For this week’s Headcase, I was very excited to sit down with master hair colorist and Keune’s Create Color Ambassador, George Alderete.
- George shares where his profound inspiration comes from
- How he changed careers from construction work with his father
- How his team is first among the most important keys to his success
- His biggest insecurities
- His most powerful advice to anyone pursuing success in this industry
Complete Transcript
Chris Baran 0:00
How great would it be to get up close and personal with the beauty industry heroes? We love and admire and to ask them how did you learn to do what you do? I’m Chris Baran, a hairstylist and educator for 40 plus years, and I’m inviting all our heroes to chat and share the secrets of their success
so here we are with another episode of headcase. So I’m really excited about this one because this one is, with a good buddy of mine who I’ve traveled the road been on stage with them. And he is an amazing colorist. And besides me just telling you that he’s an amazing colorist. He is actually has the title of Master colorist. He’s an award winning global hair color educator. Celebrity colorist is the creative color ambassador. For Keune. It’s my good buddy George Alderete. So let’s get into this week’s had case.
George Alderete I tell you, when they when my team finally told me that we got you nailed down to do the program. I was super excited. And for those of you that are listening, and viewing right now you I mean, you heard in the intro that we did you heard about all his accolades and everything. But you know, even more importantly, we’ve been friends and work. We’ve worked together at various times. And, George, I’m just super excited to have you here, buddy.
George Alderete 1:35
Chris, let me tell you, it’s an honor to be here with you. Because we have shared so many wonderful experiences throughout the years. And even now, at a distance, I still see all the beautiful accolades that you’re receiving. And my hat’s off to you, my friend for continuing. Just allowing yourself to be creative for everybody else to enjoy it. So I just want to thank you for that. Because, say, inspiration to me for many, many years.
Chris Baran 2:06
Yeah, so listen, I want to just bring it back to an amine. And it’s probably not the first time we met. Because I think we knew each other somewhat beforehand. But there was a particular incident when you were on stage, assisting someone. And after that was over with you. And I had a little bit of a conversation about that. Do you first of all, do you remember it? And then secondly, do you remember that in the conversation that was had?
George Alderete 2:38
I absolutely remember it because it was life changing. It was one of those moments in my career and life where you just provoked the thought, and an interest of something and a goal for me to achieve in that moment. And we were at a hair show, and I believe it was a hair color, you know, hair world in DC. And I was up there. And I remember you telling me that and you turned around and you said to me, we were on the way back to the hotel in a minivan. There is a bunch of us, a group of us and I had just met all of you. And that’s when the conversation came up to really look at joining to be a part of the team at Redken. Yeah, yeah. Because that was a part of that. So that was an opportunity for me to take and, and then everybody in the car. Because it was Brian and Sandra Smith, it was David Stanko, and it was Ann Mincey and yourself. And it was they kind of just started egging me on. And I thought about it and thought about it. And that’s when I got ready, and auditioned for Redken. Yeah, cuz you don’t change my whole career.
Chris Baran 3:53
Awesome. Well, you know, and the main reason why I’m bringing that up for the listener is that sometimes, you know, you could see people and the whole point was, George, we saw you on stage. And quite frankly, literally, even though you never talked, you really took over the stage. I mean, not from trying to upstage but you’re just your work was so beautiful, because they you know, they do something and pass it over to you and your work was amazing. So that’s kind of what prompted that way. I remember that. We said to you, like, what are you doing assisting? You should be doing this. And it was, I am so happy to see and it was more or less put in the audience. That was more than two years ago when you agree.
George Alderete 4:39
Just a couple Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Chris Baran 4:43
Listen, just for you know, for anybody that doesn’t, you know, you and I don’t know why that would happen. But I want let’s, I want you to rewind, let’s sort of let’s rewind a little bit and I want to take you back to really what sparked the journey in your career. You know, just before I do, I find there’s always Just like in our industry, there’s two kinds of people. There’s the people that have, they just wanted to be a hairdresser the whole life. Everything that they did was based around, you know, they dogs, the dogs got trims, the cats got their eyelashes done, they, they colored everybody in the neighborhood, etc. And, and, and then that’s the first time and they just know they’re going to be a hairdresser. And then there’s the second part, I was part of that group, too. You just kind of fell into the business. So like, where, where were you in there? Well, number one is, where did you was that you? Were you part of which group and then
George Alderete 5:38
I was part of the latter. I was number two, I would definitely say I was roaming to find out where I wanted to what I wanted to do in my life, and I had no idea. So I’m working for my father in construction. And I moved out of the home and first time moving out and I lived with a female hairdresser. And she was a makeup artist slash hairdresser. So that kind of gave me a little bit of a interest. And then one night she came in and said, there’s a big Christmas party at the salon. Why don’t you come join me? And I said, okay, so shall we pick out an outfit and got dressed, went to this party, and I just was enamored by everybody. The people were so cool. And the conversations the way they looked, everybody just had this mystique about them. And I was talking to them and I left the building. And the next morning, I was on the construction site with my father caught me daydreaming. And he whistled at me. And he said, Hey, what’s up, and I turned to him. And I said, I want to be a hairdresser.
Chris Baran 6:47
I want to hear more than that.
