Highlighted by a masterful keynote performance from artist and motivational speaker Erik Wahl, Smart Tan’s 18th Annual Convention kicked off the 2014 tanning season last weekend with education, exhibits and entertainment that painted a whole new picture for the professional indoor tanning community.

“It is our privilege to continue to serve the Smart Tan family of tanning professionals,” Smart Tan Executive Director Joseph Levy said. “This event plays a big role in helping Smart Tan members meet the ever-changing demands of the suntanning market. We understand how important that is and will keep developing our programs with that unwavering focus.”

With more than 2,000 attendees, sponsors and vendors in downtown Nashville, the event was a canvas of packed classrooms, wild parties, an emotion-filled giveaway and an energetic exhibit floor.

Wahl thrilled the crowd at Saturday’s opening session with his unique combination of astonishing artistic skill and stimulating motivational content. While completing several incredible paintings during the 1-hour performance, he urged attendees to rethink everything and harness their creative energy to reenergize their businesses in the coming year. His interaction with the crowd was unparalleled, as he was seen wandering around the venue and the city throughout the weekend, gave one of his paintings to an audience member during his performance, and saved another for an interactive scavenger hunt where he hid the painting somewhere in the city and gave clues via social media. Another of the paintings was raffled off as one of two bonus items at the Wheel of Smart Tan $125,000 giveaway.

That giveaway was another rousing success, as 40 attendees walked away with more than $160,000 in prizes from event sponsors. One attendee won a VersaPro spray system worth $40,000 courtesy of Sunless Inc. Another received a KBL 3500 bed worth $9995 from PC Tan. Devoted Creations, Australian Gold, and Designer Skin all donated $8,000 in product that attendees walked away with. Formostar donated its Portable Bodywrap System worth $9995 for the giveaway, and Norvell donated its Arena Spray System worth $10,200. Salon owners and employees also went home with $4000 in prizes from Swedish Beauty, Supre Tan, California Tan, and Palm Beach Tan. Fit Bodywrap donated its Fit Bodywrap system worth $10,995, and Cosmedico, Supra, and URI all donated $2,400 in product.

The winner of a special raffle benefitting the Amertican Suntanning Association for a $27,995 Norvell Auto Revolution Plus was seen in tears as she posed for pictures with her salon’s newest addition.

And, as always, attendees checked out the latest and greatest products and equipment on the industry’s largest tradeshow floor, networked and socialized at industry parties, enjoyed the Nashville nightlife, and attended a variety of educational courses built to help them refocus and revitalize their tanning businesses in 2014.

Thank you to everyone that attended, and we’ll see you next year! Check back later this week for more event photos.