Our Orlando Keynote artist, Johnny Lavoy spills his industry know how and reflects on his personal career in this Q&A.

Makeup artist and hair stylist, Johnny is one of the most sought after in the industry and his editorial and teaching credits span the globe – Don’t let his striking looks and sweet smile fool you, he’s a double threat in the industry - getting his tips is essential for any artist .

How did you get started in the field? I grew up in a town called New Britian,Connecticut. As a child I would spend hours brushing my mother’s hair as she napped on the sofa. At 10 yrs old I got my first big boy hair cut that I could not restyle. My mother took me back to my stylist, so he could show me how to style my new look. I mastered blow-drying. Shortly after my sister had the same dilemma, but instead of my mother taking her for a lesson she just would say, “Johnny do your sisters hair.” I’ve been doing hair ever since. I enrolled in beauty school at the age of 14 because the law in CT is that you have to have your 9^th grade education before you can collect hours, and the rest is history. I never had a plan B. I started makeup shortly after that.

How has The Makeup Show played a role in the development of your career? The makeup show has served as a great networking platform, as well as giving me a chance to have accessibility to the leaders in the industry. It’s great to be able to talk to people behind the brands that I love.

Having seen it grow in the past 7 years, how have you seen it evolve? What do you look forward to each year? Not only have I seen the attendance grow I have also seen growth in the education available as well as the venders. One of my favorite things each year is coming together with fellow artists and meeting the gurus that are some of my Favs on YouTube. Like Elesse from Pursebuzz and Yvette aka Girlcanpaint, Erin from Scandalous Beauty. Jes aka JesBlankets and so on.

Who has inspired you throughout your career? What inspires you? I find inspiration in everything. In terms of other artists. Billy B, Sam Fine ,Jon Hennessey, James Vincent have also been inspirational.

Would you say that you have a signature look as seen on everything from the Red Carpet and Runway to national advertising and editorial campaigns with clients including JLo and Adrienne Vitta, publications such as Vanity Fair, InStyle, Glamour, and designers including Oscar De la Renta to Diane Von Furstenberg? I like to think my look is clean and classic. I know what I can do and I stick to that. I’m not one of those artists like Kabuki who creatively is a genius. There are so many artists who want to be so many things and I think sticking to what you do best is the key to ones individual success.

What has your experience been like as L’Oréal Paris’ hair expert? It has been amazing. The L’Oreal Paris family has been so good to me. It has always been a company I respected from the start of my career, so it was a such a honor to be asked to represent the company on a national level. Its been three years now and I would say the most exciting three years of my career.

Would you consider yourself a double threat? Being not only an internationally sought-after hairstylist, but a top makeup artist as well? How have these two skill-sets affected your opportunities and position in the industry? Being skilled in both hair and makeup has been beneficial to my career. I really do enjoy doing both, although I’m not opposed to doing one or the other either. When the economy tanked years ago, It was the artists that did both that continued working because companies where cutting budgets.

Between your video tutorials, features on E! and HBO and celeb bookings, how do you make time for your boutique salon inConnecticut, Moda-Rey? I’ve been doing it for years so now it’s easy. You have to be willing to work and work hard as well as being accommodating and flexible.

If you weren’t a hairstylist and makeup artist, what type of work do you think you would have fallen into? I’ve always wanted to dance or sing.

Do you have any exciting plan to share for 2012? This year I, along with Billy B and Kim Bowen, was asked to create a fashion line for the German Company One Touch. The Line is called Styling Legends and was delivered to stores this March. We just returned from a two week tour promoting the line. It was a lot of fun and very exciting.

What piece of advice would you pass on to those looking to break into the field? Set realistic goals that are going to work for you and your lifestyle. Be willing to work because nothing comes easy. But I say if you love what you do it never feels like work.

Don’t miss his keynote presentation, “The Transformation of Makeup” Sunday, November 4the 2012 To join us for The Makeup Show Orlando Nov 4 & 5 click here.

Johnny will ALSO teach an EXCLUSIVE hands-on workshop “Basic Editorial Hair Styling for Makeup Artists” at The Makeup Show Orlando .  To sign up and for more info for his Hands-on Workshop email Sophia@metropolitanevents.com