The Disgruntled Clerk: An Insider’s Look at Being a Cashier

Have you ever wondered why the cashier at your local grocer or retail store seems upset? Bored? Agitated? Indifferent? Well after working at a grocery store for five years, I’ve got a bit of insight as to why that may be.

1) It’s boring. It’s another day of doing the same thing that you’ve done day in and day out for far too long. You start to feel bored, and at this point, at least for me now that I’m done with school, I feel my brain atrophying. Perhaps this is the case for your cashier, they yearn for more out of a job.

2) Brutal Customers. Being a cashier is not necessarily intellectually taxing, save for navigating the mine-field that is customer service. It is trying as hell on your patience more often than not, a point that customers often miss and fail to acknowledge. Think about it: you’re standing at a register all day long, performing a repetitive motion, asking everyone the same questions, touching money people have sneezed on, sometimes people sneeze on you… Then Grandma Small N. Evil comes along and just rips you a new asshole for 10 minutes because the pasta she picked up isn’t the sale price it was last month. And this is some how your fault, like you saw her enter the store, spoke with the Grocery Gods and said “Let’s really wreck Granny’s day and up the price of her pasta and prunes!” *cue evil laughter*. No, it’s called economics grandma, I’m sorry. Not to mention, I personally do not control the pricing of food or even the placing of price tags in the store, so if you have to take it up with anyone, take it up with those in charge of the economy.

3) Brutal Customers and their Coupons.  As someone who likes to be savvy when shopping, I get and occasionally love the use of coupons. What I do not understand however, is the overwhelming amount of people who don’t actually READ what the coupon actually says. These are the folks who then come to the register, and proceed to pour a fountain of angry spit all over your face, declaring “Why won’t YOU take MY coupon! I just don’t understand this! It’s incredulous!” “But sir, it says ‘With the purchase of 4 12oz. cans of Axe, get $2.00 off. You only purchased one can of  Old Spice.” Sometimes it resolves itself in one of 3 ways:

a) They quietly resolve to the fact that the coupon does not lie, apologize and we all get on with our day.

b) They insist that is in fact what they purchased, make you dig through all the bags of groceries already in the cart to find said proof. Only to prove them wrong. They begrudgingly move on, giving you a death glare until they leave.

c)  The “Fuggetaboutit”. The customer becomes so flustered by this injustice that they say: “Well never mind then!” and leave the store pissed and empty-handed.

So please, for the sake of everyone’s sanity, please read the purchase requirements on your coupons. It will be a more peaceful checkout experience.

4) Price Checks. Piggy backing off of the theme of not reading coupons, comes the ever popular negligence of reading price tags. The following exchange always inevitably occurs: “”I thought that it was Buy 1 Get 2 Free!” “No Ma’m, those would be the Friehoffer’s, NOT the Entemann’s.” “But there is a big sign that says so!” So you leave the register, read the sign and often times, bring it back to them, proving that you actually knew what you were talking about. You do work there after all, have been doing this for 6-8 hours a day for the past 3 days of this week’s sale, but why would you know what the cost of the most popular sale items of the week are? Again, I plead, please, take the time, read the price tags, ensure the size, quantity and brandname all coincide with the item you are purchasing. Because when you arrive at the register, telling the clerk you “thought” it was “such and such a price” will not magically make it so.

5) We’re Human Beings. We make mistakes too. Sometimes the price change crew accidentally forgets to remove an outdated sale tag. Perhaps there is a mis-print in the ad. We forgot to ring up that one tiny coupon you gave us during a busy moment in the store. It happens. Just because this is a job we do every single day does not mean we don’t and won’t make the occasional mistake. We are not infallible. But please do not rip us a new orifice to bring home at the end of the day if we do. You can really brighten a clerks day by being patient with us. And we will return the favor in kind.

6) Screaming children. I think this one is self-explanatory. But parents, do not solve this problem by getting huffy with me, whipping a candy bar at my head and telling me to “Ring it out and give it to ‘em now so he’ll shut the hell up”. That is helping NO one.
Those are just some of the major reasons why your cashier may have the demeanor they do. I’m not excusing it away, because some people really are just jerks by nature. But you’ll find that many people become ruined folk through years of wear and tear in the customer service industry. We put up with a lot of these repeat performances daily and some times, too many times in one day for the hourly pittance we make.

