What Type Of Job Is This?

Post by **Hippy** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 2:29 pm

I was at the London Music Show at the weekend, also called the London Guitar and Drum show.

A mate of mine who came with me is really into his music, has a degree in music, plays in several bands, buys expensive guitars, spends a lot of time in the local guitar shops, constantly buys different amps, effects pedals, cables etc. . . he really knows his stuff.

His daytime job . . . . . barman.

I want to do some research, i think the sort of thing we saw at the show, the guys from Fender, Lag, PRS etc on the stands telling us about latest products, putting gear to the test etc. would be perfect for him!

Can anyone give us any pointers? i guess these people are employed directly by the companies but i can't really find much information.
Do these people work in london? work in privately owned guitar shops? or do Fender etc. have their own shops?

Can anyone put me in touch with anyone in the industy who does this type of work?
I'd really like to help my mate sort his life out and get out of his crappy bar job where people threaten to stab him all the time....

Cheers!

Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:35 pm

Best bet is to get on the phone to Fender etc and ask to speak with their HR department. But in all honesty he's going to have to do that for himself.

Fender consumer relations tel no, might be able to give you details of how it works and maybe give you HR details etc

<a href="http://www.fender.co.uk/resources/conta ... mation.php" target="_blank">http://www.fender.co.uk/resources/conta ... ion.php</a>

You probably know alot of the brands etc and really just trawl their websites and find contact details etc and get on the phone.

<a href="http://www.lagguitars.co.uk/contact.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.lagguitars.co.uk/contact.aspx</a>

<a href="http://www.prsguitars.com/inside/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.prsguitars.com/inside/index.html</a>

PRS even has their HR info on that page

I'm afraid it's just a case of some serches on google and finding contact info, could also phone up and ask for details of products etc and try and speak to customer support numbers who might be able to give you address details etc

If anyone sais no, then just feed them the line that you were wanting to send a letter commending the help that you have received and it's usually forthcoming

Post by **Claw** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:42 pm

Hippy wrote: Can anyone give us any pointers? i guess these people are employed directly by the companies but i can't really find much information.
Do these people work in london? work in privately owned guitar shops? or do Fender etc. have their own shops?

They're typically what's known as "Session Musicians"

<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/ma ... np01.shtml" target="_blank">Session Musician</a>

Session Work

He will need to start out by getting a Music agent/agency and then build his reputation.

Post by **Hippy** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:24 am

Cheers guys.

Claw, a session musician is really a musician a band can call on to play dates with. Not really a musician hired by a company to show off their kit.
He already does this for bad manners and various other ska bands in the area.

Post by **Claw** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:56 pm

Hippy wrote: Cheers guys.

Claw, a session musician is really a musician a band can call on to play dates with. Not really a musician hired by a company to show off their kit.
He already does this for bad manners and various other ska bands in the area.

I know for sure that Yamaha, and a few others, use session musicians. I suppose it's easier for them to locate these people through studios, etc.