Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Spivey.
Hi Carlos, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story began in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in a neighborhood called Racepath. I was the youngest of four with an amazing mother Berlin Spivey and three siblings: Angela, Charles, and Kevin. Growing up I saw a lot, from violence drugs, and murder. These experiences in my neighborhood could have influenced me down a path I did not want to go. I chose not to be a product of my environment. Instead, I chose to dedicate myself to sports and staying out of the streets. Through athleticism, I developed discipline and a strong mindset, and the courage to venture off from the only home I knew, moving three thousand miles away to California. At the age of 22 years old, that was one of the most difficult things to do at the time being a part of a close-knit family. I remember being that young man getting choked up and shedding tears as I departed for the airport. My first flight was terrible. I was quickly introduced to turbulence and multiple connecting flights just to get to Los Angeles. I’ll never forget missing our connecting flight in Fort Worth Texas, with Spirit airlines. We had no hotel accommodations, so my friend Brie and, I had to sleep in a freezing airport with just shorts and a shirt.
Nevertheless, we finally made it to the city of angels. We headed to Santa Barbara where I would reside for the next three years. The transition was rough. California was a whole new world for me. My brothers and, I Tony, Marcus, and Brie quickly faced the cost of living in California and were taken back. We enrolled at Santa Barbara City College in 2005 where nobody looked like us. I just remember being a bit uncomfortable being the only black person in my class, not to mention Santa Barbara was 5% black if that. Once I got acclimated to school and football the transition was much smoother. In Santa Barbara, I learned how to be more responsible as a young adult. During this transitional period, I just remember being so focused on school and sports I never pictured life without football until it happened. Once reality set in, I had to plan. A young man in California 3000 miles away from home and my own consultant, I wasn’t sure what to do. The first option was to go back to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and follow my brothers, or create my own path following the lead of Jesus. I chose to stay in Santa Barbara, California, before moving to Los Angeles. I was frequently back and forth at the time. I later received the news of my baby girl coming into the world, Nevaeh Latonya Berlin Spivey. One of the happiest days of my life was becoming a father. I thank Jesus for blessing me with my daughter.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been numerous challenges faced over the years while in college. It was a rough transition from Santa Barbara City to California State Los Angeles. The dilemma I faced at times was to pay bills or get food for the night. I was climbing one obstacle until months later I encountered another just a year out from graduating. I was told I was no longer eligible for Financial Aid to continue my education. I needed to pay five thousand dollars. My heart dropped right then and there I couldn’t believe what just happened. I knew for a fact that my folks back home didn’t have that type of money laying around. I was devastated. I couldn’t believe it after all the efforts and doing everything, I could yet again… failed. I sat there on the bus with my head down, embarrassed, ashamed, and hurt. Once I looked up surpassing Abram Friedman Occupational College I saw a sign in the window, it read barbers enroll now. I lit up like a light bulb the year was 2013. Although there were obstacles at Cal State LA, I was determined more than anything to succeed on my new journey towards barbering. During this time, I didn’t have money, but I did have a ton of faith. I literally did a 180 and walked into foreign territory, afraid, unsure, and nervous all at the same time. I was headed to the Los Angeles Barber Apprenticeship Program. My uncle Titus Rich was the one who put the battery in my back and supported my dream of becoming a barber. In retrospect, without him funding my schooling, without him believing in me at a time when I needed it the most, it’s possible we wouldn’t be having this conversation, and I’m not sure what my future may have been. I just know that Jesus works in mysterious ways and my gratitude towards my uncle is forever solidified.
Even though the first exam I took I failed. The second time I made sure that I spent four days a week studying for the test, often falling asleep at the table. I refused to fail again. I trained until I became extremely confident in the state board preparation. I thought about the sacrifices of my uncle, and how I stayed the course to become a newly licensed barber.
Thankfully, my first barber job was at Hair Architect, where I served my first year as a barber. At the end of that first year, I decided I wanted to challenge myself, so I was leaning toward finding a new shop. However, it was at Hair Architects that I met my barbering mentor, Mr. Jack. I prayed for a mentor, and Mr. Jack appeared, his mentorship helped mold me for the years to come. I can never put into words what Jack meant to me at that point in my life, he was my mentor but more like a father figure I needed. On the other hand, I found myself in a dilemma of staying at Hair Architect or leaving for the new shop. I was torn because of my loyalty toward Hair Architect, and the opportunity given to me by the owner. The situation bothered me greatly as a young barber until one Sunday my communication with the owner over my shift was miscommunicated. The confusion led to me being fired, still to this day I’m not sure why I was fired. The decision bothered me greatly but was short-lived as my focus shifted toward the next step in my career. Furthermore, the firing allowed me to make the original transition to the shop I dreamed of working in, Legends Barbershop.
