Behind the scenes...

 I just created a pin board on Pinterest called "Backstage." The most exciting part of a fashion show, hair show, musical show, play, or concert, is the back stage! Seriously, the show goes on for minutes to maybe a couple hours, depending on your genera of entertainment, but the real party and pressure is behind that curtain. I have been fortunate enough to have worked Fashion Week ( in 90's), televised Award shows, and hair shows, they all have the same thing in common...Insane time pressure and Fun!

There isn't much else more gratifying than seeing all your hard work released to the stage and the audience receive it with praise and pleasure. From the models waiting to go on, to the crew playing and joking with each other, it is some of the best times. This week I decided to talk a lot about one of the many hats I wear for my company. Hope you enjoy seeing the most creative thing I do... I love doing bridal make up, event make up, and brow shaping, But the shows are what push me to use my creative gift.

These two are fighting over who has the bigger muscles...lol

What to wear...

I wear many hats at my company, and I enjoy being used for all of the talents that I posses. Aside from servicing clients, I do our photo shoots, I help with  marketing, I'm the cosmetic director and I also help the Client Coordinators and New Talent staff with image and personal presentation. Van Michael sets themselves apart by investing in the staff when they are starting their career, which ensures a universal culture of true professionals. The last couple of weeks I have been hosting an in house fashion show for the ladies and gentleman that answer our phones, greet our clients, and check our clients out. For us as a company they are one of the intricate parts of the clients visit, if they don't represent our company by not only looking great, but possessing the kind of attitude that encourages the client or guest back to our establishment, we have failed the client and ourselves, because our mission is to create not only a raving experience, but a different experience than you are use to getting elsewhere. So with a budget and some very fortunate ladies, I took them shopping and did a how-to presentation ( I have one more session in the Highlands Salon). 

We had a ball, and believe me some of the ladies taught me a thing or two!

Crystal Smith, did the beauty part of the session.

Using my creative Juices...

I have been on our Van Michael Show team since my mentors Yolanda Fredrick and Paige Luther left in the 90's. I have been soul creator of the make up look according to the production and design of the show. The artistic director gives me the inspiration and I create a make up look that goes along with it. I have done some pretty crazy inventive designs and then not so great looks. Nevertheless, I pride myself  in being able to create something different no matter what. One of the most memorable shows was when we hired the dancers from Madonna's concert tour, they did these amazing aerial silk acts. We did some pretty crazy hair pieces on them and painted the models and dancers in head-to-toe latex! I won't go into the details of the side affects of head-to-toe latex and body jewelry, lack of body moisturizer, and body hair...lets just say, they don't mix! 

This back story brings me to my excitement for today and the prep and shoot for our Aveda Congress show in Minneapolis this October. I am so excited about our show, I am literally bursting at the seams.
I can't wait to show you the looks and the behind the scenes pic's after the show. This is part of my creative life that I know will be looked back on as some of the most amazing days!

Latex black body paint!

Van Council