Anyone worked for Gibson? Bad Experiences?

[blueboss]

I worked for Gibson back in 1997. First big job out of grad school...working as the assistant to the CEO. Sounds like a dream job (since the most important thing in my life at the time was guitars).

My first day on the job, I meet the lady right next to me (she's some marketing relations worker)... she's been there 3 months...loves it, tells me how happy I'm going to be...blah blah blah...

2 hours later I'm checking email and see some crazy stuff.

Since I'm another assistant to the head honcho [HH]...I'm getting copied on many admin emails... The one I just read was to HR from HH...saying "Bring me this [marketing lady's] file right now.... I'm going to review it.... she's going to be terminated...."

HOLY CRAP!!!! I've never seen anyone get fired...not even at McDonald's....!!

The lady gets called into the Vault (HH's cypher-locked office/command center)...and 10 minutes later...she comes out crying. Packs her stuff up...and leaves! Oh Happy Day... what a great first day of work! Maybe we pee in the coffee pot too and watch the Customer Relationships Manager gag!! HEE HAW!! What a GAS!!

WTF is going on here!!

Anyway... that was just the first day. I worked there for 6 months and i got a lot more stories.

Stay tuned for further antics.... (good therapy for me)

 

[bovinehost]

A guitar player I worked with in the late 70s went to work for G!bs*n in Nashville in the 80s. Worked there for years and never bought a Gibson...lost touch with him for a while, but then I do remember him telling me, after it was all over, that if I ever bought a G!bs*n, I was a fool.

 

[koogie2k]

blueboss....don't take this personally. But, this should not be posted in the guitars section. Let alone, airing out the dirty laundry of the competition on this board. Big Poppa (that would be the owner Sterling Ball) has been in this business for many many years and has many many friends who are the competition. So, please understand, this should not be on HIS forum. It puts him in a bad spot and he should not be put in that position.

Don't be surprised if this gets deleted.....as I am sure it might.

However, welcome to the addiction! I certainly like it when we get people signed up on the forum, so stick around.

 

[Big Poppa]

Actually Koogs There are two companies that I could give a rats ass about....Im not namin names.........but heartfelt welcome, Blue boss

What are you doing now?

I have met the owner many years ago. Many people have worked there some for not long. I know that people in this business have been sued by him. I know that Jimmy Daddario won. I know that PRS finally won.

Thats all I have to say.......

 

[edensdad]

That's not what I expected - I figured Koogie called this one

Nice new avatar BP.

 

[koogie2k]

Mainly, I didn't want blueboss to feel un-welcome and posts like that can cause some flammage.

Cool Big Poppa......thanks for the insight.

 

[kevin]

Hey Koog's...how you been my man? Is your brother ready for a JP yet??

 

[Norrin Radd]

I never worked for the-company-that-shall-not-be-named, but I did work for GC during the years that company was dropped, no longer carried, and then picked up again. All I know is, the quality of the product and profit margins were issues for the drop. After the drop was over, there was no appreciable increase in quality, so you go figure.

 

[blueboss]

I thought about it after I posted this... maybe I was out of line.

I was just trying to come up with some half-way interesting material to contribute... and I can talk for hours about my nashville sitcom-like experience.

I'm currently working for an engineering co. in the GPS market... equipment, software, etc... I'm a software engineer..been doing this for the last 6 years.

I swore to never mix hobbies with business again.

I'll keep things mostly professional...so as not to incur the legal wrath of gibby.

Thanks for the warm welcome!!

TRULY APPRECIATED!

 

[Quarter]

There are two companies that I could give a rats ass about....

I'm guessing one of them has the initials M$

And a big welcome to blueboss

 

[Darth Tater]

I do not think your post was out of line, and I'd love to hear more stories.

Unless BP himself says not to post it (since he owns the place..and it looks like he don't mind) don't let anybody else tell you what you can and can't post. Folks shoudn't be speaking for The Boss.

 

[lenny]

I'm guessing one of them has the initials M$

And a big welcome to blueboss

M? as in amps?
I figure F$n#er and G!bS*n are the 2 with the Rats A$$

 

[lenny]

I do not think your post was out of line, and I'd love to hear more stories.

Unless BP himself says not to post it (since he owns the place..and it looks like he don't mind) don't let anybody else tell you what you can and can't post. Folks shoudn't be speaking for The Boss.

+1
people here are pretty passionate and just dont care for the name calling and such, but i didnt see anything wrong with that post either
some people are a bit protective here unless you see that they are a MODerator or someone from customer service take the comments with a grain o' salt,you will notice that BOVINEHOST who IS a moderator didnt say a thing BUT actually urged on the conversation for me that was the sign that this post was OK!
welcome the instruments are AMAZING!!!!!

 

[koogie2k]

lenny....can't argue with that. My reason was, it has happened in the past. No need for me to dredge all that up. It got quite ugly and some people left because of it. I did not want blueboss to leave in case this happened.

