A) IMPORTANT TICKET & CHECK-IN INFO

A) RESALE TICKET POLICY – PROCEED WITH CAUTION

• You may sell or gift your ticket to another licensed beauty pro, but it will remain in your name since Ticket Tailor does not allow edits. We are not responsible for any issues that arise.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION:

• The new ticket holder must provide proof (DMs, email, PayPal/Venmo/Square receipt, etc.) showing that you transferred the ticket to them. Without this, they will not be allowed entry.

• At check-in, we will record the buyer’s name, cell number & driver’s license number. If a ticket is used fraudulently, this information will be turned over to the police.

IF BUYING A TICKET FROM SOMEONE ELSE:

• Beware of online scams—only buy from a trusted source.

• A common scam is one ticket sold multiple times. Once scanned at check-in, a ticket cannot be used again.

• We are not responsible for resold tickets & cannot offer refunds or free entry to anyone who gets scammed. Tickets at the door are $75 CASH ONLY with a pro beauty license & photo ID.

You may post your ticket for sale inside our private Smokies Nail Show Facebook Group (licensed beauty pros only; sorry no students). To join, include your license number, state & name as it appears on your pro beauty license for verification - CLICK HERE

A) LUGGAGE CART POLICY – 2025 UPDATE

• Only vertical, upright luggage carts on wheels are allowed on the show floor. See the example photo below.

• Pull-behind, 4-wheel wagon carts are no longer permitted as they block aisles & create congestion in front of booths where techs need to shop.

This change is due to excessive complaints about techs’ toes being run over & people tripping on pull-behind carts. Please be mindful when using vertical carts to avoid injuries—if issues continue, we may have to ban those as well.

A) FAST-TRACK YOUR CHECK-IN & GET NAIL SWAG!

A) TICKET DELIVERY & CHECK-IN INFO

A) LICENSED BEAUTY PROS ONLY – NO EXCEPTIONS

To ensure a professional environment, unlicensed individuals are not allowed in the show or classrooms. This includes small children, strollers & babies—as they take up space meant for nail techs. We do not provide or recommend daycare services due to liability reasons.

If you see anyone with a child or baby on the show floor or in a classroom, please report it to the Registration window or a security guard so they can be escorted out.

.

​

A) YES! Just bring your nail tech certificate & your photo ID from your country to show during the Check-in process at the door.

.

A photo on your phone of your nail tech certificate will work as long as it's clearly visible to read.

A) VIP TICKET INFO – LIMITED AVAILABILITY

Only 200 VIP tickets are available for licensed beauty pros (sorry, but students are not eligible). These tickets include:

• Early entry at 9:00 AM (1 hour before General Admission)
• VIP wristband for priority access
• A VIP Gift Bag filled with Sponsor products (varies each year)

VIP ticket holders skip the longer General Admission line & can enter the show at 9:00 AM (EST). For more info, check the FAQ above about Early Check-in on Saturday.

TICKET SALES:

VIP tickets typically sell out within hours of being released on New Year’s Eve at 12:01 AM (EST). Occasionally, a few tickets may be available for resale in our private Facebook group for licensed beauty pros. CLICK HERE to join (you’ll need your pro license number & state for verification at time of request).

VIP TICKET HOLDER REQUIREMENTS:

• Pick up your wristband & gift bag in person with photo ID & pro beauty license
• No one else can pick up your bag or do your check-in.
• Swag bags are not mailed nor held for future shows if you can’t attend.

A) YES. It's $75 CASH ONLY along with pro beauty license/owners salon license or student documents & photo ID for verification. An ATM is down the street in the Arcade located under the Space Needle or up the street at the Bearland Grill (on the corner beside the Gillette Motel).

.

You'll receive a General Admission wristband to gain entry to the show, plus some nail swag as it lasts (when it's gone, that's all she wrote). Scroll down for the FAQ "How am I entered for a Door Prize drawing" to understand how the wristbands detachable tabs work.

A) ARRIVAL & CHECK-IN INFO – FRIDAY, SATURDAY, MONDAY & SUNDAY

A) Not onsite, but paid parking lots on Airport Rd are across from & located next to the Gatlinburg Convention Center (average is $20). Up the street in easy walking distance there's cheaper paid parking behind the Bearland Grill, plus at the Catholic Church, but not on Sunday's during services.

