IBS New York- The International Beauty Show
Date: March 7-9, 2010 (aka NOW)
IBS New York is the largest and longest running show of it’s kind and is the mecca for anything having to do with the salon industry in America. IBS routinely attracts the top of the top tier stylists and brands for demo and education as well as having every brand of everything imaginable available on the exhibitors floor. I encourage any beauty pro to go to IBS. Even if you aren’t a salon artist, it’s a fantastic show. NYC is the biggest but there are other great IBS shows in other cities as well.

The Great Bridal Expo
Date: Various
The Great Bridal Expo is a series of shows for the consumer. The show exhibits the latest styles from bridal gowns, bridesmaids gowns and mother of the bride, flower girl, accessory, prom and special occasion resources all with brands ranging from Budget to Designer. The first of two San Francisco shows is upcoming next week (3/13) and then there are shows to follow throughout the country (Los Angeles show is 3/28/2010 ) . Attending shows like these are important to the serious Bridal artist. It’s an expense, because instead of just attending the show you’d be best served presenting as an exhibitor. That said, however do you know that a solid in demand, making serious money Bridal artist can be booked out for 6 months to a year in advance? I’ve known artists who’ve attended shows like these and booked out their entire year. There are creative ways to work around the price of exhibiting, so if you’re serious about having a successful Bridal business, look into these shows.

Day Spa Expo & Business Forum
Date: March 13-15, 2010
The Day Spa Expo is a new event geared towards Day Spa owners. Per their site: “There will also be plenty of exhibitors offering the newest products and services for the estheticians and technicians to review and make purchasing recommendations to the owners and operators in attendance.” Clearly, they are new so I don’t know much about them. I do know that Day Spas do nice business and almost all of them offer some level of makeup service. In fact, one of my private students was the owner of a Day Spa who was adding makeup services to her offerings. Sometimes the estheticians do it, but more often than not, dedicated makeup artists are hired for these spas.

The Virginia Beauty Show
Date: March 14, 2010
I found this on a Google search and I’ve totally never heard of this show before, but I’ve included it for one reason; working in a smaller, regional market is a completely different ball of wax from working in one of the primary markets. You’ll have to be more creative and think more outside the box to make it work. I would have to think that a show like this is a “cannot miss” for anyone in the business in this area as this is a key time not only to see product, but to meet people and network and further develop YOUR brand. If you aren’t in Virgina, I’d Google around and see if there is a similar show supporting the beauty biz community in your area.

IBS Las Vegas- The International Beauty Show
Date: April 24-26, 2010
Las Vegas’ installment of the IBS. I’ve never been but considering how different a market Las Vegas is from New York, I’d imagine the show would be different as well. I’d definitely check it out if I were a Nevada-based artist.

eMERGE Trade Show – Miami
Date: 27-APR-10 to 28-APR-10
I don’t know anything about this show, nor do I know if it’s open to makeup artists or even beneficial for makeup artists BUT it has a highly interesting premise; it’s a Trade Show designed to give exposure to independent brands. Probably due to the expenses involved, most trade shows are dominated by the major brands and you will see the same brands over and over at the various shows. If makeup folk are allowed, this could be a great way to find out who’s up and coming in the biz. it also make sense that it’s in Miami which is an emerging fashion market. I’m trying to see if I can go so more info on this one as it develops.

The Makeup Show-New York
Date: May 16-17, 2010
‘Nuff said. If you’re a beauty makeup artist – go! I’ll be doing a much more thorough write-up of this event later. In the meantime, you can read my write ups of the Los Angeles show.

The International Congress of Esthetics & Spa
Date: Various
The International Congress of Esthetics & Spa is a series of shows taking place in various locales throughout the country. Similar to IBS it features education, live demonstration and product exhibition. Unlike IBS, ICES has a show in the Los Angeles area that takes place annually in Long Beach.

International Makeup Artists Trade Show
Date: Various
IMATS is a trade show dedicated to all facets of media makeup (beauty, special effects, etc.) and it was the first show of it’s kind. Originating right here in sunny Los Angeles, IMATS has now spread it’s wings to various parts of the globe. While very different in feel to The Makeup Show, it’s still very much worth attending. And if you’re more interested in SPFX makeup, it’s the only show on this list worth attending.

Cosmoprof North America – Las Vegas
Date: July 18-20, 2010
I’m certain you have to be liscensed for this show given that you have to be licensed to even shop at a Cosmoprof store. IF however, you are a state licensed technician, you know what a great resource Cosmoprof is. If you’re like me and you’re a makeup artist who is also expected to do hair, the shopping alone makes this show worth the trip.

This post is intended for all the aspiring pro makeup artists in the house. Every industry has it’s trade shows and the beauty biz is no exception. Being a professional in the industry, I’ve always felt a need to attend them as often as schedule permits, if only to shop and walk around and see what’s new in makeup-landia. IBS – the International Beauty Show – services the salon professional. Being a media artist (Print, TV, Film) I never really attend IBS. However there are two shows vying for attention in my spectrum of the business; The Makeup Show (TMUS) and the International Makeup Artists Trade Show (IMATS)

A Brief History: IMATS is over 10 years old and while it started in LA it is now truly International taking place in several cities, The Makeup Show is only a couple of years old, started in NYC and 2009 was the first year it made it’s way out West to Los Angeles. IMATS was founded by a longtime Union film makeup artist and has always had the reputation for being more Film/FX oriented. The Powder Group started their show directly in response to that as a show for the beauty side of the industry. So what did I think?

The Makeup Show

PROS
• Clearly geared towards the beauty segment of media makeup.
• Good education for novice makeup artists/makeup enthusiasts. (i.e. – most of the education was on some form of “how to become a makeup artist” so if you already are a makeup artist that’s a moot point)
• Good exhibit/floor layout.
• Good selection of vendors, many of whom do not normally attend the other trade shows (lines such as Smashbox and Stila)

CONS
• Seemed to be geared far more towards makeup enthusiasts and students than working professional artists.

International Makeup Artist Trade Show

PROS
• I attended the first show when I was an assist-level artist, so I will always have a soft spot for this show.
• I bought my first pro product – Parian Spirit brush cleaner – a product I still swear by to this day
• Always has a clear professional artist attendance both as speakers/presenters and as attendees.
• This was the IMATS 12th year so logistically they’re more on-point.
• BETTER PRICING for entrance into the show, particularly for those who – like myself – just wanted to walk the exhibit floor
• Good education for a wider level of artists on a wide array of topics.

CONS
• Has also had an increasingly large non-professional attendance.
• While they had been improving, this year definitely had less exhibitors to appeal to Beauty makeup artists.
• In past years the beauty was given it’s own section, not mixed in with the FX but this year everything was jumbled back together.
• I’m going to guess the economy was a factor but certain core exhibitors were missing (Embryolisse??? Glad I got some @ TMUS), and the vendors that replaced them ranged from weird (a “clothing shield” to protect clothes from makeup during wardrobe changes that looked like a piece of cheesecloth) to ‘why on earth are they here?’(an exercise machine… yes… at a makeup trade show. ???)

All in all both shows were fine, neither were ground breaking. A friend and fellow la-based makeup artist said that she feels like the shows are generally more for students or artists who live in areas that don’t have easy access to products, etc. I think that’s true. I definitely think the shows offer more to newer artists, but old saws like myself like to get inspired too (senior artist Joanna Schlip spoke at IMATS a few years back and she was truly amazing).