Wrangling models is always a chore. If you don’t have a model that you work with regularly, then you have to find one on the trade show floor or try to meet someone online and then convince them to show up at the convention center at 6:30 in the morning...on a Sunday...when all but one door is locked.

Good luck.

I learned that lesson the hard way my first year competing. I didn’t want to spend the money to bring a model so I would go to competition hoping to just pick one up. And consequently, I would never place any higher than 4^th, which doesn’t get me any winnings.

I don’t want to take a chance on not having a perfect model or even worse no model at all. I figure if I’m going to spend all that money getting there, then I might as well go the extra distance and guarantee myself a good model. The winnings usually cover the added expense and I get to bring home trophies. Since then, I bring my own model to every competition that I compete in.

But there are problems with that too. One of my models recently moved across the country. Now I have to fly her to every competition. And deal with the possibility of her missing her flight. Or getting lost, or having a flat tire or whatever. And this last event was no different. Not only did she miss her flight, and not get into town until 15 minutes before the first competition (she was scheduled for the second event) but then she apparently got “lost” on her way back from the ladies room, and finally appeared in the arena three minutes after the competition had started!

Needless to say, I was a wreck. And not at all happy that a fellow competitor/friend was laughing at me!

But I got even.

Last year, the sculptured nail competition was shortened from 2 ½ hours to 2 hours (it has since been reinstated to 2 ½) and I trained hard for that, and was successful. So when my model showed up late, I was mad, but prepared. I still got her done with about four minutes to spare, and still won 1^st place.

Take that John. ;)

— Lynn