Why Open a Music Store
Why Open A Music Store?
A man once told me, “Only an idiot would open a music store.” If I had only known at the time, I would have responded “I resemble that remark.” Nevertheless, here we are, and we’re going to make the best of it.
Another man once said to me, “Our company is too big to fail.” In actuality, they failed within two months of that statement. Luckily for Shawn Brock Music, we’ll never have to worry about that one… So let us get down to brass tacks and talk about why we are here in the first place and give a short synopsis of where we are going.
It all starts with personal experience in my opinion. For as much as eight years, I have threatened to go into music retail. Many of us old-timers who’ve been around the block, realize the decline in the music store experience over the last twenty plus years. I recall the day when you could go in and ask a question about a product, and the salesperson would start rattling off credible information. This makes me shake my head, as it wasn’t many months ago that I almost got into an argument with a Guitar Center employee, who insisted the Martin D-18 was a better guitar, now that the crew of old C.F had started using rosewood for the back and sides. I began in futility to try and explain that the changes to the D-18 were not the back and sides at all, but he wouldn’t hear of it… This is but one example of the lunacy that confronts musicians today when they try to patronize the modern music store. Dozens of these samples of fools being foolish linger in my head, but alas, this writing has not the purpose of continuously bashing the underwhelming knowledge of the non-musician music store employee… So let us get on with it.
Those who have known about my presence on YouTube for these many years, are often complimentary of my abilities to describe tone, playability, and characteristics of each instrument that I demo. This is because I have the necessary experience in the fields of music performance, audio engineering/ recording, and have been fortunate enough to have experienced the best and most desirable examples of guitar construction, from the Martins of yesteryear to the top luthiers of today. During the last five years in particular, I have made hundreds of videos for dealers such as Dale’s Show Stoppers, individuals wishing to sell instruments, but wanting one of my demos to put on their listing, along with dozens of small shop builders. Often this has led to communication with a large number of people who wish to engage in a direct dialog with me about a particular instrument. While this has been enjoyable, it’s often a time-consuming process, and one that I haven’t been compensated for. Yes, I have been paid for video demos, but it is these demos that brought on the countless hours of free advisory services, and in the end, it is only slightly bothersome, if an individual ends up with an instrument they like.
On the other hand, I still have a great passion of exploring new instruments, just like so many of you, and I hate seeing lackluster videos that don’t represent the instrument/ builder in a sonically pleasing way. Additionally, it’s enjoyable to aid in the growth of the small shop builder, and a true pleasure to experience their creations first-hand. It is these desires, put against the free-range grazing upon my personal time, that left me in a quandary. I like to help folks, and love to see them happy with an instrument, and finding new musical ways of expressing themselves, but stomaching as much as twelve hours a day answering calls and emails and never being compensated for it gets very old. So, what’s the answer? Surely there’s some kind of middle-ground ain’t there? Yes, exit the discussion stage, or as we country folk say, “quit hemming, and hawing.” There’s also the commonly known adage about doing your business or getting off the pot… For me it was either time to quit demoing instruments and halt the disruption to my work and free time or engage in additional financial intercourse (as the last president put it).
So that’s where we are at, or rather, why we are here. I have known this business my entire life, I know the builders, I use the products, and I love to help people. Delving into business is nothing new for me. I successfully started and ran a recording studio, until I was ready to stop doing that full-time. Also, I ran a piano service business the same way. Shawn Brock Music (SBM) doesn’t consider itself to be a competitor to anyone, but rather a friend to the industry, and one of the great places to buy an instrument. I consider several other music store owners to be friends and still refer business to them like I always have. If it were all about competition, I would have no part of it, as plenty of people have, and will continue to build larger shops than I. Many of those will also give you bad service, no return policy, treat your consignments like dirt, and not know a fig about what they’re selling. That’s where we are different, and what will forever set us apart. I know how it should sound, how it should play, and if it’s not worth my money, it’s not worth anyone’s money. We’re bringing back the concept of musicians being served by musicians; anything else in a shop is simply unworthy.
This is also where we are going, and with the aid of great brands such as Gallagher, Boucher, Atkin, Breedlove, Bedell, Larrivee, and others, there will be many acoustic treasures shining brightly in our future. Also the luthier builds from such esteemed individuals as Joshua Young, Nathan Wright, Rocky Northern, Chris Rothrock and many more, will help fulfill our promises and desires to support the individual builder. Furthermore, we offer consignment services, if you are wanting to sell an instrument. There are possibilities that we may just do a direct purchase from you as well, so enquire. Additionally, we take trades on a case-by-case bases, so feel free to ask. We are still in the early stages of building inventory, a website and our commercial showroom, but the bottom line is, we’re here and open for your business! Few things have changed, aside from we will no longer offer video demo services to individuals looking to sell an instrument, unless it is consigned with SBM. Of course, our videos will continue as always for certain builder friends, all instruments in our inventory, and those which are consigned with us.
I’m extremely thankful for so many of the relationships and friendships I’ve come about within the community, and we look forward to continuing those, along with discovering new friends. We’re here to serve and look forward to the future.
Shawn Brock