I liked the post on Nathan Bransford’s blog about trying a new, yet qualified agent to sell your work.
New hairstylists carry a stigma with them that they can’t do hair. In fact, one of the first questions a client will ask you is the dreaded, “How long have you been doing this?” I would answer truthfully, (does beauty school count?) and get the big eyes, nervous hands, hushed phone calls to the best friend asking them to pray that they leave the salon with hair on their head. Yes, all these things would hurt my feelings, but could I blame them? Absolutely not. Anytime I think of anyone being new at something, I automatically think about the bumbling waiter who spilled Coke on my brand-new white pants, and as he stutters out an apology he adds, “I’m new at this.” My anger dissipates and I shrug the whole thing off thinking, “Newbies are supposed to mess up aren’t they?”
Well sometimes, actually, most of the time, they’re not. They can be quite competent if we give them a try. As a hairstylist, I remember waiting on someone to finally give me a try, and one day my first try waltzed in and asked who was available. The receptionist pointed her hand at me, and there she was sitting in my chair-an actual client! The things dreams are made of! (Okay, I digress, I was excited alright?) When I finished, I told her she was the first real client that I’d ever done. (I say real, because in beauty school, mannequin heads become your clients.) She looked surprised. “I would never had guessed.”
After that first client, I was hungry for more. I wanted to feel that feeling again-of someone looking in the mirror and squealing in delight at the sight of themselves. I was ready to work.
The same can be said for qualified, new agents. They want to satisfy their clients, in essence, they want to work. So be brave-start with the new guy.
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