April, 2013 - Music & Sound Retailer

MI SPYSLEUTHING IN‘THE STEEL CITY’He did it again….The Chief gave me an assignment in a city that’stypically blustering with snow and wind in the middleof winter. “The assignments have to be done well inadvance of their being published,” The Chief said. But,this time, I fooled the weather and The Chief. You see,on the spur of the moment, I found a day when a littlesunshine was peeking out from under the clouds andthe temperature was actually endurable…like all theway up to 30°.It was a Saturday. I awoke, sawthat little bit of sun and decidedthat this was the day I was goingto catch a ray or two driving toPittsburgh PA to explore musicstores. It worked and, although it wasn’t the warmestGuitar Center1020 Park Manor Blvd.Pittsburgh, PA 15205of days, at least there was a little brightness. I even gotto wear my shades on the two-hour drive there. (Well,I had them on for about five minutes, but that stillcounts.)I arrived in “the Steel City” with no idea where thestores were, but, fortunately, the handy dandy GPSknew much more than a mere mortal ever could. I hadno idea how big Pittsburgh is; it took an hour for me togo across town to get to each store. But, I found someinteresting places, nice people and learned more than Ineeded to know about starter electric guitars. That wasmy assignment, you see: to buy a starter electric guitar,ostensibly for my grandson.This sleuthing assignment began at GuitarCenter. Upon walking in, my first feel of theplace was that they were going to search meto see what I was packin’. There were two setsof doors and no signs or anything…no color.It was a bit strange. It was just the feel I gotwalking in.I walked through one set of doors and cameupon the other (not that unusual, you mightsay) but, at the second set of doors, I cameacross a desk area where there was a younglady sitting with her cell phone in hand. Shewas doing something other than greetingcustomers. She did not greet me but onlylooked; after a moment of silence, I initiatedthe conversation, saying “Hi.” She shot a blanklook back at me, offering no verbal response.Then, I said, “I am looking for starter electric32APRIL 2013