Day 9

5th November 2007

Day nine. We're halfway through our training at The Academy. Each day we seem to have more clients and less time. The pressure is mounting.

During the morning meeting, Lee dropped what I considered to be a bombshell. He instructed that Steve, our 'Creative Director' should attend our consultation with clients, and advises that they have a more 'creative cut'. “Do we have to listen?”, I asked. “You have to do what Mr Strange recommends,” confirmed Lee, a mischievous glint in his eye. “What if someone wants to have their hair cut and we agree a style, and then Steve comes along and says ‘Right I want that bit shaved off!?'" I persisted. Lee shrugged.

So, not only are we doing more cuts in less time, but now we have to convince the client that Mr Strange knows what he's talking about!


"Give us a cuddle!"

My first cut of the day was Murray. In December, he is going on an expedition to the South Pole. In doing so, he hopes to raise over £12,000 for Children in Need. We had a very interesting chat. I wondered if it might be difficult to go to the loo when it's minus forty degrees, but Murray said it would be no problem.

My next client was Paul. He's a Street Warden in Corby. Myself and Steve 'Creative Director' Strange consulted with the client, and going totally against what we'd been taught for the past eight days, told him he was having some sort of design shaved into the side of his head! He gulped, turned slightly pale and said, "Oh, what the heck, it's Children in Need!" With that, the clippers started buzzing, palms started sweating, but both Paul and I were very pleased with the result.


Scissor Happy

Thanks for being a great sport Paul.

At the end of the day, Jessica-Jane Clement came in for a manicure. At the moment, she is a presenter on BBC3's, The Real Hustle, which I think is a great show. I spent a very pleasant hour chatting with Jessica about all the 'scams' the programme has revealed. Jessica had just arrived back in the UK from Las Vegas where she's been filming for the new series.