Machine on the Sides- A Portrait of the American Barber

Documentary short produced in 2000, a unique look into the vanishing industry known as barbering. This film follows several men who choose this as their profession, and gives an insight into not only the history of the barbering profession, but a look into the lives of the men and their customers.
www.BarberWalters.com

[@gregthomson3618]

Started my 50th year in the Barbering profession closed down in Wisconsin because of covid 19 only been 4 days and miss the contact with my customers who are also friends.

[@russellbogrett605]

I have been a barber for forty years and love everything about the craft.

[@jortiz3520]

When u get a hair cut,u back to life..U born again.!!!!!!!!

[@joegorman1864]

barber = real work

[@eliresendez7328]

I love being a barber.

[@russbogrett9846]

being in the business for as long as I have I really enjoy videos like this. Always enjoyed talking to the old timers about the business. Thanks for the video!

[@integrityminded1983]

Barbering is one the the humanist professions there is!! Your having to deal with the physical and mental of both parties. Yourself and the clients.

[@clintr.34]

18 years ago the video, I wonder how they are...:(

[@timelessvickdamone]

I am very thankful to be a barber.

[@DrFadenstyle]

I definitely appreciate this video 💈💈💈

[@marcmeinzer8859]

I became a barber after I got fed up with both teaching school and then the merchant marine. In reality, barbering is not a “lost art” but has rebounded in popularity owing to the unfashionableness of long hair since at least the Gulf War of 1990. But today barber shops are more down-market than hair salons and the more effeminate upper middle class types still don’t like barbers. The best way to make money off of a barber shop is to set up in a more blue-collar neighborhood which is more densely populated than the suburbs, then find barbers to rent chairs in your shop who are good at fading and shaves. Fades are high tapers which are shaved above the ears gradually lengthening. And then also some people prefer long hair styling with the shears and employing finger-work similar to what hairdressers typically do. But if you’re going to make any money you need to put in long hours so it’s really not an easy job. Flat-tops are the bane of the barber’s existence; most people ordering flat-tops don’t have good enough hair for that style so to a great extent that hairstyle must be faked which of course can be extremely annoying. Other pitfalls are spastic little kids and immigrants who can’t speak English! It’s kind of hard to order a haircut if you can’t speak the barber’s language. And then of course there are people who are so feeble-minded that they couldn’t order a haircut coherently if their lives depended on it. And then finally there are the imbeciles who ask you in all innocence if you are “any good” at cutting hair. I would tell such types “no, go somewhere else”. One benefit of being self-employed is the luxury of being rude to assholes.

[@jamesfanslau8802]

Would love to find a shop like these in DC. Great documentary. Thanks

[@RyFol717]

Awesome video 👍👍

[@CuttySobz]

Super rad Charlie Wagner reference there!

[@romansroad2007]

God bless that WW2 man barber shop and the reast

[@mrchubbyfella9421]

Wonderful video

[@benjrtofilau9627]

Great video.

[@rscafuro]

I made this! Hahahaha where did you find it?

[@TerranceFinley]

an American tradition

[@rafaelpaizbarberostv1240]

Quiero un sillon de barbero de esos antiguos 😕😢

[@CertifiedShovelOperator]

i paid 45 for a buzcut yesterday....the end times