Commencement Ceremony for Motlow Smyrna Students to Occur at 4 p.m. May 5

         SMYRNA -- Motlow Smyrna students will participate in the 48th annual Commencement during a ceremony at 4 p.m. May 5 (Saturday) inside Nisbett Center on the Moore County campus.

         Incoming President Dr. Michael L. Torrence will preside over the ceremonies, with Krissy DeAlejandro, executive director of tnAchieves, serving as guest speaker.

         According to the Motlow office of Admissions and Records, more than 1,100 Motlow students have applied to graduate, making up the largest graduating class in the history of the college. Moore County and Fayetteville campus students will graduate at 10 a.m. Students from the McMinnville campus and the Nursing class will graduate at 1 p.m. The day will end with Smyrna campus students receiving their degrees.

Krissy DeAlejandro, executive director of tnAchieves

         As the leader of the partnering organization for Tennessee Promise, DeAlejandro’s work through tnAchieves has contributed to enrollment increases and student outcomes for Motlow and other community colleges throughout Tennessee. The overwhelming majority of these students are the first in their families to attend college. Raised in a small town in rural Tennessee, Krissy herself is the first in her family to attend college. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of the South in Sewanee and pursued her master’s degree and doctorate at the University of Tennessee, where she began teaching at age 24.   

 

Smyrna Arts, Entertainment and Media Club to Host Talent Show

By Anthony Czelusniak

Motlow Buzz Student News Editor

            SMYRNA, Tenn. – The Smyrna Entertainment, Arts and Media Club (SEAM) will host a talent show from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. April 26 (Thursday) in the lobby of the MaryLou Apple Building.

            The talent show will spotlight more than 10 performers. Students, as well as faculty, administrators and staff will perform songs, instrumentals, and poetry. Performers will include Camille Cole, Cameron Droddy, Bob Fitzgerald, Cateland Gonzalez, Paige Hendrickson, Ben Jobe, Desaree O’Donnell, Montez Voorhies, Charles Whiting, and Megan Williams. Elizabeth and Kevin Fitch will close with a 15-minute performance. The show will be emceed by Nick Bush and SEAM Club President Parker Shewmaker.

            The members of SEAM have been planning the talent show since the beginning of the fall semester, and they are excited to see it come to fruition. The show was created to give students and others the opportunity to share their talents with the Motlow Smyrna community.

Shewmaker expressed his excitement of having the opportunity to celebrate SEAM’s becoming as an official club at Motlow State Community College.

            “Hopefully the talent show will truly submerse us in the club community, and open the door for anyone interested in media, entertainment, etc.,” he said, “This is our chance to truly establish a prominent club for Mass Communications students.”

            SEAM is the club on Motlow’s Smyrna campus that is dedicated to discussing, exploring and consuming various types of entertainment, arts and media.

Springhouse in Smyrna Presents 'Sherlock Holmes'

 Rachel Towle

Motlow Buzz Contributing

       SMYRNA, Tenn. - - Springhouse Worship and Arts Center, a community theatre located in 

Smyrna, Tennesee, will present the play "Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery" from April 27-

29.       

          The show follows detective Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr. John Watson as they attempt

to solve the mystery surrounding the moors of Baskerville. The audience met a character named Dr. 

Mortimer who believed that a devlish hound was prowling the moors. The original owner of 

Baskerville Sir Hugo Baskerville kidnapped a young woman and brought her to his home. When she 

escaped at night, Sir Hugo ran after her through the moors and was attacked by a giant hound.

            The heir to the Baskerville fortune, Sir Charles Basherville, was thought to have died under 

suspicious circumstances. Dr. Mortimer told Sherlock Holmes that when he witnessed the event, he 

saw a startled look on Sir. Charles' face and giant pawprints nearby.

            It is up to Sherlock and Dr. Watson to solve the mystery of what happened to the previous 

owners and prevent the next heir, Sir Henry, from meeting the same fate.

            The script was written by American playwright Ken Ludwig and is based on Conan Doyle's 

novel, "The Hound of Baskerville."

            The plot dealt with dark themes, while each scene consisted of humorous characters.

            "When I read the script, I was intriqued," Director Charlotte Myhre said. "There is a lot of 

honesty in the midst of comedy. It's a massive story told by a small cast."

