Giving From the Heart: Glenn Sherman Builds The Great Mid-Atlantic Wet Shavers Meetup

Glenn Sherman is a passionate wet shaving enthusiast and the host of The Luxury Shaving Hobbyist on YouTube, where he has been sharing his love of the hobby with the community for more than four years. A familiar face at gatherings such as the Maggard meetup and the Razor Emporium meetup, Glenn was inspired to create something the Mid-Atlantic wet shaving community had never had before: a major meetup of its own. After a great deal of planning and hard work, that vision is now becoming a reality. ShaveSplash was fortunate to catch up with Glenn to learn more about the event. Here’s Glenn...

Glenn, for people who may not know you yet, can you tell us a little about your background and how you first found your way into traditional wet shaving?

I am retired from a very rewarding career in Hospital Administration. I live in Media, Pennsylvania, which is about 30 minutes Southwest of Philadelphia.

Back in 2020, I happened to be thinking of my Dad, who passed away in 1993. I remembered that he used Old Spice, and I wanted to experience that scent again. I picked up a bottle, and was disappointed that the scent wasn’t what I actually remembered.

I did a search online and learned that the original “Shulton” formula had changed. I came across a product called Reserve Spice made by Barrister and Mann. Purchased a bottle of the aftershave, and by golly, that was the scent that I remembered. That was the start of my wet shaving journey.

What was the moment when wet shaving went from being just a better way to shave to becoming a real hobby for you? What is it you love about the hobby and the community?

As I began to explore online, I found the Facebook Groups, Instagram pages, and YouTube channels that were related to wet shaving. The hobby kicked in when I realized how much choice there was out there when it came to scents, types of razors, brushes, bowls….yep, I was hooked. I was driven to experience as much as I could.

I love the hobby because it not only provides an outlet for me to stay creative, it allows me to develop connections with like individuals as well as some deep friendships

You run the Luxury Shaving Hobbyist channel — what made you decide to start creating content, and what has surprised you most about being a wet shaving YouTuber?

I really enjoyed watching many of the wet shaving YouTube channels and just wanted to give it a shot. I felt a tremendous need to continue to accomplish something. I missed the stimulation of being in the work environment.

My biggest shock in the process of creation was the amount of time required for editing and polishing the videos.

The Great Mid-Atlantic Wet Shavers Meetup looks like a major undertaking. What inspired you to organize an event like this?

I attended a number of events over the last few years including the Maggard meetup in Michigan and the Razor Emporium meetup in Arizona and I really enjoyed them. There really hasn’t been anything at that level in the Mid-Atlantic states. I figured that I would just take the bull by the horns and do it. Build it and people will come.

What do you think makes in-person wet shaving meetups special compared with interacting online through YouTube, Facebook groups, forums, or Instagram?

It is actually really satisfying meeting the folks that you interacted with online in person. You already have so much in common.

The flyer lists artisans, educational sessions, door prizes, swag bags, a PIF table, and trivia. What kind of experience are you hoping attendees have when they walk through the door?

I wanted to hold a Meetup that was a little different from others currently out there. The educational aspect of the event not only gives the attendees a chance to learn something new but also provides for a deeper understanding and deeper appreciation of the art of wet shaving.

There are a lot of artisan names on the flyer — Barrister and Mann, Ethos, Hoffman’s, Stirling, Strike Gold, Rodak Ceramics, Shaving Grace, and others. What has the response been like from artisans and supporters?

Response has been extremely positive. I think that the exposure to over 100 wet shaving enthusiasts is definitely a draw.

For someone who is newer to wet shaving and maybe feels intimidated walking into a room full of experienced hobbyists, what would you say to them?

It can feel a bit intimidating at first, but the wet shaving community is generally one of the most welcoming hobby communities out there. A few things to know:

Enthusiasts love talking about their hobby. Experienced wet shavers are typically thrilled to meet someone new to the craft. Expect questions like “what razor are you using?” and genuine enthusiasm to share tips and recommendations.

Looking beyond this year’s meetup, what would success look like to you? Is the goal to make this an annual Mid-Atlantic tradition, grow the community, support artisans, or something more personal?

Putting an event like this together requires a great deal of time, coordination, follow up, and planning. If we are successful this year and people find it worthwhile, I may try doing it again next year. Indicators for success would be attendee turnout and artisan satisfaction.

My goal is to do what I can to help this wonderful hobby continue to provide to others what it provided to me.

When people leave the meetup that afternoon, what do you hope they’re talking about on the drive home?

I don’t want them to talk about how to hide their new purchases from their spouses. Only kidding… I hope that they talk about what they learned, who they met, and how incredible Philly cheesesteaks are!

Glenn Sherman

To get a ticket for the event contact Glenn at gbsher@icloud.com

Check out the Luxury Shaving Hobbyist on Youtube