3l3phantstomp said:
why not!? should I at least get a body that fits a neck? or just a body? how do most people start on a project bass, also what tools will I need? drill probably. Some good screw drivers. my roomate has a soldering iron I can use.
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I want to work at a music store
- Thread starter free_Bassd
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why not!? should I at least get a body that fits a neck? or just a body? how do most people start on a project bass, also what tools will I need? drill probably. Some good screw drivers. my roomate has a soldering iron I can use.
How are your people skills? The Guitar Center I used to shop at had quite a few really nice people working there who may not have known everything in the world about bass gear, but they treated you right and were always friendly.
By contrast, I would stop in my locally owned independent music store where they had people who DID know everything in the world about bass gear. All those guys were jerks and acted like I was infringing on ancient Native American burial grounds when I stepped in the front door. So yeah, I did my shopping at GC.
-Mike
By contrast, I would stop in my locally owned independent music store where they had people who DID know everything in the world about bass gear. All those guys were jerks and acted like I was infringing on ancient Native American burial grounds when I stepped in the front door. So yeah, I did my shopping at GC.
-Mike
Keep your current job. Get a part-time evening job at a music store. This will help you get a foot in the door. Then decide.
MJ5150 said:
I'm definitely very outgoing. I have no problems talking with complete strangers about any topic. especially if it is music related! I generally am non confrontational, so I'm pretty good at dealing with angry or unreasonable people, which my friends tell me that there are a lot of in the retail world
geeza said:
that's what I'm asking. how do I get that "part-time evening job at a music store". I'll have to keep my job til the new fiscal year, but I would like to phase it out and have something set up for August.
1. Go to music store
2. Ask for manager
3. Ask if he has any open part-time evening positions
4. Fill out application
2. Ask for manager
3. Ask if he has any open part-time evening positions
4. Fill out application
geeza said:
I figured it would be kinda like that. I just figured the same thing as everyone else, it's hard as hell to get keep them from wading it up and throwing it in the trash can hahaha
Just be aware that if you actually want to play music for other people, a music store may not the best option for a day job and in fact could put a serious crimp in your marketability as a performing musician.
The drummer in our band works in a music store. He's only been in the band since March and he's already had to miss a couple of gigs cause he couldn't get off work and has let us know he's out of commission for the whole 1st half of September cause that's when his store is "all hands on deck" servicing the music depts for all the area schools. So that's another 3 or 4 gigs he's gonna miss and I guarantee at least a couple of them would have paid him more than he's gonna make working in the music store that day.
Music stores (and other retail employers) often do much of their business on evenings and weekends which is precisely when a band would need you most as well. So there's a pretty serious potential conflict inherent there which you don't run into if you're doing a straight Mon-Fri 9-5 type of deal.
The drummer in our band works in a music store. He's only been in the band since March and he's already had to miss a couple of gigs cause he couldn't get off work and has let us know he's out of commission for the whole 1st half of September cause that's when his store is "all hands on deck" servicing the music depts for all the area schools. So that's another 3 or 4 gigs he's gonna miss and I guarantee at least a couple of them would have paid him more than he's gonna make working in the music store that day.
Music stores (and other retail employers) often do much of their business on evenings and weekends which is precisely when a band would need you most as well. So there's a pretty serious potential conflict inherent there which you don't run into if you're doing a straight Mon-Fri 9-5 type of deal.
+1 to any advice that involves a part-time music job in addition to whatever career path you might be on.
If you are willing to relocate send off some resumes to bigger online/mail order places. We are always hiring qualified sales people and after some time you can make really nice money. I worked at a local mom and pop for 4 years. I loved what I did but I couldn't afford my bills let alone all the toys I got to stare at every day. Retail hours aren't band friendly either as mentioned previously. My current gig is 9-5 no weekends. Music Stores have been dying a slow death for some time. If you can find one with enough business to hire a new person even part time consider yourself lucky, and broke.
There's always GC. People don't tend to last there very long though. And they aren't in much better shape now than mom and pop even if they are partly responsible for ma and pa's demise.
There's always GC. People don't tend to last there very long though. And they aren't in much better shape now than mom and pop even if they are partly responsible for ma and pa's demise.
Unrepresented
Something Borderline Offensive
MJ5150 said:Check out the job offer a few posts up. There is your "in" someone said you had to have.
-Mike
I can't re-locate :/ at least not yet. not saying I wouldn't like to, the band has to break up and the girlfriend has to leave me first :/ haha
I don't really consider working in a music store any more related to the music industry than in selling stereos. Sure, there is a romantic notion to working around instruments and other musicians, and there is plenty of potential for networking, but the reality is you're working for commission, under pressure from floor managers that are pushing the hard sell and focussing on whatever ads are out, and you just might have to curb or at least bend your ethics against recommending certain pieces of gear simply because it's numbers first, opinions second. You're only going to get so far in a big chain by being 100% honest about a crap piece of gear that's on sale.
At the end of the day you can be motivated and knowledgeable and whip smart and friendly but if you aren't selling anything you are toast unless you own / run the joint.
Where you are now you are learning the building blocks of a lifelong specialized career, vs. being, simply, a salesman. Sure, that is an art that I dare not disparage and a profession unto itself, that can be taken to a bunch of different environments, but I somehow don't think this is your reason for getting into it.
Good luck either way.
At the end of the day you can be motivated and knowledgeable and whip smart and friendly but if you aren't selling anything you are toast unless you own / run the joint.
Where you are now you are learning the building blocks of a lifelong specialized career, vs. being, simply, a salesman. Sure, that is an art that I dare not disparage and a profession unto itself, that can be taken to a bunch of different environments, but I somehow don't think this is your reason for getting into it.
Good luck either way.
free_Bassd said:
Well, tough choices have to be made to pursue a career. I wouldn't give up those things to work in a music store, but you seem really committed to doing so.
-Mike
If you get the job, promise me you won't tell me what kind of gear you use, when I ask you questions.
Especially strings.
I really don't want to know what kind of strings the guy at the music store has on his guitar or bass.
Especially strings.
I really don't want to know what kind of strings the guy at the music store has on his guitar or bass.
For a noob, looking at a wall of unknown brands and options, sometimes this advice can be very helpful until there is enough personal experience to form their own opinion.
I've been a bass and guitar player for long enough to know EXACTLY what I want and don't want. However, when it comes to drums, I know next to nothing. When my 7-year-old daughter broke the snare head on the POS kit I had recently picked up for cheap, I had very little clue about what a decent repalcement would be. The friendly sales-slug behind the drum counter at my local GC recommended his "favorite" (which could be what he's been instructed to push by management), and I bought it. When it comes time to replace it, I'll try something else. By then, I might have a better idea about what fits my needs best. As far as my noob-drummer ears can tell, the new snare head is just fine, and I'm satisfied with my shopping experience.