            The focus is placed more on the plot and characters instead of the overall set design. It is full 

of entertaining characters and surprising costume changes. The cast is made up of five people, and 

three of them play multiple characters.

            The role of Sherlock Holmes if played by Phil Brady and Dr. Watson is played by Dee 

Rogers.

            "I would describe Sherlock as an overachiever, intense, attention deficit, intelligent, and 

creative," Brady said.

            Actor Jacob Myhre plays 14 characters, inlcuding Dr. Mortimer, Baron Scarpia, Man with 

Black Beard, Lucy, Milker, Castilian Desk Clerk, Trap Driver, Barrymore, Stapleton, Victor, Doctor 

McCann, Country Farmer, Hound, and Sir John Falstaff.

            Actor Matthew Dale Carona portrays seven characters, including Sir Charles Baskerville, 

Daisy, Sir Hugo Baskerville, Bradley the Tobacconist, Sir Henry Baskerville, Wilson, and Inspector 

Lestrade.

            Actress Kristen Ownby plays 15 characters, including Mrs. Hudson, Maiden, Shepherdess, 

Floria Tosca, Cartwright, German Maid, Baby, Mrs. Clayton, Train Conductor, Mrs. Barrymore, 

Miss Stapleton, Nurse Malloy, Winnie, Nurse MacKeeble, and Laura Lyons.

            The cast and crew spent two months preparing for opening night. Ownby contacted actresses 

from different parts of the world to learn the different accents she uses for each character.

            Quick costume changes were scheduled and had to be perfected by the cast and wardrobe. 

Stage hands were responsible for moving sets and props on and off stage. 

            The audience laughed at the humor portrayed amid the dark themes and applauded the quick 

costume changes.  

            "It's neat to see the high level-skill portrayed by the characters quickly, as well as the 

different accents, too, especially with just five people," audience member Margaret Tant said.      

            Springhouse first became a performing arts center more than 10 years ago and showcases 

around four plays a season. The list of shows, showtimes and ticket prices are available on their 

website at springhousesmyrna.com/. The theatre is located at 14119 Old Nashville Highway in 

Smyrna.

            Showtimes for "Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery" include April 27 at 7:30 p.m., 

April 28 at 7:30 p.m., and April 29 at 3:30 p.m.

          

Total Fitness Kickboxing Opens to the Public

By Ismael Omana

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Business professionals Joe Pass and Casey Nichols opened their new Total Fitness Kickboxing gym to the public in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on April 1.

            Total Fitness Kickboxing has only been open for a few weeks, but it will host a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. April 25. Kitchen Fresh will give out food samples, and there will be a vitamin shop at the event.

Total Fitness Kickboxing is the first kickboxing gym in Murfreesboro that offers facilities for reasonable prices. The gym is open from Monday-Friday, with one-hour classes occurring at 10 a.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m. Two kickboxing classes are offered on Saturday at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. The gym is closed on Sunday.

The gym has 39 punching bags (photo by Ismael Omana)

“Burning massive amounts of calories, toning lean muscle, and most importantly having a fun and effective workout are the three important goals to hit,” said Pass.

Total Fitness Kickboxing gym has 39 punching bags. An average class can accommodate eight to 15 people. Participants range in age from 22 to 45. Members are welcome to bring their children to train in the gym. A 72-year-old member now serves as an instructor. All ages are welcome.

Total Fitness Kickboxing gym offers customer incentives for referrals. The first visit is free. Individuals can earn sunglasses, specially designed water bottles, and t-shirts. After five referrals, customers receive a gift card to a local food store. After the 15^th referral, a member can win special golden gloves and a free membership for a year.

One of the giveaway items (photo by Ismael Omana)

“Owning the gold gloves is an accomplishment,” said Pass. “We reward members for bringing in more people.”

The three founders, David Ferguson, Butch Mauldin, and Eric McMahan, launched their business in Memphis, Tennessee. Chief of Operations Joe Pass helped open the first Total Fitness Kickboxing gym in East Memphis. They have seven gyms across Tennessee. There are four gyms in Memphis, one in Knoxville, and one in Chattanooga. Pass and Nichols serve as full-time instructors at the Murfreesboro location.

