Air Drummer Fired!!

[XNavyDrummer]

This just in.

An avid air drummer lost his job for air drumming.

From Fox News:

"An Iowa gas-station attendant has drummed himself right out of a job.

Avid "air drummer" Christopher Garcia started work at a Cedar Rapids Sinclair service station (search) last summer, but his hobby soon drew customer complaints, reports the Des Moines Register.

The problem? While most air drummers use imaginary drumsticks to flail away at invisible drums, Garcia's sticks were real.

"My customers were feeling threatened by it," manager Judi Moorman testified at a recent unemployment-benefits hearing. "They didn't feel comfortable that these sticks were flying around. And, you know, he would get rather close to people."

Moorman played security tapes to show Garcia, 46, drumming while behind the register or walking around the store, headphones constantly on. Shoplifting soared during his solos, she added.

"My drums are not a joke; they are a part of me," Garcia protested. "People used to come into the store and say, 'Dude, you're so good with those drumsticks.'"

"I never go anywhere without my drumsticks," Garcia added. "I guess the best way to put it ? and it's going to sound silly ? is that they're like my pacifier. I always have them in my hands. I do. I do."

One judge already refused Garcia's claim for unemployment benefits, which he is appealing."

[Steve Holmes]

Sounds like me in Jr High school. Didn't lose a job but got in trouble plenty of times for that kind of thing.

[CLWarunki]

Yeah same, I had a couple of problems with sticks on the job in the past... heheh.

You gotta wonder, how good is this guy and why is drumming not his real job? I mean... he is 46 and working a shit job while constantly "practicing" - that is mad dedication, or plain madness... who knows!

[JoesMechanic]

As a business owner, I'd be pissed that this guy is milking the system. More wasted tax dollars on a frivillous appeal!!?? I could understand if this guy had a valid claim.... but come on!!! This guy is a samll part of the reason why our social systems are overtaxed. This equivicates into more tax dollars thrown down the drain. I wish the system would adopt a mechanism, such as throwing these rediculous claims to the curb and somebody getting into this losers face and tell him to get a life.

At 46.... if his "drums & sticks are a part of him", then I suggest he develop his own self employed career. Like maybe "drumming" to make a living. Sorry if I don't have much patience for this guy, but I can stand people that feed off others and the system.

[FuseU1]

Maybe the guy doesn't even own a set, & that's why he's doing that.

Either way, it's just another example of the ridiculously absurd in the world today.

I too got myself into a bit of trouble in HS, & esp in college...

During some of my college classes, I didn't have the sticks, but def made use of the floor & table-top [for HS, wood floor & desk-top], & make lists of the names of my favorite drummers, & draw illustrations of the "ideal kit," & so-forth... much to the prof's chagrin.

In certain day jobs during & just after college, when it was slow [like an eve shift], I would do the same...even write down beats I was hearing in my head on scraps of paper...

Still, this corn-pone goof was fudging off on the boss' time...if it was your biz, not cool. But he'd prob get kudo's & an "A" from VH1's "Cool Rock Bands of the 80s" show... [img]wink.gif[/img]

[hanayalator]

Hey if I was working at a gas station I'd have my sticks and pad there too...wouldn't you?

[FuseU1]

Yeah. [img]redface.gif[/img] [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img]

But more importantly than letting everyone at my day gig know that I was some kind of super dedicated drummophile [& ticking off the boss & getting canned, unless I really hated the job, then I'd just bow out] - I'd save up for at least perhaps a starter kit & hit it hard in my free time when OffTJ. [img]cool.gif[/img]

I prob wouldn't be at a GS for too long anyway. Unless I was a well-payed mech. Joe['s Garage]? [img]wink.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ March 17, 2005 04:23 PM: Message edited by: fuseU1 ]</font>

[FuseU1]

This [& perhaps the "fateful decision approaches?!"] topic presents another related subj... pi** jobs you've held in your life as a day gig. AKA the "blind pursuit of random work related income while trying to further your musical studies or career." [img]wink.gif[/img] Me:

[Most were held in HS / college / then out of coll]:

_"Register-runner," stocker, & All-purpose "f-boy"/trash compactor/clean-up at local popular drug store chain. [1st job in HS - boss was a real pi**er, asst mgr was cool as heck.]
_All night stocker at big groocery chain.
_stocker & then Lumber [& all contractor home care materials - drywall, carpet, etc] salesman
_"assistant-supe" [aka "maintenance";c)] of apt complex
_"maintenance man," deliveries & pick-ups at biz complex park
_live Lobster wholesaler
_inventory taker for major retail chains
_stocker, then retailer at major mall chain store
_security/loss prevention agent at same major chain dept store

_General Dissaray & Major Meathead... [img]wink.gif[/img]

All w the exceptn of maybe 2 [or, stretching it, 3] just totally su***d the big phat Harry Boneparte - only 1 or 2 were decent...[And I can guar-on-TEE you 1 of them wasn't the "all-purp. f-boy"...when I had it in my little fevered hands, that mop rapidly began to look more & more like a "boss-popsicle" every day...Not because of having to mop, but because of the boss] [img]wink.gif[/img]

If I knew the occupation of Air Drummer was being offered, wellll...oh, well, I don't think it's going to be paying the big bucks anytime soon...normal drumming is enough...

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ March 17, 2005 05:02 PM: Message edited by: fuseU1 ]</font>