End of another phase of my life
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 2:06 pm
Ya know...as if dealing with Mother Natures bitchy moods, and moving (we are moving to St. Catharines in Sept.) ain't enough excitement for me, sometimes the world just smacks ya upside the head.
The day I never wanted to happen, finally happened. I am no longer working as a guitar tech in my local shop, Guitars 'n Amps.
No, I did nothing wrong. We were simply a victim of a lousy economy and an inexplicable drop off in interest in guitars and gear generally. Apparently, we're not alone and we join a growing list of "music" shops which have closed their doors. Particularly hard hit have been piano dealers followed very closely by guitar shops. It appears to be a wide spread phenomenon according to our sales reps, and no one seems to know why.
Online sales have had something to do with it, but that doesn't account for everything, and even that has trailed off. No, it seems as though the physical act and effort and dedication required to learn to play an actual instrument is just too damned hard for this smart-phone-tethered, and instant-gratification-on-demand generation. It's easier to play the bloody phone I guess.
The owner, Bob, has been struggling for a long time and just today finally announced that he's liquidating and moving on. He can finally leave all the stress and aggravation behind. It has been brutal. I have watched the business change dramatically in my 4+ years there, from 3 of us being rushed off our feet, to swatting the occasional fly to relieve boredom. Even restrings have all but evaporated. Just a head shaker.
I am happy for Bob, who was diagnosed about 2 years a go with Multiple Sclerosis. He's been dealing with that reality while attempting to keep the business breathing. I have done what I could to assist but in the end it was his baby and his passion that started the thing, and his sweat and stress that kept it going this long, beyond all hope really.
The action was not unexpected. I have known for some time that he was going to shut down. It was just a matter of time. But I was selfishly hoping I could hang on to the end of this month as a kind of neat closure, and then concentrate on my move.
Still, I'm grateful for the opportunity he gave me and for his support and comradery over the years. I learned and experienced much. It was a great ride. It all will be greatly missed.
The day I never wanted to happen, finally happened. I am no longer working as a guitar tech in my local shop, Guitars 'n Amps.
No, I did nothing wrong. We were simply a victim of a lousy economy and an inexplicable drop off in interest in guitars and gear generally. Apparently, we're not alone and we join a growing list of "music" shops which have closed their doors. Particularly hard hit have been piano dealers followed very closely by guitar shops. It appears to be a wide spread phenomenon according to our sales reps, and no one seems to know why.
Online sales have had something to do with it, but that doesn't account for everything, and even that has trailed off. No, it seems as though the physical act and effort and dedication required to learn to play an actual instrument is just too damned hard for this smart-phone-tethered, and instant-gratification-on-demand generation. It's easier to play the bloody phone I guess.
The owner, Bob, has been struggling for a long time and just today finally announced that he's liquidating and moving on. He can finally leave all the stress and aggravation behind. It has been brutal. I have watched the business change dramatically in my 4+ years there, from 3 of us being rushed off our feet, to swatting the occasional fly to relieve boredom. Even restrings have all but evaporated. Just a head shaker.
I am happy for Bob, who was diagnosed about 2 years a go with Multiple Sclerosis. He's been dealing with that reality while attempting to keep the business breathing. I have done what I could to assist but in the end it was his baby and his passion that started the thing, and his sweat and stress that kept it going this long, beyond all hope really.
The action was not unexpected. I have known for some time that he was going to shut down. It was just a matter of time. But I was selfishly hoping I could hang on to the end of this month as a kind of neat closure, and then concentrate on my move.
Still, I'm grateful for the opportunity he gave me and for his support and comradery over the years. I learned and experienced much. It was a great ride. It all will be greatly missed.
