Comments on: The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Socks Off http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/ A Guy Called Fitzgerald Thu, 17 May 2012 11:10:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: I Prefer The Obscure http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-107772 I Prefer The Obscure Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:09:47 +0000 http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-107772 I'd love to have seen the sign. I can only imagine the sheer ignorance of it! I'd say we could swap some great record store stories Ronan. It's a bizarre environment, no matter what side of the counter you inhabit. I didn't realise how much of a rant I had gone on, until I saw it there now. This little comment box is rather deceptive in size. Maybe it should have a limit for 'ranters' like myself. :) I’d love to have seen the sign. I can only imagine the sheer ignorance of it! I’d say we could swap some great record store stories Ronan. It’s a bizarre environment, no matter what side of the counter you inhabit. I didn’t realise how much of a rant I had gone on, until I saw it there now. This little comment box is rather deceptive in size. Maybe it should have a limit for ‘ranters’ like myself.
:)

]]> By: Ronan http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-103799 Ronan Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:13:10 +0000 http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-103799 Now how can I follow that post up! Well, at this time of night anyway, great post! You might find <a href="http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2007/02/10/the-visible-tumor-of-the-dying-record-store/" rel="nofollow">this post</a> from last year interesting, the photo is gone unfortunately but it was a really narky sign by the decks. Now how can I follow that post up! Well, at this time of night anyway, great post!

You might find this post from last year interesting, the photo is gone unfortunately but it was a really narky sign by the decks.