.

If you're staying at a downtown hotel, you can hop the free trolleys, but there is no definite time schedule so you could be waiting 1 minute or 1 hour until it arrives. Ask the trolley driver 1st before you get on if they stop at the GCC because not all trolley's do.

A) YES! We'd be thrilled if you hashtag #nailtecheventofthesmokies & tag us @NailTechEvent on TikTok & Instagram, however Facebook is a bit longer:  @NailTechEventoftheSmokies. 

.

Nail techs, this is OUR WORLD....where nail techs are the STARS, so please utilize this once a year opportunity to create massive amounts of content for your YouTube & other social channels.

.

Longer videos can be chopped up into smaller 30 second segments for stories & 90 second segments for reels which can be used all year until it's time for the next Smokies Nail Show!

.

However, absolutely NO live streaming or videoing in the Workshops or Event Day Classes without express consent of the Educator teaching each.

A) LICENSE VERIFICATION FOR CHECK-IN

• Paper beauty licenses (any size) or a photo/screenshot of your license on your phone are acceptable as long as they are easily readable.

• You may also show your State Board of Cosmetology website on your phone, with your name & current year’s pro beauty license visible.

To speed up the check-in process, have your license, salon owner license or student documents & photo ID ready. Lines move faster when you're prepared—see the FAQ for what to do if you forget your license.

No one can enter the show without the required documents, even if they have a non-refundable, non-transferable ticket. We appreciate your understanding in keeping this a pros-only nail industry event.

A) STUDENT ATTENDEE REQUIREMENTS

• Student means you’re enrolled in a beauty school prior to the show date. If you’re enrolled after the show date, you cannot attend this year but are welcome to join next year.

• All students must show photo ID and student ID or documents from the beauty school with letterhead confirming they are a current or recently graduated student or have recently taken state boards but not yet received their pro license.

No group or student discounts at the door ($75 CASH ONLY). No documents = No entry, even with a ticket. Sorry, but apprentices cannot be admitted.

A) YES! We realize many salon/spa owners & managers are not licensed beauty pros. Each will need to show photo ID & documentation during the Check-in process at the Registration window such as: 

1. paystub from the salon/spa with the person's name on it.
2. printed business card with person's name, title, salon/spa contact info - sorry but no business cards will be accepted which have info hand written due to the high likelihood of fraud. 
3. salon business license with number issued by your state & owners/co-owners name printed on it.
4. your State Board of Cosmetology's website pulled up on your phone showing your name listed on the salon business license.

.

ONLINE TICKET BUYING PROCESS:  insert the salon business license number in the box where it asks for a pro beauty license number. 

 A) LICENSE VERIFICATION

Paper beauty licenses, photos of your license or certificates from other countries on your phone are acceptable if they are clear & readable.

If you forget your license, you’ll need to:

• Google your State Board's website on your phone to show your license.
• Call or text someone to send you a clear photo or screenshot of your license.

Once you have your license ready, you can resume your spot in line when it’s your turn. We appreciate your understanding in keeping the lines moving quickly!

A) Save a tree & take a photo instead!

In the lobby before you enter the Mills Auditorium show floor will be 2 large  show floor plans on easels so you can find your way around all 3 show floors including the Sponsors Hall which connects them all. Take a photo of these floor plans to easily refer back to when shopping. Also on the show floors look for other signs & banners that point the way, too.

A) Maybe. Since each State Board has different CEU rules, you'd need to contact the nail company in charge of holding the Workshop(s) you're interested in taking to ask them if what they're teaching has been CEU approved for your particular state.

.

Then confirm with your State Board that they will accept the Workshop certificate of participation for your state's CEU's. Email addresses for each company teaching a Workshop are provided in their listing on the "Nail Classes/Workshops" page. CLICK HERE

A) SWAG SWAP CENTER

The Swag Swap Center is located in the Mills Rooms 3 & 4 on show day, with plenty of seating for swapping swag with other techs. Not everything you get might be the perfect match, so feel free to trade!

If you picked up your swag bag the day before, simply bring it along with the items you'd like to trade. You may also bring lunch from the lobby concessions & enjoy it while chatting with friends or relaxing before heading back to the show floor.

