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So I quit my job at Mesa/Boogie... really.

Benjamin Strange

Benjamin Strange

Commercial User
Dec 25, 2002
9,737
310
49
New Orleans, LA
www.ufodeathcult.com
Disclosures
Owner / Tech: Strange Guitarworks
#1
Yes, friends, hell hath frozen over. I quit my job at Mesa. This has got to be one of the hardest decisions I've ever made, and I'm still feeling a little conflicted about it. I received another job offer (I wasn't even looking; it just happened), which will pay me 30% more, with 25% less hours, and 100% less commute. Many, many factors went into this decision, and I've agonized over this for two weeks, almost non-stop. I've been losing sleep, which is not good considering I wake up at 4:45AM to get to work every day.

The fact is, my life has been changing alot in the past two years, and I feel that I'm not ready to put 100% of my energy into Boogie. It's like those near death experiences people have; they die, go to heaven, and Jesus tells them it's not their time. There's too many things that I have to do as a human being before I can settle myself into Boogie, and I have to do those things now while I'm young or else I'll never do them. I thought I could handle all this while employed at Mesa, but the truth is I can't. This new job will afford me the time and money to do what I must, and will also put me back into doing what I do best: help people with their music.

I wasn't doing what I wanted to do at Boogie, either. I interviewed for a Divisional Sales Manager position; I was given a job on the factory floor. True, they were putting me there with a notion of teaching me the ropes for the possible position of one in customer service, but when pressed they didnt' know when or if that was going to happen. I've wanted to be at Boogie for so long, and I've been interviewed now 4 times over the last 7 years - which is a pretty big deal considering that the average guy has been there close to 10 years. But after being turned down 4 times for some reason or another, I'm feeling a little slighted, especially considering that what I'm doing there is fairly mindless.

So, yeah, I quit what I thought would be my dream gig. I think that I will go back someday, once I get comfortable with my life. All those guys were so cool with me, I feel like I'm letting them down, but I've got to do what a boy's got to do.

Hold me, brothers. I weep. :bawl:
 
#4
Gotta do what you gotta do. The job at Boogie has been a learning experience i'm sure. I don't really know what to say-just be glad you're following your heart and have the opportunity to.

Take it easy and be glad you're doing what you feel is right.
 
#9
You did what wa right for you. Mesa will somehow overcome the loss, and all will be well. :) You gave appropriate notice and quit in a proffesional way I'm sure, so I think you can feel OK about the whole thing.
 
#11
Ben for what it's worth, I know how you feel. I landed what I thought was going to be my dream job once, working for the Aussie importer/distributor of Music Man among other things. I'm as big a MM nut as you are with Boogie.

I only lasted 3 months. without going into specifics, lets just say it wasn't anything like I thought it would be. Even still, it's tough decision to make and I also lost a lot of sleep over it.

12 months later and I'm convinced I made the right decision.

What's the new job?
 
#13
Thanks for all the love, guys. I'm feeling pretty down about this whole thing.

The new gig is a music store half a block from my house. I will walk out of my house at 10:59:30AM, and be at work by 11AM. I will save over $3000 a year on gas and tolls alone by not commuting, and I will be gaining 18 hours a week to focus on other things. I can walk home to eat on my lunch breaks, and I will have plenty of time for recording and gigs, which are starting to pick up pretty heavy with the new band. I will be selling my car, so I don't have to worry about getting parking tickets anymore, and may put the car money towards a new Warr.

I'm going to try to keep my relationship good with Boogie, but I feel that my quitting this early in the game may affect how I'm viewed there, consciously or not. Perhaps if I get famous enough I can get on their artist roster...
 
#14
Benjamin Strange said:
I'm going to try to keep my relationship good with Boogie, but I feel that my quitting this early in the game may affect how I'm viewed there, consciously or not.
Click to expand...

No you did the right thing by them. If you cant make working there a priority because it eats into your other activities, then you will go to work and do a half-assed job, they are better off without you working if you arn't enjoying the work.

Also, commuting that long to work will make you tired etc, which means you quality may drop. All things considered, you are doing them a favour getting out early when you realise its not right for you vs staying for a while and they "waste" the money on training etc.

If they are smart they will realise that you did both you and Mesa Boogie a favour by getting out early if your heart's not in it 100% at the momement.
 
#15
Benjamin Strange said:
The new gig is a music store half a block from my house. I will walk out of my house at 10:59:30AM, and be at work by 11AM. I will save over $3000 a year on gas and tolls alone by not commuting, and I will be gaining 18 hours a week to focus on other things. I can walk home to eat on my lunch breaks, and I will have plenty of time for recording and gigs, which are starting to pick up pretty heavy with the new band. I will be selling my car, so I don't have to worry about getting parking tickets anymore, and may put the car money towards a new Warr.
Click to expand...
Wow... that's a neat job, man. Congratulations.
 
#18
Benjamin,

I don't know you that well, or I would've PM'd you when you first took the Mesa job. I lasted about 6 weeks at Fender, and it broke me up leaving at the time. The circumstances were very similar to yours, although I probably had a little more interesting job. I had no time for an actual life, and I hated driving 3+ hours a day, just commuting.

I hooked up with my wife almost as soon as I quit, and now know that I made the right move. Factory work requires a certain mindset, which isn't one I want to have at this point in my life. I'm sure you will flourish in your new gig, and be a happier, more creative guy for it.

best of luck,

----------------Charlie Escher
 
#20
Ben,
Ditto on what the other guys said. I commute about 1 1/2 hours a day and I am constantly thinking about that time being wasted when I could do so many other things with it. If I could make more money, walk across the street to work and be working at something I enjoy I would jump on it. Good Luck!
 

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