Quarter Dinh’s friendly personality, singing voice, and unique business model has created quite a stir in the Detroit area where he is known as Quarter The Singing Manicurist. “There is a nail salon on every corner; it’s a very competitive business so you must twist things to get attention or be a little different. If you’re dumb or stupid then people will remember you,” Dinh says. “That’s how I came up with the karaoke nails idea and it works.”
A karaoke system is the highlight of Dinh’s salon, Glamour Nails, located in Commerce Township, a suburb of Detroit. Pedicure spa chairs line one side of the salon, and manicure tables and flat screen TVs line the other so that every seat is a good seat for singing karaoke. There’s a variety of song choices in many languages for every age and group.
His singing manicurist video appeared on Rachel Ray’s show and he is a regular guest with Mojo In The Morning on Detroit radio station 95.5. A few seconds of Dinh’s first YouTube video also made it onto “Oprah.”
Dinh’s fame has helped with business, as clients visit from near and far, curious to meet him and to sing at his karaoke salon. Others randomly come in for an autograph or photo op. Bridal parties and baby showers also embrace karaoke.
He sings with his clients and to his clients, serenading many a birthday girl (as many as five a day), and acts silly to get newcomers to warm up. “Most of time they act shy at first and I bust out some songs. After a couple songs and drinks I can’t even take the microphone away from them,” he says.
“I love to sing, I love to see people happy every time they’re here. I like to give them a sense of humor and relaxation in a fun way. It’s not just about selling the clients, it’s about making them happy.”
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