Me, protective? Sure, I want a new forumite to contribute and not feel un-welcome...I am guilty...lol....but, I understand where you are coming from.

Blueboss....let 'em rip. Again, Welcome......btw, who ya work for?

Kevin, hope to have one in my bro's hands soon.....

 

[lenny]

lenny....can't argue with that. My reason was, it has happened in the past. No need for me to dredge all that up. It got quite ugly and some people left because of it. I did not want blueboss to leave in case this happened.

Me, protective? Sure, I want a new forumite to contribute and not feel un-welcome...I am guilty...lol....but, I understand where you are coming from.

Blueboss....let 'em rip. Again, Welcome......btw, who ya work for?

Kevin, hope to have one in my bro's hands soon.....

Hey Koogs your one of the Koolest guys around these parts and Being Passionate is something i take seriously !,i know for one i was made to feel very comfy here BUT it took a few times to figure out the players , I hope i get to meet you all in person in Dallas you seem like a stand up kinda guy and I LIKE THAT!! All the best and keep on keepin on!!!,no disrepect was meant by my post to you thats for sure! i dont want the GIANT HUMMER gunnin for me!!! hehehehe like i said just trying to let him know who the players are!

 

[koogie2k]

AAARRRRGGGHHHH....for some reason, my Internet connection is acting up and keep getting booted....lol

lenny...no worries man. I never thought you were disrespectful at all, your cool in my book bro.....I will be in Dallas and look forward to the meeting......as well with the rest of you that I have not met yet...

 

[blueboss]

Well then, let's continue a bit more.... then I need to get some work done !

Here's the beginning...

I was passionate about getting into the guitar industry. I had my girlfriend (now wife) take pictures of me in my one and only suit and I sent resumes all over the country (tried to keep it on the east side of the Mississippi). But as I'm sure you're aware, many music companies are in the California...Seymour Duncan, Ernie Ball, Mesa Boogie, etc... Not much to choose from in my area at the time (Ohio). The only interview I scored was with Gibson for a sales rep. position (I believe it was actually Epiphone). A couple days before the interview, I got a call to see if I'd be interested in an Assistant to the CEO position and if I'd like to interview. HOLY CRAP YES!!!

So scratch the sales rep., we're interviewing with the big wig.

I get to the Gibson building expecting some kind of gold-plated archway lined with 20 ft guitar obelisks! That's how effective the marketing was I guess. I get there and it's just a plain old brick and siding office building with a little blue awning that said Gibson. Almost missed the place.

After greeting the HR person around 9:00am, I'm told I have to complete 3 hours of personality tests and paperwork...AND i haven't even been made a job offer, let alone interviewed with anyone. I plow through the goofy tests with questions like "You're on a business trip, you're in a town where alcohol consumption is frowned upon. You would really like a beer in the privacy of your hotel room, what do you do?"

"That's easy BOSS!, I ask the 2 hookers to pick me up some whiskey while I set up the video camera!" ....had to pencil that answer in myself.


After all that is done I'm tired and hungry and stressed out. I'm told that I will interview with the CEO next. I wait and wait and wait. After 45 mins or more...I finally meet with him. The interview goes fine and he offers me a job. I'm finally feeling pretty elated...and tells me to come back tomorrow and interview with 5 other people to get a feeling for the company.

The next day I interview with the Customer Relationship manager, a product manager, a manufacturing engineer and the Custom Shop product manager (Mike McGuire). The first 3 people kept hinting that it was tough to work here and that I shouldn't pack up my roots too fast. But it was the last person (Mike) that made me make up my mind to try it out. He's a genuinely nice guy and a lot of fun to talk to. I accepted the offer that day and made plans to start there 3 days after graduation.


until next time....

 

[koogie2k]

I'm guessing one of them has the initials M$

And a big welcome to blueboss

M$ = MicroSlob?

Cool so far blueboss....but, I want to see the photo of the one and only suit....lol

 

[blueboss]

Cool so far blueboss....but, I want to see the photo of the one and only suit....lol

Ah sh#t! I had that baby for 6 years... it was too big for me when I bought it and about squeezed my intestines out my arse the last time I ever wore it!! I can't believe how clothes shrink after you get married.

 

[edensdad]

. . .

After greeting the HR person around 9:00am, I'm told I have to complete 3 hours of personality tests and paperwork...AND i haven't even been made a job offer, let alone interviewed with anyone. I plow through the goofy tests with questions like "You're on a business trip, you're in a town where alcohol consumption is frowned upon. You would really like a beer in the privacy of your hotel room, what do you do?"

"That's easy BOSS!, I ask the 2 hookers to pick me up some whiskey while I set up the video camera!" ....had to pencil that answer in myself.


. . .

Been there - that's really funny