We had the pleasure of having celebrity hairstylist Edris Nichols on our podcast. Edris has worked with everyone from Naomi Campbell to our CEO, Damali Peterman. She is a trailblazer, who has opened doors for black women in the industry. Not only is she world renowned but she has built a space (her hair salon) where people connect. She knows so many people in different walks of life and is able to bring them together when they visit her hair salon or even when they mention her in other spaces. 

The first caller wanted to know some Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to dealing with celebrities in her business. Edris has a lot of experience in this and was able to give us great tips. Remember that you are providing a service. You should always be professional. People often try to befriend celebrities and get too close to them too fast, let that friendship build over time and do your job first.

Make sure your craft is perfected. As celebrities, they deal with numerous people within one field. You want to make sure your work is up to parr. NEVER do whatever you want, even if they ask you to. It’s a set up! Try to use your resources to figure out what they might like. Ask questions and be polite. 

Know your client. Some celebrities like to be treated like regular people but others like to be waited on hand and foot. Know what kind of person they are. Learn to keep a secret. A trustworthy person is valuable to everyone but especially a celebrity. Keeping the private information they share with you close to your heart could make the difference in whether they choose to work with you or not. No matter what kind of celebrity you’re dealing with, keep in mind they’re just regular people. There’s no need to feel intimidated by them. Be confident in your work and treat them with respect.

The second caller is a lawyer who is experiencing a fork in the road. She wants to begin to pursue her passion in acting but isn’t sure how to pivot into embracing her more creative side and is wondering if it’s too late. You can pivot at any time and any age, there is no limit on creativity. Taking acting and improv classes will help build your skills and give you a sense of what being an actor will be like. Try to start with acting as a hobby. This will give you a feel for your passion and help you transition much more smoothly. 

Keep your day job until you are ready. Get in touch with people in the industry. Ask them questions and find out about their journey. There are so many platforms to show off your acting skills, consider joining them. YouTube, Instagram Live, Vimeo, Vivo, DailyMotion could allow you to showcase yourself as an actress.

Do you have any barriers that we can help you break through?  If so, you can leave a brief message at 646-363-6322 or comment below on our interactive blog. 

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Best Wishes,

The Breakthrough Blogger