Q. What does it mean to you to be a hairdresser?
A. With the multitude of possibilities, I would have to go with the human condition here. Meaning, Im a social guy and like to make people happy. Even in that sense, it seems to be to shallow of an answer to do it justice. So lets delve a bit deeper and lead on with the personality behind the social guy. Im the kind of guy that walks into a gas station and makes the clerk smile, quite possibly changing their entire day for the better. I really like to make people feel good about themselves and appreciate who they are, and what they bring into the world. So me being a hair dresser gets me that much closer to making everybody in my day feel good about themselves.
Q. Who is your biggest inspiration?
A. My biggest inspiration would probably be my girl friend Amanda. She is so articulate and creative in everything she does, it just absorbs my attention. She is always one step ahead of the trends, and rocks the classics with a bit of a modern twist. Me being a math and sciences guy, my creativity (or lack there of) has had me stumbling from time to time, so I always think about what she would do, and that gets me going again.
Q. When do you feel most creative?
A. I would have to say Im the most creative when Im having a good time. Laughing and carrying on about something, then it clicks and I make a mental note. Some people really get into the whole regimen of I must create something and find themselves working to hard to be creative. Thats not me, I need to giggle just a bit and that really lights up my creative fire.
Q. What do you hope to get out of this journey?
A. I think the experience would be enough, however living here in Des Moines, Iowa we are kind of behind the learning curve. So seeing what the other locations are doing would be great, not only for the styles, but the methods and executions they teach. Of course the networking would also be a peak point of the journey. So education, networking, knowledge, and freinds would be my final answer.
Q. If you could have dinner with an industry celebrity or icon, who would it be, and why?
A. It would be a tough choice between Geno Stampora, or Luis Alvarez of Aquage. When I went to the NAHAs last year, I saw a video clip of Geno talking with some of his students. It was only a clip, but it was a powerful moment. He said "If you had only applied yourself a little bit more, just think of where you would be today." Holy moses! That little clip blew me away, and made me think, he was right. As for Luis Alvarez, I would like to ask what made him decide to build an empire like Aquage. I see him at every hair show and we talk just a bit, but you don't get that kind of opportunity everyday to have dinner with an industry icon.
Q. If you could make one change in the world, what would it be, and why?
A. Cue beauty pageant music now.... Curtains please....
I think I would make everyone stop and breath for a minute. Remind them to smell the roses along the way, tell them not to focus on what they don't have, and focus on the things they do. To smile and realize that nobody makes it out of here alive. As morbid as that may be or sound, it is also a fresh concept to not get worked up over the little things. To take care of each other regardless of race, religion or creed. Oh my gosh! This it seriously turning out to be a Beauty pageant answer! As to why I would make this change. I feel we would all grow together, instead of growing apart.
Well I have answered the six questions I had left, and now you'll have to see the video response. Thanks for coming by!
Matt
