Indy weekend!

This is a big clipper weekend in Indianapolis, IN.
We have the BSG Fashion Focus show at the convention center. Andis will debut Jason Potchen on our show stage and on the show floor. We are cutting with Woody's Men's grooming on the floor and in a special classroom presentation. We will have great clipper and trimmer show deals available at the Andis show floor booth, too. Stop by to learn and say hello.

Blind Barber

Check out this NYC barber shop - Blind barber. Yes. A cool name. More importantly these guys appear to be another great barber shop committed to upholding the finest traditions of barber shop culture and professionalism in America. They are a definite stop on my next NYC trip.

Link here to their web site.

This is a link to a YouTube vid featuring them in a Levis Dockers promotion. Way cool.

This is a promotional vid from their web site for the shop as well... Good stuff.

Good work guys. keep the traditions alive with a modern spin on it. Just what guys need.

NEW technique - Video here.

Here is the video for the technique teased to you in the prior posting...

Have a look. LINK.

Inspired from the back row

I sat in the back row watching the presentation before mine. Waiting my turn. Listening for something I could use. I found it. A really neat-O hair cutting technique. Something I have never seen before... and I have seen a lot. 1 great idea is worth the entire price of admission. This one was well worth it.

It was a technique for trimming split ends and rendering an overall healthier look to longer hair. Trimming the base line does not do much to help. Re-layering does not allow the hair to grow out longer. Ignoring the split ends leaves them split... and prone to continued splitting up the hair shaft. Not good.

The presenter called the technique singing, as in singing with flame, like in the old days. Singing was a technique for lightly flaming off the ends of the hair. She did it with a scissors. I immediately figured out how I would do it with a trimmer... a clipper is too aggressive... a trimmer would be perfect.

I am to shoot a youtube video tomorrow featuring this technique... I will post it here to the blog shortly after. Stay tuned. Hate to be a teaser... but this will be great on video. Not so great if I just type it out. I promise... worth the wait!

Andis e Update is here.

The new Andis barberb update is here. Link HERE to see it. learn about the NEW Envy clipper and more!

Flat Top Time

You know me. It is always flat top time... but this time it was at a USMC base helping a new team of hair cutters master military cutting to support a new shop on base to serve our troops. Fun time. Serious hair. Major security. All the things you would expect.

Birds barber Shop Austin, TX

Birds Barber Shop
I stopped in to visit Birds barber Shop on south Congress Street in Austin last week. Very neat place. Simple and clean design with big panoramic windows. Prospective client can see in at all the happenings. Hair cutters can see out to be inspired by the world as the hair outside walks by.
I spent a few moments chatting with a hair cutter there. She was relatively new to the Birds team and was having a ball. She said she does not miss the chemical services of her last salon and loves to clipper cut. She had even just ordered some new Andis tools on line.
I dropped off a handfull of FREE Andis clipper combs (always a fave) and picked up a Birds sticker for my laptop. Fair trade!
Birds’ shops are known for trendy and progressive cuts in the Austin, TX area. They have introduced a collection of three styling products in pucks for great textured looks and fresh styles.
You know you are in a pretty hip place when item number 1 on the price menu is “Mohawk”. Click the LIKE button on that!
Here is a link to Birds fb page so you can learn more. Stop in when you are in town. Tell them ClipperGuy sent you.

My Lowhawk, 2nd edition

My Lowhawk, 2nd edition
While visiting and teaching at SportClips in Austin, TX last week I sat down in the chair for an update to my Lowhawk. I got the VIP verson of SportClips famous MVP service. The hot face towel and the neck and shoulder massage makes this upgrade a must-do on every visit. Have a look at the result. Sides are tighter. Top is higher. Works for me. Thank you SportClips.

The power of social networking - Guest blog - Kenny Duncan

Guest post from Andis team member Kenny Duncan

The power of social networking!

As I was looking to advertive an Andis clipper cutting class in the northern NJ area, I was looking for barbers and stylist to friend request on facebook to inform them of the class. As I was looking I came accros Klippers Barbershop, which caught my attention because of how well the barbershop was branded with the Klippers Barbershop logo. I was so impressed I had to add this barbershop to my facebook group for barbers called Clippereducation.com powered by Andis. I had to share what I was impressed with in this forum of 1300+ barbers from accros the globe, because we all can be inspired by the work of somebody who loves our craft just as much or even more than we do.
As a result I found out the name of the owner of this barbershop, Danny Amorim. Danny and I Started Networking on this open forum for barbers, which lead to him finding out about the series of Andis clipper cutting classes I was teaching in his area. When he came to 2 of the classes I shared how I was impressed with his efforts to brand his business and I gave him an opportunity to share his story with both classes, and they were impressed too. He and I left each class inspired for greatness.

