Hi there Kate,
The usual time is 2 1/2 hours.................and if you do a search on Competitions you will find lots of info there....
Competing raises your skill level, raises your nail look awareness, raises your self critic, you become more aware of the work you are actually doing............
All the novice Competition geeks I spoke to this weekend, have all started to look at their nails in a different light......they are more aware of the way they are working and lines of light, apex lower arch and upper arch are now a very familiar term to them....and they have had their nail checked out by some of the best in the industry..... Fab feedback or what ........To me Competing is part of never ending education........
Tips:
Yea lots, get a good nail model, then practice till the cows come home or the products runs out, then get some more and practice again........
Look at winning nails, you get a feel for the look, if you can take a competition class or workshop, this will tweak skills and will help you to maximize your table time ...........
Be prepared to go through the "I can't blooming do this" phase........ and the "Oh heck why did I say I was gonna do it" spell....but also be prepared to have the best time ever there is to be had doing nails..............
I had to sit this last competition out, due to a small health problem that meant I couldn't wear my glasses, and I can see Nada without them lol.........but I will be back in there for Nailympics...........But like I said, do a search on this site for Competition nails and you will get lots more info..........
HTH
