{"id":334,"date":"2013-10-03T06:18:41","date_gmt":"2013-10-03T06:18:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/2013\/10\/03\/interview-with-barber-shane-nesbitt-owner-of\/"},"modified":"2022-01-18T01:26:48","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T01:26:48","slug":"interview-with-barber-shane-nesbitt-owner-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/2013\/10\/03\/interview-with-barber-shane-nesbitt-owner-of\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-334 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/2013\/10\/03\/interview-with-barber-shane-nesbitt-owner-of\/attachment\/335\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/tumblr_mtxs3pyob01rz7cbmo1_1280-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/goldcrate.net\/post\/62723649879\" class=\"tumblr_blog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">goldcratemag<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">[Interview with barber Shane Nesbitt &#8211; Owner of Shane\u2019s Barber Shop and San Mateo Zoo]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">It\u2019s 5pm. I have my camera, some film, and a 6 pack of Asahi special reserves in my pack. As I wait for a cross light to say walk, I notice mini masses of angsty teenagers roll by. Their transportation method is a blend of bicycles, skateboards, and scooters. It\u2019s so odd to see kids around. I think to myself how I see far more dogs than children these days, then a small troop of mini people adorning soccer uniforms march by. Like a deer in headlights I stare in awe at the anomaly of adolescence and realize, Holy shit, I\u2019m back in the suburbs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Returning to my hometown, San Mateo. My first impression is that the place has changed a lot. Downtown is full of trendy restaurants that would please any foodie snob. After all, this is the town Curry Up opened their first non moving truck business. It did so well that it spawned another on Valencia just 15 minutes north in San Francisco. The small town has also grown in popularity amongst SF skaters. Due, mainly in part to Atlas skate shop. Over the last few years, many small business owners looking for a location to plant their roots have decided on San Mateo over San Francisco due to less competition and the open minded and highly supportive locals. In turn, these \u201cedgy\u201d small businesses have added personality to a town that was once pretty vanilla.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The reason I\u2019m here is for an interview with a long time friend, highly skilled Barber, entrepreneur, and one of those responsible for subtly adding some spice to our hometown, Shane Nesbitt. Shane has known me since I was a kid waiting tables at a Japanese restaurant downtown. Back then I would float him bottles of our best Japanese beer. For old times sake, I purchase a 6 pack of Asahi Special Reserves and walk over to his shop off of 5th. When I turn the corner I see the large words \u201cShane\u2019s Barber Shop\u201d painted on glass. Inside, walls are decorated with skate decks, straight blades, and vinyl from a by gone era. Classic punk blares in the background and Shane, with his fiery red beard, sits on a chair holding a corona.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">After over a decade in the business, Shane has recently evolved his 4th business, Headshots, into his 5th, simply titled &#8211; Shane\u2019s Barber Shop. He\u2019s been working for himself since he was only 20 years old. Creating multiple successful Barber shops and being offered to cut hair all over the world. Beyond cuts, he\u2019s also crafting a collection of high quality products under his personal brand. After the change from Headshots to Shane\u2019s, I thought it would be a great time to stop by, shoot a few photos, have a beer, and learn a little bit about him and what it\u2019s like to own a barber shop. <\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/18b72aebcb62dfddfe60aabc022d292a\/tumblr_mtxrfxIzVN1ru2d9so5_500.jpg\" \/>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><strong>GC: Hey Shane, can you introduce yourself?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: My name is Shane Nesbitt, I\u2019m 35, from San Mateo CA. I\u2019m the owner of Shane\u2019s barber shop and the San Mateo Zoo<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Where are you from?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: I was born in Sacramento and ended up in San Mateo when I was in 2nd grade.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Did you grow up predominantly in San Mateo?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: I grew up predominantly in San Mateo, traveled all over the world and eventually opened a record store <em>[Below the Surface]<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: When you were traveling, was there ever a place in particular that you stayed in longer than others?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Not really, I was always moving. A few weeks here a few weeks there. I\u2019ve always worked for myself, so I\u2019ve been grounded here because of that. I always end up back in San Mateo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/01faa7254aabe38483d5b1e22c94b166\/tumblr_mtxrfxIzVN1ru2d9so2_500.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: What is it that draws you back here?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Just my businesses, and now I got my family. Everything is here. My heart is here<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: You have an obvious love of music. I see it everywhere in your shop with all the hung\u00a0 vinyl. It\u2019s also apparent in your online posts. It makes sense that you owned a record shop. How were you drawn to the barber business?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: I opened up my record store in 1998 and I closed it in 2004 because my landlord was getting super greedy. The record industry was taking a shit. I was selling records that were hard to find and they were becoming more and more expensive. That made people want to buy less records and I needed something to fall back on. I never had any\u00a0 aspirations to cut hair or interest in hair, but I woke up one morning and I knew I wanted to be a barber. A week later I was starting at barber college. The following year, I opened up my first barber shop. That was in 2005.