Competition Madness - 'I must win more tin, I must win more tin...'

Oh my Lordy!
Is it just me or are hairdresser's Competition crazy?

There was a time - not so long ago that we went to work. Snipped some hair, swept a floor, covered some grey, had a chat. And went home (that means went to a nite club actually). You now life was simple.

So how did we get to this? Competition is dominating our calender these days. Now don't get me wrong here, I do love the adrenaline & glamour of it all. BUT!
Obviously the salon work is still there. however now after work we don't go home or to a nite club :-(
We practice or shoot or practice or sit on the computer typing.

Seems our industry is obsessed with tin trophies. 'I must win more tin, I must win more tin...'
Can we stop this already!
No I here you answer robotic-ally ' I must win more tin...'

As I see it 'I must win more tin...' at least to keep up with the Jones's. I don't need to go home to bed at least for now (learnt this from year's of night clubbing. I knew there was a higher purpose to that!)

So this tin thing, what benefit is it to me or to you? Well alot actually (thankfully).

Competition participation will at a minimum make you a better skilled Hair Stylist. You will be pushed to a new level & be forced to complete a task at the edge of your comfort zone by the deadline date or time. That kind of gets stressful but thats the price of improvement.
So you will increase your skill set.
What else is to be gained?

"PR is the new advertising". Don't panic about having to win a competition. Once entered, start using the power of PR. No this does necessarily mean media placements.
All salon's have a Public. Thats the crucial first half of "P-R". Second part is relations. So 'Relate'. Tell your clients about your extra curricular activities. all of a sudden your PR stock has elevated. Now you're not just a salon stylist. Now you're a 'Competition Hairdresser'.

Taken to it's ninth degree competition success can be spun into more free PR than any salon could ever afford through paid media. examples of the include a list of "Who's Who?" of Australian or World hairdresser's. Brad Ngata, Caterina Dibiase, Anthony Nader, Oscar Cullinan, Rodney Cutler etc etc.

Competition means a better hairdresser & a higher Public Profile through PR.

Sounds great you scream. Plus you get 'more tin..'
But, wait there's more...
Competition focus can back fire badly. And when it does your salon can be at threat.

So what are the hazards?
* forgetting clients are number one
* team friction
* out of control costs
* burnout
* general confusion in the salon's priorities

So now that you know the pitfalls, you probably still 'want more tin..'
Thats great! you'll be a better Stylist and have the opportunity to increase your PR presence in your market.

Here's a checklist for competition success;
* read the entry conditions carefully (twice)
* start small, compete in comp's that you can realistically fare well in (Sorry, first time out you won't beat Brad or Caterina to be Hairdresser of the Year)
* write a time and financial budget that is realistic (photographic comp's especially can cost lots of $$'s)
* train you eye's before you train your hands. Look at what wins the comp's you'd like to tackle. If you can see, really see 'it'. You're most of the way there.
* ask for help. the fastest way to solve the competition puzzle is to ask a seasoned competitor's advise. Don't know any? Ask here. you'll be surprised how keen people can be to help.

So let the tin mining begin.
Pick a comp and PR it for all you're worth! 'I must win more tin, I must win more tin...'

I'll detail all competition dates in the ProhairStylist Forum's calendar tab

Great read, some very good points. I find it hard to pick comps, I want to do them all and I do!!! I think after reading your article I would do better to focus on just a few with full concentration and fininaces

1st post yay!

Thing is... you talk about this like its a negative yet you plaster your trophies all over your website and employ them within your salon advertising?

You need to make a choice- no ones making you do it - do what makes you happy

Sorry i missed your first post.

Yes, you're absolutely right of course. I wrote that piece whilst swapped with deadlines.

My point was though, how many comp's are enough and when should you draw the line?
After listening to Lee's podcast I'm clearly being soft. That guy's awesome!

The other point was how do you use comp's to positively advance your business with PR etc.

What's your take on it?

__________________
"If you beleve you can, or if you believe you can't. You're absolutely right."

Chumba Concept Salon
Pro Hairstylist (main website)