So please, next time you go to the store, just think twice before you bite a clerks head off… Unless they’re rude to you first, then let it rip. Hey, its a paycheck, not a license to be an ass just because you hate the job!

WFTN: The Airwaves Were Quiet…

Howdy Blogland. I have been very quiet for far too long, my final semester at school was a busy one with writing my thesis and preparing for graduation. I will be resuming and working on being far more consistent in my blogging. Coming soon: The Disgruntled Cashier: A Grocery Store Employee’s Adventures.

WFTN: My Journey into Hip-Hop

**Note: For purposes of this article, I am using hip-hop as a blanket term. It is meant to include rap and any and all sub-genres that may exist under that particular umbrella.**

I pride myself on being a music nerd. But I must admit there is a genre of music that I have not explored much of, and that is hip-hop. I feel the time has come now to explore that genre and really open myself up to it.

It’s not that I have been totally opposed to it, but I have just heard enough bad hip-hop that I learned to switch it off. But once I began to hear something that really exemplifies the genre, I realize I have been missing something.

In growing up in the late ’90′s and being in my teens in the 2000′s, I heard my fair share of Ja Rule, Nelly and Chingy. When I was about 13 and my brother 11, he purchased Ja Rule’s album “Pain is Love”, upon giving it a listen, we both found it unnerving. Perhaps it was because we were so young and the fact that we were from a middle class white family and couldn’t relate to anything being said. Perhaps it was the coupling of not-so-great music and brutally overt subject matters. I don’t know, I can’t quite remember what my thought process was at the time, but I do remember how uncomfortable I was with it, outside of the hit “Always on Time” with Ashanti.

Sure over the years there are some hip-hop hits that I’ve become fond of because there are memories of my teenage experiences attached to them. For example any time I hear “Still Fly” by Big Tymers, it reminds me of summers with my best friend with nothing really to do, feeling like no matter what, we too were “still fly”. I was and am a Kanye West fan (say what you will about him personally, but his music is great). Yin-Yang Twins, Outkast and Lil’ John and the Eastside Boys always bring me back to every dance I had in high school and how much time my friends and I spent getting ready and pumped for a “big night out”.  There are many more that I can’t recall right now but if I heard them, I’d have a flash back to the days of when I was a brace-face.

But now I am older, gone through a lot and have been exposed to some of the more brutal facts of life earlier than most. And the things I haven’t and hope never to experience, I can appreciate the pain and raw reality of the emotions such dark events can create.  And that is what great hip-hop is, at least to me; something that is raw, real and pulls no punches. And I’m not talking about the “shock value” hip-hop music where there is all vulgarity and no substance. I’m no prude, I can handle rough language, but if you’re not saying anything else, it falls on deaf and bored ears.

When I came to college and decided to get my degree as a Performing Arts Major: Music Concentration, I delved into the world of studio production. I now have a new outlook on how to produce an album from someone who is a producer/songwriter in training. Before, I could appreciate things from a listener’s standpoint, those of you who have worked in studio settings I’m sure can relate, you hear things differently once you know what goes into making the music happen. This is when I began to broaden my musical horizons further and decided to return to hip-hop. I first started with DJ Dangermouse’s “The Grey Album” which is Jay-Z’s raps/vocals from his “Black Album” mixed with instrumentals from The Beatles “White Album”. This was an album I had been a fan of since a friend gave it to me in 2004, but I began to look at it differently and listen to it differently. I began to focus even more on what Jay-Z had to say rather than the odd but brilliant combination of these two seemingly opposite ends of the spectrum.

I love how Jay can spin a story, and thats the kind of hip-hop I’m interested in, be it about a personal experience or exposing some of the more difficult realities in life. While from a producers perspective, some of the more “danceable” hip-hop is decent, for listening and historical musical value, I’m much more interested in hip-hop artists that have a story to weave for me with words. I love word play and I think hip-hop is one of the most, if not the most important musical genres that have intricate word play. It takes a special kind of talent to spin such things together and it cannot be ignored or underplayed by any means.

