Kevin Murphy graces the Tribu-te Show stage in just under a week! In anticipation of Kevin’s performance, we caught up with him about his pre-show preparations:
We’re very excited to see you on the Tribu-te stage, have you ever done a show like this before?
No, not like this one. I’ve done a few things with different hairdressers but never on this scale.
How long does it take you to prep your ideas and a concept for a show like Tribu-te?
It varies; I have these great master plans of doing this and doing that. However, when it comes to the execution of those grand ideas they don’t always work exactly as planned, so you need a really good plan B. Usually, I’ll think about it for about a month, then once I get going on the looks – it takes about 3-5 days of doing it over and over again until its perfect.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Inspiration is everywhere – you just have to have your eyes open! The hardest part is staying true to yourself; there are so many influences around; every time you open a computer or smart phone you have the world at your fingertips. The internet is a great resource for research and we have never had the privilege of having so much knowledge but it can be a double-edged sword because you can get lost in someone else’s world and to be truly creative you have to stay in your own.
Can you tell us a little bit about what you have planned on the night…?
I have a bit of an eco/carbon neutral thing going on. I love the idea of doing my looks with no electricity, so no hot tools and no irons. I hope to be working with freshly-washed hair and shaping that around the head. I’ll be using products of course because that is what I do – but I wanted to use the natural texture of the hair without using any electric tools.
You’re a natural on stage – have you always felt confident up there? And what tips do you have for stylists who are looking to overcome stage-fright?
When I’m on stage I imagine that everyone is my co-worker. People don’t come to a show to watch anyone fail; the audience always want you to do well. I just imagine that I’m in the salon talking to my co-workers while I’m doing the hair – it feels more natural that way. Oh! And of course practice, practice, practice until you know your looks inside and out.
Finally, it’s a real mix with Hooker & Young, X-presion, Skyler McDonald, and Trevor Sorbie Art Team – is there anyone you’re particularly looking forward to watching?
I’m looking forward to watching all of them. X-presion are so creative I’m sure I’ll be completely blown away by them; Skyler is a very very talented hairdresser and I imagine Hooker and Young will show us some amazing colour and glamour. I’ve yet to see the Trevor Sorbie Art Team live but the legacy of Trevor Sorbie is an incredible one so I’m sure they will deliver something very special.