Lawmaker files bill to protect barbershop poles from misuse

OKLAHOMA CITY — A state lawmaker has filed a bill intended to make sure that barbers' red-white-and-blue poles are not pirated by other businesses.

Rep. Gary Banz, R-Midwest City, said there have been cases where someone without a proper barber's license has installed one of the spiraling poles.

Banz's bill is one of the more unusual measures among the hundreds that will be filed before the start of the 2009 legislative session in September.

Leroy Tucker, who has been Banz's barber for more than two decades, said the time has come to pass a law, like other states have done.

Tucker, chairman of the Oklahoma Barber Advisory Board, said Oklahoma is having a big problem with cosmetologists using the poles, which have been the barbers' icon for centuries.Men are tried of being mislead to find that they are in a Ladies salon.Where they are lacking in the true type of services that men require.Says Rep. Gary Banz

Future of the Barber Shop Pole
I think barbershops need to fight for this
" Salons Are For Women" . Our society today is very, very quick fix. Everyone wants their hair cut fast with a minimal of effort or waiting time. Yet the same customer expects their haircut to look great! The chain salons try to do this by having many, many stylists. Yet when I have gone to these chains, I always feel like Iam there to be a practise" MANNEQUIN "And for me seeing the stylist trying to use a pair of clippers to cut my hair told me that they knew very little about cutting hair .
(and yes even us men like to be a little pampered). It is the small things that will make guys want to come into a barbershop. As a kid, I remember having my hair cut at the barber shop , This not only meant having a good haircut but also having your scalp massaged in the process. I also remember a barbershop that gave neck massages with a vibrating hand held device. It felt great! Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure of having a barbershop shave (too young); however, I have had the warm lather put on the back of my neck to clean up my fresh haircut and that always feels great. I don't know of one " salon" that does any of these "personal attention" type things.
Barbershops have always captitalize on their own nostalgia. If I had my own barbershop I would have a barbershop that has men only working in it.An I would also try to have as many "good" barbers in the shop as possible (especially on Saturdays!). This would minimize wait time, while maximizing personal attention. Maybe having many barbers is just not practical, but I wouldn't hesitate on the giving as much personal attention to my customer as I could (even if I were the only barber).
Maybe the "future" of barbershops exists in recapturing the real men and the personal attention that the generations of barbers before the "1990's" gave their customers. Treat your customer like a king and I promise you will have a customer who comes back. Give them a haircut and shave like we did in the past one they really like and you have a customer for life!!!!
Jay Willis Shawnee,Ok