Pass used to work in an intimidating gym where there was MMA, Jiu Jitsu, and kickboxing. After suffering a shoulder injury, he decided to focus more on the fitness side of Kickboxing. That is when he contacted the founders and soon formed a business a partnership.

Pass and Nichols said they have worked hard to help every member achieve his or her goals. They love to see people lose weight and gain some muscle. They strive to see the overall improvement of each individual.        

            “Hit the gym harder,” said Pass.

            For more information about Total Fitness Kickboxing gym, visit www.totalfitnesskickboxing.com/.

Nashville Holds Cherry Blossom Festival

By Alara Bishop

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-The annual Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival is being held in the Nashville Public Square on April 14, drawing hundreds of visitors for Japanese culture, music, and a parade.

The festival was created in honor of the promise that 1,000 cherry blossom trees would be planted in and around Nashville over the course of 10 years. Every year since 2009, the Japan-America Society of Tennessee, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, the Consulate-General of Japan, Davidson County, and many volunteers plant 100 cherry blossom trees in the Nashville area.

Cosplay contestants (photo provided by festival organizers)

The Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival is an event shared between sister cities Nashville, Tennessee, and Kamakura, Japan. The festival is a celebration of the Japanese culture and traditions. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the partnership.

The festival began with a 2 ½-mile walk. After the walk, activities included live musical performances and tented booths selling items such as Kimonos, cherry blossoms, and artwork.  

The festival is a free event for the public that offers many activities for families. The event drew more than 100 different vendors selling food and Japanese cultural items. The festival included a kid’s zone and a parade, where dog lovers showed off their furry friends. The festival had numerous live performances featuring groups from all over the country including Kaminari Taiko, Sunset Dash, Munkhjin Curtindale and many more.

 Kaminari Taiko, a group from Houston, performed several pieces of music on traditional Japanese drums. They were a crowd favorite.

Kaminari Taiko (photo by Alara Bishop)

“I think the festival will continue to grow, and Kaminari Taiko will be here every year to give the people a great show,” said a member of the group.

A traveling family circus led by Victor Kent performed in the main park area. The proud father watched as his 12-year-old daughter amazed the crowed with her strength on the trapeze. One of his sons performed with an Australian bullwhip, while his other son held items dangerously close to his body, kindly asking his brother not to hit him. The group is a member of the Japan American Society of Kentucky and was invited to showcase its talent at the Tennessee festival some 10 years ago.

  “I plan to return every year,” said Kent.

Kent Family Circus (photo by Knoxville Kids Show)

Many local businesses and food trucks brought a taste of Japan to Public Square Park on Saturday with their traditional Japanese dishes.

“The food is my favorite part of the festival,” said volunteer Lauren Elkins.

Each vendor brought different handmade items to share with the public. Booths sold anime memorabilia, origami, fans, and many other items one sees in Japan. One local vendor even spent hours folding tiny origami shapes to sell as earrings at the festival.

The festival is only one of the many ways Tennessee and Japan are working together. Over the past decade, Tennessee has seen an increase in Japanese businesses opening and a great acceptance of the culture. The relationship between sister cities Kamakura and Nashville has encouraged many institutions and companies to embrace the culture and bring in all aspects of the learning and working environment.

In 1912, the Mayor of Kyoto, Japan, sent 3,000 cherry blossom trees to the United States as a sign of friendship. Since this act of kindness, the United States has brought in many Japanese businesses to help its own economy.

Every year, Nashville sees an increase in Japanese visitors, and some even become permanent citizens. Everyone wants a piece of the American dream, and some organizations are working in small ways to make it the Japan-American dream.

For more information about the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival, visit http://www.nashvillecherryblossomfestival.org.

Cat Café Coming to Murfreesboro

By Brooke Routh

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

         MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Two local Murfreesboro residents will open up their own cat with coffee café called Catfeine this summer to help adoptable rescue cats find forever homes while serving tasty beverages simultaneously.

          Curtis and Taura Byrd were watching an episode of Shark Tank in 2015 when the idea of a cat café first popped into their minds.  Since then, they have been working hard to bring the coffee and cat café to Murfreesboro.    
         Unfortunately, they have not released the address for Catfeine yet, but they have hinted that it will be located in downtown Murfreesboro. At first, The Byrds were considering opening Catfeine, the coffee and cat café, in Nashville, but ultimately decided on Murfreesboro because they live there and because the city has plenty of cat lovers. After Catfeine’s Facebook page was created in summer of 2017, the demand for a cat café in Murfreesboro skyrocketed.

