logo designed, once again, by the amazing Kelly
(go get a beverage, this is gonna take a while...)
THIS is quite a story, let me tell you.
So. Last May, the 4th to be exact, I was at an event at the high school called the Stay-Awake-A-Thon. It's a big fundraiser run by the Leo's (the younger branch of the Lions Club) where all of the monies raised go towards organizations that deal with cancer and it's many affects on a family and community.
ANYWAY, while I was at that event, my friend Marlene asked me if I knew Cindi, the woman who was the receptionist at the salon was moving. As a matter of fact, I did not. Without skipping a beat, I asked if I could have the job. THEN, I found out the hours and changed my mind. Then I thought about it some more and changed it again. And again. Finally, a week or so later I wrote an email; I wanted to give it a whirl.
Bella decided me working at the salon would be an awesome idea. My therapist thought it would be a good idea. Well then, OK...
In early June I interviewed (Mar and I had played email and phone tag for a while there) and I was offered the job. I started the week after Bella went to prom.
If you've been here a while you know I have since changed my title to Hair Traffic Controller or the more professional, Salon Coordinator.
It has been, bar none, the single most difficult position I have ever had to learn - and I have had a lot of jobs. I also consider myself rather bright but let me tell you, there are some days when the job wins and I go home fried.
The women in the place are awesome, fun, creative, and really, just a general delight to be around. Like any group of people that spends more than 35 hours a week together, we have our moments. Most everything can be fixed with some coffee, Motrin and laughter.
I have relationships with each person at the salon, and each relationship is different.
With that said, Kathy and I hit it off because of our Long Island backgrounds and the fact that our sons have known each other since third grade. We see things in a very similar way. Maybe it's our ties to the ocean that we both so love.
Kathy is the one who explained to me about the Oscar worthy performance we must all give each and every day.
You can be having THE shittiest day on the planet and your clients cannot know. They come to be pampered. They come to be taken care of. They come to be refreshed. YOU know all their secrets. They know relatively little about you...unless they read this blog, and then, well, they love me anyway.
ANYWAY, again, to continue, back in November we had teacher conferences. I was rather concerned about how a certain one of my kids was reacting in school to the occasional bad grade.
(Really Bella, an 88% is bad?!) <-- throwing her under the bus.
For all of her school life, I had been here when she got home, so I was genuinely concerned when her teachers kept mentioning she seemed stressed. I figured I better quit the job. Even Marco agreed that might be the best thing to do. (That's how I knew it was serious!) I went in and mentioned it to Marlene. I cried when I did because as exhausting as the hours are, I really love it.
Then, I mentioned it to Bella. She called me an idiot and told me to keep working. Her brother reminded me they would both be gone in a year and a half so I better have something to do.
Precious, aren't they?
And so I stayed. The hours are still long and I swear, some day I am going to start a tick sheet to see just how many people I speak to in four days. I would bet a full head of highlights and a cut it's more than 450. Always on. Always happy. Always chipper.
I know I have mentioned more than once that cooking is a lost art now. That's the results of this schedule. I don't do it very much and the meals are pretty much all the same. Still, no one is malnourished and they are all doing just fine. Maybe when we can easily get to the bar-b-que we can change things up a bit.
I got through the holidays pretty OK. I wasn't on my A game and Marco is still upset we never got an official Christmas picture, but neither kid has changed all that much in a year so I am fine with it.
The new year rolled in and I was getting ready for some serious excitement.
Six years ago Marlene and Eileen opened up Backstage Salon. It has a terrific reputation. Mar, Eileen, Colleen and Leslie have all been working together for more than 25 years. That's kind of unheard of in this industry. There can be a high turnover rate at a salon. Marlene and Eileen have always treated everyone fairly, they have been kind, so, in turn they get respect and appreciation from the people who work with them. It's a fun business but sometimes, even the owners need a change.
And change was afoot...
Yesterday, Kathy and I became the new owners of Backstage Salon!
We are extraordinarily fortunate that the entire staff will be remaining.
Backstage works and we all know the adage, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. There will be a few enhancements here and there. Effective today, we now accept AMEX, which will make a great many clients swoon with the joy of points. We will also accept Discover - I don't foresee quite as much excitement about that. A computer with a program that will allow online appointments and all customer info at our fingertips is on the top of my list. Some in-house classes to keep the stylists involved in all the latest trends for hair is at the top of Kathy's list. New chairs in the lobby. A few new pieces of art. Perhaps a color smock that will make everyone happy.
We have a new website that is in the very beginning stages. I'd love for you to check it out at www.backstagesaloncroton.com We know it needs pictures. We're going to add a "Did You Know" page to highlight different products, styles, techniques, facials, etc.
We have an Instagram account - you can find us at: backstage_salon07
Of course, we are on Facebook. I would love it if you would come "like" us and share us, too.
We are working on a Pinterest page and I suppose Twitter is not too far behind.
I have remarked on more than one occasion that the salon and TGHR meld together. I have personally delighted from meeting a huge amount of fantastic people and learning about their lives. I have introduced more than a few people to each other. At the salon, it is people doing their best work for other people.
I strive to create community. On any given Sunday there will be a TGHR event in the space that is so utterly beautiful and captivating and elegant I can't wait to share it. I have already been "in talks" with some fabulous women to make a big "meet and greet" happen among like minded people.
I am over the moon excited to partner with Kathy and continue working with such remarkable women.
It is going to be magical.
So there you have it.
Who'd a thunk this in June?!
Here's to the future!
xo
THIS is quite a story, let me tell you.
So. Last May, the 4th to be exact, I was at an event at the high school called the Stay-Awake-A-Thon. It's a big fundraiser run by the Leo's (the younger branch of the Lions Club) where all of the monies raised go towards organizations that deal with cancer and it's many affects on a family and community.