After Danny was exposed to a whole new world of opportunities, he wanted to see more, so I told him to visit an industry trade show. To make a long story short , he came to the Bronner Bros show (one of the biggest trade shows of its kind), and I gave him a shot to showcase his talents on the Andis stage. He was elated by the opportunity and enthused to see other passionate barbers like himself. Another great thing was that the crowd recieved him well, especially the women who lived his beard!

In the end, we all learned from experience that social networking, when used for business can yield big dividends such as experiences, inspiration, motivation, and also education. The benefit in the end of all the networking that is done, is that in one way or another it leads to capitol generation. If that isnt a good enough reason for you to utilize social networks, than I dont know what is.

Nieto was Neat-O

Yesterday was training day for Jacob Nieto the 2011 Junior Style Stars winner. he won a full day of one-on-one training with me at SportClips in Austin, TX.
it was hot down in TX and the clippers were hard at work. We covered the top 10m techniques of clipper cutting mastery in a one-on-one format.

He did quite well and is on his way to a bright future as a clipper cutter.

Jacob, thank you for all your hard work. I hope I was not too rough on you.

What it takes to be a barber...

I have riffed on this at classes and shows live. I have never committed it to "paper".

Over the next few weeks in the Monday blog I will be blogging a list of words describing what I think it tales to be a successful barber.

I welcome comments, debate and discussion on all of it.

What it takes to be a barber:

Dependability - The community is counting on you. If the sign says 9 a.m - Open at 9 a.m. Not 9:15... Not 9:05... Not 9:45. If the sign says 6 p.m. clients can walk in the door until 6 p.m. If your book is light read a book, do some marketing, mail out some coupons. Do something. Do ANYTHING other than leave the shop. Be there when people need you and what you have to offer.

Availability is the key to building business. The barber who is present gets the walk-ins. Walk-ins are repeat requests the next time they come around.

Be the guy (or gal) that others can count on and you will be able to count on building a nice business as a barber.

Be dependable.

The cost of a hair cut

Why do we post the cost of a hair cut the way we do?
Post $45 on the wall and it might seem high (low to some).
How about if we post the price of a hair cut in $ per day?
A $45 haircut that lasts 6 weeks is a $1.07 per day hair cut.
A $22 haircut that lasts 2 weeks is a $1.57 hair cut.
We could market it in a number of interesting ways if we went that route.
Interesting thing is that as the haircuts get shorter... they grow out faster... and the skills to create them are more precise... the cost (think barber cuts) is lower per cut... yet if they last a shorter period of time they actually cost MORE per day to enjoy... as well they should.
How about the annual cost of upkeep?
A $45 haircut every 6 weeks for 1 full year is a $360 commitment.
A $22 haircut every 2 weeks is a $572 investment.
As a hair cutter it might seem that the $22 cuts are the better choice... Until you factor in the number of cuts you can do in a day, week, month. The higher $ haircut will always make you more money... unless you do not have the heads to keep the chair full.
From a marketing standpoint it is like water and gasoline. We gripe about $4 per gallon gas... and walk into the gas station and pay $1.39 for a 16oz bottle of water = nearly $6 paid for the water... which in most places can be had for FREE.
it is all in the marketing.
How are you marketing the value of your work?

Zoo cuts

Family Services of Racine held their taste of Racine event on Labor Day. Andis and I were there again. Cutting haircuts for donations, eating food and visiting animals. Fun was had by all except the little guy getting a haircut.

IL CEU education opportuty - Sept 26, 2011

This is a great class opportunity if you are seeking clipper cutting education and IL CEU's for the renewal year.
Link here.\
Location, Empire school in Lisle, IL
Clipper class 10 a.m. - 12 noon
This program is from Cosmetologists Chicago... Just like the ABS show you love!
See you there.

Fall 2011 Guy's hair trend watch

From my friend Dave Alexander at haircutsformen.org. Here is his article on Fall hair trend for 2011 for the guy's. Have a look.
Link here.
Good stuff here. Your next hair cut for the coming season is here for you to see NOW!