So with all of that being said, the time has come for my hungry ears, heart and mind to explore deeper the world of hip-hop and what it has to offer me. So if you have any suggestions/comments, please don’t hesitate to leave them here. I’ll keep you updated on what I find and see what opinions of mine have changed and what ones haven’t.

For the time being, I’d love to leave you with some suggestions: The Roots, Oddisee, Immortal Technique, Jay-Z, Common…

Keep on Singing!

-Samm

Album Review: “Illuminations”

I have heard Josh Groban’s music described in various ways: schmaltzy, schlocky, romantic, dramatic, beautiful, boring, “poperatic” and so many more. While I don’t agree with the negative adjectives, I can definitely get behind  compliments like beautiful and dramatic.  Groban has a musical recipe with each album where the basic foundations are the same, but there is a subtle evolution that seems to be occurring when you look at his discography. That evolution is his presence as a song-writer; with the release of “Illuminations”, a clear  and loud declaration of his talents as a writer, were made.

 

We first got a taste of Groban’s beautifully introspective and emotional writing with “Remember When it Rained” from his second studio album “Closer”.  In his third studio album “Awake” he really began to blossom writing on 5 of the 15 tracks, including the bonus track “Awake”. But “Illuminations” just blew the door open on this man’s songbook; writing 11 of the 13 tracks, Groban was given free rein to be the author of this new musical chapter and clearly did so with great care and pride. Although some artists tend to be lyricists more than instrumentalists or vice versa, Groban demonstrates both skills with grace and knowledge.

“The Wandering Kind” kicks off the album and was an ear pleasing instrumental that comes out of left field (only in the fact that instrumentals have not appeared on a Groban album before). The opening chord immediately sends me back to my semester in Ireland and would make any fan of Irish Trad music smile. It is a simple tune that seems to float in its own lovely captivating way, and I wanted to be sitting in the pub listening to this jam session with a pint of Guinness and my friends at my side.

“Bells of New York City” quickly became the winter 2011 theme song for anyone who has a soft spot for the Big Apple.  It has a lovely melancholy to it that anyone can relate to: moving on to a new part of your life and reflecting on the things that got you there.

The next two tracks (“Galileo” and  ”L’Ora Dell’Addio”) go back to Groban’s musical foundation: romantic themes, foreign languages and orchestral settings. This time however, the orchestral arrangements are mixed back (having a more subtle vocal/instrumental balance) and have more of a chamber feel than the grandiose orchestras of albums prior. The dynamic is not any less powerful than his prior albums–merely different, more stripped down, tender and generate their own quiet strength.

These new musical dynamics are without a doubt a product of Groban’s new producer and friend, Rick Rubin. For many I’m sure hearing that one of the greatest mad scientists of the studio –having produced such artists at the Beastie Boys and Chili Peppers– and the golden voice of our generation was a huge “Wha?” kind of moment. I myself could not wait to see what was going to come of this collaboration and for fans of either, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Both men came from starkly contrasting musical backgrounds, but their collaboration proves that if you’re willing to walk out of your comfort zone, take the elements that work and play around with them in new ways a freshness emerges that no one could have expected. Other worthy collaboration mentions include: Groban’s writing partner Dan Wilson (Semisonic), the rhythmically explosive Carlinhos Brown.

Groban & Wilson’s partnership created honest, warm and 100% guaranteed relatable songs. From the music to the lyrics, there is an innate sense of the human soul, it’s as if writing this album made as much sense as breathing. By writing the majority of this album, Groban took a risk: he really put it all out there. Singing makes one feel exposed enough, but singing words you wrote, words that flow from personal experiences makes for the trifecta of vulnerability.  “Hidden Away”, “Higher Window”, “If I Walk Away” and “Love Only Knows” are the standouts that really exemplify those qualities to me as a listener, and they stick to me like glue.

“Voce Existe Em Mim” is the first song from a Groban album that makes me wanna get up and shake my thang… It really grooves and has a musically entrancing effect that keeps bringing you back to it like a moth to the flame (and is just as hot!). Thank you Carlinhos Brown and Lester Mendez for creating this masterpiece with Josh.

