How to grab a 10-minute performer slot at SHAIR! UNDRGRND (The Water Rats)

If an open mic night and a hair show had a beautiful, chaotic baby, it would be SHAIR! UNDRGRND. DJ on the decks, a strict countdown clock, and you delivering a 10-minute creation that hits hard and lives loud. Here’s how to book your slot, what’s involved, and how it works—so you can step up, show out, and own the room.

A quick guide to booking the 10‑minute spotlight at SHAIR! UNDRGRND, The Water Rats, in London Kings on Sunday 9 November —what it is, how to secure your place, and how the event flows.

What the 10-minute performer slot is

1. The prep: You’ll get 30 minutes in the live main‑room prep area—right among the crowd—to fine‑tune your look before you hit the stage.
2. Your moment: 10 minutes on stage to create, transform, and reveal—live, unfiltered, and high energy.
3. No chat during performances—just energy: Let the music and the crowd set the vibe. Save your words for the reveal.
4. Strict countdown: The timer is the gatekeeper. No overruns. It keeps the pace electric and the night tight.
5. Big finish: When the 10 minutes is up, it’s reveal time. Grab the mic and break down exactly what you did.
6. MC support: Our MCs will guide the questions to you so there are no awkward pauses for you.

Who can be your model?

Your model does NOT have to be a pro. Bring whoever best carries your look and vision

1. Friend
2. Colleague
3. Client

Take your grid or collection looks to the stage. Bring your most scroll-stopping ideas and make them hit live!

Who it’s for?

1. Up-and-coming platform artists wanting a first taste of the live stage.
2. Educators and education teams ready to showcase method and mindset in a punchy set.
3. Stylists who want to get out there, get noticed, and build momentum.
4. Art teams testing concepts or building a segment ahead of a bigger show.

Solo, duo, or trio? And how the stage works

1. Perform solo or pair up with a mate. Want to work as a trio? To book a duo or trio, please drop us an email at info@howtocut.it and we’ll send you the link code
2. Unless you’ve arranged a duo or trio, you’ll be sharing the stage with other performers during your time block. Line-ups are revealed live on the night to amp the drama and mash up genres.

How to book your solo performer slot?

1. Head to the event page: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/howtocutit/1848969
2. Select tickets here
3. Select ‘10 mins Performers Slot‘ + 1
4. After booking, you’ll get the need-to-know details (expect a week after booking) and we’ll ask for a headshot, a short blurb about you and your social handles

How the night flows

1. Check in and meet the SHAIR! UNDRGRND team.
2. All performers must arrive by 6:45 pm for time‑slot allocation (names drawn from a hat).
3. Prep your model, sharpen the vision,
4. Stage call: 10 minutes under the clock—no talking, just pure craft and energy.
5. Model reveal: grab the mic, break down your look; MCs keep it smooth and engaging.
6. Between the 10‑minute sets, we’ll run HOT—Hairdressers Open Talk—a rapid, crowd‑led debate, and Hair Speed Challenge—the live, timed styling battle where audience members can jump on stage to snag prizes.
7. Keep an eye on the honours: bring your A-game and you could be crowned the night’s Star SHAIR Performer.
8. Wrap the night with mix and mingle

Tips and ideas to nail your 10 mins

1. Create a high-impact look you can execute cleanly in 10 minutes.
2. Use your prep to set the foundation so the live segment is all killer, no filler.
3. You’re limited in what you can do on your model’s hair, so get creative—use wigs, hairpieces, or anything that unleashes your vision. Don’t play it safe; lean into the drama.
4. Colourist hack: start live, finish offstage, return for the big reveal—split your 10 into two 5s. Buddy up so a stylist can style the finished colour. Note: no wash basins, only toilet sinks. Protect surfaces and avoid stains.
5. Freestyle Jam: You start your look; the clock hits and you swap. Your mate continues—and so do you. That’s the jam.
6. Rehearse with a timer and plan your final reveal moment.
7. Bring presence—let the beat and the room reflect your energy.
8. Line up a friend to capture your standout stage-action photos and videos for your Instagram and TikTok.

Ready to SHAIR the stage, talent, passion, moment?
Performer slots are limited and go fast. If you’ve got something to say with your scissors, colour, clippers or styling, book your 10-minute spotlight NOW1

If you want to book a duo or trio spot, please email us at info@howtocut.it. If the fit is right, we will send you the access code.