matters

by Angelina Selacinski

Competitions

Why Taking Part Does Matter

Online, National, International, Fantasy Art…

No matter where you’re located or what your niche is, there’s a lash competition for you. These contests play a bigger role in the industry than many techs may realise. Of course, placing high brings exposure, helping to further careers. However, there’s more to simply taking part than meets the eye… The Fear of Entering

Sadly, I hear techs talking themselves out of entering competitions all the time. Phrases like ‘I’m not good enough’ or ‘It’s a waste of time entering as I won’t win anything’ or ‘There’s so many good people already entering so I won’t stand a chance’ are commonplace around competition time.

Every Christmas I run an online competition. It’s free and there are spot prizes to be won, yet some techs are still scared to enter. With prizes available for taking part it’s a shame to hear that some people are too afraid to get involved.

I decided to dig deeper…

It seems that some people were scared of critique. However, it’s important to remember that critique is good. It gives you an indication of where you went wrong and how to improve in the future. Some were scared of what their peers would think, when in actual fact the majority of your peers will be supportive and you may even inspire them to enter themselves!

One of the biggest fears is the thought of coming last. Competitions don’t generally say who came last; they usually give the final 3 results in reverse order. And finally, if you’re one of the many people that think they’re not good enough, there have been plenty of competition WINNERS who had that same mentality – don’t underestimate your own strengths!

“One of the biggest fears is the thought of coming last.

Live competitions are where I have witnessed the most nervous competition energy. Lashing at a competition is different from lashing in your own lash space. You can’t control your surroundings and you won’t have your familiar things around you. If you travel abroad for a competition then you may not have even met your model until the day of the competition. These things can cause some techs to panic.

If things are out of your control then it’s important to stay as calm as possible. Stress is not a great problem resolver. As a judge it’s been enlightening to see people shocked when they have won or placed in their category. With so much talent it’s a reminder that most people aren’t expecting to win – you’re all in the same boat!

Competition Camaraderie

During my latest Christmas competition I had a separate Facebook page detailing all the information. Most participants joined this page and it quickly became a social hub. As they awaited the results from the judges they started chatting to each other every day, posting funny GIF’s, posts and generally just having fun.

In fact, a lot of them made really good friendships that are still going strong today. They all supported each other and even though some people didn’t place in the competition, they really enjoyed the experience and the camaraderie.

I spoke to a lot of people who were worried about entering and managed to persuade a lot of them to have a go.

They were worried about the bitchiness that can sometimes blight this industry, but after entering the competition they said they would definitely enter again next year. This was all thanks to them having a really enjoyable experience and finding the other entrants really amicable and great fun. So their opinion of the industry and the people in it had completely changed just by entering one competition.

It’s More Than Winning

My experience as a competition host and judge has given me real insight into the benefits of taking part - and trust me it’s more than winning. Networking is a big part of competitions. Making friends and connections in the industry helps us to build each other up and continue the upwards success of our niche. Not only that, but we can start to target the stereotypes of beauty therapists by empowering one another, leaving behind the pettiness and gossip.

Feedback is a huge bonus of getting involved. Whether it’s positive or constructive criticism, having experienced industry leaders critique your work allows you to grow and improve. At most competitions you will probably get some useful comments from the judges, allowing you to work on specifics when bettering your practice. It goes without saying that the more competitions you enter the more experience you’ll have. Stepping outside your comfort zone will build your confidence, as well as allowing you to reap the other rewards of taking part. Taking the Plunge

For a first competition it’s good to go into it with a positive attitude. Some things may be out of your control, like the temperature or humidity, but just remember that everyone else is facing the same challenges - you’re not alone!

Each competition will come with its own rules so it’s important to familiarise yourself with those beforehand. This will help you to feel prepared and composed on competition day. There’s also no need to feel out of your depth. There will be different categories for different abilities, so if you have been lashing for less than a year then you won’t be competing with techs that have been lashing for a lot longer. So you need to try and stay relaxed, focused and positive. The more relaxed you are the less likely you are to make mistakes. The more focused you the less likely you are to feel rushed, as your mind won’t be wandering. The more positive you are the happier you will feel during the competition.

Yes, it’s a challenge and yes you can get some nerves, but just embrace it. Think of it as stepping stone, stay calm but most importantly, enjoy it!

Happy lashing!

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