Shave and a Haircut: The Life of Matt 'Disco' Rogers

"Shave and a haircut. Two bits. Where did you get it? At Smi--Disco's."

If you remember this little jingle, then you know that it is not interrupted with the name "Disco." Who is Disco, you may ask. He is a local Campbellsvillian barber.

Matthew 'Disco' Rogers grew up in Campbellsville with his parents and three siblings. When it was time for him to go off to school, he chose to attend Campbellsville University. This is where he met his future love, Lori, and another love, cutting hair.

"I was living in an apartment about the old Bell's Bakery," said Rogers, "and I discovered an easy way to make money: cutting hair."

As a law, people are not allowed to charge others for cutting their hair unless they have a license.

"Instead I would ask for $5 donations," he said.

During these few years, he also worked lights and sound for a Christian band.

"One night I just went crazy with the lights," Rogers exclaimed, and the name 'Disco' was born.

"I was in the apartment and someone knocked on my door," he explained, "I answered and it was a friend of mine. He was asking me where Matt Rogers was because he wanted a haircut. I told him who I was, and he didn't believe me. 'No, you're Disco.'"

Rogers and Lori graduated in 2002, and were married one week later. They moved up to Ohio for a year, but decided to return to Campbellsville. Rogers decided that he wanted to go to barber college.

After graduating from there, he got a job in Columbia, KY as an apprentice under Master Barber Wed. He did not, however, work under Wed. He rented his own station, and paid to use the facilities.

"You have to be an apprentice for nine months under a Master Baber," explained Rogers, "You then go back to the school board, take a test, and if you pass, you become a Master Barber."

There are numerous experiences that Rogers endured during his time at Wed's Barbershop.

"One day I was cutting this guys hair," he explained, "and all of a sudden a police officer comes in and tells us that a bomb threat has been issued on the courthouse, and that we are to evacuate. I looked at the officer and asked if I could finish this guy's haircut. The officer told me to hurry up."

While working at the barbershop, Rogers attended more than 25 weddings ceremonies. His owner, Wed, was a magistrate.

"I was a witness for a couple of them," he explains laughing.

After working for Wed for about ten months, Rogers decided to open his own business in his hometown of Campbellsville. He found a place on Main Street and named it "Disco's Chop Shop." After about a year, he moved to a better location on Broadway in front of Domino's Pizza.

"I named it 'Chop Shop' because it has a garage feel to it," he said.

It has van seats, tires, cinder blocks, tires, and multiple license plates located around the shop. He is trying to get a license plate from each state.

"I try to appeal to a younger audience," he said, "I have multiple video game systems, a television, and DVD player. It's laid back and comfortable. Almost like hanging at a friend's house."

With his ears gauged, tongue pierced, multiple tattoos, and a baldhead with goatee, people are usually intimidated when first arriving at the shop.

"Some people come in and ask 'you're not from around here, are you?" he jokes.

"I enjoy cutting hair and see it as an art form," he said, "Seeing my art walk around is pretty cool."

While not cutting hair, Rogers enjoy playing video games and fixing various things. He loves to laugh and enjoys spending time with his family. He and Lori have had three sons, with another boy on the way.

Believe it or not, Rogers graduated from CU with a bachelor's degree in educational ministry, even though hair has always been his passion.

"I view my job as having a captive audience for 15 minutes," he said, "People need haircuts all over the world."

Before moving on to his next customer, he offered some advice: "If you go into a shop and see three barbers, get a cut from the one with the worst haircut, because he was cut by one of the other two."

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