George Alderete 6:50
And you just was like, what? And I said, yeah, here’s the best part of the whole entire evening. It was the Sebastian salon. in Encino. So it was Jerry presenza. John Sebastian. Wow. And those were the people that I had met that night had no idea at all, anything about the industry. And you know, of course, later on, Sebastian was the biggest thing and hairspray and the whole bit. But that was my first introduction. And that’s when I knew I took that jump in. And funny enough, my father was very supportive. He came to my apartment that weekend. He said, either you want to keep your sports car, or you got to sell it. And, or go to school, and move home, keep your car. So I did. I moved home and pack smart because I got to keep my car and I got to go to school and live at home. So
Chris Baran 7:55
I want to stop it there just for a second because there’s people listening on this that may not know the Cosenza ism where they did in the end the impact that they made on our industry, particularly in the US because that was a time in our era when the Brits and all of Europe etc. Were doing certain things and it took a longer time for to get here. So can you give us just a little insight into the presenters and what they were sure. Like? What was that about? What was their story about what and how was that change that they made.
George Alderete 8:29
So it was huge, it was a huge impact in our industry, I mean, not only for environmental change sustainability before even anyone was talking about that. But just the innovation of the styling products that the chariot was coming up with and the innovation of the education and how they wanted to elevate hairdressers, and to give them a product and to be proud of what we were doing. We didn’t have that same pride that you have, say, in Europe, or in London or even Canada, we don’t have an apprenticeship where you go up the ranks and you grow up in the industry. You know, this is a vocation here. And so it’s really not looked upon as one of the choices that you would go to. But for many of us that have made the choice have made an amazing life for ourselves. And I would just say that anybody that would like to do this and be a part of our industry to take that opportunity and to abuse you will not regret it. Yeah, no. It’s really quick. So they created shaper hairspray, the best hairspray in the world at that time. They created Fizz, which was the first mousse. So the innovation for them installing products was ingenious, not only that, we got a really good friend you and I from that team back in the day, Mr. Kazimore. So there’s a lot of things that have come through the Sebastian’s family and their insight, their innovation.
Chris Baran 9:54
You know, I’ve never had the up I always say that that Jerry Cosenza and I would like this. Those of you listening, fingers crossed, this was me, my thumb wheezing on the side, I never really knew them. But I was so enthralled by them. And here’s the reason why. Because while I, you know, I was not the one that I didn’t really know about their products other than a few, which I just they, they launched an artist only series, and I thought it was really brave of a company to say, okay, customers, here’s products that you can’t have. And I thought that was genius and genius. And number one, number two was that they line themselves up with a gentleman out of out of London, that they would go and they would just literally film everything that was going on at Salon International and in London. And then they would bring it back, tweak it and then be able to bring it back to the Americas so that they were really getting that information right then and there. And unless you are going there, you didn’t see what was happening first. So they’re always first and foremost. And that gentleman was Robert Lobetta. And in my mind, probably one of the top three to five hairdressers in the world for a creative brain. And his wife drew me and pulled me off phenomenal
George Alderete 11:20
the imagery that he created at that time. There wasn’t any Photoshop, there wasn’t any of that. And it was just lighting and mystique. And the way he did it was this fantastic. Industry. Yeah, every image.
Chris Baran 11:35
Yeah, everything that he did was, if they did a something a sculpt on the head, he would measure the head, and make sure that every triangle would fit perfectly, it was just this guy’s mind is just out of the world. But now what I want to go back to is just as true a little bit as that. George everywhere that I go, and I’ve been a fan of your work, you know, we always it’s, it’s easy to be fat fans of friends. But even if I wasn’t your friend, I wouldn’t be a big fan simply because here’s the way. I mean, I’m sure that you could probably define your work as one thing. But here’s how I define it. Because when I, I think that it is one of the hardest things to do is to combine beauty, commercial commercial reality, and be able to push the envelope and go just a little bit beyond that to make it fresh. And new, my friend do that. Because it’s really difficult to be able to do that push the envelope, etc. So but tell me where does some of that stuff come from? Where do you get your inspiration from? You know, how do you develop? What’s that, like when you sit down and you’re doing something for a shoot or just something that you want to do for a photograph or just on a head of hair? How do you push yourself? Where does that inspiration come from? What’s the process?
George Alderete 13:00
The most important thing is it’s got to be beautiful. I really think that when you have a beautiful person in front of you that that is that’s the object of the desire that you want to create around. So it’s number one thing is always the person that you’re choosing for the photo and the work does it suit that work. And then my inspiration comes from the palette, creating the color palette, how’s it gonna look with the collection. And I like to, I like to take all sorts of swatches and I put them all out and I start creating palettes. I start pulling swatches from the paint store, and then started putting stories together to create a vision board. Because you can see shading and variation and gradient on that wall better than you can in a swatch book. So it allows me to see a secondary tone, tertiary tone, a tone that I could create. And that’s what sparked my interest in that starts to make me get out of the day to day norm of formulation. Yeah, you know, and so that’s where I begin.
Chris Baran 14:10
I love that point that you said and I want to bring that back up again is that my color is color, per se. But what I love the fact that you go to the paint store when you see all of the the postcards of swatches that they have or we call them swatches, I don’t even know what the cards are called that they use. But I I find that’s brilliant, because then you can lay them all out just like as if you were decorating a room. I think that’s really brilliant. Now, I heard you say something in there that, that you you have to put this stuff together in a collection I’m sure I know that you put you to many collections that you’re doing for Keune. And, you know, I think that what can you tell us what happens in your process for those people that are out there that have really never done a collection together or they’re saying Look at it seems so unattainable. What George does. And when he puts these collections together, and he’s got to work with possibly the corporate as an as an end game, what? What’s some of the if you could give us just a few steps? Like what are the what would the advice that you would give somebody, if you were going to put a collection together and you wanted to shoot it, even if it was on a low budget, even if it’s, you know, just getting a friend next door to do it? What would you tell that person? Like, how would you start? If you had to go back and tell George, the first time around the George that never did a photoshoot before? And you were gonna go back and speak to that, George, and talk about? What does that George not know right now that you could give them that would make all the difference in the world.
