upon us!

We kicked it off in Chicago, IL last week with the America’s Show and now it is in full force until June when the Premier Show in Orlando, FL wraps it up.

Can’t you just imagine yourself amidst thousands of creativity starved hairdressers in a large convention center browsing booth to booth, music in the air, Platform Artists at every turn.  Hair Color, Styling Products, Haircutting Tools, Blow Dryers… the list goes on and on.  Overwhelmed yet? 

Hair Shows are an opportunity to recharge our batteries.  What’s New? What’s Hot for summer?  What CAN we use?  What will we NEVER use?  At the heart of every hair show, glitz and glamour aside, is education.  Your education. 

Do you remember your first hair show?  I do and it is the reason I teach today.   There is nothing like the over stimulated artistic mind of a virgin hairdresser at their very first major hair show.  Once upon a time we were sponges.  We were ready to soak up every ounce of education and try out every tool we could get our hands on. Bliss.

So, with that being said, veteran hairdressers, who are we now when we go to a show?  Do you still get a chill when you think of the runways, the music and the glistening hair under the spot lights?  OR Do you dread the crowds, the loud music and hope you will see something that you can take back to the salon and really use?

The Skeptic, you know who you are.  Arms crossed, stone faced, you never miss a show.  You walk into classes thinking “This class better be good or I am walking out in 15 minutes.”

You are bound and determined that eventually these ‘educators’ are going to teach you something NEW.  Something that is usable ON  the Cutting Floor and not just for ‘show’.  Sound familiar?

I see too many of you every year come into the JATAI classrooms. 

I have to say that you, and the hundreds of others like you, are my target every show season.  I love to watch how as a class progresses not only do you stay in your seat but slowly your body language changes.  Your arms unfold, you shift in your seat to a little more comfortable position and you are hooked.  Slowly your facial expression softens into a smile.  I see you nod your head in agreement or cock it sideways with curiosity.  You may have a question and you might have valuable information to share.  YOU are my favorite show attendant.  

After the class I love to talk to stylists, especially you, because 9 times out of 10 you will share with me what you learned in class: 

1.  The 3 Guidelines of Razor Cutting.
2.  New Terminology (it truly makes a difference)
3.  Interchangeable techniques that can be used on any of your clients.
4.  What you taught yourself was right OR
5. Man, I had no idea…

You are my educator, in this respect.  Your input and questions keep me on my toes and challenge me to go the extra mile for you.

Speaking of a challenge I have one for you…  Open your mind.  Forget that you have been doing hair for XXX amount of years and approach this show season with an unbiased attitude and try this:

1.  If you don’t do up do’s go to an up style class.
2.  If you only use Matrix walk on the wild side and go to a Redken class.
3.  Think outside your salon box maybe go to a Salon Management class.  You don’t have to be an owner or an independent hairdresser to attend them.
4.  If your razor is collecting dust, you don’t have one or you don’t know how to use one than join a JATAI classroom.

All that being said, I look forward to seeing you this year, check our schedule on the Education Portal to see where we are participating in a classroom nearest you.  (Nashville, TN, St. Louis, MO,  Omaha, NB, Valley Forge, PA & last but not least Orlando, FL)  I will be looking for you.

Here’s to a Creative Day and Spring Show Season.

 -Christie