Paul mitchell make the impossible possible with 2012 gathering

Anything is possible in Las Vegas - from riding a rollercoaster across replica New York rooftops to swimming in a simulated reef alongside sea turtles and sharks. This optimistic world of opportunity made the city the ideal location for Paul Mitchell's 2012 Gathering, which had the theme this year of "I'm Possible".

Turning the idea of impossible on its head the two-day conference featured a packed programme of education, inspiration and networking, all with theme that anything can be achieved with positive thinking and the right product partnership.

More than 3,500 hairdressers from 27 countries descended on the luxurious Aria hotel for the 48-hour conference, which kicked off in style with a spectacular opening show. Paul Mitchell co-founder and CEO, John Paul DeJoria welcomed the crowd by announcing that the annual event was all about the experience - just like a trip to a Paul Mitchell salon is for a client.

And what an experience the opening show was, with a flying carousel horse sweeping across the stage, an army of male models and sports stars and a whole host of Paul Mitchell artists demonstrating some spectacular styles on stage.

John Paul told the crowd, "Nothing is impossible until you tell yourself it is - what we dream, we can do. What we want to achieve, we can - as long as we work hard and follow our goals." Citing the examples of inspirational icons like four-minute mile athlete, Roger Bannister and shark-attack surviving surfer, Bethany Hamilton, the audience were left in doubt that with some self-belief, anything could be achieved.

With this key message resonating, it was time for the show to truly kick off in style. With a new curl range the big product release of the event, it was only right that ringlets dominated. Models made their 'curl confessions' to priests before being styled live on stage by Angus Mitchell and Robert Cromeans as real clients talked about their relationship with their curls on screen. "Curly hair is not for the weak," said Robert. "It's for confident women. The world has been flat for too long - now it's all about texture."

With that, a revolving fairground carousel raised from the stage ridden by a trio of curly-haired kids, soon joined by a whole host of adult models dressed in sherbet shades and lashings of lace and broderie anglaise sporting curls of all shapes and sizes. A model flying across the crowd on a separate carousel horse completed the spectacular, a giant mass of ginger curls flowing behind her.

Next it was time to celebrate the brand's recently-launched blonde range, with the help of the elaborately quiffed rapper from Paul Mitchell's in-house band. A spectacular lineup of platinum blonde models in graphic colour-block frocks were styled live on stage by the entire artistic team, with finished looks ranging from grungy braids worn with blunt bangs to long clippered layers and edgy undercuts.

Celebrating the Awapuhi treatment range, the audience were treated to a more avant-garde look with a music-box style model with a towering structure of squared-off curls accompanied by dancers with glossy, bouncy, long curls shimmering with health.

Dean of Paul Mitchell Schools, Winn Claybaugh was next on stage to further reiterate the idea of anything being possible and the importance of loving what you do  - "the notion of TGIF was definitely not invented by anyone in our industry," he commented, before adding that "we've always done it that way" are the words of a failing company. 

With his motivational words over it was time for Winn to introduce the Mitch models, representing Paul Mitchell's fast-growing male range. The energetic performance featured the brand's in-house band live on stage with an enormous range of models representing every kind of male client, free-running dancers, extreme sportsmen skating and BMXing across the stage and a crowd of athletes who are supported by Paul Mitchell Sports - from volleyball champion, Ty Tramblie (whose hair has its own fan club on Facebook!) to triple amputee iron-man athlete, Raj Durbal.

With the show over, guests spent the rest of the day in seminars and hands-on workshops, covering art - look and learn classes teaching cut, colour and styling - and business and culture - designed specifically for salon owners and managers and covering everything from software to social media.

After a day of learning, guests were treated to a night of entertainment at the Hollywood Glamour Party with curl-themed cocktails, dancing, and even an appearance from some of those in-demand Mitch models.

Day two kicked off with a motivational general session, featuring guest speakers from across the company explaining how they had turned their dreams into a reality.

Angus Mitchell explained that when he had started his hairdressing education, everyone told him that it was in his genes thanks to his famous father. "But it wasn't in my genes," he revealed. "My doll head was the first one to go bald! I had to put in a lot of effort, and it's because of that I'm possible."

Athlete Raj Durbal was back on stage too, revealing just how much he'd had to put in to make his dreams possible. "People thought I wouldn't amount to anything," he said. "I had to build my own legs in the hardware store because no-one would support me - I redefined everything."

Vice president of education, Stephanie Kocielski, also had a story to tell, explaining, "I never fitted in at school - I can't even spell my own last name! The only place I ever fit in was at the salon, so I never dreamt I'd work in education. The most important thing in life is taking a risk - you can't be the next anyone, you just need to be the first you."

The afternoon saw more education sessions, before a grand finale that left the audience in no doubt that the impossible was very much possible.

John Paul DeJoria returned to the stage for the grand finale, thanking the audience for attending - as well as acknowledging the tens of thousands of fans who tuned in online for the live streaming of both shows. He introduced back to the stage Winn, who posed the question, "What's going to be different when you leave the Gathering today? Get busy, take this incredible message back to your salons - inspire each other and let your salon team know that they are possible too."

The grand finale kicked off its entertainment in true dramatic fashion, with Robert Cromeans in disguise as Charlie Chaplin getting the crowd going before completing a clippered cut - assisted by oversized forks - on a bright red, springy afro.

After presenting his model, Robert introduced shows from Paul Mitchell the School, the Advanced Academy and Future Professionals kicking off with an homage to the 1920s - the 'decade of new ideas and beauty.'

Models with beautiful clean bobs and softly tumbling retro waves stormed the stage, before it was a host of Paul Mitchell artists took to the stage for short individual shows demonstrating their personal interpretation of beautiful hair.

Linda Yodice opened the section with a living puppet, whose red hair she deftly brushed into a sculpted shape before the model flew into the sky. Next was Scott Cole, who transformed a stunning black, green and blue long style into an incredible graduated bob - to a soundtrack of a female client explaining that they only wanted a trim!

Then it was the turn of Lucie Doughty, who brushed out a gorgeous head of tight blonde ringlets into a fluffy, candyfloss shape. Takashi was next, transforming a model's long hair first into an elegant chignon at the nape of the neck, before carefully razoring the updo off into a layered bob with face-framing lengths.

Stephanie Kocielski made a colourful impression with a model covered in fluttering butterflies. Whipping her textured curls into a fluffy updo topped off with more butterflies, she caused gasps of delight when the model was gently blown with air to make the butterflies fly off across the stage.

To close the show, Angus Mitchell created a precise, apricot-hued crop - but this wasn't any ordinary cut, as the company co-owner and artistic director of education flew into the air on a trapeze, performing backflips and somersaults above the crowd as he finished the style, before sweeping the model into the air with him.

The Paul Mitchell band returned to the stage for an empowering finale rendition of their I'm Possible anthem, as the entire lineup of models, artists, educators, and backstage team took to the stage for one final thank you from the awe-struck audience.

"There's only one last thing to say," said Jean Paul. "We know that you're possible, we know that we're possible, but we're only just starting to show you how possible we are."