My next journey took me towards a more affluent area at Legends Barbershop. Legends was the first shop I dreamed of working in before I started barber school. The many obstacles of barber school and Hair Architects led me to this barbershop. I vividly remember going to visit Legends’s years before working there. I manifested working at this shop; the environment and the caliber of barbers was amazing. After visiting Legends in 2012, I envisioned a plan to make it back. God willing, I was able to do just that. I thank the owner Goose for giving me an opportunity to take my career to another level. On the first day at Legends, I remember being extremely nervous in a big shop with seventeen barbers including myself. I was stoked on my first day at Legends. I wanted to prove to myself that I belonged at one of the top barber shops in Los Angeles. I quickly found out that I had a lot to learn as expected, but I was willing to do whatever it took to master my craft.
During this point in my career, I couldn’t cut curly hair with precision, but when it came to straight hair, I had no clue where to start. There were plenty of moments in the early going of my career when I feared cutting straight hair clients. This obstacle began to become burdensome for me. I needed help so I began to turn to my co-workers, which was the best decision for me at the time. I became a student of my craft. I walked around and watched my co-worker’s work. I asked questions and carried a notepad to write down notes. The barber game has an interesting way that it works as well as life. It’s the things you avoid that you encounter the most, and for six months straight I received nothing but straight-hair clients. Within this timeframe, I was able to gain a significant amount of confidence. I learned a lot about myself at Legends Barbershop, I learned that nothing grows in the comfort zone, but once I placed myself in an uncomfortable environment, I began to grow. The experience at Legends helped mold me, and instilled the confidence I needed to be a successful barber. Once the confidence came and I understood my barber system, I focused on ways to become a complete barber, adding professionalism, the newly attained confidence, sheer work, and creating an experience for my clientele. The vantage point I had was advantageous to me. I was able to take pieces of things I admired from my co-workers like Barberdolltheslayer and, others and make them my own.
My career was rolling smoothly at this time until the world faced Covid-19. Just when things were going well, Covid-19 came out of nowhere and shook up the barber industry. The start date was March 13, 2020, and none of us at Legends Barbershop were fully prepared for what would occur. Covid-19 would ultimately strike the barber industry twice. This pandemic caused a lot of shops to close immediately, causing a lot of barbers around the world to suffer financially and be without work. Unfortunately, I was one of those barbers who wasn’t prepared, I lost clients, and I wasn’t sure what to do to make ends meet. The one thing for sure is, the bills kept coming despite the hardships for barbers. Barbers later found out that our profession was “non-essential”, which upset the barber community. During the second wave of the Covid pandemic, I became wiser about the situation, it was months since I stepped foot in Legends, and had to act fast. I admit at the time I took a dangerous approach, but I started cutting my current clientele in my garage. While cutting in my garage, I learned that I was just as valuable in my garage as in Legends Barbershop. I quickly realized how my monthly income wasn’t affected by overhead charges. I began to pocket more money in the later months and my confidence grew even more. At this time, I told myself I would never work in another shop again. That mindset continued in my garage where Barber Gurus was born.
Barber Gurus was founded in December 2019, I wanted to provide all my fellow barbers with information to help them along their journey. Within this industry that I’m so passionate about I felt it was only right to give back to those in this illustrious fraternity of barbers. I looked to incorporate classes such as look and learn courses, financial literacy classes, barber etiquette classes, and how to be a professional for starters. We also cater to the youth as a community-based organization, creating a haven to train barbers behind and beyond the barber chair. Our mission is to also prepare young barbers for barber school and Barbershops. Moreover, Barber Gurus has branched out to more shelters, more boys’ homes, and providing free haircuts Within skid row and, the Los Angeles community. Furthermore, within the skid row area without turning a blind eye we saw another need in that community. During the year 2020, we saw how Covid-19 ran rampant, shutting down the entire world and disconnecting everyone. We at Barber Gurus decided from the heart to feed the people within our communities. The services started monthly then, we later made the choice to provide meals twice a month. We were aware of how imperative it was to distribute nutritious meals. God willing, these amazing services will continue to be a part of the many Barber Gurus branches we’ve created in the heart of the pandemic. As the year of 2022 ends, we at Barber Gurus were blessed to provide over one-thousand free haircuts and distribute hundreds of meals to the underserved citizens of Los Angeles. Looking forward to 2023 we plan to continue to serve the people of Los Angeles and beyond, as we make people look good and feel good no matter where we go in the world, we plan to make communities greater.