George Alderete 15:53
For me, it’s going to be a team, it’s picking the right people around you. First off, and giving and collecting and do your homework. So if you have something, a vision that you want to create, and you want to communicate that to your group, sometimes words don’t work. So have storyboards have visuals have as much that they can intake to see where you want to go, and what you want to do. And then be open to their suggestion. Because there’s times when we are so close against what we’re doing, that it’s an outside set of eyes, that might see something we don’t. And so I always ask to be open, what it’s doing for me, too, it’s always allowing them to know that I’m open. And it’s a safe area for them to be creative. And that their input is important. It’s not just my vision, it’s ours. That’s why the team thing is important. It’s you can’t do it without a team. If if if the hours of preparation that it takes, if you have a really good team, what seemed like hours, mostly like weeks, and then what seemed like months, because that’s honestly what will happen. But what I would tell myself as a team, make sure you have as many visuals as you can, so that you can communicate them, communicate that to them, and then start researching. So if you don’t have a budget, find somebody that likes to do clothes, find somebody that loves to do makeup, that’s really good. And remember, you’re all kind of testing and doing this for the first time. So that would be the way I would go. And then I would research what you like, go on to the platforms going to insert social, go on to other platforms, were saying hairdressers, journal and UK and start looking at what other people doing it see the interest in the lighting, you know, what’s going on with that? How is how they posing, and and just you start to learn what you like. And if you storyboard it, you’ll start to see it come together on the board. That’s how I
Chris Baran 18:12
think it’s really interesting. Yeah, that’s really interesting, I find that there’s one thing I think that I really want to expand on a little bit is what I love that you said was about working with a team getting getting all of your images together, and then having a conversation with it. And I think that that gives me a for instance, that I find that it’s great to have a theme. But I find that don’t go so first degree with your theme that people that somebody on the other end doesn’t know what it is because they’re not going to know what it is anyway, give you for instance, me says I want to have our theme is wild horses in the wind. And so you’re picking up mains and you’re talking about look about the way that moves and the colors that are in there. No matter what you do on a human being when you’re done with it, no matter how close you come, nobody’s going to look at it say, Oh, that was wild horses in the wind. You know, but it gives the team a theme to run by and give you creative ideas that you can pull on to make your end goal. So all these things work. So well. That’s what I love that you said.
George Alderete 19:30
Thank you. It’s getting that momentum going into and it’s feeding off of one another that banter back and forth. And just and sometimes we step on each other a little bit, but then you get something out of that banter. So, you know, but it’s also important just to sit back and listen. So sometimes I’ll sit back and I’ll let them and I’ll drop a couple of words out there. I hear that. Just tell me a little bit about that where you’re where you’re going with that because I want to know
Chris Baran 19:55
and that’s yeah, and with this, you know, as an I want to emphasize this with everybody is that and I’m going to do to think about this, that if you’re listening or viewing wherever you’re at with this right now is he Georgia is the is Keuen’s, creative color ambassador, and I want you to think about the operative word in there. As for me, the operative word in there is creative. And that and that’s, that’s sometimes, if you’re put into a project, that word creative, often really puts a lot of pressure on you. So let me ask you this, when with that title, and when that people come to you and say, I want to create a collection, we’re going to do this and it could cost you know, you know, hundreds of 1000s of dollars in there. There’s a lot of pressure on you, George, when you agree, and and how do you deal with that? Like, what’s it like? How do you deal with it, so you can get back to the basics and just be creative?
George Alderete 20:54
You’re right, it is a big pressure. Because the people that put the most pressure on yourself is ourselves. So that’s always the first and foremost, I’m always I feel, there’s always an elephant on my chest, if you will, sometimes, because I feel that pressure. But that’s me. So what I need to do is get all my ducks in a row, have everything that I can I take all the notes that I can from everything that they have asked me to do. And then I put it down and say, this is possible, I can do this, the team can do this, this we need to revisit and you know, and start to really have a conversation with what we can achieve what is achievable with the resources that we have. And once you start to do that, and it’s just it’s it’s funny that you mentioned, Chris, because in the last week, we have a global gala coming up. And we have guest artists from other countries coming in. So everything’s corresponding here. And the pressure is on. But the pressure was off for me once I completed my tasks, and then you everything was in before deadline. And it was complete. And I felt like the pressure won’t happen until the next call, but at least it eases it up. So what I would say is don’t ever procrastinate. Procrastination, biggest enemy? I know. I will tell you that because I have procrastinated. And it’s not good for you. Just get on it. If you have that notion in that moment. That you you don’t want to do it. It’s the time to do it.
Chris Baran 22:37
Yeah, it’s usually the fear of something that holds us back on that, right. It’s
George Alderete 22:39
always fear. Yeah, yeah. So it’s always gonna be there. But if you feel like you have everything organized. And no matter if you do, there’s always going to something is always going to change. So just be prepared. Yes.
