Who remembers this TV commercial from the 80s and 90s? “I’m not only the hair club President, I’m also a client!” It was constantly quoted and ridiculed because a) it was on TV constantly b) it was a cheesy ad and c) it was clear to anyone with functioning eyes that this guy was wearing a toupee.
This commercial was so ubiquitous that Notorious BIG even had a line about it in his song from ’94, One More Chance with Faith Evans and Mary J. Blige. This remix was a huge hit in the mid-90s, at least where I grew up in the Tri-State area (the metropolitan area surrounding New York City, encompassing New York, Northern New Jersey, and Western Connecticut.)
Instead of the hair club for men, Biggie proclaimed himself the ‘playa president’ in the last line of the last verse of the song, forever cementing it as a hip hop quotable. (What’s a playa? Hint: it’s not a beach or a dry piece of land. Keep reading to find out.)
That song and specifically that line suddenly popped into my head while brainstorming ways to launch my tech consulting business. The reason this popped into my head is because that’s how I feel about my role as a tech consultant. I’m able to support my clients today because everything I have learned over the years is due to being my own client and my own consultant when tech problems arise or I’m looking for a creative way to implement a solution. I have also been the go-to tech nerd for friends and family- you all know who you are! And now I’m not only a client, I’m the president… of my own consulting and services business! Clearly the Hair Club For Men didn’t get their claws in me when I lost my hair in my early 20s, although the ad was effective since I’m quoting it 40 years later.
When I had the idea for this post and Googled the tagline, I found mention of the hair club commercial on a Reddit thread for my generation, Xennials, born towards the end of Gen-X and the beginning of the Millennial generation in the late 70s/ early 80s. As the youngest of 4, my attitude and world view definitely skew more Gen-X. But like most Millennials I’m a tech-native, but also a tech enthusiast since a young age. Growing up, my dad was always into the latest and greatest gadgets and tech. I fondly remember many trips to NYC with him in the 80s and 90s, visiting 42nd Street Photo and all those independently owned shops that got the latest tech from abroad. And of course Nobody Beats The Wiz, Downstairs Records, and Record Explosion to find vinyl, cassettes, and CDs that I couldn’t get in the suburbs.
Because I understood and appreciated this technology and its value — not only its dollar value, but its functionality, I was always extra careful with technology and fastidious about learning how to use it. My dad trusted me to use his equipment, and eventually started helping me buy my own stuff, or surprised me with an amazing birthday or Christmas gift. Over the years this included boomboxes, stereos, Walkmans/Discmans, DJ equipment, video games, camcorders, cameras, and car audio. He knew how much I loved learning and tinkering with tech and using it to get creative with music and video, and that all my tech devices were my most prized possessions.
Now that we’ve taken this trip down memory lane for some context, that brings me to today, where I am excited to officially launch my technology consulting and services business, Solution Oriented Services of San Francisco LLC! We provide personalized, on-site tech services for home users, small businesses, and small offices. Please browse the new site to read about our tech services, and check out what clients have to say on our testimonials page!
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Reach out to us with your biggest tech goals, computer woes, or anything in between…
You can call/text me directly at 415.961.6092, email me, or drop us a line through our contact form.
Chris Lucera, Founder/Chief Support Consultant, Solution Oriented Services of San Francisco LLC
July 2025
PS: According to Preply, A “playa” is often used as slang for “player,” indicating someone who is adept at navigating the dating scene and engaging in multiple relationships.