Barber Stop - Check this out

Barber Stop
Have you seen one of these? You are looking at my retirement plans. I am going to get me one of these. I am planning to spend the second 50 years of my career just cutting hair. This would be a great place to do it. There are fully self contained, operational one chair barber shops… in the shape of a traditional barber pole. All you need is electrical hook-up and you are good to go. Hot running water is there for cleaning tools and sanitation purposes. You just need to find a place to put it. In a high traffic location you can easily build business. Plus your traffic can build business for your host venue. Everyone wins. Check them out.

I shot a video last time I crossed paths with these guys. have a look...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJCI6wTNBVA&feature=channel_page

Have a look at their web site:
http://www.barberstop.com/

Clipper Vocabulary - G

Clipper vocab day is Wednesday in the ClipperGuy Says blog.

G is for Geometric Style - The squareness strived for when creating flat top styles and many masculine silhouettes.

This can come in many shapes. Even though round is a shape... stronger, more angular forms are usually referenced when this subject comes up. Men's styles will reflect a more masculine shape and feel when corners are left in and lines are harder, stronger and more right angles are apparent.

Have a look at a few of the pics below.
Strong, straight sides...
http://haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz13.htm
Squareness...
http://haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz44.htm
Verticalness...
http://haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz47.htm
Yup...
http://haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz23.htm

Take your own tour through the gallery here at www.haircutsformen.org

Tuesday - Clipper Tip #9

Tuesday in the ClipperGuy blog is clipper tip day. Here is another from my collection

Clipper Tip #9
Eye Teeth - Throughout all cutting, keep your clipper or trimmer positioned so that you can keep your eye on the cutter blade teeth. If you cannot see the cutter blade teeth, you cannot see what you are cutting.

So simple, but so important, like your little league coach had reminded you, keep your eye on the ball.

Links:
Here is a site for an eye chart. Make sure you can see.
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/eye-chart.shtml

Question of the week

Monday is question of the week day in the ClipperGuy blog. Featured questions are ones that I think have broad appeal/interest from the prior week from ask the expert on the andis.com web site.

How do you use the adjustable lever thingie on the side of an adjustable blade clipper?

This is the tapering adjustment. Look at the blade from the side. Notice the angle of the non-moving blade. Notice how as you move the lever the position of the cutter blade changes relative to the leading edge of the non-moving blade. Notice that when the blade is closed (lever up) the cutting action takes place at the tip of the blade where the non-moving blade is thinner... leaves less hair on the head. Open the lever up all the way (down). Notice that the cutter is now positioned back at a much (relatively) thicker portion of the non-moving blade... leaves more hair on the head. You can position the blade at any point from the extremes open and closed to in between. This adjustment feature lets you taper and blend with extreme precision and control. It is that simple.

The image above is the Phat Master... but the principles are the same for any adjustable blade clipper.

Be on the lookout for a YouTube video explaining this info. I am shooting it tonight and will post it next week.

Thank you for another great question.

Links:

Go to the andis site to ask your questions

http://www.andis.com/

The Andis Improved Master is the number 1 adjustable blade clipper on earth.

http://www.andis.com/USA/productsPopUp.asp?SP=Y&Product=Clipper&Div=Professional&ID=01557

This week on YouTube

From all the requests, finally I have posted a how to fade video featuring the Andis 4 min fade technique.
Click the link below and have a lookie.
I have a printed technical of this available as well. Send me an email expert@andisco.com and I will get you a copy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r040HaxXkY&feature=channel_page

Clipper Business Tip - Week 5

We have missed a few Fridays through the holiday break. We are up to week number 5.

Week 5 -Rebook

Rebooking, the art of booking a clients next appointment before they leave the shop, is the single most important non-technical skill that a clipper cutter can develop. Filling spots for the future insures your chair is occupied. Locking in clients for the next cut provides a buffer against competing shops and cutters. Setting the interval between cuts discourages appointment stretching. You will see the same client more times in every year, thereby increasing your income even before new clients are recruited.

Do this. This is one of the easy keys to real success. No one becomes a top level cutter without doing this. In tougher economic times this powerful business tactic becomes even more vital to your growth and continued success. It is easy. What I love about this tip is that while it costs you absolutely, totally ZERO $ it can pay you back in real hard cash very quickly. This is the ultimate clipper tip... easily in my top 10 favorites.

The start of the year is a great time to buy my ClipperGuy Says... Get Busy book. It is the 52 strategies for building your clipper cutting business. Start now and 2009 will be amazing for you. 2010 will be even better.

Buy an appointment book:

http://www.ataglance.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category3_10052_10002_46706_-1_Y_46701_10052_Y

Buy my ClipperGuy Says... Get Busy book:

www.blurb.com search clipperguy