Work Hard, Paid Less - Assistant Manager Music & Arts Employee Review

4.0
Aug 10, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It is a relatively stress-free job for nine months out of the year. It's easy to get time off when you need it and the vendor discounts are great if you are a musician. Most of the employees are easy to get along with and drama free.

Cons

However, the other three months when "rental season" hits prepare for inane phone shopping that misleads the customers into thinking rentals are only $19.99 when they really have to spend $75 to get the instrument and all the accessories. Then you have to deal with mad customers. The upper management has NO IDEA what really goes on in the stores. They implement the most unconventional rules and ideas to make the company "succeed", but they do not work and just end up costing the company money in the long run.

Explore other reviews about Music & Arts

5.0
May 18, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Perks and hours were balanced

Cons

Commission structure could be better

2.0
May 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Teachers and sales employees who actually work in retail locations tend to be passionate & knowledgeable about music. Stores open later in day (11am-8pm weekdays) which is nice if you're a night owl or hate waking up early. Good employee discounts on products.

Cons

Inflexible corporate policies & attempts to standardize procedures across stores in wildly different markets makes it impossible for store-level management & employees to deliver well on expectations of upper management & customers. Store managers who work in store full time have no real authority, influence, or decision-making power, whereas district managers (who visit each location once a month at best) have to pass on orders from even higher level management that may have never even stepped foot in the store. They will start you at as close to legal minimum wage as they can get by location, and even the hourly pay for store managers is absolutely criminal compared to the amount of work & complexity of operations required. Commission structure is also highly flawed.

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