Chris Baran 22:56
I have an opinion of view. And I want you to know that it’s all good. I want to but when you verify that it is or is not correct, because I feel this may be why they always work so well for you. But I view you from what I what I know you as I’ve seen you what I’ve been around with you that you are a collaborator, you enjoy collaboration. Am I correct in that?
George Alderete 23:19
Yes. The only way I can put it. Okay, so at a young age, through middle school and high school, I was in a band. So I played an instrument. And I know we had never competed and anything like that. But we really were studying for this competition doing an orchestra. It’s simply now to switch from trumpet to French horn. And it was difficult, it was a difficult, the whole process was hard. The whole journey was difficult, but it was creative at the same time. But here’s the deal, when you hear the music come out as one beautiful symphony. And all those people, as one orchestra created that one sound. There’s nothing more beautiful. And so that has instilled in me that it’s best to have a collaborative team around you. Right, that sound is going to be so much more beautiful than doing a solo act. That’s just me.
Chris Baran 24:30
I love it. I love it. And you know, it’s only because I bear some similarities to your job, etc. But I think that there’s a the thing that I would want the listener to get if you ever get into a position where you’re tasked to do a project, a collection versus the one that I do solely for me. You know, for instance, if you’re going to work for for a manufacturer and there’s As a marketing team that’s involved. And versus I want to do, because you’re, you know, as we said, at the very beginning, your five time you’ve been at your no ha winner, you’ve been finalists five times, numerous other awards. But those are connected collections you do for you correct. So what do you find that the difference is between being the creative director when you do it yourself, for your work, versus being the humble hairdresser, when you’re doing it? For a manufacturer? What’s the difference?
George Alderete 25:38
Organization off the right off the bat. You know, make sure that you’re you’re packed to the gills that you have everything ready to go just in case something happens. And that you’re, you’re always having to think one step ahead. You’re always having to make sure that everybody’s got a copy of everything everything’s written. I have vision boards, flip charts, anything that anybody in that group that has a question, all they have to do is look up. And there’s the answer is in the room, right? But it’s going through all of that process with everybody making sure that this is, so it’s just being that just being organized. And that was a skill that because I do, I am dyslexic. If I don’t have organization, a flip chart, a cue on my, my my tray, something that gives me to the next move that keeps me going, I could easily lose track. So I have to organize myself. So in doing that for me, now, later on many years later, I have to do that for a company. And it’s easy for me to do once I understand how organized it is, and get it all there out there. Yeah, make sure. Yeah, it’s kind of release a little bit of like, owning it too. Because you don’t.
Chris Baran 27:02
Yeah, because there’s your break, you went you just talked about there really brought me back. I was I remember, I remember doing a corporate shoot with a group of hairdressers who did their own shoots. And I remember one person in particular, when when the the marketing team came up to them and said, Hey, can you change that, and this person said, That’s my vision, I That’s my vision. That’s what I created. And that’s where the lights went off in my brain that that look at you might be the creative director on your own. But you’re the hairdresser they hired, no matter how famous you are, you’re the hairdresser that they hired to do it. So they say change that you have to change that because I know I did the very first time I remember being out there, we made these amazing wigs that we put put on because we had to because the models wouldn’t let let us cut the hair. And so we made this, we made this one wig, we had to shoot and they said, well, we want a second, can you do it? And then? And I just said, No, I got all pouty. And I went outside. And you know, how dare you challenge my creativity. And when it was just probably my own insecurity in my brain, whatever that was. But I remember we just went back inside, we said what we’re going to do, and we just turned out, we just turned the wig, we turned it backwards. So the the front was the back and the back was the front and had all this hair standing up. And we love it. And so all you have to do is just say, look at even if I have to say no problem and try anything, because they’ll just turn around once you hit something that they liked. They’ll just say they love it. And then you’re their friend forever. Babolat.
George Alderete 28:51
Yeah, it can be a pressure and you have to change if everything can change in a moment.
Chris Baran 28:59
And do it quick, because everything costs money, right?
George Alderete 29:03
Yeah, yeah. I take no more time.
Chris Baran 29:08
I just want to switch gears just a little bit in here right now. Because I know you’ve done sure tons of shows DUNS of events. There’s things out that are out there that, you know, I can only speak for myself, but I’ve done some shows that I went okay, that was all right. And I’ve done shows where I call it that if if I wanted to go out now, this would be the show that I’d want to be remembered for. And I could just say, Okay, I’m done. I just did it. This was one of the best. Sometimes some people have to they have more might only have one they might have more than one. What were the ones that what’s the standout ones for you the one that a few said, Okay, finish to this show. Now, I could hang it up after this one. This one was just spectacular. What was that?
George Alderete 30:01
Oh, gosh, so many good opportunities and experiences. My challenge was this last one picture that I did our 100 year celebration, because our main creative director came ill. And she had we had a task. So I was really, really hoping on her direction for this task that we were tasked with her and I, but it fell into my lap. And so the pressure was on. And I was just lucky that I was there for the amount of time because it took me five days with a team to build these coats that I had never done. I have covered many laughs but I just remember the direction that she had given me. She told me she wanted this kind of how to crip it what to use product wise, how to set it do all of that. So just you talking on the phone and FaceTime here. You know, I was like, Is this the right? Yes, yes, yes. And then I just needed to let myself do it said I don’t like the color. This is what I want to change. I’m gonna put the palette here, just like go for it. And then it just started to feel more comfortable. But yeah, it’s, that would probably be the one that I could set out. And I can say, I’m so happy with everything. I accomplished all my tasks. It’s a, it was an evening to remember. It was a week to remember is two weeks to remember. So yes, I think that would be it. That’d be like
Chris Baran 31:39
in the middle of it. What did it feel like in the middle of that journey? Because I’m sensing that all of a sudden, oh, my God, I’m, I’m in charge of this, then now I’ve got to do it. And there’s the stress that goes along with that. And then maybe the doubt maybe what’s the what are the emotions that you went through in the middle of that process?