One other quick mention (but definitely not the last or least important) is his collaboration with Rufus Wainwright on “Au Jardin de Sans Pourqoui”. Wainwright’s style is definitely evident in this piece and created for yet another flawless track.

There are other timeless tracks on this album such as “London Hymn” and “War at Home”. “Hymn” really resonates a classical choral feel a la Mozart, something you want to hear everywhere but would be quite at home in a cathedral. “War at Home” paints vignettes of  various people involved in and affected by war. Its a great contemporary commentary in music that shows both sides of those away fighting and those who remain here that support the troops daily. The first time I listened to it I had chills and tears in my eyes. “You are not alone…” — the words echo just as powerfully as Groban’s voice and emotion on this track, recorded on September 11, 2010.

The song order on this album is also something noteworthy. I often feel that nowadays such a detail is over looked when reviewing an album, but for hardcore listeners such as myself, its extremely important. Kudos to whomever decided the order of this album because it creates moods that flow into one another perfectly, yet each song can stand on its own if played randomly. When sitting down and listening to it in one sitting however, you are transported in ways that will be different for everyone, yet there is a consistency there which I’m sure many could agree upon. Opening with “Wandering Kind” and closing with a cover of Nick Cave’s “Straight to You”, there is nothing missed as you travel through the journey that is “Illuminations”.

Each song on this album was done in one take, as if it were being performed live. Creating the album this way gives it an even purer and more accessible air to it. You feel as if you are there, in the studio each and every time you play it. There was no room for error, any mistakes made would bring everyone back to the top to try again. No Autotune, pitch correction or overdubbing going on here. And I say “Thank you!” for that.
Each go around of “Illuminations” brings something new to the forefront, just like listening to a live performance over and over again does. My ears and musically driven mind take away something different with each listen, and that to me ladies and gents is the mark of a great album and an even greater artist. It is a refreshing sound, a matured album with the stamp of Groban from top to bottom. It was well worth the wait and is a project he and all involved should be extremely proud of.

For those of you out there who sat through all that,  I thank you! Now here’s something completely different: “Josh Groban Sings Kanye Tweets”… Thats an album that would speak volumes for itself…

Thanks for stopping by!
-Samm

An Opening Word from the Nerd.

Hey there Bloggers of the world! For info about me and this blog, check out my “About” page (link located on the right.)

In the meantime, here are a few things I didn’t mention in the “About” page…

Why Blog now? My inspiration for starting this blog came from my recent internship at a local TV station and talking with some new friends I made there. One of the girls explained to me how one of the reasons she got her job at the station as the promotion department’s assistant, was by making her own videos, as well as having her own blog. Her and I as well as another fellow crew member discussed the burgeoning world of social media and social enterprise on our way to a shoot, and it was clear we all felt the same way about social media. Overall, I feel that social media is fantastic and is the direction in which the world is heading. Between Twitter, Youtube and Facebook, staying connected is getting easier and faster than ever and continues to be innovated further everyday.

I have always been on the fence about blogging: Is it worth the time? Can it help me achieve career goals and networking? Will anyone read it? Is it taking personal use of technology overboard? I had those thoughts a myriad of other questions, and for a long time kept it on the back burner.

During the course of our conversation, however, my thought process began to change.  It was generally agreed upon that social media is a tool that many in my generation often abuse, but when done right, its fantastic and has power in it. With that being said and the conversation shifting to our various passions and how we can use social media to put them out there, I was sold and antsy to get going.

I will be the first to admit that I am a nerd and obsessed with music. With that being said, that is what this blog will mostly center around. I will however veer into other topics that catch my interest, discuss things I feel people my age should be discussing and hopefully get a discourse going with you, my readers.

What’s with the blog title “Mushka’s Soup”?
It’s a conglomeration of a nickname my parent’s called me growing up (“Mushka” is a polish endearment meaning ‘little fly’) and the hodge-podge of topics, music genres etc. that will be discussed here.

Alright enough with that and let’s get down to brass tacks…

Thanks for stopping by.
-Samm