Something to motivate you

   If I could pick someone to learn under I would pack a bag and head to England to spend as much time as I possibly could under Dale Ted Watkins and Sid Sottung. There are several people in the states that I would love to learn from but for some reason I am a bit drawn to these guys.

   Recently Dale Ted Watkins gave a speech at the great Barbers Surgeons' Hall in London. Below I posted his speech typo's and all. The reason I am posting his speech is because I think it is a very moving and really something we as barbers should always keep in mind about who we are as professionals.

   Dale thank you for giving me something to think about. I hope when I grow up I am as cool as you.

Cheers,

Frankie  

"GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

MY NAME IS DALE TED WATKINS

I CONSIDER IT A GREAT HONOUR

TO BE INVITED HERE TODAY BY THE BBA
TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES WITH YOU

IN THIS WONDERFUL AND HISTORIC PLACE

THE BARBER SURGEONS HALL

IM HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WAS ASKED THE QUESTION WHAT INSPIRES ME!

SO I’D LIKE TO SHARE MY JOURNEY OF HOW AND WHY IM STANDING INFRONT OF YOU TODAY
WHY DID I GET INVOLVED IN MENS HAIRDRESSING WHAT INSPIRES ME!? WHERE DO I GET MY INFLUENCES FROM ?

AFTER MY 3 YEAR APPRENTICESHIP AND YEARS WORKING IN UNISEX SALONS I DECIDED , I WAS ONLY EVER GOING TO BE OK! AS A LADIES HAIRDRESSER
BUT I DIDNT WANT TO SPEND MY WORKING LIFE JUST BEING OK! A WISE MAN ONCE SAID!

“IF YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT YOUVE ALWAYS DONE YOU ALWAYS GET WHAT YOUVE ALWAYS GOT”

I FELT BARBERING WAS AN UNTAPPED MARKET A BRAVE NEW WORLD TO EXPLORE AND CONQUER
I FELT BARBERING WAS SOMEWHERE I COULD MAKE MY MARK

ALL THE TALENT WENT INTO LADIES HAIRDRESSING

THEY THOUGHT BARBERING WAS UNEXCITING ,NOT COOL!

WELL I DIDNT AGREE! I WANTED TO PROVE THEM ALL WRONG!
I WANTED TO BECOME AN EXPERT IN MENS HAIR
I WANTED TO MASTER THE CRAFT I LOVED BARBERING

SO AT THE AGE OF 28 I DECIDED TO START ALL OVER AGAIN

I WANTED TO LEARN FROM THE BEST I WANTED TO PUSH MYSELF TEST MYSELF

I WANTED TO WORK FOR THE BEST I DIDNT WANT TO BE OK! ANYMORE

SO I STARTED MY
JOURNEY.

I WAS FORTUNTE ENOUGH TO BE EMPLOYED AND RE-TRAINED AS A BARBER FOR VIDAL SASSOON!

IT WAS A TUFF JOURNEY BUT ONE I WOULDNT CHANGE FOR THE WORLD
SO WHAT DID I LEARN?
HOW DID WORKING AT VIDAL SASSOON CHANGE ME?

PAUSE????

I KNOW LOOKED AT HAIR IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY FOR THE FIRST TIME I CONSIDERED MY SELF A CRAFTSMEN

I RELATED HAIR KNOW TO BEING LIKE A FINE TAILOR
YOU CAN BUY A SUIT FOR A £30 Or
£3000
THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENT THEORY BEHIND EACH.

A BEAUTIFULLY TAILORED SUIT IS MADE BY A CRAFT PERSON, SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE BODY, UNDERSTANDS THE CLOTH UNDERTSTANDS THAT DIFFERENT CUTS CAN MAKE A MAN LOOK MORE MASCULINE.

ITS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING HAIR IS A CLOTH UNDERSTANDING THE DETAIL, HAIR TEXTURES, HEAD SHAPE, FACESHAPE, AND TAILOR –MAKING IT FOR YOUR CLIENT MAKING THEM FEEL SPECIAL, IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT

SO WHERE DO I FIND MY INSPIRATION, WHAT INFLUENCES ME?

TO LOOK FORWARD, FIRST YOU HAVE TO LOOK BACK!
IM VERY PROUD TO BE AN ENGLISH MAN
AND THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE THIS LITTLE ISLAND IS A WORLD LEADER IN FASHION AND MUSIC
A WORLD LEADER IN YOUTH MOVEMENTS FOR DECADES.
SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING STREET CULTURE AND MOVEMENTS HAVE STARTED ON THIS LITTLE ISLAND

MODS , ROCKERS , TEDDY BOYS, GREESERS ,SCOOTER BOYS SUADE HEADS, RUDE BOYS , PUNKS NEW ROMANTICS SOUL BOYS ,CASUALS TO NAME BUT A FEW
ALL WITH THERE OWN BRAND OF STYLE HAIR CUTS AND MUSIC ALL WITH THERE OWN GANG AFFILIATIONS
SOME EVEN HAD THERE OWN MODE OF TRANSPORT THE MODS - HAD THE VESPA OR LAMBARRETA

THE ROCKERS THERE CHOICE OF TRANSPORT WERE BRITISH MADE MOTOR BIKES LIKE THE TRIUMPH , BSA OR NORTON COMMANDERS.
I GET VERY INSPIRED BY STREET CULTURE ESPECIALLY THE MOD AND SKA SCENE .
IM INFLUENCED BY SOMETHING THAT HAS GOT SOUL ,
THAT COULD BE A PICTURE ,A YOUTH MOVEMENT ,CLOTHS OR A MUSIC SCENE

PAUSE!!

GENERALLY MOST IMAGES I SEE IN HAIR MAGAZINES ARE SOULLESS .
IM NOT INTERESTED IN GETTING GOOD LOOKING BOYS WITH THERE CHESTS OUT WEARING CLOTHS THEY WOULDN'T NORMALLY WEAR STYLING THERE HAIR IN A STYLE THEY WOULDN'T NORMALLY HAVE

I’D RATHER PLUCK SOMEONE OUT OF A STREET CULTURE OR A SCENE THEY’RE INTO AND USE THEM AS A WHOLE
BECAUSE THEY’RE REAL ,IT’S NOT MAKE BELIEVE . IT’S GOT SOUL THERE IS A STORY BEHIND YOUR IMAGES OR COLLECTION A STORY WORTH TELLING ABOUT OUR GREAT BRITISH STREET CULTURE AND HERITAGE!

SO IF YOU WANT MY ADVICE EDUCATE YOURSELF BECOME AN EXPERT! DON'T BE PUT OFF IF YOUR THINKING I COULDNT DO THAT! YOUR WRONG! YOU CAN!

I DON'T BUY INTO NATURAL TALENT IT’S NONSENSE- THEYVE JUST WORKED HARDER THAN YOU!
SO IF YOUR UNHAPPY WITH WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR CARREAR CHANGE IT! LEARN MORE AND WORK
HARDER BECOME WHO YOU WANT TO BE!

WINSTON CHURCHILL ONCE SAID: “SOMETIMES YOUR BEST ISNT GOOD ENOUGH! SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE”

SO FOR THOSE OF YOU HERE TODAY WHO ARE STARTINGTHERE JOURNEY AS I DID SO MANY YEARS A GO. MAY IT BE , EXCITING AND A REWARDING ONE
THANK-YOU"