George Alderete 32:04
It’s nerve racking. Just making sure pre prepared. So if I could stay the latest, I would stay longer. Just to make sure that I was on task. Get there earlier than anyone else. And I was just there making sure it was like preparing everything and having an answer somebody asked it. So because I knew if I had a question. Somebody was going to have a question about something. And I needed to make sure that I had the right answer so that I give them good direction. Yeah, so it was it was a lot. It was exhaustion. Because of time. You don’t eat in a different country. It was excitement. It was at the end of each day really exuberant and just so tired. So happy time. Right. And like, I get choked up thinking about that week.
Chris Baran 33:09
George, you know, the anyone that I think that’s been on stage and done multiple shows, some that you have, is it okay, all right, that will no, I’ve just assumed forget about that one. We have those ones that, you know, oh my god, if I could only gone out on that one. I mean, not not talking about your earthly body leaving that leaving us but I’m talking about, Wow, if I wanted to hang up right there, because that was a killer presentation. And I feel so good about it. Just what was that show? And some people have more than one. So if you got more than one great, but what’s the one that really hits your brain right now, which shows that
George Alderete 33:53
there is a lot of them, but the one that does stand out for me right now, which is the most recent, which was tunes 100 year celebration. So I was there and I was tasked with color along with the team. And our artistic director, Ellen Minster. So she had you know, all the tests going on. We have everything ready and said we had ours going on she goes I’ll tell you about it later on tomorrow. We’ll get to that. She’s briefing us and telling us and giving us a whole gallery stroll and all that. Well, she’s ill, she becomes ill. And so the project is then dropped into my lap as you can tell by the side and my partner was with me, thank goodness because he’s the one that taught me off the ledge. So Well Bill and and you know is that as well as I know, it’s that that comfort of like, well what do you you can do this, you know, you can do it. It’s not a problem. You’ve done this before. How many shows have you done blah, blah, blah, blah. Ha. But in my gut, I’m like, freaking out. But the emotions were like a roller coaster. So you get through that. And then you get there. And then you just have to be ready and organized. And I had to make sure that everything was there. FaceTiming Ella making sure this is the direction understanding the way she wanted me to set it and style it. Because that was going to be her task. I was the color she’s styling, and then we finished together. Well, that was gone. So then I had to bring up the team to speed and do that. And then it was just getting there earlier than anybody saying the latest making sure everything was ready for the next day each day. And then it was like, I think I lost like 10 or 20 pounds that week. I don’t think I ate. I had a lot of caffeine. And it’s just it’s it’s almost blank until I look at photos now. Of that week. I it kind of comes back to me. Oh, sorry. Go ahead. But
Chris Baran 36:10
I heard in there because what I just want to reiterate on some of those emotions that are go through because anybody that’s thinking about doing the things that George does, is there’s a lot of stuff that goes on. And the reason part of the reason why I want everybody out there to know, this stuff that can happen is because when they look, George, when everybody sees you in the audience, as you well know, I’m not telling you anything new, but they look at you and I know that people see you up there they go up to after you get off stage and they go, George, that was so amazing. I want to do it. You do and in your mind, I’ll bet you’re thinking, yeah, right. Just wait to see what I have to do. Right. So my point is this is that, that while that’s going on, I heard that you were talking about, you know, the stress that happened, the the exhaustion from working on and on and on. And, you know, there might have been self doubt there might have been those other things that are going on. But the show show was phenomenal. Right? What I want to know is this is when people know about when you want one of those ones. Oh my god, if I could hang it up. Now this is the perfect time. I want the I want you to take you back to that moment. Okay, good. You went through the rigors The show is going on? Everything’s coming out. Well, you’re you’re starting to feel better. But now, the show’s over, you’re in the back room, the whole team is together, you’re getting together to look at the work that you did and what you finished that take us I want to take us to that point where what did you feel like there? What was it what was going through your brain, when you and the team got the end of together after all of that stress and that exhaustion.
George Alderete 37:56
It was very emotional. Because these were people I had never worked with or lead. So they had to trust me on that one. So at the end of everything, and getting together and really discussing and debriefing everything and having that conversation, tears, I would say tears of relief, of accomplishment. But that we weren’t alone, that we were all in it together. And it was a wonderful experience that will always hold near and dear to our hearts. And I like I can remember the Italian guy that didn’t speak English, but I wanted to cut it a certain way and try to describe that to him and him like looking at me and telling me I’m like, That’s it. We’re looking at the girl that does. And I’m like, I need you to know a little bit more this way or and visually teach her and help her do that. It’s just it’s exuberant. It’s just one of the best feelings I think anybody can get. It’s just a sense of accomplishment. And it was an it was a blur. It was a blur, but it wasn’t once I started looking at all the photos of the daily of what’s going on because you know, we’re posting and getting everything ready and doing that. And then just the people that people’s appreciation for our teams, inspiring them to go home and to feel good because of the choice that they made to be a hairdresser. That’s an amazing accomplishment.