ANYWAY, while I was at that event, my friend Marlene asked me if I knew Cindi, the woman who was the receptionist at the salon was moving. As a matter of fact, I did not. Without skipping a beat, I asked if I could have the job. THEN, I found out the hours and changed my mind. Then I thought about it some more and changed it again. And again. Finally, a week or so later I wrote an email; I wanted to give it a whirl.
Bella decided me working at the salon would be an awesome idea. My therapist thought it would be a good idea. Well then, OK...
In early June I interviewed (Mar and I had played email and phone tag for a while there) and I was offered the job. I started the week after Bella went to prom.
If you've been here a while you know I have since changed my title to Hair Traffic Controller or the more professional, Salon Coordinator.
It has been, bar none, the single most difficult position I have ever had to learn - and I have had a lot of jobs. I also consider myself rather bright but let me tell you, there are some days when the job wins and I go home fried.
The women in the place are awesome, fun, creative, and really, just a general delight to be around. Like any group of people that spends more than 35 hours a week together, we have our moments. Most everything can be fixed with some coffee, Motrin and laughter.
I have relationships with each person at the salon, and each relationship is different.
With that said, Kathy and I hit it off because of our Long Island backgrounds and the fact that our sons have known each other since third grade. We see things in a very similar way. Maybe it's our ties to the ocean that we both so love.
Kathy is the one who explained to me about the Oscar worthy performance we must all give each and every day.
You can be having THE shittiest day on the planet and your clients cannot know. They come to be pampered. They come to be taken care of. They come to be refreshed. YOU know all their secrets. They know relatively little about you...unless they read this blog, and then, well, they love me anyway.
ANYWAY, again, to continue, back in November we had teacher conferences. I was rather concerned about how a certain one of my kids was reacting in school to the occasional bad grade.
(Really Bella, an 88% is bad?!) <-- throwing her under the bus.
For all of her school life, I had been here when she got home, so I was genuinely concerned when her teachers kept mentioning she seemed stressed. I figured I better quit the job. Even Marco agreed that might be the best thing to do. (That's how I knew it was serious!) I went in and mentioned it to Marlene. I cried when I did because as exhausting as the hours are, I really love it.
Then, I mentioned it to Bella. She called me an idiot and told me to keep working. Her brother reminded me they would both be gone in a year and a half so I better have something to do.
Precious, aren't they?
And so I stayed. The hours are still long and I swear, some day I am going to start a tick sheet to see just how many people I speak to in four days. I would bet a full head of highlights and a cut it's more than 450. Always on. Always happy. Always chipper.
I know I have mentioned more than once that cooking is a lost art now. That's the results of this schedule. I don't do it very much and the meals are pretty much all the same. Still, no one is malnourished and they are all doing just fine. Maybe when we can easily get to the bar-b-que we can change things up a bit.
I got through the holidays pretty OK. I wasn't on my A game and Marco is still upset we never got an official Christmas picture, but neither kid has changed all that much in a year so I am fine with it.
The new year rolled in and I was getting ready for some serious excitement.
Six years ago Marlene and Eileen opened up Backstage Salon. It has a terrific reputation. Mar, Eileen, Colleen and Leslie have all been working together for more than 25 years. That's kind of unheard of in this industry. There can be a high turnover rate at a salon. Marlene and Eileen have always treated everyone fairly, they have been kind, so, in turn they get respect and appreciation from the people who work with them. It's a fun business but sometimes, even the owners need a change.
And change was afoot...
Yesterday, Kathy and I became the new owners of Backstage Salon!
We are extraordinarily fortunate that the entire staff will be remaining.
Backstage works and we all know the adage, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. There will be a few enhancements here and there. Effective today, we now accept AMEX, which will make a great many clients swoon with the joy of points. We will also accept Discover - I don't foresee quite as much excitement about that. A computer with a program that will allow online appointments and all customer info at our fingertips is on the top of my list. Some in-house classes to keep the stylists involved in all the latest trends for hair is at the top of Kathy's list. New chairs in the lobby. A few new pieces of art. Perhaps a color smock that will make everyone happy.
We have a new website that is in the very beginning stages. I'd love for you to check it out at www.backstagesaloncroton.com We know it needs pictures. We're going to add a "Did You Know" page to highlight different products, styles, techniques, facials, etc.
We have an Instagram account - you can find us at: backstage_salon07
Of course, we are on Facebook. I would love it if you would come "like" us and share us, too.
We are working on a Pinterest page and I suppose Twitter is not too far behind.
I have remarked on more than one occasion that the salon and TGHR meld together. I have personally delighted from meeting a huge amount of fantastic people and learning about their lives. I have introduced more than a few people to each other. At the salon, it is people doing their best work for other people.
I strive to create community. On any given Sunday there will be a TGHR event in the space that is so utterly beautiful and captivating and elegant I can't wait to share it. I have already been "in talks" with some fabulous women to make a big "meet and greet" happen among like minded people.
I am over the moon excited to partner with Kathy and continue working with such remarkable women.
It is going to be magical.
So there you have it.
Who'd a thunk this in June?!
Here's to the future!
xo
PS - Happy Birthday to my sister Annemarie!
PPS - We raised $33,000 at LIVE! Go us!
PPPS - find Kelly at pak creative
PPS - We raised $33,000 at LIVE! Go us!
PPPS - find Kelly at pak creative
Say everything you've always wanted
Be not afraid of who you really are
'Cause in the end we have each other
And that's at least one thing worth living for
And I will give the world to you
http://youtu.be/27R_goWiAAU
Be not afraid of who you really are
'Cause in the end we have each other
And that's at least one thing worth living for
And I will give the world to you
http://youtu.be/27R_goWiAAU
