My school will give me room space for anything...

[bluefoxicy]

... they'll even give me access to rooms to give a seminar.

I've considered doing a 2 hour long semenar covering various topics; but it seems boring. The main focus I came up with was adding simple luxuries to life. The biggest problem I've found was it's very hard to come up with anything more than a talking head style lecture.

Really I want to cover a small array of simple luxuries, mostly in-home things; but there's no way to get hands-on, and I'm not sure about the whole boring lecture thing. There were, however, three simple topics I wanted to cover:

• Playing an instrument.
• Baking. It's cheap and easy to make your own bread.
• Dressing and grooming. The value of buying good clothes, and how to get them cheap; discussions on various hygene options (shower scrub and body wash vs. bar soap; types of toothpaste and toothbrushes); and a discussion about shaving with a brush, soap, and DE/Straight razor.

That last topic actually interests me quite a bit (surprised?). I have 3 pairs of Land's End pants and 5 of their shirts, plus a belt; and New Balance shoes. I want to try other higher end clothing brands that come in at what, $10 more than Wal-Mart garbage? I also try to keep my shower products at a minimum; but I do have access to some nice stuff...

And of course.

I shave with a straight razor.

Now here's where things get difficult. I'd want to cover something tactile with people, and also keep things rather open; I don't want to just talk and talk and talk, and then unloose people. I want them to take away something; when you listen to someone talk for 2 hours, you take away nothing. But I don't understand how to do that with these topics.

I can probably engage the audience when talking about music and baking, due to being able to relate and being able to give them a simple task they can do later (bringing up a sourdough starter).

That last topic is hard though. Most college kids don't want to be told how to dress and groom themselves. They certainly don't want to be told how to shave. I have considered covering this in a hands-on fashion, maybe... I don't know.

The best I can come up with is ordering a bunch of shaving brushes, bowls, and an easy-lather cream like Musgo; passing them out (to keep); and covering how to make a good lather. I don't particularly care if they stick with the Fusion or Quatro or whatever 80 blade thing they have; or go with a Straight or DE, though I'll cover that.

Anyone thought about this? I tend to like to talk, and people around me seem to be oblivious to the world. The TV tells them there's terrorists and college kids just want to get laid, and they all live in this little bubble where that's the only influence they have. I like to break that bubble. I showed someone how to shave with a straight razor and he was speechless, mostly because nobody in the world shaves with a straight razor anymore....

 

[Sanders]

i'm in college and i'd love to hear that, but i think us college students here at B&B are slightly unique

 

[Go West Young Man]

Do you have a built-in audience for these seminars, or are you going to have to rustle up a crowd? I'm not sure how many people out there would be interested in sitting through a 2-hour lecture on personal grooming, you might need to get an interesting hook to bring them in. That, or free beer.

 

[daisaw1219]

Im a college student, and I have a hard time getting any of my friends to convert into wetshaving. They just don't see the point of spending 15mins plus to shave. Offering free food or beer would be good, or anything free. Advertise this as a Grooming Workshop or Simple Luxry Workshop and try to get sponsors or clubs to support you. Plan to hold this after midterms so people would actually show up.

 

[wilsondude]

I'm a 30 year veteran high school English teacher who can still keep an audience on the edge of their, uh, desk! Sounds like a fun idea, and I'd be happy to help! My speaking fees are $1,000.00/day, plus expenses.

 

[bluefoxicy]

Do you have a built-in audience for these seminars, or are you going to have to rustle up a crowd? I'm not sure how many people out there would be interested in sitting through a 2-hour lecture on personal grooming, you might need to get an interesting hook to bring them in. That, or free beer.

I don't think I could do 2 hours on personal grooming; like I said, I was thinking of covering some form of "simple luxuries" or something. It's a topic I'd have to put more research into.

Seriously, think about being far upper class. What would you have?

Well, you'd be well dressed, and clean-shaven (or have a very well groomed goatee, that's for sure). Would you go to SuperCuts? Hell no... a proper barber shop, for a hair cut and shoe shine, and maybe splurge on a shave while you're there.

But is that all? Of course you'd have a big house, a maid, etc. All the rich people things right? But what are you missing?

Every single rich person with a mansion has got to have a big, black, shiny grand piano.

Thats' where I was going with this. The shaving part's relevant here though, and I can't give an hour lecture and teach anyone piano or have a bake shop to make bread from scratch. Most college kids aren't rich either; besides, not everyone likes piano or bread, and even accounting for those that do you have to realize some people prefer another instrument.

The actual seminar I want to do is how to add "Luxury" to your life even though you're dirt poor. How do you see rich people living? How do you do that on the college budget, or at least feel like you're doing that?

Proper grooming is a big part of that. Being properly groomed instills confidence because it sets you apart from the vulgar crowd in a big way. Sure, the t-shirt/jeans/scruff look gets you attention from the girls if you know how to flirt; but when you're well-dressed, with a good hair cut, nice shoes, and a good shave, and good cologne, you walk by the crowd and heads turn. Part of that is that you just look different; the other part is that you feel different, so you stand taller and smile more, and you examine the room with purpose instead of with nervous glances and averted eyes.

