“Trim your locks for a new pair of socks”
by Jacqueline Ronson ~ September 26th, 2010. Filed under: Commerical Dr/ Main Street.A camper van with barber shop candy stripes was parked Saturday outside the Temple of the Modern Girl Boutique on Main Street. In front of the van, a sign read, “Trim ya locks fo whatever ya gots.”
The Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association was hosting a street party on Main Street between Broadway and 12th Avenue. Young families bought vintage purses, sampled artisan bread and perused the stands set up by local businesses and community organizations. Free valet bike parking was available.
A crowd gathered to watch Tom Farmer cut hair in exchange for food, clothing, beer or just about anything. One customer traded for a pair of cowboy boots. Farmer said that it’s weird having everyone watch you while you work, and that it can be exhausting always being the centre of attention. Still, the business relies on an element of performance.
Business has been good, Farmer said, and things have just snowballed since he set out on this adventure about five months ago. It took 34 cans of red and white spray paint to convert the van into a mobile barber shop. Farmer wears a nozzle from one of the cans as a pendant around his neck.
Farmer previously worked four years as a graphic designer in Melbourne, Australia, before losing his job in the economic downturn. A friend convinced him to come to Canada to help start the haircuts for trade business, Farmer said.
The mobile barber shop was not an official participant in the business improvement association’s Autumn Shift Festival. Simon Conway from the association said that they were none the less welcome to be there and offer their services.
Their presence has not always been so welcome. About six weeks ago, the team was cutting hair at Main and Broadway. Farmer said it was great, everyone loved them and they payed $7 a day in rent. However, they were asked to leave by the City of Vancouver. Farmer said he thinks that a local barber shop called to complain.
Conway said it would be fair for a regular tax-paying business to be upset, although it’s not nice to think of someone calling up city officials to complain.
Looking back, Farmer said that being forced to move on was for the best. They drove north to Nelson, where Farmer said his best memories of Canada were made. Near Kelowna, they made just enough money picking grapes to pay for fuel and food to get back to Vancouver. Farmer said he dreams of heading south to the United States, where it’s warmer.
