While in college I always wanted a record store job,
but never seemed able to get one because I didn't have
"prior retail experience."  Then my senior year, a
fairly cool punk/indie shop opened (all the other
places I had applied were chains, the curse of
attending college in the suburbs).  Rather than the
standard application, they had a five-page music quiz,
which I took and aced.  

A few days later, I got a call from Mr. Punk Rock (one
of the managers).  He told me I had gotten an
extremely impressive score on the test, and said they
were interested in talking to me about an assistant
manager position.  He then asked me a fateful
question:  

"Just curious - what are you listening to RIGHT NOW?" 


Well, I was listening to 'Green' by R.E.M., and I told
him so.  

"REALLY?" he asked, with complete incredulity.  "You
don't LIKE it, do you?"  

When I told him that in fact I did like it, that I
felt it represented a good transition from indie to
major, he said to me, "I'm gonna have to get back to
you" and quickly hung up.  It was the last I ever
heard from him.

For those of you in the Chicago area, the store was
Record Swap in downtown Naperville.

So you see, I have never worked in a record store, but
it's still a pretty good story.  Oh, and I still like
'Green.'

--Shawn


	
		
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