Although the following story is about barbers as well as the recent Barber Expo, because this article ntegrates the concept of beauty, brains and entertainment, it is therefore only fitting that props be given to the salon chain "that started it all" and are pioneers of the "Beauty Meets Entertainment" revolution. In fact, Dramatics founder Rock was the one who suggested talking to Justin Tuck of the New York Giants.

Sean Mac Queen, taking his cue from Rock, recently did an interview with Justin Tuck regarding something that he (Sean) has in common with Justin. What is it? They both have written stories that contain the element of barbering!

Youthful roving reporter Sean Mac Queen recently traveled from Queens to Oakdale New York to do a story on an Emiliani sponsored event – the Barber Expo which occurred shortly after the larger Emiliani Beauty Expo. Sean went to the Barber Expo in search of better understanding the relationship between media and the community. And as a reporter and Lights Camera Read Platinum Pias nominee who has written a Platinum Pias nominated story entitled "Zombie Todd the Undead BARBER of Shriek Street" – he is well suited for this pursuit.

First on Sean’s list of three interviews is Alan Lipman, General Manager of Mr. Beauty and a partner in salon design with Emiliani. Also, Alan’s family and the Emiliani family have been working together for nearly fifty years (check out the video above featuring Don Emiliani, CEO of Emiliani Enterprises along with Alan Lipman)!

Sean: So, what are important things that a barber must know to succeed in the industry today?

Alan: Well, barbers today have to be industry savvy. What I mean by that is they have to stay up on the latest techniques, they have to stay up on the latest in education and tools, and they also have to be aware of what the consumers are looking for--watching movies, looking at media, print and stuff like that. The barbering industry is very different today.

Sean: How has the perception of the beauty industry changed in terms of how it sees barbers?

Norman: Barbers are really becoming very big again. For a while it went down, but over the past couple of years the barbers are really coming back and a lot of men's grooming is really taking place. More and more throughout, basically, the whole country. There's a lot of moving up all over. The schools are really getting a lot of people coming in specifically for barbering and whatnot. So it's really targeted a new market in the beauty industry. It's actually the fastest growing segment of the industry at this point.

Sean: what is the relationship of the barber industry to the community?

Luke: I think you need to be very involved with the community you're working in. And to be able to bring the community into your shop and bring your shop outside into the community. Like the fire department, like the police department, all of those community venues.