Chris Baran 39:35
Yeah. You’re in your voice. The
George Alderete 39:41
and that’s what I wanted the team to know it’s like look at what you did look at that up there and look at these people. You guys every year we did this that’s cool.
Chris Baran 39:51
Yeah, you know the that my teachers have always told me that glue get in the way that the world rewards you when you when you come up with something very difficult that you have to do and you get through it, it rewards you with an even bigger problem. So you had this problem that was thrown in your lap, and you had to go through all of the stress, etc, that got you there. But the reason why I want to bring this up to everybody is that is number one, that of what it’s like being in your kind of position. But number two is, if you relate that back to the salon, or you relate that back to just everybody’s life, is we always get snuffed thrown at us. But if you back away, if you back away, and you don’t do it, you get stuck there forever. And your brain will never let you go past that point. And so I just want to say congratulations, because I know you’ve always knuckle down when the pressure was put on you. And you always did a really super good job. So I just want to say congratulations on that. And I know that if we had much more time, you could tell us about all the other ones as well. So congrats on that.
George Alderete 40:53
Thank you very much, Chris. But that’s what you said about the salon. It’s the same kind of situation. You’re I mean, you’re 15 deep. I’ve been I’ve been in beautiful busy, I had salons busy. I worked in a beautiful salon that was very busy like that. Salon massage. And so you’re 15 deep as you are thinking on a dime, you’re moving, you’re good. And the pressure, the pressure is Am I good enough? Will she know that? She dislike it? And so it it kind of conjures up all those same emotions and feelings? Just a whole different level?
Chris Baran 41:35
Yeah, yeah. Always gotta get that you just you’ve got to get through it is that problems happen in life problems have problems happen at the salon problems happen when you’re on stage. But when you learn how to deal with it, you’re a bigger, better person, that the world needs you even more. So I that’s always a thing that I think about pushes you to get you through that, that, that that problem. Now, I just want to take you back because we always were always talking about, you know, this happened really well. And the photoshoots we do, et cetera. And, you know, I don’t think that people that are out there really get that. Sometimes the the stuff that goes on in our in our life, you know, it’s what, what are some of the things that that? You know, we’ve gone through some of this stuff, but you know, you’ve been through, we’ve all been through high points, low points in our life in our career. What were some of the most challenging moments for you as, as George already was working his way through as you had to do things? Or there was a learning lesson or something that happened to you? What was Was there a challenging moment in your career that really hit you with that one?
George Alderete 43:05
Hey, I’m my worst enemy. Just said, I’m going to be the one that says I can’t do it. I’m not good enough. I have a lot of insecurity that way. I always have. Because I always want to be better at what I’m doing. I don’t want to lose it. But at the same time, I don’t want to relish in it either. I want to know that it’s always there. And how do I get past it. And it doesn’t you don’t get past it until you do it. And until you practice. If you believe that your vision is going to happen on the first try. Think again. Because you have to practice and practice and practice and then execute it. And then you probably have to practice again. And if I looked at the benchmarks that I have right now, what is it in the kitchen just for preparation for the weekends in this class? It’s crazy, there are everywhere. But I look at everything and what needs to be tweaked or what I what what direction it was in or what I didn’t like and what because those are experiences that I’ll be able to share with them in class. So it would have to be my insecurities, that fear and that that drive and it was for me auditioning. Oh, never had done anything. My I was fortunate enough to have a person that was my partner because it was twos and she was my partner so she assisted me and I assisted her but she auditioned and that was Miss beautiful Suzanne Sturm. Yeah, so we are together. Yep. And so it’s Anyway, I don’t know where I was going with this. It’s just that was a fear, that biggest fear and I had to practice and get ready for it, and put myself in a heat and be ready to ask questions and be prepared. Yeah. And that got me through it. Yeah, I know.
Chris Baran 45:19
Yeah. Yeah, I know that something
George Alderete 45:23
is already getting dry right now just thinking of it.