But that's, again, a huge chore. It would be a luxury to turn the boring, annoying, grating routine into something with purpose, structure, and finesse; a task that comes easy with practice, but leaves you many options to experiment, and only gives above-par results by your own hand and your own skill rather than simply because the tools you chose are better adjusted for your limp and clumsy hand.

It's the same with playing piano/guitar/flute/theramin. It sucks really bad when you start; but as time goes by, even with very little practice you improve. You then have a skill that comes easy, and both sets you apart from others and gives you a way to relate to others. Why do you think rich people have pianos?

This is the image you should have of your life, even if you did the whole thing in under $1000. $700 for a good guitar or an okay starter piano or whatever other instrument you want to learn; $150 for a shaving kit; $150 for a mixer so you can make your own bread without devoting your life to it.

Yeah I know, I've got a narrow view here; I can't cover the world though. So not everyone wants to be a musician... find another hobby then. I think it'd be cool to give college students something to shoot for now beyond "dollar menu, Good Will jeans, shower every 4 days, 3 month old Bic disposable razor with the same bar of soap I used to wash my hair for lather." The only luxury I ever see college kids engaging in is 25 cent beer night and passing out face down just outside their apartments.

 

[aodenkou]

<snip>
The best I can come up with is ordering a bunch of shaving brushes, bowls, and an easy-lather cream like Musgo; passing them out (to keep); and covering how to make a good lather.<snip>

So you are going to "give" these out free? That alone would be worth going to a lecture...... Any chance to get a barber come in and offer free shaves? It might spark their business.

You might be able to tie in something about how a groomed appearance, well fitting and appropriate business dress can make an impression in a job search. Or even the value of printing their resumes on quality paper, as opposed to plain copier paper.

I guess for me something on the importance of attention to detail can make the difference in even small things of life. I wished someone would have drummed that into my head at an early age.......

 

[bluefoxicy]

So you are going to "give" these out free?

Why not? I mean I'm already standing around for 2 hours talking to a bunch of unkempt college kids that are already bored anyway. It's something to do; my life is rather barren and empty.

That alone would be worth going to a lecture...... Any chance to get a barber come in and offer free shaves? It might spark their business.

Actually, there's a barber shop near the local college hang-out. About 3 or 4 blocks away. I went there for my last hair cut ($30 for consultation, hair cut based on the consultation, hair wash, scalp massage, neck massage, hot towel treatment, and trimming up the edges with a SS Dovo Shavette; I threw a $10 tip), and I loved the cut. Done with a straight razor. They by default offer free straight razor neck shaves, though you're expected to tip the barber.

You might be able to tie in something about how a groomed appearance, well fitting and appropriate business dress can make an impression in a job search. Or even the value of printing their resumes on quality paper, as opposed to plain copier paper.

Actually that's something I always did, threw my resumé in on resumé paper, a little heavier and a creamy color.

I've also abandoned suits; I show up at interviews in business casual, and I get better complements than when I show up in a 3 piece. As far as I'm concerned, if you want me to wear a suit, you can appraise me of the dress code upon extending an offer letter; if you didn't mention this before the interview, and you're mad I didn't show up in a suit at the interview, I don't need to work for you.

I know that seems a bit counterproductive, but it seriously weeds out places I'm not going to be working at for very long. If management has its head so far up its *** that I show up well-dressed, well-groomed, with my material ready and a good resumé; but I didn't show up to the interview in a business suit, so they're just going to dismiss me... no thanks.

I guess for me something on the importance of attention to detail can make the difference in even small things of life. I wished someone would have drummed that into my head at an early age.......

Although a lecture on dress and grooming vs. personal and professional life is relevant, I think you're starting to get on a whole different topic Life has a certain level of finesse to it yes...

 

[brianb]

Hey there, this marks my first post to B&B! I'm 24, and am currently living in China doing research in Sichuan. I've always had an interest in living a classy lifestyle, and since meeting my girlfriend (who feels the same) I have been able to indulge in such things with much more enjoyment. First of all, I would say that class and enjoying finer things has more to do with your attitude than anything. For example, you cite a grand piano or guitar in your example, but I could see a DJ having his turntables and mixer appointed with just as much style, and without limiting it to one particular era. My point is that showing them how to enjoy the things they enjoy now with a sense of style and pride could be an interesting angle. Another example, I don't drink, but I do keep soda's and cheeses in a cellar at my home. Instead of chugging a bottle of pepsi, I go down into my cellar and open a bottle of Imported small-brewed ginger-beer, or a locally made root beer. Point out how it isn't much more expensive to discover new cheeses and foods. I think the most important thing is understanding what makes something you like actually GOOD. Learning about a topic rather than just consuming it.
Hopefully that was a good first post, thanks for the site here guys. To the OP, good luck on your project.
-Brian

 

[kingfisher]

brianb, welcome to badger and blade!