City Weekend finds out what it takes to be a jack of all trades by spending a day in the life of ROOMbeijing DJ and salon owner Suiki Lor.

1:38

I’m suddenly woken from a deep sleep. I look at the TV. Spain vs. the Netherlands, 0-0. I missed the first half of the game, but I’m looking forward to seeing Spain, the team I’m rooting for, win over the Netherlands.

5:00

After the awards ceremony, I turn off the TV to catch a few more badly needed ZZZs. Between the jetlag from recently returning to BJ from San Francisco and the World Cup games, I’ve been averaging two to three hour naps a few times a day. I’ve gotten no more than six hours’ sleep in one day this month.

7:38

Glen, my five year old, wakes me up with a glass of fresh-squeezed juice from his mom. A nice way to start the day. I play with Glen for a bit before heading out the door to drop him off at summer school.

8:44

After dropping off Glen, I head to my salon in Zhongguancun. I need to get there before 10 to prep for a Precision Haircutting course I’m starting today with my students.

9:50

Checking emails. Thank goodness the translation of one of my articles that I write for industry trade publications arrived just 30 minutes prior. This one is on the elements of design and the principle of hair design and styling. Though I read, write and speak Mandarin, it’s easier for me to write the articles in English because of the difference between Cantonese and Mandarin pinyin systems. Having a professional translator is an enormous help.

10:30

I give my presentation on the theory of the five elements of design, including form, space, line, color and texture to my students and staff.

11:30

I sit down with my students, post-lecture. They are hairdressers in Shanghai, and I want to find out what they need to know in order to grow professionally. They say they need to freshen up their haircutting skills, and want to know more about the concept of design. They want to be inspired. I’m glad I covered these issues in the lecture I just gave. As hairdressers, we all struggle with these issues. It doesn’t matter how good, talented or well-known a person is, these issues are still relevant. While I’m technically the teacher, I’m also inspired by and learn from my students. It’s definitely not a one-way street.

12:30

I have lunch in my office while listening to new music from one of the bigger internet stores for DJs. I’m looking for fresh music to play at DJ Dimitri from Paris’ “Return to the Playboy Mansion” event at ROOMbeijing tomorrow night. They told me it’s going to be a big party with real Playboy bunnies for Bastille Day (French National Day). I’ll go on at 2am, right after Dimitri. As a DJ, I take pride in introducing new, good music to the public that no one’s ever heard before, so I am always looking and listening to new things. But the main reason I do it is for my own musical satisfaction!

13:30

I have my students start on their models, and give them ideas of what to do after talking a bit with the models first, and checking their hair texture, face shape and features. I give my students some guidelines to follow, and then stand beside them to help them one on one as they go along. I don’t have much time for personally styling my clients, except those that are in dire need. I’ve scheduled a few for each day of this week after classes end.

18:00

My old friend and client, Monica, comes in from Hong Kong for her hair appointment. She notices my students and says she doesn’t mind if they watch while I cut her hair, and even suggests I explain what I’m doing to them as I go along. It’s very nice of her to be so open, as I usually honor my client’s privacy.

20:26

I head back to the east side of the city with Monica and her husband Raymond. We head to Guijie for dinner in a place I know they like. It’s in a real courtyard. We spend the next three hours talking.

00:01

Get home.

00:22

I start putting this article together, while listening to my records and CDs to find more stuff to play at the party tomorrow night.

2:22

Finish the article. I need to get some sleep. Another long day ahead tomorrow. I’m listening to the Edwin Hawkin Singers singing “Oh happy day, Oh happy day,” and I’m looking forward to all tomorrow has to offer.

2:28

Pass out cold.