Curtis and Taura Byrd

           The Byrds have been working closely with the Rutherford County Health Department to ensure that everything in the café will be up to code. There will not be any cat hair in the coffee. The area where coffee is prepared will be separated from the cat lounge.  There also will be a separate area for the litter boxes so that the cats have their own private area away from customers.  
          “The cats will have a separate ‘no humans allowed’ area where they can get away if they need a break," said Curtis Byrd. 
          “Only their caregiver will be allowed to enter," Taura Byrd added. "One of the very reasons we want to have a cat lounge adoption environment is due to the countless number of times we've had to complain at a local big box pet store about the condition of the cages the cats are in, It is terrible. Cats should not have to lie in their own filth. This turns prospective adopters away because it gives the perception that cats are dirty. We promise to keep a super clean and healthy environment for both the cats and the humans!”

          The Byrds plan to have a cat lounge where customers can sip coffee while petting the cats. There will be an hourly rate for access to the lounge to help underwrite the cost to take care of the cats, and maintain the café. They plan to offer monthly memberships to customers who plan to visit often. There will be student discount options as well. Catfeine will be a place to relax before or after classes or even to study for finals, even if the temptation to pet the cats is strong.

           Some potential customers expressed disappointment when it was revealed that there will be an hourly rate to access the cat lounge. “While we would love to provide this as a free experience, we simply cannot afford to. Said Curtis Byrd. “Caring for the cats can be quite expensive.  We're providing care, food, shelter, toys and tons of litter, just to name the basics.  The cover charge will help ensure The Byrds are able to provide cats with the care they need and a roof over their heads. 
          “We will do everything we can to keep the cost to a minimum,” Curtis Byrd continued. “Spots will be limited each hour, so reservations will be highly encouraged to ensure cat lovers get their kitty fix.”

         Food will not be prepared onsite, but Catfeine will have baked goods prepackaged from a local bakery. Olive Branch Bakery, a local bakery in Murfreesboro, will be providing Catfeine with bakery goods. The bakery specializes in macaroons and other cat shaped pastries.

          The Byrds said that Murfreesboro needs a cat café and there is no better time than 2018. People love coffee and cats, so why not combine the two while helping cats in need of homes. 
          To learn more about Catfeine, visit http://www.catfeine.net.

Frist Exhibit Commemorates Nashville's Civil Rights Movement

By Amelia Zeller

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Frist Art Museum is proudly displaying an exhibit titled “We Shall Overcome: Civil Rights and the Nashville Press, 1957-1968” through Oct. 14, 2018 in its Conte Community Gallery.

The Conte Community Gallery is free to everyone, and it is located in the front section of the Frist Center at 919 Broadway. The exhibit is presented in honor of the 50^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, which occurred in Memphis on April 4, 1968. It consists of 50 black and white photos from the Civil Rights movement in Nashville between 1957 and 1968. 

King's casket being transported from Memphis to Atlanta for burial.

First day of desegregation in Nashville schools Sept. 9, 1957.

In 1957, desegregation in Nashville schools began to take place. The exhibit also includes photos from the year that King was assassinated, and both events are among the photos in the exhibit. The Nashville sit-ins, which took place in 1960 as an effort to desegregate lunch counters in the area, are another historical event included in the photos.

Agitators attack a sit-in demonstrator at a Nashville lunch counter.

All photos in the exhibit were taken by the two daily newspapers in Tennessee at the time, The Tennessean and The Nashville Banner. The exhibit displays strong photos that helped shape the public's opinion at the time.

Although much change has come since the Civil Rights movement, these photos serve as a reminder of issues that are still relevant. Race is still a common subject in American life, and it is a good time to take another look back at the brave people who stood up for change so that we could have a more equal country.

"We always try to bring in knowledgeable exhibits that are relevant to the time," said Frist Museum Visitors Center Manager Bonnie Wells. "This exhibit is important because it refreshes the public's memory of what people have been through just for equality. It shows the passion and pain that drove the Civil Rights movement."

The Frist Art Museum hosted or will host three events related to the exhibit. At noon on April 14, there was a panel discussion titled “Voices from the Front Lines” with participants from the local Civil Rights movement.