Look for signs directing you to the Swag Swap Center & please be mindful not to spill nail products or food/drinks on the carpet. This helps us keep the space for future events!

Refer to the big show floor plans on easels for the location of the Swag Swap Center before you enter the Mills Auditorium & look for signs. 

A) YES to both cash & card! ATM's are located down the street inside the Arcade under the Space Needle & up the street inside the Bearland Grill on the corner of Cloverleaf Dr. (across from the Gillette Motel).

.

Also there is an ATM located in the lower level of the GCC, but you will need to pay admittance to the Craftsmen's Fair to gain access to it. 

A) Take a break, visit another booth, use the restroom, check out the Swag Swap Center, enjoy a FREE Event Day Class, or grab a bite at the concession stand. Then, come back later when your preferred booth is less crowded.

Larger booths aren’t possible unless we reserve a bigger ballroom, which would raise booth & ticket costs for everyone.

We appreciate your understanding in helping us keep costs low so more techs can join!

A) Sorry, but if you’re working or volunteering in a booth, you’re not eligible for General Admission swag, the VIP Gift Bag, or Door Prizes (including the Grand Prize). You’ll need to either buy a ticket to attend as a nail tech or not buy one & work in a booth.

We need to ensure the Door Prize drawings are fair & not perceived as biased toward educators, so anyone working the show can’t win prizes or receive swag.

Sponsoring companies trust us to distribute their products directly to attending techs. Educators working booths get wristbands with no detachable tabs to ensure fairness in the drawings.

If your wristband number is drawn but you’ve been working in a booth, we’ll draw another number. We cannot make exceptions to this rule.

If you’ve already purchased a ticket but want to work or volunteer in a booth, please contact [email protected] before online ticket sales end June 30th for a refund (money goes back onto the card used to make the original purchase usually within 7-10 business days).

A) Nail products donated by generous companies for the 200 VIP ticket holders will be included in their VIP Gift Bags, available upon Check-in at the Registration window during Saturday’s Early Check-in (Noon - 4:00pm EST) or on Sunday during the show.

All other ticket holders (General Admission) will receive complimentary nail products from various companies, though the swag bags may differ in contents & quantities depending on what’s donated.

General Admission swag bags (see photo below) will vary from bag to bag & year to year, as the products depend on donations from generous companies who are not obligated to provide anything.

We aim to give all attendees something, so please understand that we must make these items last for everyone. If you don’t like something or can’t use it, on show day bring your swag bag to the "Swag Swap Center" to exchange items with other techs (you can also enjoy lunch there).

We cannot facilitate swag exchanges for you, as that would require doing the same for all 700+ attendees. Thank you for your understanding.

A)At various times during the show day we draw for winners.

.

On attendees wrist bands are numbers & a detachable tab with the same matching numbers. Upon check-in, techs receive the wrist band & the detached tab goes into a bucket for the Door Prize drawings. 

Anyone working or volunteering in booths is ineligible for Prizes or swag & will receive an Educators wristband without a detachable tab.

.

Prizes are chosen randomly in advance by our Event Team & all numbers drawn will be posted on a DRY ERASE BOARD at the REGISTRATION WINDOW for YOU to match against your wristbands BEFORE 4:30pm.

.

Drawing times at the Registration Window are 11:30am & 1:30pm in case you'd like to watch, but starting in 2025 we'll no longer announce numbers over the loudspeaker on the show floor (too noisy & disruptive according to techs feedback).

.

At the 4:30pm Grand Prize drawing ALL unclaimed Door Prizes will be forfeited & will be put towards future Smokies Nail Show promotional contests or future shows. 

.

The Grand Prize drawing will be announced over the loudspeaker on the main show floor at 4:30pm & we will keep drawing until we have a winner (must be present to win; regrettably the loudspeaker cannot be heard anywhere except the main show floor).

*Winner is responsible for shipping all prizes if it cannot be taken with them. Door Prize winners are ineligible for the Grand Prize drawing; sorry, but we cannot hold prizes for you.

A) Sadly, NO. This prevents techs from buying multiple tickets for more chances to win the Grand Prize. It’s not fair to those who can't afford to do the same.

A) YES, but NOT from the Event Team who gave you the complimentary swag graciously provided by generous nail companies at their own expense.

.

On show day you are welcome to join other techs in the "Swag Swap Center" located in the Mills Rooms 3 & 4 to trade swag for a more customized gift exchange. 

