Going back to the start of this thread (bass cellar), at the top of >some< of these companies are people who don't play instruments, don't know a thing about them. But they do see us musos as way of making money. So, with them being greedy people but with no idea about music, they have to employ some staff. Is it any wonder they get it wrong? And end up with arrogant twits who wouldn't survive in a more switched on environment. And because they love music (not), what's the chance of them reading the stuff that's on the web about them?
There was a Hi Fi and instrument exchange shop in notting hill that was the pinnacle of bad attitude. When, a few years back, you googled them, you got one entry for the shop, and ten about how nasty the staff were.
So, society's attitude to musicians has moved on to the point where we aren't third class citizens (probably because there is serious money to be made, as opposed to better music teaching in schools), but tin pan alley (Demark St and the likes) is still stuck in the 1940's!
Reminds me of a story about a big bookshop near there. When interviewing for staff they'd ask what subjects the cadidates where interested in (they were often part time students). If they got the job they would be put in any department other than that which interested them- 'just in case they started reading the books'...
The bookshop would also dismiss staff before they had completed six months, so they couldn't go to an employment tribunal.
This explains why none of the staff could help you find a book, and, if you went back a year later, you wouldn't see the same staff.
I'm a big fan of the Bass Gallery, I get all my repairs, set-ups and spares from them- I have an idea that they actually like music, and bass guitars, and even us people who play them!
Nite All.