“The pictures themselves are powerful, but nothing makes the movement more real than the first-person accounts that were given at this event,” said Wells. “No one can better express the inequality of the times than the ones who were there.”

Among those who spoke were King Hollands, Gloria McKissack, and Rip Patton.

 At 7 p.m. on April 16, there was a concert titled “Songs of Freedom” in the Frist Auditorium. The concert included spirituals from slave days, freedom songs created in the civil rights era, and the jazz that resulted from these times. This event featured performances by local artists and musicians. “Songs of Freedom” was presented with the future National Museum of African-American Music in Nashville.

Another event to be held in association with “We Shall Overcome” will be a two-day educator workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 19 and 20, which is open to K-12 teachers of all subjects. This workshop will allow teachers to examine the photos in the exhibit while participating in a group gallery discussion that will allow them to gather teaching materials. The event is limited to 20 educators, and registration is due by July 16. Breakfast, lunch, studio activities, materials and gallery admission will be $50 for Frist members and $60 for non-members.

It is the perfect time to view the Frist's “We Shall Overcome” exhibit because the country is still very conscious of race relations. Those who inspired through the stormy Civil Rights era deserve recognition, and these powerful photographs take individuals from 1954 to 1968 with a whirlwind of emotions provoked by the images of the times.

The Frist Art Museum has a vision to inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways, and this exhibit brings that vision to life. Regardless of skin color, individuals can benefit humanity by learning of the heroism of people from the past and learning more about things that are important.

For more information, visit www.Fristartmuseum.org. 

Cousins Maine and Lobster Holds Festival for New Smyrna Restaurant

By Xander Alsup

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

SMYRNA, Tenn.-- Cousin Maine and Lobster held a food festival on April 8 to celebrate its new restaurant at 1932 Almaville Road in Smyrna.

The multi-million-dollar franchise celebrated with a wide variety of other local food trucks such as Music City Brisket, The Grilled Cheesery, and Funk Seoul Brothers, as well as two of their own.

According to the restaurant's site, they debuted their first food truck back in the spring of 2012 in California. Since then, owners Sabin Lomac and Jimmy Tselikis have seen a lot of success.

Tselikis and Lomac received their big break after being featured on the ABC TV show "Shark Tank." After making a deal with Barbara Corcoran, the brand now has more than 20 food trucks in 13 cities with more than 100 employees.

One thing that sets Cousins Maine and Lobster apart from their competition is the quality of their food.

For example, the lobster tacos are served with a wonderful blend of Maine lobster, cabbage, pico de gallo, and cilantro lime sauce all wrapped up inside a flour tortilla for $14 for three tacos.

Out of all the foods on the menu, the most well-known entry is probably the lobster rolls.

When ordering the lobster rolls, one has two choices to choose from. The first is the Maine Lobster Roll.

The Maine Lobster Roll is served chilled, with a touch of mayo on a New England-style roll. Although it sounds simple, that doesn't make it any less delicious.

Next up is the Connecticut Roll, served warmed with butter and lemon on the same New England-style roll. You can pick up either of these rolls for $15. 

This newest restaurant installment is owned by franchisees Craig and Quinn Betts.

When asked about the influence behind Cousins Maine and Lobster's famous lobster roll, Quinn Betts explained that the original idea stemmed from the childhood memories of the two owners.

"Jim and Sabin usually would use leftovers to make the dish," said Betts.

Of course, now the dish is made fresh and is probably one of their most well-known dishes other than their lobster mac and cheese.

Another fact many will find interesting is that Cousins Maine and Lobster's lobsters really are sourced exclusively from Maine.

"So far, we've only sourced our lobsters from Maine, and we have no plans to change this in the future," said Betts.

To learn more about the restaurant and see the full menu, visit www.cousinsmainelobster.com.

While the Smyrna restaurant is not yet open, the food trucks will remain active. You can see their location schedules by checking their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CMLobsterNashville/.

When Fashion Meets Seasons

By Constance Allen

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

Smyrna-- My focus is women trendy seasonal fashion. We are now in the spring season of 2018, and I’m here to inform you of what’s hot, and what’s not!