]]> By: I Prefer The Obscure http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-103790 I Prefer The Obscure Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:03:56 +0000 http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-103790 Jeez, Ronan I could write a thesis on this subject. And a very interesting post indeed. The whole idea is to spark debate and create dialogue, which this certainly has. I have lived this very debate for a good 15 years. I've been buying music for nearly 20 years, and I spent 12 years in music retail. It's a double edged sword really. I buy vinyl from stores and online. I still buy a few CD's but generally get them sent to me, and I've a subscription to eMusic for downloads. I love buying music, I love music! Full stop. I debate the subject quite a bit, with friends, family, strangers, whoever. Everybody has an opinion, and generally a different take on the subject. I'm a massive techno fan, but equally, indie, electronica, folk, etc. For me, there's only one kind of music, good music. Some music makes me happy, some sad, some I want to dance to, others I want to fall asleep to. It's all music, and my mood determines what I want generally. I started as a part-time assistant in Freebird while at college, moving on to Tower Recs full-time as a buyer, then on to manage the Dublin branch of Disque, then over to look after the London branch of Disque, before coming back to Dublin to take on the chain of Music City's in Dublin. A steady rise and fall, depending on your viewpoint. I've seen it all really. The beautiful customers that have become friends, the horrible punters that had staff members in tears, the obnoxious staff that didn't know the meaning of the term 'customer service'. I've seen the scams, on both sides of the counter, I could go on, and on. The advent of online buying has really opened the door for people that felt intimidated by the 'independent store' shopping experience. That is a good thing, as it has created competition, and has made retailers re-evaluate their values and services. Good quality stock, excellent customer experience, and a healthy, positive shopping experience is what we should all be entitled to now, or expect. But you also have to remember, not every member of the general public is a model customer. To put it simply, these people sometimes ruin it for everyone. It only takes one to put a whole team of staff in awful form on a Saturday. I see both sides of the argument, and i can sympathise with both really. I do feel that retail is a vocation, and people must have the right manner and temperament. It's not enough to just know a bit about music. Some of the best staff I ever had knew nothing about music, but they picked it up quickly, and most importantly, they listened to the shoppers. I've had every insult thrown at me by customers, and I've been threatened physically. You never know who is going to walk through your door. I've had to call the cops, I've had to call the ambulance. There were days I worked 16 hours straight, and i totally loved it. The last person that walked in the door was treated like the first that morning, and they were treated equally whether they spent €1 or €100. All I can say is I wish I had been treated the same by the general public, but then one lovely customer restores all normality. But I love to shop for records. In London, Glasgow, New York, Berlin, everywhere. I love the anonymity, but also I like it when i pop into Road or Spindizzy, or City Discs, and someone somewhere has put a record by for me because they thought I might like it. I know I'm ranting, and being a bit sentimental, but it's only since March '07 that I stopped working in music retail. Twelve long years without a Saturday off, without a free weekend. With no Christmas holidays, or Bank holidays. As I said, it's a vocation, and not everybody is cut out for it. I now like going to record stores on a Saturday, and paying my respects. And at the end of the day, it's all about the music. That one piece of vinyl that sends a shiver up your spine, and puts a cheeky grin on your face. You feel like you've finally found something that you've always been looking for. And if that one piece of vinyl was found in a second hand store, online, or handed over the counter to you by some arrogant kid sneering at you because you've chosen a record he doesn't rate, well who cares! You'll have forgotten about him or where you got it long before the needle wears the record out and you need to go back for another copy (as I had to do on numerous occasions with UR003). Long live music.... Jeez, Ronan I could write a thesis on this subject. And a very interesting post indeed. The whole idea is to spark debate and create dialogue, which this certainly has. I have lived this very debate for a good 15 years. I’ve been buying music for nearly 20 years, and I spent 12 years in music retail. It’s a double edged sword really. I buy vinyl from stores and online. I still buy a few CD’s but generally get them sent to me, and I’ve a subscription to eMusic for downloads. I love buying music, I love music! Full stop. I debate the subject quite a bit, with friends, family, strangers, whoever. Everybody has an opinion, and generally a different take on the subject. I’m a massive techno fan, but equally, indie, electronica, folk, etc. For me, there’s only one kind of music, good music. Some music makes me happy, some sad, some I want to dance to, others I want to fall asleep to. It’s all music, and my mood determines what I want generally.
I started as a part-time assistant in Freebird while at college, moving on to Tower Recs full-time as a buyer, then on to manage the Dublin branch of Disque, then over to look after the London branch of Disque, before coming back to Dublin to take on the chain of Music City’s in Dublin. A steady rise and fall, depending on your viewpoint. I’ve seen it all really. The beautiful customers that have become friends, the horrible punters that had staff members in tears, the obnoxious staff that didn’t know the meaning of the term ‘customer service’. I’ve seen the scams, on both sides of the counter, I could go on, and on. The advent of online buying has really opened the door for people that felt intimidated by the ‘independent store’ shopping experience. That is a good thing, as it has created competition, and has made retailers re-evaluate their values and services. Good quality stock, excellent customer experience, and a healthy, positive shopping experience is what we should all be entitled to now, or expect. But you also have to remember, not every member of the general public is a model customer. To put it simply, these people sometimes ruin it for everyone. It only takes one to put a whole team of staff in awful form on a Saturday. I see both sides of the argument, and i can sympathise with both really. I do feel that retail is a vocation, and people must have the right manner and temperament. It’s not enough to just know a bit about music. Some of the best staff I ever had knew nothing about music, but they picked it up quickly, and most importantly, they listened to the shoppers. I’ve had every insult thrown at me by customers, and I’ve been threatened physically. You never know who is going to walk through your door. I’ve had to call the cops, I’ve had to call the ambulance. There were days I worked 16 hours straight, and i totally loved it. The last person that walked in the door was treated like the first that morning, and they were treated equally whether they spent €1 or €100. All I can say is I wish I had been treated the same by the general public, but then one lovely customer restores all normality. But I love to shop for records. In London, Glasgow, New York, Berlin, everywhere. I love the anonymity, but also I like it when i pop into Road or Spindizzy, or City Discs, and someone somewhere has put a record by for me because they thought I might like it. I know I’m ranting, and being a bit sentimental, but it’s only since March ‘07 that I stopped working in music retail. Twelve long years without a Saturday off, without a free weekend. With no Christmas holidays, or Bank holidays. As I said, it’s a vocation, and not everybody is cut out for it. I now like going to record stores on a Saturday, and paying my respects. And at the end of the day, it’s all about the music. That one piece of vinyl that sends a shiver up your spine, and puts a cheeky grin on your face. You feel like you’ve finally found something that you’ve always been looking for. And if that one piece of vinyl was found in a second hand store, online, or handed over the counter to you by some arrogant kid sneering at you because you’ve chosen a record he doesn’t rate, well who cares! You’ll have forgotten about him or where you got it long before the needle wears the record out and you need to go back for another copy (as I had to do on numerous occasions with UR003). Long live music….