After hosting my first Look and Learn class, the desire to assist barbers in perfecting their crafts became my passion. Providing them with tutorials on how to cut different textures of hair, and having them share with each other different tips and techniques that would help them along the way. I see Barbering as a fraternity, we might not all work in the same shops, but we are all a part of the same brother & sisterhood. Being in a room filled with professional barbers and students coming together, sharing information, and uplifting each other was amazing. This sparked something in me, I realized Barber Gurus has limitless potential and can affect change not only in barbering but within the community.
Through trial and error, a structure for Barber Gurus was created. I realized I couldn’t do it all alone, and I needed reliable people. Mona Gotoy my business partner and the amazing barber crew contributed greatly to the Barber Gurus Brand. In the first year, all the funding was solely from the Barber Gurus team.
We later brought forth our own way with a team of seasoned and young barbers who wanted to give back. Mona Gotoy, my Vice President, and I sat down and brainstormed on ways to build the brand. The aftermath of those conversations led to Barber Gurus forming alliances with homeless shelters and boys’ homes. Through these efforts, the younger barbers can master their craft, and more importantly understand the importance of giving back to the less fortunate. We believe the foundation of a community is developed by giving back to those, who need a helping hand.
With so many ideas for Barber Gurus and not enough funding we decided to make Barber Gurus a Non-Profit Organization. The process thus far has been a great one. The proper funding will allow us to do more in the community. Barber Gurus has created a culture and a team of young talented barbers while mentoring them behind and beyond the chair. Coupled with seasoned barbers, this will allow our young talent to master the craft in a short period of time.
From the homeless shelters to Skid Row, look and learn classes and various areas throughout Los Angeles Barber Gurus will continue to provide the structure that is missing in barber schools. Furthermore, Barber Gurus is more than just about barbering, we do so much more we feed the homeless, we give back free haircuts, teach financial literacy and mentor the youth. Ideally, my vision for Barber Gurus is for young barbers to learn the trade successfully and leave our organization prepared for an illustrious career in life and barbering. I believe that when young barbers understand the importance of giving back, young people will develop the character of being a good person first. Good people do good things.
Barber Gurus has formed numerous partnerships throughout Los Angeles and were truly grateful for our latest collaboration with Tonsor and Tonic. Barber Gurus, along with Tonsor and Tonic allows us to sponsor young barbers funding to help with tuition, barber kits, and schoolbooks. The future looks bright for Barber Gurus.
We look forward to molding young barbers and continuing to make communities greater.
We’ve been impressed with Barber Gurus, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Barber Gurus www.barbergurus.com
Email: [email protected]
Contact: 323-606-3307/ 213-800-6788
Barber Gurus was founded by Carlos L. Spivey in 2019. Since then, he has cultivated a team of young barbers to assist in executing the vision of, Making Communities Greater.
Our Mission Statement: Molding the mind of future barbers. Creating and Empowering future entrepreneurs behind & beyond the barber chair.
What we are about:
Barber Gurus is a community-based organization. We believe the foundation of a community is developed by giving back to those who need a helping hand. Therefore, we partner with shelters, youth homes, and numerous organizations to not only lay a foundation but to provide structure and sustainability.
There are 2 aspects of how we help the community.
We provide Barbering, Mentorship, and Finance programs for youths in underserved communities. We provide them with the skillset of how to become a barber, an entrepreneur, and how to develop a growth mindset. For students who want to further their careers in barbering. We partner with schools that can assist them in attaining their barber license. We even assist in finding shops that they can work in. We also partner our students with mentors who can assist them on their journey.
Along with Building the minds of our future generation, Barber Gurus pours back into the community by providing give-back services. We go into youth homes, shelters, and various street corners throughout Los Angeles and provide free haircuts, food, clothing, and hygiene kits. We try our best to provide the residents with anything that can alleviate them from any burdens they might face financially.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Discipline, honesty, courage, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, patience resilience, and doing everything from the heart.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.barbergurus.com
- Instagram: Barber_Gurus
- Facebook: Barber Gurus
Image Credits
Mona Gotoy James Rhaburn
