Fennec -
I'm so proud of you -- you look so great! And it just seems that regardless of how much prep you do, the first show always seems like you missed the point on everything, but then once you've been through it you realize how much you learned!
I also still think figure is a strange competition regardless of how long its been around. Judges still arent' consistent with what they want - almost same w/ bb - but I guess the bottom line is you need to achieve what you want from all the training because you are the one who has to live w/ the body.
Tanning -- I was always told that Jan Tana sucks. I didn't use it -- I had an excellent base tan, but I'm blond and very white naturally so my best tan is still like a few minutes of sun for your typical dark haired person. I used Pro Tan w/ 3 coats - apply 2 nights before the show: take a shower, use anti-bacterial soap & scrub real good like w/ a loofah, and shave off all the excess hair - arms, etc. , have someone who u dont' mind standing in front of naked do the ProTan - spray, brush, spray, brush, make sure to cover everything and get all the drips wiped up. - very long process), let dry in front of a big fan for an hour, then put on long sleeves & pants, sleep in it. Take a shower in the morning, repeat the next night. Another shower in the morning. Check again to see if you are dark enough. On the last day, also do your face a few times so you don't look like a white head on a brown body.
I don't know if you oiled up before going on stage - PAM is supposed to be the oil of choice. (Yes the cooking spray -- so you smell like salad for a few days...!)
You might even ask around and find a trainer or someone who does show prep and pay them to do your tan for you. My trainer was spraying down like 3-4 people before local shows. He would do it even for other competitors he wasn't training for like $35 + the ProTan. Only draw back with ProTan is that it takes a few days to get most of the stuff off and then the rest will come off w/ time (my toe nails were still dyed brown almost 2 months later.)
But now that you've been there, done that -- you know what to expect and how to do it. No more stress! That must be some show that they provide food --- some of the shows I've been to, if you can find room in the bathroom to do your hair & makeup you're doing great....
I'm so glad you had the experience and had a great time doing it. It is very frustrating when you find that the person who trained you may not have given you all the right instructions, but that's where I HIGHLY recommend learning as much as you can on your own so you can be comfortable in having the right knowledge instead of relying on someone else. This just comes with experience.
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BTW -- you have inspired me again --- I've been in the doldrums, working my ass off and being sick for the last 5 weeks or so --- I"m ready to get my shit together again and go balls to the wall!
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that in itself is an accomplishment
