Media Prince

BARBER SPOTLIGHT: Marquez Reid

MEDIA PRINCE: When did you begin barbering?

I FIRST STARTED CUTTING HAIR 2 YEARS AGO.

MEDIA PRINCE: What made you want to begin barbering?

BEING A BARBER IS SOME I ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR AS A KID FROM WATCHING MY BARBER AND OTHER BARBERS CUT, BUT IN BETWEEN DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND SITTING AT HOME DOING NOT A THING WITH MY LIFE REALLY TOOK AN EMOTIONAL TOLE OVER ME. THAT WENT ON FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS BEFORE I ACTUALLY MAD A MOVE OF EFFORT. I GOT TIRED OF MY PARENTS DOING FOR ME AS WELL AS MY PARENTS CONSTANTLY GOING OFF ON ME AND CONSIDERING ME A FAILURE. WITH ALL THAT BRING SAID I FINALLY GOT MYSELF INTO A GED PROGRAM GOT MY GED AND WENT AND PURSUED THE KNOWLEDGE AND CRAFT OF BARBERING. OTHER THEN THAT I WAS ALSO TIRED OF BARBERS MESSING OVER MY HAIR LINE.

MEDIA PRINCE: What is your view on the current state of barbering?

THE CURRENT STATE OF BARBERING TODAY IS A BLESSING IT HAS OPEN MANY DOORS FOR ME AND OTHERS AS WELL.

MEDIA PRINCE: What is the biggest misconception about barbers?

THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION OF BARBERS IS THAT CLIENTS FEEL AS IF SOME OF US SPEND TO MUCH TIME ON OTHER CLIENTS HEAD WHICH IS NOT THE CASE AT ALL BEING A BARBER IS LIKE BEING A ARTIST I CAN EITHER TAKE MY TIME TO MAKE SURE YOU STAND OUT OR I CAN JUST RUSH AND HAVE YOU LOOK FOOLISH. PEOPLE ALSO FEEL AS IF BARBERS DO NOT MAKE A GREAT AMOUNT OF MONEY WHEN THE MONEY IN THIS BUSINESS IS VERY SATISFYING ITS FAST ITS CONSISTENT. BARBERS DESERVE WAY MORE APPRECIATION AND RESPECT.

MEDIA PRINCE: Would you consider barbering your form of art?

I DO CONSIDER BARBERING A FORM OF ART DUE TO HOW U CAN TAKE A SIMPLE CLIPPER OR LINER AND CAN COMPLETELY TRANSFORM FROM ONE STYLE TO ANOTHER.

MEDIA PRINCE: People believe that barbering is an easy skill to master, would you say you agree?

BARBERING IS A EASY SKILL TO MASTER ONLY IF YOU HAVE THE EYE OR PASSION FOR IT I HAVE SEEN OTHERS FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF MY BARBER SCHOOL DAYS THAT ITS NOT FOR EVERYBODY SO I DO NOT AGREE.

MEDIA PRINCE: How long did it take for you to master your skills for barbering?

I WENT TO BARBER SCHOOL ONLY KNOWING HOW TO DO A SIMPLE LINE UP I SAY WITHIN 6 WEEKS I WAS ON THE FLOOR I GOT MY FIRST FADE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO CALLED OVER AN INSTRUCTOR ASKED FOR HIS ASSISTANCE. SO HE DEMONSTRATED ON ONE SIDE OF THE FADE FOR ME AND TOLD ME TO JUST WATCH AS HE FADED UP THAT ONE SIDE I WAS CRAVING TO GET THE CLIPPER BACK IN TO MY HAND BECUSE FROM WATCHING HIM I MASTERED IT THAT QUICK LIKE I SAID BARBERING IS ONLY EASY ID YOU HAVE THE EYE FOR IT. ALL THE WAY THROUGH BARBER SCHOOL I WATCHED I LEARNED AND I GOT THE CUT DONE GOING TO SCHOOL REALLY IMPROVED MY SKILLS ON CUTTING HAIR I LOVE MY WORK IM SATISFIED WITH MY WORK BUT I ALWAYS FEEL AS IF MY WORK CAN BE BETTER THEN YESTERDAYS WORK.

MEDIA PRINCE: What is a barber in your terms?

A BARBER TO ME IS LIKE A GOD BECAUSE WE CREATE PEOPLE IN SO MANY WAYS FROM THEIR LOOKS TO THEIR PERSONALITIES WE HELP CHANGE INSECURITIES AND WE JUST BRING OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE.