So how was Vegas?

This is a question I’ve been asked a lot this week since I got home from the international Beauty show.

My reply, it was good. I had a really good time but I wasn’t blown away this year.

Will I go again? Absolutely, I will be back next year!

The event felt a felt underwhelming this year, I might have imagined it but it felt a lot smaller, it wasn’t as busy and a lot of brands seemed to be missing. 

I was catching up with the skin games team, which as always was great to see them and they had a lot going on around their booth. 

A lot of the stalls were more independent small businesses mixed with some really big stands and at times it was difficult just to be able to just look at what people had to offer (I hate more than a simple can I help you, I’m British) 

I was really looking forward to attending the talks this year and had mixed experiences. I  would have liked to have seen more choice spread over the 3 days. I sat in on some brilliant talks, especially from the brilliant Bonnie. 

The best part for me was everything else that goes on, the networking, parties, events and just catching up.

I met some brilliant people and finally put a face to others! 

I attended a catch up organised by fearless beauties, a lovely, inspiring event that allowed people to connect on a smaller level. All of the people there were so passionate and inspiring and symbolises what keeps our industry up.

Then I headed to the Skin game party and as always they did not disappoint! You don’t expect to see Xmas decorations when your walking in to a hotel room in Vegas… but what greeted us was themed rooms of Halloween, Christmas and tartan! And some rather lethal cocktails.

It was as always a lot of fun and I’m hoping they do it again next year!

I headed straight off to lash cons party, which again was fitting to theme, over the top and fabulous. Unfortunately jetlag and lack of sleep caught up with me and I was like a zombie! Heading off to bed early like a right party pooper! (sorry guys)

I somehow managed to collect up lots of swag on my adventures of day 1 too.

After day 2 in the conference there was a get together hosted by lip gloss and aftershave, which was a much bigger event than I imagined and a great venue, followed by the awards party, seeing some very worthy winners collect their trophies.

I was lucky to have a few days to myself in Vegas to have some fun a and relax before heading back to the rain in the UK. I came back as always with lots to think about. 

Even when I have felt an event hasn’t been that great I will still come back with lots to think about and often changing the direction I’m heading in and this time was no different. Even just absorbing and observing the industries attitude can give a lot of in sight to what the real issues are and how we can move forward.

During this visit it was very clear there is a lot of negativity, frustration and lack of support surrounding staff and teams. This is a subject I’ve been talking a lot about recently and believe we have to change our whole mindset to tackle.. but that’s a whole different subject

Another chance encounter also got me thinking, this wasn’t anyone form the industry, it was someone I got chatting to while eating dinner at the bar. I have some great and random conversations while sitting eating at bars! He was a very successful business man and I was telling him about what I do etc.

 The tone of the conversation with him was so different to when I talk to people I know within the industry. It was very fact, business and to the point, it was very enlightening. I Left the conversation feeling inspired and like I wanted a new mindset and direction. I love talking about our industry but it felt really good to talk about the mechanisms of business and I realised in that conversation that this was something we really lacked in our industry and it was the source of some of our many issues. 

Many like me are both very creative and accidental business owners, which can make for fabulous things to happen but we never quite crack that place we are meant to be, because we lack that core business element…. But… this again is another subject. 

If I didn’t think the event was amazing this year why was I planning to go back before I even left? Well its Vegas right? Who doesn’t want to go back. 

I will start by telling you about my first experience competing in a lash competition and my first event in the states.

 

I was a finalist in 3 lash categories at the skin games in Vegas 5 years ago, I failed miserly but it changed my life. Back in 2019 the lash industry hadn’t quiet blown up so I knew I was pretty good at what I did and had a strong chance of doing well. Except I was over confident and under prepared. In brief I arrived late after a delayed flight and all the other competitors had done one eye the night before and I had to do 2 eyes on 3 sets in the same time. I was also not prepared at all, I arrived with the basics and after getting to the venue at 2am and up at 6am I was not setting up for success. Then my models let me down and I had to just grab people in the hotel, not what you want for lashes.

Anyhow… I actually got really good marks considering but that was difficult to bounce back from and win and win I did not.

 I was flying straight to LA for a conference and I remember sitting in that room with speakers my age and younger and just thinking I am skint, I’m always stressed and I do not have my life together like they do. That topped off with lots of “inspirational talks” about how they do it for what’s important, their family (I’m also single with no children)  and I was just done.

I remember sitting on Santa boulevard peer, crying and feeling very sorry for myself, I decided it was time to get my life together and stop just bouncing form problem to problem and I did.

I came back, I did every lash courses I could, I entered competitions and won a total of 12 placings and BABATAC lash expert of the year. I put my head down and even with a pandemic in the way I made a commitment to make waves and help others and here I am 5 years later and going in to another chapter of growth.

I’ve attended a lot of events since and always come back inspired to do something, change something or change direction and that’s so important. 

Sitting in your salon every day and relying on social media doesn’t really absorb you into what’s going on  and the general atmosphere. The other great thing is networking with all of the amazing passionate people you meet.  Sometimes its just that chance meeting at the bar that changes your whole direction…

So before you think about jumping on the latest course, consider attending an event and inspiring yourself.

Don’t forget we have a whole events calendar dedicated to helping you find out what’s going on