         Fashion sense is something that everyone is born with. You know what you like to wear and what you do not at a very young age. I took a special interest into clothes at a very young age and have kept up with trends through the years.

        I noticed this season that there is a move toward the cooler and softer side of the color spectrum. A mix of brights, pale pastels, and nature-like neutrals take center stage for colors in this season. The season brings my all time favorite rebirthed trends! Spring brings many throwback favorites, colors and patterns to have fun with. The throwbacks of retro colors, folkloric and floral art, and the magical islands of tropical landscapes restore a mindset of well-being as we head into the spicy months!

         I often feel compelled to be connected to fashion around the clock because I am afraid I will miss something important. Keeping up with trends can be time consuming because things are constantly in, then they are not.

        We all try to follow the latest trends in seasonal fashion. There is a growing movement in the designer world to step out and create ‘quiet zones’ to disconnect from technology world we live in and unwind. This movement gives us time to stop and be still from the world we live in.

        Color choices follow the same minimalistic theme movement. Designers are taking ideas from nature rather than being reinvented or mechanically manipulated by our technology-driven influences. Designers are letting nature choose the colors this spring for their upcoming shows and deigns.

        I love this movement because natures neutrals bring out my favorite colors to rock! Soft, cool colors blend with eye-catching warm tones to create a relaxing escape from the everyday hustle in the work world. These soft, cool colors blending with warm tones are the colors that will be in for spring ’18 fashion!

        I have combed through the spring 2018 collections to bring you the top fashion and accessory trends of the season. Here, I will break down each runway and street style trend, completing it with spring fashion shopping roundups, outfit ideas, and styling that I find hot this spring. A

        The leading color for this spring is “Pantone 14-4313” (that’s the designer name).  Pantone 14-4313 is also known as Aquamarine. Aquamarine is a shade with a wet and watery feel that hints to the aqua in the name. I feel like this shade of blue is so soft it acts as a stress reducer.

        Aquamarine is being used by designers in numerous outfit ideas. An essential outfit I would rock with this color is aquamarine blouse, easy denim, and a straw bag. 

        Aside from aquamarine, spring florals are always in every spring season. Florals have to be my favorite print of the season. Floral prints add a great pop to any outfit in my opinion. Spring florals and oversized denim are a classic combo I love. Another classic spring combo I will suggest is going all white with a nice blazer and a bright purse. Another designer idea favorite you can do is mixing prints. I like mixing prints like '70s florals with a funky vintage shirt. For more mix print looks check out the link below.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/maitlandquitmeyer/ways-to-mix-match-and-clash-prints-like-a-pro?utm_term=.pbDW1P30kx#.ksbzDaNkW1

        Stepping away from clashing prints, if you want a work approach like a suit, you might as well do it in a spring all-time favorite buttercup yellow. This spring, stirrups are in, especially when worn over your heels.  I like to make outfits casual with metallic Birkenstocks. If skinny statement frames intimidate you like they do me, test them out with a monochromatic outfit. In style brings lots of spring favorites as well, to check them out click the link below.
http://www.instyle.com/fashion/spring

        A white dress is a spring wardrobe you must have, but a leather bustier worn on top spices things up. A simple white tank paired with baggy pants and stilettos is a sexy take on a touch of menswear.

        Last but not least, the final spring fashion trend I will suggest is the classic clashing neons like a pro with fluorescent pink and highlighter yellow for a great pop! For even more classic spring duos the link below gives additional options.
http://stylecaster.com/spring-outfit-ideas/

        This spring fashion is all about creating "quiet zones" to disconnect from technology and unwind. This movement gives us time to stop and be still and explore our creative side along with natures. Designers are letting nature choose the colors this spring season, and so should we to keep up with the latest trends. Soft cool hues with a blend of subtle warm tones are in. Next time you go shopping, look for those trendy color choices to put in your shopping cart.

Both the Beauty and the Ugly in the Beauty Industry

By Liliana Gonzalez
Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer   

         

            SMYRNA -- I was about 15 years old when I first started wearing makeup. At 16 years old, I remember trying to glue on a pair of eyelashes for the first time, and it was a nightmare! It took a whole 45 minutes to glue them on correctly. Halfway through the process, I glued one of my eyes together.