]]> By: marc http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-103718 marc Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:44:34 +0000 http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-103718 @tiddlerz: Well, check the RA listings for the dates you're here, but decent clubs would be Love, Cielo (better on a week night though, Monday's for Deep Space), Studio B, and Sullivan Room. @tiddlerz: Well, check the RA listings for the dates you’re here, but decent clubs would be Love, Cielo (better on a week night though, Monday’s for Deep Space), Studio B, and Sullivan Room.

]]> By: Kenny http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-103494 Kenny Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:06:32 +0000 http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-103494 Interesting post. I understand the awkwardness that can be felt in some shops, and i think some of it can even be down to the layout - ones where you are lined up infront of the staff i don't like - but I nearly always go through my pile a few times. Another issue can be if the records aren't actually on the shelves and you have to get the staff to get them, cause some, quite ignorantly, can make it feel like its a chore when its their fucking job! I don't care about ignoring the recommendations of the staff, especially if i don't know them. Once you get to know the staff in a good friendly shop it can be a great advantage though, some gems you may never have heard are thrown your way and its this what is missing online. Though, say, Clone do have the "other buyers bought this" but who's taste are really that similar y'know. It can also depend on what time you head in at. In a shop where you meet mates etc its good craic on maybe the friday evenings when your chatting and passing records between each other "think you might like this one and so on" but its great - if possible - to get in say just when the shop opens, or if its open on a sunday, basically when its nice and quiet. you can take your time listening to stuff and you never feel the need to rush. The discomfort of thinking you HAVE to buy something too is something i've just learnt to get over. Its just not worth the money. From knowing people working in shops I understand that it can be frustrating when people come in, man handle a tonne of records badly, and repeatedly purchase nothing - i know of people who used a shop to listen to stuff and would then go off and buy it online - but if you have some respect for their product, they will be more understanding and have more time for you. personally when i'm done I'll go and try and put everything back tidily in the section it came from. The main bonus is you get to hear the record all the way through properly, on the final product version. not some shit lowgrade digital file ,like some online shops do, instead of the higher end mp3. Call me old fashioned, but its just part of the vinyl culture I love. I don't really have a "local" store these days, where i can head in for an hour or 2, and just fish around the racks, and I really miss it. I'm already looking forward to my next trip back to it, as it really was one of my favourite pastimes - bar actually messing with the records when i get home... Though increasingly many shops just don't offer enough variety and product for me (and others) as they can't afford to stock as much anymore due to less people buying - which is a double edged sword, its pushing more people on-line, but obviously isn't worth the risk if alot of stock doesn't sell.So I have to move online to get what I want - as also, many shops are still brutal at getting in specific items for you! (when will they learn :) ) thats my 2 cents anyways... Interesting post. I understand the awkwardness that can be felt in some shops, and i think some of it can even be down to the layout - ones where you are lined up infront of the staff i don’t like - but I nearly always go through my pile a few times.

Another issue can be if the records aren’t actually on the shelves and you have to get the staff to get them, cause some, quite ignorantly, can make it feel like its a chore when its their fucking job! I don’t care about ignoring the recommendations of the staff, especially if i don’t know them. Once you get to know the staff in a good friendly shop it can be a great advantage though, some gems you may never have heard are thrown your way and its this what is missing online. Though, say, Clone do have the “other buyers bought this” but who’s taste are really that similar y’know.

It can also depend on what time you head in at. In a shop where you meet mates etc its good craic on maybe the friday evenings when your chatting and passing records between each other “think you might like this one and so on” but its great - if possible - to get in say just when the shop opens, or if its open on a sunday, basically when its nice and quiet. you can take your time listening to stuff and you never feel the need to rush.

