Why did you chose this career at Katzin?
I think the moment I knew I wanted to do something in music was when I was in my band in highschool. I played the drums for years and I was a member of this one band, we played rock music ya know, eighties stuff. And I just loved doing it, rockin out with my friends. It wasn't until my early twenties when I started working here, that's when I learned how to repair instruments.
Was that when you knew you were in the right job?
Yea I'd say that was it. To be honest, I didn't think it was the ideal job, I was just doing it cause my family owned the place; it was convenient. Back then we got more business so we knew most of the people that came in. The people started to grow on me and eventually the store did too. I really liked it here, and I still do. Um, I guess you could say I found my calling working here, so I decided to just keep doing it.
What do you like most about working here?
What I like most is the people. I'm a very social person so when I get to talk to the customers, mainly the ones I've met before, it makes my day better. And helping people fix their guitar or whatever instrument they need fixing, it gives me a purpose to be there. I like being the person who makes life easier for other people and I feel that that's what we all do here. Of course you're going to meet people who aren't kind or who are just straight-up rude, but you just try to deal with them the best way you can. I've had plenty of those customers. They come in and ask if we have like a part to an instrument or some weird music device and we may know that we don't carry it, but we'd still check to make certain of it. And a lot of the time when this happened, they would get so impatient and say that we should have it or something silly like that. They're the annoying ones I gotta admit, and they make working in a place like this difficult. But I chose to work here, being the manager I take a lot of crap from people, that's what comes with the job.
What are some goals you have set for the future?
Some goals... Well I'm older now so goals are things that I have to actually be realistic about. One goal is to get that soda machine out of here and get a new one with healthy drinks in it. Hahah. No, but I do want to learn to play the guitar. Ya know I figure that since I work on them and I know everything about them, I should know how to play. Plus I could be one of those cool guys who plays the drums and the guitar. And I think that getting settled is another goal. I am pretty settled down already, like I don't plan to move anywhere or anything, but at my age I really want stability, that's really important to me.
What are some pieces of advice you would give someone interested in your field?
Well, I wouldn't tell them to do what I did. I mean everyone needs to find out what they want to do themselves and that usually doesn't happen until you've had personal experiences. Mine aren't very interesting, but I'd tell someone to go to school and see where that takes them. I didn't go to school and things worked out for me just fine, but that's not guaranteeing that it will for anybody. So, go to college, stay there for a bit until you know what it is you want to do and it'll get you somewhere.
I think the moment I knew I wanted to do something in music was when I was in my band in highschool. I played the drums for years and I was a member of this one band, we played rock music ya know, eighties stuff. And I just loved doing it, rockin out with my friends. It wasn't until my early twenties when I started working here, that's when I learned how to repair instruments.
Was that when you knew you were in the right job?
Yea I'd say that was it. To be honest, I didn't think it was the ideal job, I was just doing it cause my family owned the place; it was convenient. Back then we got more business so we knew most of the people that came in. The people started to grow on me and eventually the store did too. I really liked it here, and I still do. Um, I guess you could say I found my calling working here, so I decided to just keep doing it.
What do you like most about working here?
What I like most is the people. I'm a very social person so when I get to talk to the customers, mainly the ones I've met before, it makes my day better. And helping people fix their guitar or whatever instrument they need fixing, it gives me a purpose to be there. I like being the person who makes life easier for other people and I feel that that's what we all do here. Of course you're going to meet people who aren't kind or who are just straight-up rude, but you just try to deal with them the best way you can. I've had plenty of those customers. They come in and ask if we have like a part to an instrument or some weird music device and we may know that we don't carry it, but we'd still check to make certain of it. And a lot of the time when this happened, they would get so impatient and say that we should have it or something silly like that. They're the annoying ones I gotta admit, and they make working in a place like this difficult. But I chose to work here, being the manager I take a lot of crap from people, that's what comes with the job.
What are some goals you have set for the future?
Some goals... Well I'm older now so goals are things that I have to actually be realistic about. One goal is to get that soda machine out of here and get a new one with healthy drinks in it. Hahah. No, but I do want to learn to play the guitar. Ya know I figure that since I work on them and I know everything about them, I should know how to play. Plus I could be one of those cool guys who plays the drums and the guitar. And I think that getting settled is another goal. I am pretty settled down already, like I don't plan to move anywhere or anything, but at my age I really want stability, that's really important to me.
What are some pieces of advice you would give someone interested in your field?
Well, I wouldn't tell them to do what I did. I mean everyone needs to find out what they want to do themselves and that usually doesn't happen until you've had personal experiences. Mine aren't very interesting, but I'd tell someone to go to school and see where that takes them. I didn't go to school and things worked out for me just fine, but that's not guaranteeing that it will for anybody. So, go to college, stay there for a bit until you know what it is you want to do and it'll get you somewhere.