thejumpingflea
Well-known member
Hey guys,
So I've been in Canada the last week or so and arrived in Victoria BC two days ago. Yesterday, (after seeing the museum and a few IMAX films) I went to a music store called "Larsen's Music".
They had a *wall* of ukes! I was blown away. I sat down and just began to play them one by one. Mele, Kala, Ko'olau, Pono, Flea/Fluke, and Lanikai were a few of the brands they carried and they also had a few vintage Kamaka ukes there as well. As I was playing one of the store clerks approached me. (I was playing Gently Weeps) He said, "Someone has been watching that youtube video...". He then asked me some questions and showed me his favorite ukes in the store.
After that, one of the managers came up to me and asked where I had learned to play the uke. He is a player too, (I told him about UU!) and he had loads of questions. "Why do you play with a High G? What is your favorite kind of uke? What strings do you use? etc. It was really cool to talk with this guy. He than asked me what kind of ukes I think that he should start stocking. So I told him, of course, that he should look into Mainland Ukulele and Ohana.
There were roughly 5-6 people working in the store and they all were so nice and interested. "I've never heard a uke played like that live!", was one compliment I got that just really got me. I guess they sell a LOT of ukes and usually average 2-3 a DAY! They sell ukes to local schools too. I think that is probably the coolest thing ever.
As I was talking about uke sales, a couple walked in and went straight for the uke wall. As they were looking, a store clerk asked what they were looking for. "I'd like to start learning the uke!", the woman exclaimed. The clerk pointed her to me and and said, "This guy knows more than anyone else here, maybe he'll help you out?" Wait me?! I don't even work here.. Haha. Of course I did help here. Showed her what her options were in her price range and helped her decide on a Kala KA-SC. Haha, I made my first uke sale without even working at the store.
I than bought some Worth Strings and said my farewell to people in the store.
It was quite the unexpected experience. :shaka:
So I've been in Canada the last week or so and arrived in Victoria BC two days ago. Yesterday, (after seeing the museum and a few IMAX films) I went to a music store called "Larsen's Music".
They had a *wall* of ukes! I was blown away. I sat down and just began to play them one by one. Mele, Kala, Ko'olau, Pono, Flea/Fluke, and Lanikai were a few of the brands they carried and they also had a few vintage Kamaka ukes there as well. As I was playing one of the store clerks approached me. (I was playing Gently Weeps) He said, "Someone has been watching that youtube video...". He then asked me some questions and showed me his favorite ukes in the store.
After that, one of the managers came up to me and asked where I had learned to play the uke. He is a player too, (I told him about UU!) and he had loads of questions. "Why do you play with a High G? What is your favorite kind of uke? What strings do you use? etc. It was really cool to talk with this guy. He than asked me what kind of ukes I think that he should start stocking. So I told him, of course, that he should look into Mainland Ukulele and Ohana.
There were roughly 5-6 people working in the store and they all were so nice and interested. "I've never heard a uke played like that live!", was one compliment I got that just really got me. I guess they sell a LOT of ukes and usually average 2-3 a DAY! They sell ukes to local schools too. I think that is probably the coolest thing ever.
As I was talking about uke sales, a couple walked in and went straight for the uke wall. As they were looking, a store clerk asked what they were looking for. "I'd like to start learning the uke!", the woman exclaimed. The clerk pointed her to me and and said, "This guy knows more than anyone else here, maybe he'll help you out?" Wait me?! I don't even work here.. Haha. Of course I did help here. Showed her what her options were in her price range and helped her decide on a Kala KA-SC. Haha, I made my first uke sale without even working at the store.
I than bought some Worth Strings and said my farewell to people in the store.
It was quite the unexpected experience. :shaka:
