BuffettNews.com

Air Drummer Just Too Authentic
Wednesday, March 16, 2005


An Iowa gas-station attendant has drummed himself right out of a job.

Avid "air drummer" Christopher Garcia started work at a Cedar Rapids Sinclair service station (search) last summer, but his hobby soon drew customer complaints, reports the Des Moines Register.

The problem? While most air drummers use imaginary drumsticks to flail away at invisible drums, Garcia's sticks were real.

"My customers were feeling threatened by it," manager Judi Moorman testified at a recent unemployment-benefits hearing. "They didn't feel comfortable that these sticks were flying around. And, you know, he would get rather close to people."

Moorman played security tapes to show Garcia, 46, drumming while behind the register or walking around the store, headphones constantly on. Shoplifting soared during his solos, she added.

"My drums are not a joke; they are a part of me," Garcia protested. "People used to come into the store and say, 'Dude, you're so good with those drumsticks.'"

Moorman said she fired Garcia after he refused to leave the sticks at home.


"I never go anywhere without my drumsticks," Garcia added. "I guess the best way to put it — and it's going to sound silly — is that they're like my pacifier. I always have them in my hands. I do. I do."

One judge already refused Garcia's claim for unemployment benefits, which he is appealing.

a1aara wrote:One judge already refused Garcia's claim for unemployment benefits, which he is appealing.

Ok, he's a gas station attendant filing for unemployment. I've worked a gas station so I know he was probably making about $10 tops.

Exactly where is he getting the money for all these legal fees? Better yet, unemployment on such a low paying job would barely cover the parking costs at the courthouse.

Someone should spend a little more time looking for a job and not so much time trying to get a "free" check.

I always wondered why there were so many jokes about drummers! Thanks for clearing that up!

I find playing drums with my fingers on a table is a great way to annoy people..............

IsleReef wrote:I find playing drums with my fingers on a table is a great way to annoy people..............

Or simply typing on BN...

Sorry, I just finished the first round(s) of the day and I'm just getting started. This oculd be a long night.

land_shark3 wrote:

a1aara wrote:One judge already refused Garcia's claim for unemployment benefits, which he is appealing.

Ok, he's a gas station attendant filing for unemployment. I've worked a gas station so I know he was probably making about $10 tops.

Exactly where is he getting the money for all these legal fees? Better yet, unemployment on such a low paying job would barely cover the parking costs at the courthouse.

Someone should spend a little more time looking for a job and not so much time trying to get a "free" check.

unemployment isnt free it comes out of your wage!

While driving through Bay Area traffic one fine Saturday afternoon I looked up into my reare view mirror and saw a car bearing down on me quickly. The woman driving was playing a hard drum solo (with sticks) on her steering wheel! She nearly hit us but it was hysterical.