.

It's open all day during Sunday's show for swag swapping, visiting with tech friends, relaxing & eating lunch there, too. Be sure to look for signs on easels pointing the way & take a photo of the big show floor map to help you navigate, too!

.

If you did the Saturday Early Check-in, just bring your swag bag with unneeded swag to the show on Sunday to swap it with others in the Swag Swap Center.

A) Yes, as long as you keep your wristband on, you can come & go all day!

If you lose it, you'll need to repurchase a wristband for $75 CASH ONLY at the Registration window. No exceptions due to wristband sharing concerns.

There’s no bag check, but feel free to take heavy purchases to your car or hotel, then return as needed.

Looking for lunch outside? Allow 2 hours for dining due to peak tourist season. Maximize your time by grabbing food at the GCC lobby concessions & eating in the Swag Swap Center with friends.

Beware: Your wristband number might be drawn for a Door Prize while you’re gone, so check the dry erase board at the Registration window when you return. Prizes are forfeited if not claimed by 4:30pm when we do the Grand Prize drawing!

A) Yes! There will be a Concessions stand in the lobby with items like snack cakes, chips, candy, pretzels, nachos, sodas, coffee, sandwiches, wraps & salads.

Feel free to bring your Concessions food into the Swag Swap Center to relax, but please remove your trash & keep the tables clean.

For Workshop lunch breaks, use the Concessions stand in the classrooms hallway. No outside food is allowed inside, but benches are available outside for a picnic.

A) No! All Workshops are held at the GCC & listed on the "Nail Classes/Workshops" page. CLICK HERE TO SEE WORKSHOPS

A) Maybe or Maybe Not!

Many Workshops sell out before the show, so register now with each company to secure your spot. Companies need to know in advance how many kits & certificates to prepare.

Ask at the booth about available spots in Monday Workshops. CLICK HERE to see Workshops page for options.

Workshops do not count for CEUs unless your State Board approves them. Verify with your State Board before registering.

A) The Sponsors Hall connects all show floors & features draped tables with information about the participating companies. Enter your business card for a chance to win prizes like product giveaways!

Before entering the Mills Auditorium, you'll find two large show floor plans in the lobby. Take a photo to help navigate, then look for signs & banners pointing the way.

A) Please wear business-casual attire to this professional daytime event. Avoid club-style clothing; this is a professional trade show, not a party. There's a time & place for nightclub attire, but this isn't it.

Candid photos will be featured in trade magazines, online publications & social media. Please help us represent the beauty industry with class & dignity. 

.

"When in doubt, don't wear it out"!  - the NAILS magazine article which sums it all up. CLICK HERE

.

.

Please don't embarrass yourself or others by looking like "The People of Walmart" - CLICK HERE for bad examples. 

.

Dress appropriately for this daytime business function.  CLICK HERE for recommendations of trade show attire.

A) Unfortunately no, so please bring a sweater, shawl or wear layers in case it becomes too cold. If Classrooms become too hot, please prop open the door for hallway cool air circulation. 

.

The number of bodies on the show floor produces a lot of heat, but the air conditioning controls cannot be adjusted to suit each individuals temperature.

.

Thank you for understanding & arriving prepared!

A) Subscribe to our monthly "Smokies Nail Mail" newsletter via the contact box on this home page or join our private Facebook Group for licensed beauty pros only - CLICK HERE  (pro beauty license number & state required for verification)

.

After July 4th all updates will be posted on our Facebook business page "Nail Tech Event of the Smokies" - CLICK HERE. Follow along daily so you won't miss out on what's going on!

.

Sorry to those not on FB, but it's the easiest platform to update on the go & is followed by the majority of nail techs. - CLICK HERE!

A) YES! Please see the Event Team at the Registration window if you lost or found something during the show. After the show ends all lost items will be turned over to the GCC staff. Please call‭ (865) 436-2392‬ to inquire. 

A) Thank you for understanding that the majority of questions are answered here in the FAQ's which have been created for 24/7/365 access to information you need.

.

There are a LOT of moving pieces behind the scenes to make sure the show goes smoothly for everyone involved, therefore extreme concentration on the Event Coordinators duties is required to avoid mistakes & responses will be delayed until the following week or so.