A Dramatics Stylist Makes a Difference

An Interview with Hairdresser Blanco

Dramatics NYC, the hair salon chain with 9 locations throughout Manhattan, has decided that 2012 is the year of "Giving Back". The idea is to give back to the community and the people who helped to make them the number one salon chain in the city. Dramatics is known for its "Beauty Meets Entertainment" flair. And a member of the Dramatics Team is Blanco, a nominee for the prestigious "Stylist of the Year Platinum PIA" award.

N: First off Blanco, congratulations for your nomination at the 57th Street Dramatics salon (352 W. 57th btw 8th/9th Aves) for the "Stylist of the Year PIA."

B: Thanks. It's a real honor.

N: From what I understand you are very involved with the Dramatics NYC "Gives Back" campaign and are participating in a lot of community activities including City Harvest, Nurture the Children, Lights/Camera/Read and the Magic Neighbors troupe.

B: Yes, when I discovered that I had been nominated for a Platinum PIA I decided to make my campaigning for the award actually mean something. I'm a hairstylist, so by my very nature I enjoy helping people. So I decided to take it up a notch and got involved with community and neighborhood activities.

N: Tell us about what you did with "City Harvest" the organization that feeds those in need. I heard you raised a hundred pounds of food for them.

B: Actually it was more than a hundred pounds of food. They had requested and anticipated one hundred pounds of nonperishable food items but the clients of the 57th Street hair salon location for Dramatics donated more. In the end we actually raised three hundred pounds of food.

N: Wow. That's great. So it was the clients of Dramatics NYC who brought the food into the salon?

B: Yes. We offered a discount on haircuts and blow outs to all clients who brought in non perishable food items. And we were overwhelmed by the response.

N: And they tell me that you were one of the key players in the Lights Camera Read show that was done by the Magic Neighbors troupe in which you played a bear. It was done for children of shelters, right?

B: That's right. Lights Camera Read is a contest at the New York Public Library where young people write short stories inspired by their favorite books. We brought to life the three winning stories with costumes, a stage and even a little magic. And yes, I played a bear in one of them.

N: And you built the traveling stage didn't you?

B: Yes, I was determined to make the show a real show. I wanted the kids to really enjoy themselves watching it. I was able to create a theater curtain for the performance - and it came out really nice. Plus the kids were great. We had a wonderful time with them. We had a crafts corner, there was a pizza party. It was really wonderful.

N: The costumes for the Magic Neighbors show for the children of shelters came from Ricky's NYC, didn't they?

B: Right, I was able to get some sponsorship with one of my clients who happens to be involved with Ricky's NYC and they donated all the costumes

N: That's terrific. I was told there was an inspirational moment for you when you committed to making a difference?

B: Yes. Around this time last year I was watching the morning show on NBC. They were doing coverage on kids going to bed hungry at night. It's exciting to be involved with Dramatics and giving back.

Learn more about Blanco at the Dramatics 57th Street location >>