- Joined
- Jan 7, 2009
- Messages
- 9,741
@diamondyes started a thread about origins...
It got me thinking.....
When I got my first diamond industry job at Harry Winston, my main motivation was a source of income to buy more guitars. I dreamed of becoming a rock star as a kid.....
All through my career in diamonds, I've had a second career as a musician.
Very occasionally nowadays- but years ago, I was much more active in music.
By 1985, I'd worked my way up to becoming an on the road salesman. It was a really big deal coming from being a diamond grader, assorter, order filler.
As a diamond assorter/grader, you could make a decent salary for a 28 year old.
The road guys and gals started exponentially higher.....becoming an on the road salesperson was a huge promotion.
And I'd done it!!!
The first jewelry show to which I was assigned to work was at the New York Hilton. (The show was later moved to The Javits Center.) The show was in the middle of July.
AS a young pup salesperson, a jewelry show was a big deal for me. ( can't really stand them anymore, but that's another story)
At the same time I was playing guitar in, and co-producing an Elvis impersonator show. Bobby Grandville was our Elvi guy.
Somehow we got a booking to open for Jay Black ( of Jay and the Americans) on Midwood Field, in Brooklyn NY.
A Saturday night.
It just so happened that the particular Saturday night was the first night of my first jewelry show.
@^%#%
As far as the band went..... we had to accept the booking, so I hired a buddy of mine to sit in on guitar.
The show was at about 8 pm. That means the musicians need to be in place, tuned and ready to go at about 7:45
My first road job was selling colored stone rings for a company called "Baden and Foss" (since out of business)
The boss....he wasn't exactly the easiest guy in the world.....( a total a$$hat) ( another, that's another story)
Anyway.
Forget about letting me leave early, he made me close up at the booth, and it was about 7pm when I got in my car to drive from midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn.
Somehow- I really don't see how this was possible- I got to the venue in time. I remember getting super lucky and a cop let me drive right up behind the stage. I managed to run up on stage before the show- and I mean right before- I didn't even have time to take off my tie.
Unbelievably , there's video evidence....
It got me thinking.....
When I got my first diamond industry job at Harry Winston, my main motivation was a source of income to buy more guitars. I dreamed of becoming a rock star as a kid.....
All through my career in diamonds, I've had a second career as a musician.
Very occasionally nowadays- but years ago, I was much more active in music.
By 1985, I'd worked my way up to becoming an on the road salesman. It was a really big deal coming from being a diamond grader, assorter, order filler.
As a diamond assorter/grader, you could make a decent salary for a 28 year old.
The road guys and gals started exponentially higher.....becoming an on the road salesperson was a huge promotion.
And I'd done it!!!
The first jewelry show to which I was assigned to work was at the New York Hilton. (The show was later moved to The Javits Center.) The show was in the middle of July.
AS a young pup salesperson, a jewelry show was a big deal for me. ( can't really stand them anymore, but that's another story)
At the same time I was playing guitar in, and co-producing an Elvis impersonator show. Bobby Grandville was our Elvi guy.
Somehow we got a booking to open for Jay Black ( of Jay and the Americans) on Midwood Field, in Brooklyn NY.
A Saturday night.
It just so happened that the particular Saturday night was the first night of my first jewelry show.
@^%#%
As far as the band went..... we had to accept the booking, so I hired a buddy of mine to sit in on guitar.
The show was at about 8 pm. That means the musicians need to be in place, tuned and ready to go at about 7:45
My first road job was selling colored stone rings for a company called "Baden and Foss" (since out of business)
The boss....he wasn't exactly the easiest guy in the world.....( a total a$$hat) ( another, that's another story)
Anyway.
Forget about letting me leave early, he made me close up at the booth, and it was about 7pm when I got in my car to drive from midtown Manhattan to Brooklyn.
Somehow- I really don't see how this was possible- I got to the venue in time. I remember getting super lucky and a cop let me drive right up behind the stage. I managed to run up on stage before the show- and I mean right before- I didn't even have time to take off my tie.
Unbelievably , there's video evidence....
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