The discomfort of thinking you HAVE to buy something too is something i’ve just learnt to get over. Its just not worth the money. From knowing people working in shops I understand that it can be frustrating when people come in, man handle a tonne of records badly, and repeatedly purchase nothing - i know of people who used a shop to listen to stuff and would then go off and buy it online - but if you have some respect for their product, they will be more understanding and have more time for you. personally when i’m done I’ll go and try and put everything back tidily in the section it came from.

The main bonus is you get to hear the record all the way through properly, on the final product version. not some shit lowgrade digital file ,like some online shops do, instead of the higher end mp3.

Call me old fashioned, but its just part of the vinyl culture I love. I don’t really have a “local” store these days, where i can head in for an hour or 2, and just fish around the racks, and I really miss it. I’m already looking forward to my next trip back to it, as it really was one of my favourite pastimes - bar actually messing with the records when i get home…

Though increasingly many shops just don’t offer enough variety and product for me (and others) as they can’t afford to stock as much anymore due to less people buying - which is a double edged sword, its pushing more people on-line, but obviously isn’t worth the risk if alot of stock doesn’t sell.So I have to move online to get what I want - as also, many shops are still brutal at getting in specific items for you! (when will they learn :) )

thats my 2 cents anyways…

]]> By: Bee En Juan http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-103039 Bee En Juan Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:58:26 +0000 http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-103039 Some good points from John, I agree the relationship that you build up with shop staff is one that can't really be replicated on the net. The staff gain an understanding of your musical tastes and can point you in the direction of great music you otherwise would have missed. Record stores were also a way when I was starting to dj to meet other djs and people who were interested in similar music. I learnt a lot this way when I was starting, and I've met some great people this way over the years. A few years ago things reached the point where it was cheaper for me to buy house and techno on the net, with much more variety available. For awhile I did both (feeling a little guilty when ordering something I could have got at the local shop - albiet for $5 more). House and techno aren't big here so unfortunately the record stores catering for this music have all gone. Luckily there are still some great shops left so I can both have the enjoyment of going record shopping and the variety and price advantages of buying online. Some good points from John, I agree the relationship that you build up with shop staff is one that can’t really be replicated on the net. The staff gain an understanding of your musical tastes and can point you in the direction of great music you otherwise would have missed.

Record stores were also a way when I was starting to dj to meet other djs and people who were interested in similar music. I learnt a lot this way when I was starting, and I’ve met some great people this way over the years.

A few years ago things reached the point where it was cheaper for me to buy house and techno on the net, with much more variety available. For awhile I did both (feeling a little guilty when ordering something I could have got at the local shop - albiet for $5 more). House and techno aren’t big here so unfortunately the record stores catering for this music have all gone. Luckily there are still some great shops left so I can both have the enjoyment of going record shopping and the variety and price advantages of buying online.

]]> By: James http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-102955 James Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:02:30 +0000 http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-102955 Agreed, its been a while since I purchased vinyl, but since using serato etc its brought me back to eventually get wax again with digi when I eventually "earn".. I enjoy both formats of shopping, though yes some shops do give off that vibe but its also a personal thing, its like a clothes shop, theres a good chance u may feel a slight fool when dealing with the staff... Regards clubs, well, personally and this is taking up on the people at clubs, is the increase of c+k?d up people on the floor, people in and out of the toilets etc.... really annoying Agreed, its been a while since I purchased vinyl, but since using serato etc its brought me back to eventually get wax again with digi when I eventually “earn”.. I enjoy both formats of shopping, though yes some shops do give off that vibe but its also a personal thing, its like a clothes shop, theres a good chance u may feel a slight fool when dealing with the staff…

Regards clubs, well, personally and this is taking up on the people at clubs, is the increase of c+k?d up people on the floor, people in and out of the toilets etc…. really annoying

]]> By: John Osborn http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-102774 John Osborn Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:24:44 +0000 http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-102774 Sure its a personal thing, and yes you can find some cool stuff online, I actually placed an order 5 mins ago with Juno!, but often i find that my online orders are for stuff thats 'older' and my local store has sold out of copies. I also think it has something to do with age and having time. I have to admit that in the days of fat cat records (londons phonica of the early 90s!) I was much more enthusiastic about going there than going to a record store today. But don't give up on the record store, things swing round in roundabouts! and your right it does come down to a personal thing. I hate the wait after placing an online order! Want my toys now, and gotta mix 'em up now! nice blog dude. :) Sure its a personal thing, and yes you can find some cool stuff online, I actually placed an order 5 mins ago with Juno!, but often i find that my online orders are for stuff thats ‘older’ and my local store has sold out of copies.

