Yet another job that pays more than engineering....

[fossiltooth]

Customer Service at the AT&T Wireless store: $36/hr.

I doubt it's the starting rate, but apparently a very young person could be making that kind of money quickly with a basic knowledge of current celluar phone models and plan options, paired with the ability to speak english fluently. I know several very good audio engineers whose rates are lower than this, and some truly great ones whose rates are barely higher.

While we're on the subject, it also seems that most folks doing staff live sound gigs make less than the bartenders they work alongside. That doesn't seem quite right to me either. Here's how I see it:

While live sound is somewhat a rare, highly specialized and demanding function where reliability is key, a Bartender's skills are only somewhat specialized, reliability is less essential, and they are found in far greater numbers than audio personnel.

For instance, at a small venue, if one bartender doesn't show up, people can still get drinks. But, If the sole soundguy doesn't show up, there's no concert. In a medium to large venue, if one bartender doesn't show up, people can still get drinks. If the monitor mixer doesn't show up, everyone is pretty screwed as far as starting on time and putting on a decent show.

Oh well. What can you do? Strike?

[rwc]

No one is worth more than someone else in the field is willing to work for.

How many bartenders are willing to start working for free?

People grow up "dreaming" to be an audio engineer. I don't think anyone dreams of being a cellphone salesman..

[cgarges]

Customer Service at the AT&T Wireless store: $36/hr.

I can't stop laughing at that. And crying at the same time. I can think of few companies (maybe Time Warner) with worse custoimer service than AT&T. I can't believe those fuckers are making upwards of $36 an hour.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[thethingwiththestuff]

perhaps they make so much as to keep them quiet about their bosses' improper relationship with the National Security Agency, or because of the difficulty they must have sidestepping the issue of domestic surveillance when asked.

[MoreSpaceEcho]

uuuuhhh....thethingwiththestuff?....there's a fleet of black SUVs and really serious looking dudes in suits outside your house

[thethingwiththestuff]

dammit! i knew this day would come!


::yells, hermetic libertarian rantings out window, blows own brains out::

[Knights Who Say Neve]

perhaps they make so much as to keep them quiet about their bosses' improper relationship with the National Security Agency, or because of the difficulty they must have sidestepping the issue of domestic surveillance when asked.

AT&T are trying to buy (excuse me, "lobby") themselves legislation right now to cover their asses. Check out eff.org for details.

[clintsteele]

No one is worth more than someone else in the field is willing to work for.

How many bartenders are willing to start working for free?

People grow up "dreaming" to be an audio engineer. I don't think anyone dreams of being a cellphone salesman..

Actually starting today I am now officially "dreaming" of becoming a cellphone service rep.

I'll even do it for $35 an hour.

[Mane1234]

It took me 15 years to make 36 bucks an hour and I work in healthcare and I'm credentialed.....Must be time to go sell phones or something....

[Jeff White]

Porn still pays better.

[rwc]

I think this is an isolated incident. I doubt anywhere in the country you can walk in, and become a cellphone salesman for $35/hr.

If that were true no teenage kid would go to mcdonalds... they'd invest in a suit and become a cellphone salesman.

[;ivlunsdystf]

In the Wall Street Journal this summer I read a whole cover story about how teenagers are hard to hire nowadays, at least on the east coast, for the traditional 'summer jobs' in retail and lifeguarding and whatnot. The problem this summer was so bad that there were agencies importing young workers from eastern european countries and training them as lifeguards to work in the US for the summer and then go back home.

I think it has to do with kids being so busy with sports and other resume-padding busynesses because they feel so much pressure to be studious and get into good colleges. That's what the WSJ thought.

Then with unemployment being generally low right now, I guess it's temporarily worth AT/T to hire salespeople at a pretty high wage. Wait until the cycle reverses, though: Those 36/hr employees will be out looking for work, much in the same way that realtors and mortgage brokers used to six figures (in big cities) are now suddenly living off their credit cards. Remember when Circuit City fired most of its established employees last year (excuse me, I mean 'laid off') and then rehired them at much lower wages?

Bartenders: I bet it's friggin' hard to hire and keep good bartenders in the average nightspot. That, and given the cash nature of bars, I bet it's a huge pain in the ass to watch them and keep them from skimming cash out of the system. On the other hand, like others have noted here, there are relatively many smart and cool (and some not so smart or cool) people willing to run sound and monitors for much less money, just because it seems like a fun thing to do. But what do I know.

As usual, the open market/capitalist situation presents a never-ending variety of baffling paradoxes.

[8th_note]

Customer Service at the AT&T Wireless store: $36/hr.

This represents a base rate plus sales commission. If you're a good salesman you can routinely earn $36/hour. Look in your local paper at the help wanted ads for salesmen. People with good sales skills are in extremely high demand. For every cell phone salesman earning $36/hour there are a dozen slacker kids behind the counter earning $11/hour but there's usually one or two stars in each store that make good money.

Remember when Circuit City fired most of its established employees last year (excuse me, I mean 'laid off') and then rehired them at much lower wages?

Interestingly, Circuit City is sucking air. If you want a good laugh look at a Circuit City stock chart for the last few years. I know several people who worked for Circuit City, including my daughter, and when they got rid of their best salesmen their performance went downhill in a hurry. In fact my daughter, who is in college now, got a nice check a few months ago from a class action settlement with CC because they screwed their employees out of overtime. This company is probably a business case study of how to run your business into the ground by treating your employees like shit.

Anyway, I have boundless respect for anyone who is making a living in the recording business. I can't think of another profession other than maybe artist, actor, or musician, where it is harder to earn a living wage.

[percussion boy]

No one is worth more than someone else in the field is willing to work for.

My most recent half-time "job" as a postgraduate psychotherapy intern (with a master's degree) paid $300 (not $3,000) per month . . . before deductions. Psyc interns need licensing hours, so the market treats us however it pleases.

Welcome to 21st century America . . . If you want a job too many other people want, you may have to jump through 10,000 hoops.

ps -- I think being a great bartender is not a simple job at all; sort of half artist and half psychologist, just like a great recording engineer . . .

[chris harris]

a really good paycheck is only one of the advantages of collective bargaining. they also have lots of vacation/holiday time and great health benefits.... for now... until the CWA rolls over.