i've hashed this out too much already...
so this is the condensed version. i'm mostly ranted-out. i think. we'll see if i still think that at the end of this post...
where is the line? where is the perfect balance i am looking for, between diplomacy, and artistic integrity? why is it i never can find both in one place? i leave one place because despite a high level of artistic integrity, there is no room for tact. now, i find the most tactful, peaceful, happy kind of place, which happens to be full of lemmings who gave up on their own new ideas, eons ago. (how do you spell that anyway... eons? eions? ions? no... that can't be right... eeeeeons?)
anyway
i went to my first class. on my first day of work at DM. i have to take this cutting class (along with a few others) and test out of them, to be a full stylist. so i figure, i'm pretty good, the owner really liked my work. no problem, i'll be out of here in no time. the instructor asked me to do a long-hair layered cut. i opted for something layered, but not your basic right-out-of-school cut, something a little more up to date, to show my abilities. wrong answer. she said that although she liked the cut, the clients who typically frequent the salon "are conservative and probably wouldn't wear a cut like that." i replied with basically "well, yeah, i can do regular cuts, this isn't for everyone. but i thought i'd do something a little different." she told me she wanted me to do it again, next time, and show her "a really basic layer cut". gah. notice, she said nothing about my technique. the other girl was having trouble with even the most basic rules of cutting... sectioning, following the guide, blending. also, i was informed that i would need to do flat ironing, because "people around here want their hair flat ironed." so now, because of this, and also another thing which is annoying but not anything to be pissed about... i will definitely need to be an associate for at least 4 weeks. maybe longer, who knows. but at least 4. *sniff* basically i was rejected because i didn't do something normal and boring. because i tried to be interesting. :(
the rest of the day, i realized a few things.
1. the people are fabulous. they're so nice, friendly, great. 1000% better than last salon (except my ruthie cuz she was the best). but yeah big group, that all gets along great. i've already been invited to a party this weekend.
2. there are some talented people. but they are followers. they all do the same thing. on every client. because the client wants it that way. they don't push their clients to have more interesting/modern/fashionable looks. they just do whatever the person says. which makes them money but doesn't make their clients look good, and long-term, has made their salon rather out of date fashion-wise.
conclusion: i don't know. i like the people. if i can survive long enough to be my own person (aka be a "real" commissioned stylist) i might be okay because i can just build my clientele. or, i might have a problem building a clientele because i won't do what everyone else is doing. ALTHOUGH i might get the people other stylists can't/won't do, because of being different. basic verdict: survive, wait it out. some more.
i'm rather disheartened/disallusioned. i want both "nice" atmosphere, and creative work. BOTH! GOD is that so much to ask?! IS IT?!
beth
where is the line? where is the perfect balance i am looking for, between diplomacy, and artistic integrity? why is it i never can find both in one place? i leave one place because despite a high level of artistic integrity, there is no room for tact. now, i find the most tactful, peaceful, happy kind of place, which happens to be full of lemmings who gave up on their own new ideas, eons ago. (how do you spell that anyway... eons? eions? ions? no... that can't be right... eeeeeons?)
anyway
i went to my first class. on my first day of work at DM. i have to take this cutting class (along with a few others) and test out of them, to be a full stylist. so i figure, i'm pretty good, the owner really liked my work. no problem, i'll be out of here in no time. the instructor asked me to do a long-hair layered cut. i opted for something layered, but not your basic right-out-of-school cut, something a little more up to date, to show my abilities. wrong answer. she said that although she liked the cut, the clients who typically frequent the salon "are conservative and probably wouldn't wear a cut like that." i replied with basically "well, yeah, i can do regular cuts, this isn't for everyone. but i thought i'd do something a little different." she told me she wanted me to do it again, next time, and show her "a really basic layer cut". gah. notice, she said nothing about my technique. the other girl was having trouble with even the most basic rules of cutting... sectioning, following the guide, blending. also, i was informed that i would need to do flat ironing, because "people around here want their hair flat ironed." so now, because of this, and also another thing which is annoying but not anything to be pissed about... i will definitely need to be an associate for at least 4 weeks. maybe longer, who knows. but at least 4. *sniff* basically i was rejected because i didn't do something normal and boring. because i tried to be interesting. :(
the rest of the day, i realized a few things.
1. the people are fabulous. they're so nice, friendly, great. 1000% better than last salon (except my ruthie cuz she was the best). but yeah big group, that all gets along great. i've already been invited to a party this weekend.
2. there are some talented people. but they are followers. they all do the same thing. on every client. because the client wants it that way. they don't push their clients to have more interesting/modern/fashionable looks. they just do whatever the person says. which makes them money but doesn't make their clients look good, and long-term, has made their salon rather out of date fashion-wise.
conclusion: i don't know. i like the people. if i can survive long enough to be my own person (aka be a "real" commissioned stylist) i might be okay because i can just build my clientele. or, i might have a problem building a clientele because i won't do what everyone else is doing. ALTHOUGH i might get the people other stylists can't/won't do, because of being different. basic verdict: survive, wait it out. some more.
i'm rather disheartened/disallusioned. i want both "nice" atmosphere, and creative work. BOTH! GOD is that so much to ask?! IS IT?!
beth