Observation Essay - The Barbershop -- Observation Essay, Descriptive Es

Observation Essay - The BarbershopImmediately I recognized that things were different, as I struggled to find a lay spot in the tiny lot hidden just off of the highway. The barbershop is located in an area too sm only to be considered a plunder mall-and apparently too small to handle all of its customers vehicles. It is the third in a row of three shops, although the first, a former ice cream/ piddle ice business, was for rent. I knew that all of the drivers of the automobiles in the lot were in the barbershop, as the repair shop next to it does not open until 9 A.M. Apparently all Saturday mornings here begin with such a full parking lot. Once I found a parking spot, I was ready to begin my manifestation of the U.S. Male Mens copper Care Center. I walked into U.S. Male tentatively, looking for a corner seat. Air coming through the open door chilled the shops interior, which was sufficient with customers just fifteen minutes after the shop had opened. The stares from those alrea dy seated in the shops green plastic chairs along the right wall, as well as from those getting haircuts in the four leather chairs to my left, pierced me as I wandered over to one of the vacant seats. There were only two available, so I was stuck between a chair seating Outdoor magazine and another holding a man in his forties who was reading The News journal and sipping a rapidly cooling cup of coffee. There were ten customers in all, and they all seemed ready for a wait as many came prepared with equip manpowert corresponding to that brought by the gentleman on my left. I was surprised by the lack of conversation amid the fairly large crowd, although I attributed this to it being too early in the morning to engage in any sort of meaningful conversation. Two... ...nted near the high left corner of the entrance to the shop. On the spinning blue caboodle in white letters was written Hairstylist, rather than what I thought was the more appropriate title, Barber, since schools that train hairstylists are different from the schools that train barbers. I too noticed signs on the outside of the building, as well as on the billboard near the highway, which emphasized Fast-Service and Fast Walk-in Service. These signs also showed subtle indications of the maleness of this shop. The L in the word Male on the billboard facing the highway had the barber pole drawn into it to stress that U.S. Male Mens Hair Care Center, as it is advertised in the phone book, was in fact a barbershop. I smirked when I noticed this, and I surmised that this was done to prove to men that this was not a salon. Salons are for women, of course.