From High School Drop Out to a 22-Year-Old Entrepreneur
The loud chatter of baristas could be heard alongside the Christmas music blasting inside Starbucks, as Gerardo Urbieta recalled how he entered the barbering industry.
“That's crazy,” he said with a laugh. ”I was 17 around September and I was at my guy's crib. One of my guys said he needed a haircut and me being dumb I was like I know how to cut hair. And he had an at-home clipper set and he believed me. So I just started cutting his hair and then like midway I was like I’m just kidding, I don’t know how to cut hair.” Urbieta recalled.
Two-time award winning “best fade” Chicago barber. Gerardo Urbieta is a 22-year- old from Elgin, Illinois. He is better known as Jerry, a High School dropout who chased his ambition to become a barber while pursuing his love for music.
In the eyes of those who know him, Urbieta is the definition of a hard worker. An ambitious soul that has found a way to balance both of his passions. Asked how he manages his time he projected confidence.
“ I would say it’s pretty simple, I have control over my schedule.” He said. Monday through Friday Urbieta can be found at In the Cut in Elgin, Illinois, where his customers give him rave reviews.
“I love getting my haircuts from Jerry. Not only are his haircuts top quality, but he's also a great person.” One of Urbieta’s customers, Juan, 22, said recently at the shop. “There's a high sense of comfort and familiarity through conversation with him which makes you want to return.”
Once the weekend starts the parties roll around. Urbieta took ownership of his band Grupo Ademan, which he founded in the fall of 2021. They have been managed under the label 24k Promotions since January 2022, after gaining 16k views on their cover of “La Plebada Belinca” on YouTube.
He said he recruited his four bandmates based on their skills, but now considers them his closest friends. Ademan’s drummer eagerly retold how he was hired.
“One day I posted a video on my story of me playing drums and I have a friend named Sammy who showed my video to his friend, which was Jerry,” recalled band member Ivan Rodriguez, 20. After that, Jerry called me and we ended up meeting the same day for our first practice! I’ve been playing with him ever since,”
Urbieta’s career in music started when he was 12-years-old playing the bass with his dad. He took some time to think back on his childhood and said he had to learn to love music. He was a passionate baseball player from ages 5 to 16-years- old. But he said he decided to take a step back after not being able to maintain his grades in High School then picked up music once again in 2020. He then started playing the Bajo sexto “ A stringed instrument of Mexican origin, with twelve thick strings in six double-courses, with a short neck and a deep soundboard; a type of acoustic bass guitar.”
His dedication to his career speaks for itself. Adding that “when I'm at home not working the first thing I do is pick up my instrument just trying to get better, even if it's not learning any new skills.”
While he is goal-oriented, he said he regrets that his relationship with his father and mother was not at the degree he would hope, since most of his time is dedicated to his work.
Urbieta flashed his contagious smile as he proudly introduced his parents, Manuel a truck driver and Elisa a seamstress. Asked what drives him to succeed he did not hesitate to reply “Being able to provide at the house. Like let's say my parents need something, I'm there and financially stable to help out.”
Urbieta recognized how competitive both industries are but is not letting that deter him. “In music there is always that goal that you want to do something different, but being from Chicago it's hard to get noticed." he said, his words ringing with determination. “I'm not trying to distract myself from my barber career, I want to open up a couple shops.”
Sources
bajo sexto - English definition, grammar, pronunciation, synonyms and examples | Glosbe
Gerardo Urbieta. 22-year-old from Elgin, Illinois.
Instagram: @Grupoademan
Instagram: @24k.promotions
Youtube: https://youtu.be/Xm48Io6itag
Juan Gonzales. 22-year-old from Elgin, Illinois. Client of Urbieta.
Ivan Rodriguez. @20-year-old from Elgin, Illinois. Bandmate of Urbieta.
