Haircuts, Mario Kart and more at The Jasper BarberShop
Maybe it’s not an everyday occurrence, but Wednesday’s crowd of boys at Joey Ballard’s barbershop, The Jasper BarberShop, on Newton Street was a testament to his impact on his young patrons’ lives.
Drawn in with an impromptu pizza and video games session while waiting for haircuts, the boys crowded around the television in one corner of the shop, taking turns attempting to break the speed record for the Mario Kart time trial. It’s March’s challenge for anyone who comes into the shop with the winner receiving a free haircut, while everyone else can sign up for a drawing for a sports card valued at $25 to $50.
“It’s a little bit of an incentive for the kids to come in and be competitive, hang out with one another,” Joey said, adding that sometimes kids stay around for a couple hours when they stop in for a haircut.
Joey balances the video games between sports and nonsports so anyone can participate and potentially win.
“I had a four-year-old here who held the fastest time for four days,” Joey said about the Mario Kart competition. “Last month, I had a 38-year-old dude win the free haircut. Everyone kind of gets involved.”
Pointing to the Wii’s universal fun, Joey said it’s great when moms who bring their kids in for haircuts jump into the competition as well.
Joey added the competitions intermittently last year, but based on the response, he decided to make it a monthly event this year.
“It really took off more than I thought it would,” he said.
Joey’s been cutting hair since he was a freshman in high school, attempting to make friends with his teammates on his Texas high school football team.
“It was a way for me to bridge that gap between me and the upper-classmen,” he said.
Through marriage and his job, he ended up in Jasper but eventually found himself with a pair of trimmers in hand, working with Angel Serrano to learn the trade. When Angel moved out of the Newton Street location, Joey decided to open up his shop. He’s been operating The Jasper BarberShop for about three years now. He and Angel remain friends, and Joey said he considers him a good friend and mentor.
Joey’s profession allows him to do something he loves while still being a big part of his kids’ lives. He and his wife, Autumn, have four.
“I really want to leave my schedule available for my kids,” he said.
He only does 12 appointments a day, five days a week.
He loves providing a place for his customers to stop in, get a great haircut, a hot towel, and have a conversation. “I mean, the purpose of this is to get people to come in, hang out, talk,” Joey said.
The fun competition adds to building that community.
“I think one of the biggest issues today is that people don’t interact face-to-face enough,” He explained. “Everyone’s on their phones or keyboards.”
He is creating an avenue for relationships to grow by providing a welcome space for his patrons, with the added element of community-building competitions.
Joey’s friendly demeanor welcomes deeper conversations with his clients as well. Sitting in the chair can be an invitation to discuss problems and stresses in their lives with a trusted listener. Whether teens struggling with issues in their lives or someone celebrating a significant moment in their career, like many trusted barbers and cosmetologists, sometimes Joey is the first or only one to hear about it.
He joked that barbers are “the cheapest psychiatrists you’ll find,” highlighting the trust many clients feel in the barber’s chair.
Joey plans to continue the contests throughout the year and welcomes anyone of any age to stop by, take advantage of one of his barbering services and make their mark on the board.
