Lawrence Cutrone, a barber in the Union Barber Shop, has been cutting hair for three years.
Cutrone not only cuts the hair of college students, but he also services children and high- school students.
Cutrone detailed the highlights of his experience at the University by divulging what he enjoys about the job and what influenced his decision to become a barber.
Q: What is your hair-cutting experience and education?
“I went to a barber school over on Florida Boulevard. This job was my first as a barber.”
Q: What made you decide to work at the barber shop?
“I came over to campus with some of my buddies to get a bite to eat. I saw an open seat in the barber shop, came in and filled out an application.”
Q: What is the best thing about working in the Barber Shop?
“My favorite things about working here are the people, the sports, the atmosphere in general. It’s a great job,” Cutrone said.
Cutrone also said the international student population makes barber shop talk interesting.
“It’s great to meet different nationalities,” Cutrone said.
“They make the atmosphere good.”
Q: About how many students does the barber shop see in one day?
“I would say we get anywhere from 60 to 100 customers a day between the three of us,” Cutrone said.
Cutrone said the shop has both regulars and new visitors.
“Some people come in and wait to see Paul,” Cutrone said.
“Some people come in and wait to see John, and some people come in and wait to see me. We are strictly a walk-in business, first come, first serve. But, some people have their favorite barber.”
Q: What time of the year is the barber shop the busiest?
“In the summertime, [business is] slower because there aren’t many students on campus, but in the fall or spring semester when there are 33,000 students on campus, we stay busy,” he said.
Q: Does the gameday crowd bring in any business? Or does it take away from the usual Saturday clientele?
“It depends on the time of the game,” Cutrone said.
“Usually, since you have to park a mile away just to get here, we don’t get much of a crowd. But, that’s when the international students and other students in dorms can walk over and get their hair cut.”
Cutrone also said Saturday business is dominated by elementary-aged kids through high- school students.
“Generally, professors or staff members on campus will bring their kids on the weekends to get their hair cut,” Cutrone said.