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: For someone who didn\u2019t want to do this, you\u2019re doing remarkably well for yourself. You\u2019re considered to be highly skilled by everyone\u2019s standards.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: I\u2019m honored, I feel super grateful for all the support we\u2019ve had over the years. All the clients we have now.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/ae2a5428360d667171dd26d4850a407e\/tumblr_mtxrfxIzVN1ru2d9so3_500.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Everyday I wanna learn. I think that\u2019s what makes the shop survive. Every day I want to learn something. I love cutting hair, I love the barber culture, I love how big it\u2019s getting now. Even in 2005, which wasn\u2019t too long ago, barbering wasn\u2019t any where near where it is now. I\u2019m just glad to be apart of it all.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Speaking of that, there has been a radical evolution in the style of cuts people want these days versus before. Obviously trends move in waves, but it\u2019s a huge difference. What do you think inspired the change? Was it a slow burn or did it happen over night?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: I could kind of see it when people were resorting to traditional haircuts. Rather than the extreme line ups and things like that. We still do a lot of fades and tapers, but we\u2019re doing a lot more scissor cuts. It\u2019s come full circle. It\u2019s like anything else, everything makes a come back at one time and now it\u2019s time for cuts to resort back to the 50\u2019s and 60\u2019s. A little less maintenance. A little longer on the top. Overall more style, less maintenance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/ae5c0820cf49e5961e5eef5342103ae1\/tumblr_mtxrfxIzVN1ru2d9so9_500.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Your shop has a strong visual identity. From just looking around I can see a massive mixing of cultures and historical artifacts. What\u2019s the story behind the aesthetic?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Shane\u2019s barber shop is my barber shop, I put my name on it, I put my heart into every haircut I do and everything is based around my childhood. Well actually, based around what I do. Skateboarding, a touch of graffiti, barbering. It\u2019s why we have old straight razors on the wall, old vinyl, everything that makes up who i am. Everything that makes up a part of my being. <em>[Sips Beer] \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/75d51be294f407dcbc55dd7ca4c960b5\/tumblr_mtxrfxIzVN1ru2d9so1_500.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: I believe the shop is definitely more inviting due to that kind of transparency.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Thank you<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: I want to talk a little bit, not quite about the business aspect, but more about the day to day.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: What\u2019s the weirdest thing that\u2019s happened to you here?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Like one client in particular? Shit\u2026Everyday there\u2019s something. Cutting a bunch of different men all day. You hear a bunch of crazy shit. I hear guys ups, their downs. It\u2019s non stop. Seriously, everyday there\u2019s something. There isn\u2019t one thing in particular I can call out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em>[Shane is quiet for a second and takes another sip of his beer]<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: It sounds like you\u2019re a psychiatrist.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Oh everyday! I go home drained every day. I start work at a way different hour than most barbers. I start work at 5am and leave at 5pm. You can only imagine the amount of shit I hear between those hours. A lot of guys tell me\u2026 everything. A lot of guys tell me shit I don\u2019t ever want to hear. It definitely makes things interesting though. I don\u2019t think I ever want to do anything else. There are other things I want to achieve, but I feel I\u2019ve found my life\u2019s calling. But to answer your question. Everyday is something. Everyday there\u2019s some crazy shit that happens.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/a332c36d6aaba906f53c0c9c04b20fff\/tumblr_mtxrfxIzVN1ru2d9so6_500.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: WIthin the same vein. Is there something you\u2019d like to tell people about going to a barber shop? Etiquette, advice?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: <em>[Shane let\u2019s out a long sigh]<\/em> I can\u2019t stand sweaty heads. If you go to the gym, give your barber a couple hours grace. Cool down first. And don\u2019t be fucking late. Those are my two number one things. Don\u2019t be a sweaty pig and don\u2019t be late.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: I went on your site and was reading your bio. It says you\u2019ve been mentoring people for a long time. What\u2019s that like in this world?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: I try not to think about it. I just kind of do what I need to do. And help people who want to be helped. If someone approaches me with interest. And I see it in them. I\u2019ll definitely be honored to help. I didn\u2019t have any help, I had to do it all alone, but I want to help. It\u2019s something I feel I need to do. At the end of the day I just can\u2019t help but try.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/4ea0589dc97bdd6d99e76243e450797d\/tumblr_mtxrvbjtYY1ru2d9so1_500.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Is there anything in particular, something you see in people that helps you choose who to help?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Not one thing in particular, if someone has enough heart and they want to do this as a career, I can just see it. I can tell whose going to bullshit me. Who is going to waste their time and waste my time. I\u2019m getting better and better at figuring out whose capable of doing it, but most of all who really wants to do it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em>[Shane pauses]<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Your facial expression shows your\u2019e thinking of people.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Yeah for sure. I can think of a few.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Let\u2019s talk about the idea of success and what lead you to where you are today.