Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job" - Idolator Comments

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

Dan Gibson — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:42:09 EDT

@KinetiQ: The store was open 56 hours a week. Thanks for playing though.

Also, he spent two months on the road with Silversun Pickups, so the store was hardly keeping him locked into the LA area.

Dan Gibson

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

Raul23 — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:27:31 EDT

"What, like you can't be nice AND slothlike?"

Seriously.

Raul23

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

KinetiQ — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:26:35 EDT

I wonder what his hours of operation were? Most stores are open around 80 hours a week, and if he doesn't have any employees, that means he has to work those 80 hours not one week but every week. No sick days. No overtime pay.

But yeah, it's not as difficult as sitting in a cubicle all day surfing the internet for 40 hours a week, so I can understand why people would look down on him.

KinetiQ

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

MJ — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 06:49:14 EDT

"Now when customers come in, I'm like, 'Just buy it and leave,' "

Don't worry, when customers get that attitude, then usually do just that. Only, they skip the "buy" part.

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

nonce — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:53:13 EDT

He's not an asshole because he doesn't like retail--he's an asshole because he's in a position to just say "nope, this isn't fun" and stop.

The idea of anyone voluntarily giving up any job gives me heart palpitations. If I could pull in at least 20k a year I'd be willing to do a whole lot more than wear a tie, work weekends, or pretend to like people.

nonce

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

Dan Gibson — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 23:41:58 EDT

@papercoversrock: I don't fault the guy for ditching the store. If it's not fun anymore, go for it, pal. Run for the hills.

That being said, making it sound like running a record store is some traumatic experience, akin to long distance truck driving or something of the sort, is a little tacky, I think.

Dan Gibson

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

papercoversrock — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:58:51 EDT

@DanGibson:
Maybe running this into the ground but: I certainly understand what you're saying. On the other hand, there are plenty of folks in all walks of life who decide they hate their jobs and chuck 'em for entirely new careers.

It's anecdotal, but I know a few. And it wasn't a luxury for any of them, just a hard choice that required debt and regrouping.

papercoversrock

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

Dan Gibson — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 20:08:08 EDT

@papercoversrock: I'm sure he's a decent guy, and certainly any job (outside of being Lil' Wayne) eventually becomes work, but c'mon, I think your pal deserves a little roasting here, especially by anyone who had a job they didn't like in an industry they despised that they didn't have the luxury of walking away from simply because the fun was sucked out.

Dan Gibson

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

niwi — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:33:28 EDT

What, like you can't be nice AND slothlike?

niwi

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

papercoversrock — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:22:27 EDT

It's a bit surprising that the savvy, edgy Idolator commenter crew are just, like, totally amazed when a person finds the job they once loved has turned into drudgery. It's not the first time in the history of the universe this happened.

Todd never said he hates work. He came to hate working _in a music store_, and attributed that in part to the years of working there six or seven days a week. No one should cry for him--and he never asked anyone to--but all the droll superiority is lam0rz.

papercoversrock

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

RepentTokyo — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:09:59 EDT

The guy complains that his job actually entails real work...if he wants to maintain a "nice guy" image, maybe he shouldn't do his best to project a "sloth-like" image...

RepentTokyo

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

michaelpop — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:29:52 EDT

For real, all the haters should back off on calling Todd names. The guy ran a solid operation and was nothing less than delightful in all of my encounters with him. He just got burnt out fighting the good fight against the big boxes and Amoeba. Who here can blame him for that?

michaelpop

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

papercoversrock — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:56:29 EDT

To be fair, I don't think Todd was looking for anyone's sympathy. I think he was answering questions honestly for a stupid "trend" piece, in the financial news mode at least.

As a (former) frequent patron of Sea Level, I might be a little too close to this. But, for the record, it was a great store and Todd's a really nice guy.

papercoversrock

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

Harry_ThaBombShelter — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:33:04 EDT

I agree with having little sympathy for this douche, I think he might be better suited to collecting unemployment checks that seeking out his dream job. I think it would kick ass to own/operate a record store. Look for ThaBombShelter in retail form in like 2040.

Harry_ThaBombShelter

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

Ned Raggett — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:32:51 EDT

@Aquemini: Ya got that right.

Ned Raggett

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

DK10 — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:53:43 EDT

Akron, Ohio's The Lime Spider is one great little venue. You know, for the record.

DK10

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

silkyjumbo — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:51:14 EDT

i've done retail record stores for years (indie and the man). i just left for a job that uses my music knowledge in a different way.

although i don't missing pretending to like josh groban, i do miss acting superior to customers because my tastes are infinitely cooler.

certainly this guy will miss that part.

silkyjumbo

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

blackmailismylife — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:33:57 EDT

@beta.rogan: Also, holidays! Like all of them!

blackmailismylife

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

Bazooka Tooth — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:32:21 EDT

I feel no sympathy for anyone associated with Silversun Pickups.

Bazooka Tooth

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

Dan Gibson — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:31:14 EDT

@baconfat: You're right. I should issue a correction, really. OSHA just released the annual "Most Dangerous Lines of Employment" survey, and "owner, hipster record store" was at number five; right between "fisherman, commercial" and "refuse collector".

Dan Gibson

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

blackmailismylife — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:29:25 EDT

@baconfat: Seconded. Except now I'm supposed to read all of these blogs for work. This is supposed to feel more like a job than it does I guess.

blackmailismylife

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

beta.rogan — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:28:06 EDT

I think anyone who's worked in retail for more than 5 minutes learns to hate the customer. It's a natural reaction to low pay, combined with lots of weekend hours.

beta.rogan

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

RepentTokyo — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:26:00 EDT

are we supposed to feel sorry for this asshole?

RepentTokyo

Record Store Owners Finding Chosen Occupation To Be Remarkably Similar To A "Job"

baconfat — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:17:26 EDT

I totally know how that guy feels. Thankfully, I remedied my situation and got myself a job which allows me to troll music-biz blogs for up to 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Couldn't do that at the record store. Ah, sweet freedom!

baconfat