Wow. Last night was the grand opening of Redken's Symposium and almost 10,000 salon professionals from around the world gathered in the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas to celebrate. It was, really, quite the spectacle.
I had the honor of sitting among a few colleagues who had never attended a Symposium before. It was fun watching THEM and taking in their reactions at the hundreds of models and dancers, aerialists, human "spiders", roller derby chicks and GREAT hair. There were so many special moments like when celebrity stylist Rodney Cutler dropped from the ceiling in a rope net. Modern Salon Media publisher, Steve Reiss turned to me and asked "How do you describe this to anyone?" as models rolled by in plastic spheres sporting gravity defying do's that would make Marie Antoinette jealous.
Steve glanced at me again as a stilt walker skipped by. I shrugged with a "Come on Steve. This IS Vegas after all!"
Actually, it is SYMPOSIUM after all. This three day program is clearly one of the finest and most powerful educational events in the industry. Ludovic Beckers from Belgium told me backstage that "there is nothing like this anywhere else in the world."
And why? The spectacle includes incredibly artistry. Many of the Redken superstars were in the house for return engagements: Anne Mincey, Kris Sorbie, Chris Baran, Ellen Lawlor, Jill Leitz, David Stanko, Michael Cole, Daniel Dhoud….the list goes on and on and includes emerging stars like Ty Isobe and cult favorites like Hugo Arias. Redken has quite the collection of talent.
Offered among the highlights of the grand opening were some important messages. The Hairdressers Against Aids presentation was particularly emotional as we could see how hairdressers "touch" so many people in so many ways.
The next couple of days will be jammed with "Inspiring The Future" interviews, attending AMAZING classes in color, shape, design, business and inspiration, shopping at the "Gallerie" and …wait for it….meeting and hanging with the band TRAIN!!!! They are here as the special entertainment for tonight's "Bash". Who has time to gamble?
Symposium happens every other year and it never disappoints. It's key we support and attend amazing educational events like this to share the new ideas and techniques with others in our salons and industry.
<<<<<<<<<Ann Mincey and Maggie Mulhern
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Hope not.
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