What I Learned At Super Cuts
My friendly, neighborhood Supercuts. (Yes, I google-stalked them)
I needed to get my hair cut today because I’m going to be seeing the lady’s parents this weekend. Normally, I’d just cut it myself like any self-respecting tool-nerd, but I’ve got a bum knee so standing for an hour isn’t an option.
I decided to suck it up, spend the 15 bucks and go to Supercuts. The kind, young man who cut my hair made the minimum of conversation with me, which I prefer, and instead the majority of the time explaining his technique to another hairdresser.
This was wonderfully exciting for me because I realized a good deal about my own profession while listening to him. Here’s what I learned:
1) Even if anybody can go to the store and buy the same tools as you, doing something WELL is still worth money. I’ve cut my own hair for the last 10 years, because I figured – why pay someone to do something I can do myself? But the truth is, I’m really terrible at it – ask anyone who has seen me in those last ten years. Maybe anybody can get recording software and a mic, but it takes time, patience, and passion to learn how to use it well.
2) Skills may be what you charge your clients for, but passing them along and sharing what you know is part of what turns an “industry” into a community. Recording and producing music has a long history of internships and more importantly mentorship. That’s part of the spirit behind this site, and hopefully I’ll be able to keep it that way.
3) Personality means a hell of a lot. Its not everything, but if you deal with real live people for a living, then it’s almost everything. I might know how to do complex routings on large consoles, fancy multi-mic techniques, and enjoy discussions about impedance, but none of that matters when a musician looks for an engineer they get along with.
All-in-all I’m pretty pleased with my new haircut – and there’s one last lesson: tips are always welcome.
Loading ...
