Holy Christ, we've got something in common. I applied at Music And Video Exchange in Notting Hill a few months ago but they turned me down :( Likewise HMV. I worked in the record department of my local Woolies when they still existed, but it's not the same :nocheer:

 

HMV turned me down recently as well :( although thats not where i'd love to work, hmv is more just consumerism, it doesnt have a special feel to it, where as a proper record shop is magical to me.

 

you live in London though right, loads of independent record shops, although I dont know how many would have much focus on the sort of music you listen to (they may i dont know), but maybe its worth a look round just to see if any have jobs?

You own a record shop now Cod! :o Congrats man.

I love browsing around record shops and can spent hours looking at old and new records, we still have a few independents even round here, like Solo Music in Barnstaple and Martian Records in Exeter. It's unfortunately about all we've got now, tho Plymouth's HMV still sells new vinyl releases.

 

I love going to Banquet Records in Kingston when I'm in London village too!

Working in a record shop is like my dream job tbh, theres just something special about it. and you get to talk about music all day.

 

You think that - til you work in one. I worked in HMV for about 6 years..... and it's only then you realise how absolutely stupid and sheep-like 95% of music buyers are - basically, if it's advertised on telly or top 10 - they'll buy it regardless.

 

The upsides are the oodles of freebies.... and there are some decent people about....

I should reiterate, i did mean working in an independent record shop, I dont really see HMV as a record shop, more a massive chain that happens to sell CD's, it's the most impersonal "music" shop about. If I worked in HMV it wouldnt a dream job type thing, it would be something while i look for something better, which is what i was hoping for when I applied to them but they rejected me ):

You own a record shop now Cod! :o Congrats man.

I love browsing around record shops and can spent hours looking at old and new records, we still have a few independents even round here, like Solo Music in Barnstaple and Martian Records in Exeter. It's unfortunately about all we've got now, tho Plymouth's HMV still sells new vinyl releases.

 

I love going to Banquet Records in Kingston when I'm in London village too!

Didn't know you were down the south west too!

 

Have you been in that record shop in Exeter that's down the bottom end of the high street, past the Jessop's camera shop. Wish I could remember what it's called...

I should reiterate, i did mean working in an independent record shop, I dont really see HMV as a record shop, more a massive chain that happens to sell CD's, it's the most impersonal "music" shop about. If I worked in HMV it wouldnt a dream job type thing, it would be something while i look for something better, which is what i was hoping for when I applied to them but they rejected me ):

 

I worked there in the late 80s, early 90s... whilst it was still a major retailer then, it wasn't the supermarket-alike store it is today in all fairness..... I was offered a job in Spillers, the famous 'oldest record shop in the world' in Cardiff - an independent, but I turned it down (money was awful)..... sad news about them... with the new St Davids 2 development in Cardiff, they've been forced from the premises they've occupied for over 60 years by rising rent... shame on Cardiff City Council for allowing this to happen :angry:

I worked there in the late 80s, early 90s... whilst it was still a major retailer then, it wasn't the supermarket-alike store it is today in all fairness..... I was offered a job in Spillers, the famous 'oldest record shop in the world' in Cardiff - an independent, but I turned it down (money was awful)..... sad news about them... with the new St Davids 2 development in Cardiff, they've been forced from the premises they've occupied for over 60 years by rising rent... shame on Cardiff City Council for allowing this to happen :angry:

 

yeah HMV's are just, impersonal completly, infact my nearest HMV, which is quite big (Reading) has stopped stocking vinyl, I now spend less money there.

 

its a real shame when record shops get closed down, tbh right now i couldnt really care about crap money if im doing what i like, but i have the luxury of not having to pay for rent or food etc right now.

Didn't know you were down the south west too!

 

Have you been in that record shop in Exeter that's down the bottom end of the high street, past the Jessop's camera shop. Wish I could remember what it's called...

 

Rooster Records?! Yep, i forgot about that one actually - tis good in there!

amoeba in california = best record stores evereverever

 

i would KILL to work there

I know Wokingham very well actually, used to live there (I live in Twyford, you may know it if you used to live in Wokingham), can't imagine too many people caring for a record shop, The Sound Machine in Reading is the only one around here I know and it's even smaller than your average record shop and doesnt seem to get too much interest. I think Bournemouth might be a bit far for me to come and work lol, although I do really need a job right now. I imagine one big downside is making a decent amount of money (i dont see it too much about money, more spreading music, but you still need to make enough to run a shop and live), You should tell people who try to sell you $h!t to use ebay.

