My Soap Box

  I was told there is a difference between being skilled and having a talent, referring to hair stylists. Some are skilled and some are talented, the difference between being able to cut hair and being a hair artist.  So, I looked it up. The definition of skill is,'an ability that has been acquired by training.'  The definition of talent is, 'natural abilities or qualities.'

  So this lead to another thought, spurred on by a conversation I overheard at a MAC cosmetics event I worked.  A woman made an appointment for a full face makeup application and she and the MAC Artist were having a general 'get to know you' conversation.  The MAC Artist mentioned that she was going to be graduating from college, but she loves working with MAC so much she is finding that what she went to school for might not be her career.  The woman in the chair responds with, 'Well, this is a job, not a career.'  Ouch! 

OK.  So, the definition of job is, 'occupation: the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money.'  The definition of career is, 'the particular occupation for which you are trained.'  So, combine that with skill and talent and add a dash of passion in the mix and you end up with the person I want doing my makeup or hair or surgery or taxes, etc... You get the drift. 

 The beauty industry is not a traditional career choice.  It also has the stigma of being what you do because you can't do anything else.  At one time that may have been true, however, now it IS a career choice.  There is one woman I know personally working with MAC that has her Bachelor's of Science Degree but hated being stuck in a lab even though she was skilled.  To her all that career training became a job.  One she didn't like very much.  Now, she trains MAC artists and does makeup for New York Fashion Week!  This is her career. Another MAC Artist I know used to be a teacher.  When I went to cosmetology school, my particular class was made up of  graduates of high school, college and graduate school.  People doing something they loved no matter the flack they received from family or friends for choosing something non-traditional. 

  It's hard work, let me tell you.  Working with all different types of people and having to listen to what they want, tactfully tell them if it's not possible, have another idea in mind that will work for them, taking into consideration their work, lifestyle, personal style, comfort levels... Oh, and don't get me started on having to discern what they're NOT telling you! 

 No matter what career choice or job you choose there is training that goes with it.  No one just walks into an office and instantly becomes a doctor.  They have to go through the different steps in the career path.  Same thing with makeup and hair.  I guess my point is to show respect to those girls (or boys) putting on your lashes, matching your face color, cutting your hair and transforming your outer appearance to make you feel better about yourself. Be appreciative of  the person that you find that has the passion, skill and talent combination, because they are rare.  We do this because we love it!  If it's just a skill that was acquired, those people don't last in this industry long.  It's the ones that really love people and love what they do that are in this for the long haul! 

  Back to the woman in the chair, after her face was done she looks in the mirror in delight and says, 'This is beautiful! I could never do what you do!'  Hmmm....

"Substance" Abuse

 I just finished watching The Miss America Pageant.... I am very disappointed. Granted I did not watch it from the beginning. However, I watched the swimsuit, evening dress, talent and the Q&A sections. I don't know what to say. I think the show was made to encourage young women to not just be pretty faces but to have something of substance to say, be aware of their surroundings, be creative and develop a talent, stand up tall and have self esteem.

 I saw a lot of .... the same. Same hairstyles, some with bad weave and extensions to make the Stepford Wife connect. Where is the girl with jet black or short and edgy hair? Or a red head? What about a girl with natural curls or twists? Or even neat and tidy locks? Where is the diversity on stage that real girls see every day at school and on the street. Are we sending a message that these women are not considered intelligent, talented or beautiful?

  The talent portion, Oy Vey. What to say? Well, how about this? The definition of the word talent is: natural abilities or qualities; a person who possesses unusual innate ability in some field or activity. Is that what was displayed tonight? Not by everyone. I can count four that made me say, 'Wow! That was good!' It is a huge challenge to perform in front of thousands of people. I applaud them for even getting that far. Maybe the talent showcase should be prefaced by the word ammature. What if your talent is writing? There was a contestant who had an interest blurb pop up on screen that read, she wrote her first poem at the age of four. Yet, she was singing a song by Nina Simone that was way too big for her. Maybe, her true talent is poetry! Another contestant's interests flashed on the screen while she too was trying to sing. It read, 'I secretly wish I was a rapper.' Why didn't she do it? Is it that she isn't good at it or that she felt that it was taboo? Or maybe it wasn't allowed? If it wasn't allowed maybe the talent guidelines need to be re thought or updated. Shouldn't we encourage our young women to strive for something even if it goes against the norm?

 I never fit in the box when I was younger and I still don't to this day. I am thankful to have had a mother that helped me dream and dream BIG! She brings me to reality on occasion but she has never discouraged me from being myself... whatever that happened to be at the time. I don't want to discredit the positive things these women achieve. I just wish the platform embraced more individuality.

 Maybe there should be a pageant called: Real Girls, The Anti Cookie Cutters.