Maggie Rants [and Raves]

I Can Do That

by Maggie Franklin | August 29, 2012 | Bookmark +

How often do you see something online, or at a craft fair, etc., and think those words? Or worse, hear passersby saying it when you’re the vendor at a craft fair or holiday boutique?

 

Well, we work in an industry that is pretty well known for its creativity. And while it’s not unusual for our colleagues to look at our work and say, "I can do that," it’s also not terribly insulting when they do.

 

It is insulting when my clients or potential clients turn down my services in favor of doing it themselves.

 

I’m not so much insulted by people who do their own nails because they have a genuine interest or knack for being able to — I have long taken the stand that that’s how our future professionals are made. But when what clients see as "getting your nails done" is something that doesn’t stand out above and beyond what they are capable of achieving at home — that’s a problem.

 

There will always be people who can’t so much as polish their own nails, or haven’t the desire to try. And I understand that short and natural is popular right now.

 

But have you looked at the last several covers of NAILS Magazine?!

 

Uh huh. I said it. I told you I was gonna say it. I’ve been holding it in for months, trying to let it go, knowing that I have a relationship with NAILS and not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings, including the artists who have done the covers I’m talking about. But too many of the covers this year have represented work that... well... has been uninspiring. Seriously, my 14-year-old niece can reasonably recreate most of this year’s cover looks.

 

That is unacceptable from a magazine that serves the professional industry. Any professional industry. Our trade mags should feature work that makes us — the pros — go "wow!" Drops our jaws, makes us cry a little, sigh and want to frame it and put it on the wall. It should make us want to do nails just like that. It should make our friends, family, clients and coworkers exclaim, "OH MY GOSH! Those nails are amazing!" or "OH MY GOSH! Those nails are gorgeous!" or "OH MY GOSH! Those nails are ridiculous! Who would ever get those?" And it should make us think, "Man! I wish I was that good!"

 

But they should definitely be something that pushes the limits of everyday nail services and fully represents the talent of our industry. Let the artists run amok! We’re not selling manicures to baby boomers here, we should be all about showing off our cover artists’ talent and vision to their fellow professionals. The magazine covers should represent the best of the best to the best.

 

I don’t mind seeing natural nail manicures and pedicures on the covers of my mags — now and then — but six out of the last seven issues have bored me to tears. No matter how pretty they were, how much I love and respect the artists that did them, or even that one of them was my own cover: My 14-year-old niece should not be able to do trade magazine cover quality nails.

 

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