Chris Baran 45:29
I always think give me a word does spit go when, you know when you’re on stage or talking to people. But listen, person. So listen, you’ve been, we’ve been a road warrior, I’m gonna guess just because we were talking about relationships, you know, the most people that are outside of what I call being a road warrior. And if you’re just listening, not watching right now, yes, I am doing air quotes. But if you’re not from the road warrior world, most people don’t understand how taxing it can be on a relationship. And I know you keep talking about your partner who keeps pulling you back in. And sometimes our partners need to do that they rein us back in. But there’s people that are out there that their relationships didn’t work, simply because you know how taxing This is, when you’re on the road all the time having to prepare, etc. And I know you’ve been in, as long as I know, you, you’ve been in the same relationship. But what advice would you give like if anybody is getting to go? Is they’re thinking about taking this life, aren’t they? They know they’ve got a gift to give, they’re going out to I want to join a group, a manufacturer, a thing, something that they could do, where they could expand themselves, teach the world and help to make it a better life? What would you enforce a relationship? What would any advice that you could give you might have been, I can only amount to the amount of mistakes that I’ve made in my relationship that I wish I would have known. Yeah. But if there’s somebody that was thinking about this, what advice would you give them, when it came to their relationship with their partner
George Alderete 47:18
to have the understanding of time with them, understand that amount of time that when you’re with it makes it really valuable. Because if you are a road warrior, and you know, you might be home, just a couple of days turned out to suitcase around and then out, you go again. And they’re sitting there with a smile, probably helping you pack it making sure you have everything, probably one step ahead of you. And you’re packing before you’re doing it, you know, when you get there, that’s my partner. So you have to have somebody that’s there and be open to the time with them. And it’s important, and I didn’t really understand it as many years as I’ve been doing it until COVID. Right? Because I was home a lot. And being home a lot made me realize my partner is home alone a lot. That’s not cool. I need to make the most out of my time. And I need to say no to some things because I have to share my time with my partner and enjoy. Or why am I working so hard. So stop, make sure that you appreciate that partner the time that you have with your person that you love. And I just happen to have somebody and I know you do too. That is just always supportive. Okay, you said Yeah, so when are you gonna start? Yeah, that kind of,
Chris Baran 48:58
you know, the I was listening. There’s a speaker that I was I was hearing hearing, I can’t remember whether it was watching it, or it was on a program that there was this gentleman that and he wrote the book on his called, it’s called Alter Ego. I don’t remember the gentleman’s name and what were, what the author’s name of the book was. But in every talks about effort, you have to be you have to be a have an eagle for every place, because everybody always says that you have to be authentic, which means in most people’s definition, you have to be the same all the time in all situations. But in the book, he talks about how you have to have, you know, your authentic self is different if you’re talking to your two year old daughter having a cup of tea playing Tea Party than it is if you’re on the road on a stage and it’s different than when you’re when you’re with your spouse was your authentic self that is in there. And so what what what’s George’s authentic self when you’re with your partner
George Alderete 50:00
honesty. Oh, wow.
Chris Baran 50:03
In one word honest.
George Alderete 50:06
Yeah, yeah, honestly. Yeah, that’s, I think when you accept true honesty with it’s grit. And you can take it. Because the person that knows you the most is telling you the truth, and it’s right there in front of you. You can’t do anything but appreciate it. Because you’re not gonna go down the wrong path. You’re just not. Because it’s gonna make you stop thinking about it, you’re like, you’re right. You should do told me. So. Yeah, I love it.
Chris Baran 50:45
So listen, I’m gonna give you a I’m gonna give you a one liner. It’s a it’s a fill in the blank, to not fill in the blank. Okay. George already is.
George Alderete 51:10
I want to say kind. Morning, what kind man. If I say that I’m going to help you, I will follow through and help you.
Knowing that you want to help yourself, I if I say that, I’m here and you need something from me. And if I can do something, or if I can connect you, I don’t have a condition. I just don’t. I just love to take one person and see them go to somebody else and see something happened. And I could just step away. I’m happy with that. I love that. So I like to be kind. And I like to smile and be happy around people and to just bring the best out of them. By being kind. Yeah, because everything else is there. I mean, what my expertise is when I’ve done accomplishment stuff, but just to sit there say how are you today? Thank you for asking. Yeah, it’s a pretty good thing today. Even though we consider it small talk, it’s important to follow through on that. So this is a little things. Yeah. For me. I love that.
Chris Baran 52:26
I remember you as that as kind. I’m gonna write that down. When I send you cards from here on in. It’s gonna be kind of George. Now it’s okay. I want to do with just a little bit and jump into. You’re on. You’ve been on stage now for like, how many years have you had to put it down? How many years? Have you been a time you stepped on stage till now? How many years has that been? Approximately?
George Alderete 52:54
Let’s see, say 30, 30 Something years 30 something
Chris Baran 52:57
years. Wow. So I want to tie this into kind of our strapline for
George Alderete 53:03
overnight. Just to let you know, sorry. It’s not an overnight, you know, no,
Chris Baran 53:10
no, not an overnight. But our strapline is making education so badass that you want to learn? And what form of badassery do you employ to keep your audiences engaged when you’re on stage?
George Alderete 53:33
I get it check us out. I I’m honest with them in the color I don’t I don’t give them the marketing story. Don’t tell them how color works and why it works in with what’s happening with what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. And that’s what happened. And yes, that color didn’t work. Because not because it’s not a good color. It’s just because it was not used in the way it should have been used. Or I’m just honest, there’s no, there’s no bullshit when I’m up there. And the reason I know that this is gonna work is because I do it. This is for real, this is what I live. This is what I’m going to teach. So I know that I can tell you without a doubt when you walk out of the room with me that you are going to take something valuable back to your salon and to your everyday piece of work. Because that was given to me. So now I’m just gonna give it to you and love it.