Now I think back and laugh at that memory. I can get both eyelashes perfectly on in a total of five minutes. At the age of 20 today, I have worked in the beauty industry for two years. I was a prestige makeup artist for Ulta Beauty for two years.

I have learned many things while working in the beauty industry, including networking, upselling, and most importantly making the customer feel beautiful. There are a lot of perks that come with working in this field. However, there are also many negatives.

In this article, I will share what it is like to work at a retail beauty store, some beauty tips and tricks, how to not break the bank when buying makeup, and the experiences I have gone through.

            When you are working for a retail beauty store, the goal is obviously to upsell the most you can. When a customer asked us for help, we were trained to listen to the customer and always start with the most expensive high-end product to recommend to the customer.

 I believe this way is flawed because I knew that there were products that worked just fine that were lower priced. For example, a customer would ask for a glitter primer. My job was to recommend the “Too Faced Glitter Glue Glitter Shadow Primer,” which retailed for $20. This was even though I knew that the “NYX Professional Makeup Glitter Primer” retailed for $6.49 and worked exactly the same as the higher-end one.

I could not tell the customer my personal knowledge and experience while comparing the higher-end products to the lower-end products. I did not like that, so I always broke the rules. In my opinion, that is the right thing to do. Women of all ages would come to me and ask me in confidence what best suited them. Morally, I felt like I had to be honest with them. I knew my morals were not lining up with the company’s ethics. Although this was one negative, I believe the positives outweighed that.

            My favorite part of working in the beauty industry was practicing the craft that I adore, all day, every day. My job was to make women and men feel beautiful and help them when they came to me for advice or for a makeover. It felt amazing when I knew I was teaching someone something new and their eyes would light up with excitement as they gained knowledge. I always gave it my all when it came to giving people makeovers. My clients would always return to me, and that felt amazing!

People are always curious to know if we ever got free makeup. The answer is yes, all the time. Apart from having your major discount of 25 percent off various products (which is a lot when it comes to buying expensive makeup), sometimes the brands will double this amount to 50 percent. For example, our normal discount was offered all the time, but some weeks a brand would double it. Brands do this because they are fighting for the employees to try their brands, so that we can sell their products to customers and increase sales. I also networked a lot with the different makeup companies’ vendors. The vendors are the people who represent a brand at the store.

Every week, there were vendors who came in for every brand. Your goal was to be their friend and act like their brand was the best one in the store. It was all about getting close to the vendor. That way, they could give you free products in return. I know it sounds bad, but that was the way it worked. You had to be likeable and sell yourself to these brands.

For example, the "TooFaced" brand vendor would come into the store, and I would have to fight with the other girls for attention. Not literally, but we would all try and get alone time with the vendor and try to talk to them as much as we could. I have to admit I did get free makeup this way. I got the “Too Faced Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Palette” for free, which retails for $49. Another perk was the training for new product launches.

In the beauty industry, new products are being launched all the time, and customers are always looking for the newest, hottest products out there. We would have parties in the store for employees only when a product would launch. We would get to try new products that had not hit the shelf yet and take it home for free to try it out. That is where our knowledge for products would come from. With so many products in the store, we could not give customers advice if we had never personally tried the product.

One of the major things I have learned from working in the beauty industry that I am sharing with you today is to not always trust the sales reps at beauty stores. They are always going to try to upsell to meet their personal goal. They are most likely lying half of the time when talking about a beauty product with you.

I made the mistake of trusting a different beauty store representative when I was 15 years old. I walked in not knowing what I was doing, and I asked an employee for help. She convinced me into buying expensive items that were awful. When I got home, I cried. I learned my lesson and turned to watching makeup tutorials online instead for advice.

The online beauty world is so massive today that you can get all of the latest info every week from hundreds of girls on YouTube. They are sent makeup for free encourage them to give their honest opinions on it. They share to the audience what is actually worth your money, and they will even teach you techniques on how to apply the makeup. That is truly the best way to go into the makeup world.

There are many online beauty bloggers with the latest tips and tricks. A very popular one can be found at https://intothegloss.com/

Overall, working in the beauty industry is fun and exciting. I encourage every beauty fanatic to try it.

The most important thing I can leave you with is a quote by Coco Chanel: “A smile is the best makeup anyone can wear.”

Makeup empowers people of all ages and genders, and it is a beautiful artistry in which you can express yourself any way.