Creating a Winning Booksy Profile to Get Discovered Backstage

For Eddie Gallegos better known as Monster Eddie Jr., the road to success has been an uphill battle that took 10 years in the making. But earlier this month, Eddie heard the news that he was the first winner of the Get Discovered Backstage competition. And that means his Booksy Profile is the golden ticket that will give him the chance to style hair for chart-topping rockstars at a live music festival.

This summer, Booksy combined forces with Idle Hand Collective to create an unrivaled competition that runs until the end of the year. Eddie was selected from a competitive pool of barbers, stylists, and nail techs who were all competing to showcase their talent at PyschoFest, which takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada from August 19th – 21st. His freshly sculpted cuts, cosmetology background, and long list of 5-star reviews made him the choice for the win.

Each Get Discovered Backstage contestant winner will get to style A-list music artists in a VIP section at a widely attended music festival of their choice. Winners get to choose from a list of 17 festivals taking place in different parts of the country. Each winner will also have their work featured on the Booksy Instagram stories, which will be viewed across the globe.

To all of the industry pros still submitting their applications, take a few moments to hear about the long, hard road that Eddie took to earn the right to step on stage in front of thousands. And learn the secret to his success with regards to creating a winning Booksy Profile that’s opening up all the right doors for this West Coast sensation.

Making A Dream Come True 

When Eddie found out that he would be cutting and styling hair for headbanging rockstars live at a music festival attended by thousands of fans, he admitted to becoming “a little emotional.” Eddie said this opportunity to showcase his 10 years of hard work and dedication to the barbering industry means opening doors for himself. But more importantly, winning this competition helps him set an example for the next generation of barbers. 

“It’s just been a long journey, and this is a very special moment because everybody will get to hear my story and know that I come from a good place. And I just want to be able to inspire people,” said Eddie through tears of joy. “No one will fully understand what I’ve done or been through to get here. But I don’t do this to go big on no one—I do this because I love it. “

Despite his humility, this isn’t the first time that Eddie will be gracing the stage as a champion. His haircuts have won titles, earned trophies, and attracted attention from industry juggurants. He’s traveled to different parts of the world, including being flown out to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the Elegance Approved competition in 2012. And he’s also an ambassador for Andis. 

“Everybody that comes from a rough upbringing, if they can give it their all in something—and none of that is easy there’s a lot of hard work behind it. But if you give it your all, you can definitely achieve it. You can become anything in life and none of that is easy. It’s a lot of hard work, but you can definitely achieve it,” said Eddie.

Inspiring the Next Generation 

Over the past decade, Eddie remembers attending more than a dozen competitions and earning recognition at most of those barber battles. In fact, his most recent big win happened just before COVID-19 changed the industry and everyone started social distancing. Back in 2017, Eddie won the Best Fade of the Year Award at a competition hosted by Behind the Chair.

Dominating competitions helped Eddie spread the word about his work. And when he wasn't competing, he was networking. Eventually he started meeting internationally recognized celebrities who frequently visit Las Vegas. It didn’t take long for them to start regularly requesting his talents. 

They demanded the skills of a tried and true professional who sculpts fades with the precision of a fine artist. At this stage in his career, Eddie has worked with a host of musicians, including Bad Bunny, players from the Barcelona soccer team, NFL athletes, professional boxers, an ESPN announcer, and more.

“Haircuts are very challenging with celebrities. You’ve got to put that whole fan mode aside and show up as a world champion and execute a great haircut in a short amount of time. But it’s also a beautiful experience to get to see your work in a music video or inside a huge sports arena,” Eddie said, adding that he can’t wait to showcase his work onstage at PyschoFest.  

Even as he waits for the opportunity of a lifetime, Eddie is still planning his next move. By the end of the year, he wants to open his own barbershop. His goal is to give back to the world of barbering. Eddie hopes to share his knowledge with industry newcomers who share his hunger. And to live up to his dream, the shop will be aptly called The Kingsmen.

“I want to be the first leader to take these young barbers into the next level. I’ll show them how to take care of everything from A to Z. They’ll learn how to take care of the celebrities that visit Las Vegas. And I’ll share tips on hair cutting, marketing, how to talk to A-list clients, how to handle tough business conversations, and how to run a barbershop,” said Eddie.

Creating a Winning Booksy Profile

There's no doubt that Eddie has been making power moves for over a decade. But while he took the steps to enter his Booksy Profile into the Get Discovered Backstage competition, Eddie had doubts about winning. 

“Honestly, I didn't think I’d have the chance to do this. I was just thinking, hopefully they’ll get to see my Booksy Profile and my work. Maybe they’ll get to feel the vibe of who I am through all the pictures of my haircuts. And at least they'll just know that I love what I do,” Eddie said. 

Because Eddie made the decision to enter his Booksy Profile into the competition, he’ll stand next to music royalty. He'll perform the work that he describes as his life’s passion. “Knowing that I’ll be able to showcase all of this art that I’ve had in the archives, and knowing that I will be able to provide for my family differently, it’s what inspires me the most and pushes me to never quit or stop,” said Eddie.

Various parts of his Booksy Profile page depicted that dedication, while opening a new door for his career. “You see the picture. And you get to learn a little bit about me. I wanted to use that to show my vibe. In the description, I just talked about my work and my accomplishments,” he said. Eddie added that industry pros should take the following steps to create a winning Booksy Profile: 

Showcase your versatility 

Always showcase your ability to create different haircuts. And that's especially true for both barbers and stylists. Try to work with men and women, as well as people from different racial or ethnic backgrounds. Then let people see your diverse portfolio. In the end, it should show a wide variety of styles, textures, shapes, and colors.

Spend time selecting the right photos

Upload high quality photos that show your best work. Poor images or flawed cuts can take away from your reputation. Remember to position your camera at different angles during a shoot. Your portfolio should be full of images that are always the most flattering.

Use your Booksy Profile as a marketing tool

While uploading pictures or writing a Business Description, try to connect with the people in your community. Think carefully about where you’re located—take that into careful consideration. Know the type of clients that you want to reach. Then let your clients know what your business is all about with an engaging Business Description that gives your brand a personal voice.

Get Discovered Backstage Competition Details 

With regards to entering the Get Discovered Backstage competition, read the Competition Rules for the complete list of regulations. But know that all entrants must have an active Booksy Biz account and Booksy Profile to enter. Anyone who hasn’t signed up, can join today to start encouraging clients to book anytime, anywhere, 24/7.

To enter, complete the Get Discovered Backstage with Booksy and Idle Hand Collective application form then click submit. To select the festival you want to attend, simply pick from the drop down menu on the same application form beneath the text labeled: pick your gig. Submit one application form for each festival you would like to attend!

There will be one winner for each music festival. Winners will be determined by a panel of beauty professionals. Entrants must have the following criteria, and these same factors will also be used to select each winner:

1. Must have an active Booksy account
2. Have at least 10 reviews on your Booksy Profile
3. Have cumulative a Booksy Profile review rating of at least a 4.8 or above

The contest runs from July 11th - Oct. 28th. Winners will be notified of their win via phone and email 21 days before the music festival they want to attend. But winners must respond via an email and confirm his or her contact information within 48 hours from being notified. 

Winners will also be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release, and a publicity release. And those forms must be signed within 48 hours following the date of the first attempted notification.