Color Class

So, I had a color class at a local salon yesterday. My cousin's salon, in fact. More on that part in a bit... The class was a Goldwell color class. Because the majority of us were new hairdressers (less than 5 years in service), the class was a basic class with product knowledge. Which was a good class, but, boy, my brain was FRIED when we were done...lots to process, even though I knew all this stuff. And, what I find happens when I go to these classes is A) I clam up and don't say a whole lot B) I, inadvertently, say something moderately stupid, and then clam up after that. I can formulate colors, and do it fairly well. Previous color still messes me up, but I'm getting there. It's helpful that I know to use demi color on the ends when doing a color change, unless we're lightening up the color over all. But these classes always make me feel like I know NOTHING...I hate that!! My next class is in May, for Footlogix...all about pedicures. Should be a good class. About my cousin's salon: It's a HUGE cavern of a salon...it accommodates up to 11 stylists, a nail technician, and an esthetician. In the 3+ years that she has had this salon, she has chewed up and spit out employees, to the point that the only ones she can attract are people fresh from hairdressing school...people with no client base to help pay the bills. And it's sad to watch. One of her sales reps is trying to convince her to attract booth renters, but she's not wanting to do that because she thinks they won't follow her "rules" and do things her "way". This is what holds Karen back...her ego...in a big way. So, her salon is floundering, she can't afford to keep the place open. It's a beautiful salon, although it could use a bit of updating, it's not bad. Very spacious. She's not overloaded with product, which is good from a financial standpoint, but from a consumer standpoint, she has nothing for variety to offer the consumer. So, they'll go elsewhere to get their products. And eventually, go somewhere else to get their services, too. I sneaked a look at her books...of the 3 employees she has (including herself) only one is booked with clients, and it's not her. Part of her book is because she had emergency gall bladder surgery over the weekend, so things had to shift. But, the rest of it is she's just not booked. Karen has been doing hair for 15 years...she should have a client base, even if some of it has dropped off. It's really sad to see. Times like this, even though Karen isn't my favorite person, where I wish I could help. She had wanted me to come work for her when I got out of school, and I said NO WAY...our personalities are an awful lot alike and I know we'd have butted heads, regularly...I've worked with her before, and have even sat in her chair to experience how inconsistent she is, what her attitude is like...that's how I can say her ego is holding her back. It's going to stink, big time, if she has to close her salon.