“Consider within the me, that believes in you.” I say this incessantly in my seminars and within the salon I co-own with Corina Stammworthy – The Laundromutt. It resonates with me as a result of many groomers, together with myself, say “I can’t do what they do, as a result of…” *Insert limitless causes right here.* However there may be all the time somebody trying up at you saying the identical factor.
My identify is Macie Pisa. As a second-generation groomer, I grew up saying there was no method I used to be going to be a groomer. It appeared exhausting, tense and messy. I wished to be an inside decorator! I wished to reside in Seattle! I’d be cool and artsy! Effectively, right here I’m in Buffalo, New York, doing precisely what I mentioned I wouldn’t. I adore it, and I nonetheless get to be cool and artsy.
I started grooming in 2014 after working two years as a bather for an area salon in Buffalo. I lastly determined this was the place I wished to be. I used to be a cocky, know-it-all child (some would say I nonetheless am), and I give lots of credit score to the proprietor of that salon for sticking it out, educating me and giving me a superb basis.
She was a sort lady, all the time serving to her group and providing her salon and workers to town shelter anytime that they had a canine in want. It was an incredible alternative for me, as I made a decision to take a type of canine on as a foster in hopes I may take him to my very first grooming contest. We went on to compete at Groom Expo in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in September 2014. We positioned second in Entry, and I used to be hooked!
At PetQuest in 2015, I competed in Entry once more with my 9-month-old, black Customary Poodle pet, Vlad. We positioned first, and I used to be on my method out of Entry! (There are three ranges in competitors grooming – Entry, Intermediate and Open, and it takes three first place wins to maneuver to the subsequent stage.)
PetQuest was additionally the primary present Corina and I traveled to collectively, and it was the beginning of among the best years of my life. I made lifelong mates, discovered, traveled and had a blast. We caught to the East Coast exhibits and ate baggage of salad, cups of noodles, PBJs and stayed at some questionable inns. I’m fairly positive we break up tacos and margaritas after my placement at that present.
It’s costly to journey on a regular basis. Plus, Corina and I had a child salon at house to deal with, however we had a lot enjoyable it was price it! That first 12 months we discovered how essential making mates and splitting the price of all of the bills was. By March of 2016, I had made my three first place wins, and I used to be in Intermediate. Then in September of 2016, I used to be nominated for Up-and-Coming Groomer of the Yr AND had made it into Open with the massive children, able to earn some factors!
The New England Grooming Present was subsequent, and that’s the place I made a decision GroomTeam was going to be my aim. I hadn’t dared to suppose I used to be able to making it. However it was my first Open present, and I obtained my first factors, seven factors on my Bedlington Terrier.
Seven factors. It doesn’t seem to be a lot, however it put me on the scoreboard. What’s the scoreboard? It’s a listing of each competitor that has earned factors in that calendar 12 months. It’s form of an enormous deal, particularly the primary time you make it. And I used to be No. 20! I turned decided to get to the highest 10 – the lower off for who will get their GroomTeam jacket and who doesn’t.
The subsequent 12 months was attention-grabbing. If you end up within the decrease ranges, you hear concerning the drama and the stress of Open, however it’s simple to remain out of it and maintain issues thrilling. At my first present of 2017 – my second ever present in Open – I used to be instructed I had solely made it this far as a result of I used to be fairly and that I wasn’t prepared. It was an enormous blow to my confidence and a impolite awakening of my new REAL world of aggressive canine grooming. I began to listen to extra criticism and turn into paranoid about my expertise. I began to marvel if this was actually for me. I ended having enjoyable and ended the 12 months with three factors and lots of frustration.
In 2018, I made a decision to take time for myself and took the 12 months off. However I didn’t cease grooming. I practiced, discovered and watched from the web as my mates did superb issues. I began to actually miss being on the market. I missed the frenzy, the stress, the thrill; and I missed my mates! When competing, you make mates from all around the nation, and also you see them fairly commonly at exhibits. It’s particular to have folks round you who perceive your drive and keenness for such a weird and area of interest sport. Sure, I mentioned it – SPORT!
I got here again in 2019, and I got here again sturdy. I used to be decided to make the highest 10! I wasn’t going to let different folks damage my enjoyable. So, Corina and I packed up the canine and hit the competition circuit. We taught courses and began attempting to get extra time to benefit from the locations we visited. It was an incredible 12 months full of superb canine, and I ended the 12 months within the TOP FIVE! I had surpassed my aim and was going to obtain my jacket.
I had a lot enjoyable competing in opposition to so many superb groomers and pushing myself to see how far I may get. It felt so good to show to myself and to the those who instructed me I couldn’t that I completely may! In March of 2020, I obtained my staff jacket and my official recognition as a member of GroomTeam USA.
Making it onto GroomTeam isn’t the top all. It’s a continuing wrestle to remain on high. Yearly everybody grows and improves, and the competitors will get tougher. It’s nice encouragement to proceed studying.
However why? Why will we do it? Many opponents attempt to be on GroomTeam as a mark of validity as an teacher. We see it as a method for folks to know that we all know what we’re speaking about.
It’s extra than simply that. There’s one thing superb about being the perfect, about having proof that each one your exhausting work was for one thing. That out of everybody in your nation who competed, you have been on the high. You get to the highest 10, and then you definately begin to dream larger – you begin to notice there’s one other stage and you can be the perfect on this planet.
And that’s the place they get you. The place you get sucked in ceaselessly. The place you’ll be able to by no means slack otherwise you’ll lose – not an precise sport, however the sport you play with your self the place you’ll be able to by no means fall behind. There’s all the time one other canine, one other breed, one other trim.
It’s not a simple aim, and it’s not a simple life; however we wouldn’t need it if it was simple.
