[heatherizzy]

I work on Syracuse University campus. When incoming freshman come in every fall, they treat me like i'm "Betty the hair-hacker" from Islip, No-mans land. Not understanding how big and diverse the campus is. We have a huge foreign population, and there is no one that I can't do.

These people are usually from the Long Island/Manhatten area. They are 18, and they are bitchy and scared. They've never left their regular stylist "Jose" or "Sebastian" and they assume that this little Syracuse salon is not going to pull it off. This in itself is annoying as hell. But i've dealt with it for 14 years. I've learned to feel a little sorry for them because they are scared. Even if their attitude is obnoxious!

I keep smiling. I assure them that they are in good hands, and by the end of the visit they are happy. And guess what, because it is Syracuse, they just paid a fraction of what it costs in Manhatten. So there. By the time these guys are Sophmores they are mine. They avoid the high prices of Manhatten, and wait untill they come back to Syracuse to get their hair done.

So I guess, try to understand where their attitude is coming from and maybe you can get a lot further with meeting their needs.