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: This is my 5th shop.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: I had below the surface, I had a clothing store in davis, I had the zoo and I have this shop. As far as a store front this is my last hurrah as far as barbering goes. There are things outside of barbering I want to achieve, but as far as barbering goes, this is the end. That\u2019s why I named it Shane\u2019s Barber Shop. As cliche as it sounds, this is the cherry on top.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/9ba145593ff5d5099bc3f932e7baa9cb\/tumblr_mtxrfxIzVN1ru2d9so7_500.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Which, leads me into my next question. You are definitely crafting a brand. You have a few projects coming out soon. Is there anything you\u2019re learning from the process of crafting your brand?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Oh absolutely, I learn shit everyday. I learned that everything I have that I have a significant amount of faith in has to have my name on it to make it relevant. Everything I do has to be as close to perfect as possible. I know perfection is damn near unachievable, but if my name is on it, I want to be super proud of it. Everything that we\u2019re doing right now, from the hats to the floor mats, to the soap, to the mustache wax. I want everything that I do to have my name on it because it adds pressure and makes me work harder.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/ce73bffdf1d7d36b6d5a999c045cf5e9\/tumblr_mtxrfxIzVN1ru2d9so8_500.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Today, a lot of people put stuff out that they don\u2019t really care about. Is it because they can hide behind the anonymity of handles and aliases?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: I\u2019ve done it. I\u2019ve put stuff out that was super lackluster. I look back at it now. At the time it was all relative. I look at all the shit I did in the past as just learning. It\u2019s like the prepubescent kid that thinks he knows everything. One day he evolves into a man. Goes through all the bullshit that he has to go through to figure out what\u2019s going on in life. I did all this shit in the past and to me that was cool, and to some people, it was the best shit ever. But now it\u2019s obvious it wasn\u2019t. Right now is the biggest shit. It took me over a decade to figure out what I\u2019m doing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Can you tell me about any current projects?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: As always, we\u2019re cutting a lot of hair. Sedrick, Travis, and myself. The guys at San Mateo Zoo are killing it. We\u2019re coming out with Shane\u2019s Barber Aprons. It\u2019s a selvedge barber apron made specifically for barbers.\u00a0 We have our hats, soap line, and other things in the oven cooking. It\u2019s just a non stop process. There\u2019s always shit that has to be done to stay relevant. I go to sleep at 10 at night and get up at 330am every day trying to get things done.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/c06b382f21f1abf2739962f45042ce2f\/tumblr_mtxrfxIzVN1ru2d9so10_500.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Let\u2019s talk about life outside of business? You have a new addition to the family on the way?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: My life outside of my business is my wife, my daughter and my soon to be daughter. Outside of here,\u00a0 that\u2019s all that matters. November we have a new kid coming.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Congratulations! Feeling pretty confident this time around?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: I know what to do, but now you gotta work harder. You need more money. We always make it through.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Last question. What are you listening to right now?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Golden era and mid 90\u2019s hip hop always. Mid 70\u2019s early 80\u2019s punk. A lot of dub and roots. A lot of classic punk shit. Class hip hop shit.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Can you be more specific?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Pretty consistently Black Flag Damaged. It gets things rolling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>GC: Thank you. I really appreciate your time.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>SN<\/strong>: Hell yeah!<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><em>[We clink our Bottles together and take our last sips]<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/fd1104bdb04ed33572813f0b52ee6fec\/tumblr_mtxrfxIzVN1ru2d9so4_500.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Check out his site:<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.shanesbarbershop.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shane\u2019s Barber Shop<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">and<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.5thvillage.me\/u\/shanenesbitt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Follow him on Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/ahsah.tumblr.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Photos + Words by Arthur Alvarez<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>I&rsquo;ve known Shane for almost 10 years now, in the last year I&rsquo;ve just barely started finally going down to San Mateo to get my haircut. I consign the shit out of what he&rsquo;s doing. I don&rsquo;t like talking to barbers really but I talk to Shane. He cuts a mean fade and can discuss tapes and wagons with me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>goldcratemag: [Interview with barber Shane Nesbitt &#8211; Owner of Shane\u2019s Barber Shop and San Mateo Zoo] It\u2019s 5pm. I have my camera, some film, and a 6 pack of Asahi special reserves in my pack. As I wait for a cross light to say walk, I notice mini masses of angsty teenagers roll by. Their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","hentry","category-uncategorized","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=334"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":336,"href":"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334\/revisions\/336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beerandrap.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}