 

I do indeed know Twyford :D There used to be an amazing record shop in Wokingham actually when I was around 14/15 (1997/8) called RP Music but it closed down around 10 years ago, which was a $h!tter :( I used to vertially live in there, they sold vinyl and CD's but it was a little before my interest in vinyl started! Also, a bit before my time, but when my sister was growing up in the late 80's/early 90's there was a record shop next to Woolies in Wokingham called Mark One, it was really old-school and had listening posts and stuff. Oh if only these places were still there!

 

Ah the Sound Machine is amazing yeah, does the same guy still run it? Asian/mixed race bloke? I used to spend a lot of time in there buying promo CD's as I used to review stuff for a mate's website. Do they still sell vinyl? Apparently there is a place in Reading up Oxford Road, past Broad Street Mall etc, that sells second hand vinyl and CD's too, although I never got around to looking for it :lol: Fopp was always pretty good as well, and Virgin Megastore before it became Zavvi <_<

 

Yeah making a decent amount of money is hard work, but I kind of work at it all the time - texting or e-mailing different contacts if I think I've got particular records they'd like, advertising and promoting etc.. I try and do everything, and buy in stock, as cheaply as possible though. I don't have any overheads as I just rent a basement off a mate who runs a vintage clothes shop and he takes care of the bills, plus the rent is very affordable (£35 a week, which I can sometimes make in a day). Once I move on to my own premises it'll be twice as much expenditure so I'm hoping to stick where I am until I save up enough for a shop of my own and build up my stock. It's definately more for me about the music than the money though, I just like the fact that I'm providing a service to people and keeping the vinyl flame burning :D

 

You own a record shop now Cod! :o Congrats man.

I love browsing around record shops and can spent hours looking at old and new records, we still have a few independents even round here, like Solo Music in Barnstaple and Martian Records in Exeter. It's unfortunately about all we've got now, tho Plymouth's HMV still sells new vinyl releases.

 

I love going to Banquet Records in Kingston when I'm in London village too!

 

Thank you mate :D I've only ever been to Barnstaple once and that was when I was very small, nice to know that there's a record shop there! Good to know that there are still a few HMV's left stocking new vinyls too, it's so hard to find new indie/alt-rock 7's :angry: The nearest to me is Square Records in Wimbourne, which is a great little independent although unfortunately with very little vinyl!

 

I do indeed know Twyford :D There used to be an amazing record shop in Wokingham actually when I was around 14/15 (1997/8) called RP Music but it closed down around 10 years ago, which was a $h!tter :( I used to vertially live in there, they sold vinyl and CD's but it was a little before my interest in vinyl started! Also, a bit before my time, but when my sister was growing up in the late 80's/early 90's there was a record shop next to Woolies in Wokingham called Mark One, it was really old-school and had listening posts and stuff. Oh if only these places were still there!

 

Ah the Sound Machine is amazing yeah, does the same guy still run it? Asian/mixed race bloke? I used to spend a lot of time in there buying promo CD's as I used to review stuff for a mate's website. Do they still sell vinyl? Apparently there is a place in Reading up Oxford Road, past Broad Street Mall etc, that sells second hand vinyl and CD's too, although I never got around to looking for it :lol: Fopp was always pretty good as well, and Virgin Megastore before it became Zavvi <_<

 

Yeah making a decent amount of money is hard work, but I kind of work at it all the time - texting or e-mailing different contacts if I think I've got particular records they'd like, advertising and promoting etc.. I try and do everything, and buy in stock, as cheaply as possible though. I don't have any overheads as I just rent a basement off a mate who runs a vintage clothes shop and he takes care of the bills, plus the rent is very affordable (£35 a week, which I can sometimes make in a day). Once I move on to my own premises it'll be twice as much expenditure so I'm hoping to stick where I am until I save up enough for a shop of my own and build up my stock. It's definately more for me about the music than the money though, I just like the fact that I'm providing a service to people and keeping the vinyl flame burning :D

 

hmm Dont think i remember RP Music, although I was 8 ten years ago, but as I lived in Wokingham then Im sure I would of been there with my Dad many times. I think there is an Asian guy in Sound Machine, and I get promos in there too, and yeah they still have loads of vinyl, it might have moved since you last went, actually probaly hasnt as it was ages ago thinking about it, iirc it used to be in Broad Street Mall, but moved to the much smaller place in Harris Arcade. I used to really really love Fopp in Reading, was gutted as hell when they shut, and thinking about it Virgin Megastore was pretty cool, it's not even Zavvi anymore now, it's a clothes shop! HMV and Sound Machine is all there is in the town centre, and HMV is just terrible now, you mentioning listening posts actually reminded me how HMV doesnt even have them anymore, it's almost depressing when I'm in there.

 

Sounds really cool running a record store, really something I would love to do, sounds like you do alright money wise, do you just work alone? If i'm ever in Bournemouth i'll have to come and find you.