I also think it has something to do with age and having time. I have to admit that in the days of fat cat records (londons phonica of the early 90s!) I was much more enthusiastic about going there than going to a record store today.

But don’t give up on the record store, things swing round in roundabouts!

and your right it does come down to a personal thing. I hate the wait after placing an online order! Want my toys now, and gotta mix ‘em up now!

nice blog dude. :)

]]> By: Ronan http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-102751 Ronan Sun, 20 Jan 2008 12:21:55 +0000 http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-102751 Hey John, I guess it's a personal thing. I can see the value of those elements, of course meeting people and having a chat is good. I used to really enjoy when some customers came in when I worked in a store. As I say I'm not saying my way is definitively the right way, just I found it interesting how the charm of the record store has worn off a bit for me. I do think with the right attitude online you can find really great stuff, in the last 2 weeks this year has really got going for me and I've discovered a lot of new artists. As regards sound quality, I didn't have my own headphones with me when I was shopping and I found the sound quality quite crappy in the shop too. It definitely can happen that way as well. Maybe not in Berlin, haha :) Hey John,

I guess it’s a personal thing. I can see the value of those elements, of course meeting people and having a chat is good. I used to really enjoy when some customers came in when I worked in a store.

As I say I’m not saying my way is definitively the right way, just I found it interesting how the charm of the record store has worn off a bit for me.

I do think with the right attitude online you can find really great stuff, in the last 2 weeks this year has really got going for me and I’ve discovered a lot of new artists.

As regards sound quality, I didn’t have my own headphones with me when I was shopping and I found the sound quality quite crappy in the shop too.

It definitely can happen that way as well.

Maybe not in Berlin, haha :)

]]> By: John Osborn http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-102734 John Osborn Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:17:24 +0000 http://ronanfitzgerald.net/houseisafeeling/2008/01/18/249/#comment-102734 I think you are wrong about record shops and need to re-adjust back to the analogue way of buying records. Techno is a social activity, the dance floor would be a very unexciting place without people and the interaction of people is important. Therefore if you build up a relationship with the record shop the staff will know your tastes and can offer you records you may not know will ever listened to. Also online shops normally only offer a short edit of the track and at a bad mp3 quality. Or even worse is the word & sound shop that offers the worst quality edits and irritating files that open in itunes and stay there. So A record shop for me is more than just about buying records - I meet my other Dj friends there and talk about new tracks anf ind out about music I probablz would have not have come across online, i find out about parties that are spontaneous and free magazine of limited quantity and of course flyers. I see your point about being in the comfort in your own home but it would be a very very sad day when nobody went to record shops and just went to online stores. A record shop is like anything in life, the more effort you put in the more you get back. But then maybe i'm spoilt, I live in Berlin and Rotation Records is less than 2mins from my front door ... :) I think you are wrong about record shops and need to re-adjust back to the analogue way of buying records. Techno is a social activity, the dance floor would be a very unexciting place without people and the interaction of people is important. Therefore if you build up a relationship with the record shop the staff will know your tastes and can offer you records you may not know will ever listened to. Also online shops normally only offer a short edit of the track and at a bad mp3 quality. Or even worse is the word & sound shop that offers the worst quality edits and irritating files that open in itunes and stay there. So

A record shop for me is more than just about buying records - I meet my other Dj friends there and talk about new tracks anf ind out about music I probablz would have not have come across online, i find out about parties that are spontaneous and free magazine of limited quantity and of course flyers.

I see your point about being in the comfort in your own home but it would be a very very sad day when nobody went to record shops and just went to online stores.
A record shop is like anything in life, the more effort you put in the more you get back. But then maybe i’m spoilt, I live in Berlin and Rotation Records is less than 2mins from my front door … :)

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