Chris Baran 54:36
I love it. But I want to leave you with one last thing here is that
George Alderete 54:42
this is great. I
Chris Baran 54:44
love the model that we have is admin. We kind of build everything on this as is that successful people in our brains in our words, which is probably a lot less eloquent than most people writing books, but it We have we’ve done as much research as we’ve looked. And we’ve always said that successful people use what we call the Goya method. You know, goy a, the, the acronym for, as we like to put it in? How would you say it? PC terms, you have to get off your ass sets, right. And we always put $2 signs in the ass sets. You know the the reason why that what the meaning behind what we say on that is that if it’s easy to sit there and just let the world go by you and have an do and be everything you want to do, but you’re not. So is if you want to be do or have something is that if you want to get it, whatever that it is that you want. You have to get off your ass sets and do something, and you gotta go get it. So what would what would you tell the people watching in the listeners that we have going on? That they need to get off of to get their assets going? And do what would you what would you say that is what do they have to let go of do or whatever
George Alderete 56:23
I would suggest to dream their own dream and follow their own dream, and not compare it to anybody else’s. I think my success for me personally has been that I never am concerned about anybody else’s, what they can do, what they are, who they are. And now they’re a part of the team. You just can’t it’s not even a part of my DNA. I just don’t think about it, I just focus on myself. And when you do that, you just, I don’t know, you just take off. Because you’re fully focused. And you don’t have any other minutia bothering you. You get that all out of your head, and just know who you are. Yeah. And and know what I’m capable of doing and not wanting to take? Oh, no, I want to be that or oh, I want to say it like that. No, this is what I do. And so be proud of that.
Chris Baran 57:16
I want to pause you there for just a second because the sometimes I think people get confused between I know you and I know that your dreams, you are a doer, you’ve done it, you proven it. There’s so many people out there think, Okay, I’m gonna dream it. And that dreams are hard to buy stuff with dreams are hard to how to get things moving on. Once you once George has that dream. And if they have that dream, George, what would you tell them what’s the one or two things that you would they would need to do in order to get it as opposed to just dream about it.
George Alderete 57:55
Find someone that’s doing it, contact them. Go to the sources start going to where you have interests. Show up to the opening of an envelope, I’d say that all the time. You know, it doesn’t matter, you’re always going to connect with someone and be out there just be present in it, you have to in order for you to get at whatever it is you have to go out and find it. You have to go out and research it, you have to be around it. It’s like that. It’s like what they say you’re around those that you like, because you want to model yourself. It’s the truth. I’ve only been around and I’m sorry, some of the best in the world, you included. And because of your generosity and their generosity, we happen to find each other, because we showed up. And here we are years later.
Chris Baran 58:55
You and that might give us a little more on that. When you said I love the line. I just I’d love to everybody to understand a little bit more about it. You said show up to the opening of the envelope. I think what a great saying. But give us a little more on that. What does that mean to you?
George Alderete 59:17
Okay, so for me, it didn’t, you know, everybody wants to go to the red carpet. Everybody wants to go to the big deal. Everybody wants to go to where the lights are flashing and all that stuff. And sometimes there’s something around the corner happening in this little corner doctor where some people are just hanging out having a conversation. Sometimes that’s more interesting. And I want to see what they’re doing. And that’s my curiosity. That’s just me. So keep that always don’t go to anything. It doesn’t matter if it’s the big deal with the big invitation. It doesn’t matter. It could be just people put out a Post said hey, we’re gonna gather and have coffee and just have a chat about you know, whatever. Go for it. Do it. Don’t fear it, just do it and show up. You never know. Let me give you a great example. I needed some help. And photoshoot a few months ago. And the flooding stylist had a friend that could help me. He showed up. No questions asked, I said, What do you need me to do? I gave him my tasks. Here they are. He accomplished it. He said, Thank you, I you know, anything else you need? I said, No, but don’t leave, you know, let’s exchange our number. Get we got our contacts and all that. I have no idea that this gentleman does hair in Dubai and famous all the housewives. And I’ll never even round it up. But he was there assisting me. That humility. That taught me that’s how I want to be. Yeah.
I love it, because he was just there doing his work his craft. And if you could help somebody out he could. And he did.
Chris Baran 1:00:59
Just be there for the opening of the envelope.
George Alderete 1:01:02
And he’s now teaching me how to create wigs and build wigs. Oh,
Chris Baran 1:01:09
we’ve all got one.
George Alderete 1:01:14
No, see, that’s what you say.
Chris Baran 1:01:16
You just saw that you just saw the the energy go up in my brain there because we’re gonna talk about wigs. And for people that are going we’re not talking about just the classic wigs that you do that, that that Gram wears, when she started to lose her hair we’re talking about? How do you make them that look real and more avant garde, or whatever that’s really turned my crank. George, I just want to say, I have been I’m so excited that you’ve been here. And you know, it’s funny, you always say when you haven’t been around for fret, because the last time I think I saw you was when we did that gig together for beauty changes lives. And that was probably one of those very tight months ago, whatever. And but it’s, I always find that the moment that you’re together, it’s always just the same as if the moment that you just walked away from one another the last time so I’ve always admired you, my friend, you’re always top top shelf and my book. And I just want to say thank you, I can’t thank you enough for for accepting this out of it, particularly with your busy schedule. But I am super excited to have you on I just want to say from the bottom of my heart. And for all the people that are watching and listening, I just want to say thank you,
George Alderete 1:02:25
Chris, thank you so much. You know how much you’ve meant to me. And I’ve told you that many times. But more importantly, for anybody that is going to be watching if they have not received any coaching from Mr. Coach bear in himself, this would be an opportunity for them to connect with you. Because let me tell you, it’s been some of the best coaching I’ve ever had. And not only just in my career life, but in my personal life as well. So to Pete, personally grounded you have really helped me to do that. And I
Chris Baran 1:02:55
can my friend and listen, I want to make sure that this is about you at the end. So George, your blessing to our industry. And thank you very much and to everybody that’s out there. Thank you guys one more time and just remember, get that you need to just get off of your assets and do something. And I promise you, it’ll all come to you. Thank you, everybody. And in the meantime, thank you see you on the next gig
