Friday 25 July 2008

Music To Shop By

David Jones Department Store in Sydney employs pianists to serenade shoppers. This elderly couple were enjoying a rest and the music. The piano is in one of my favourite sections - the handbags department! This painist told me she has been working at DJs for 20 years.

Have you come across any musicians in department stores or other unlikely places?

16 comments:

  1. When I was little, Sally, MUm used take my sister & I into DJs every Christmas, to listen to the staff choir sing Christmas Carols...it was quite early, about 8.15, before the store opened.That was back in the days when everyone got dressed-up to go into town & I also remember having to stand in the train because of crowding, & trying to reach something to hold on to.

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  2. That's so sweet with the old couple sitting there. Glad DJ's has kept a lot of its tradition.

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  3. Yes! Macy's in Herald Square in Manhattan had someone quite famous playing the piano for an afternoon there years ago. & I can't remember his name! They have also had others do so just for the customers entertainment.
    This looks lovely!

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  4. There was a guy playing the piano in the Atlanta airport when I was there on my layover to Rio de Janeiro. I had a lot of time to kill so it was nice to just hang out and listen to him for awhile!

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  5. This corner with the calm change “tagada poum poum” in big stores

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  6. First, my apologies for a bit of cut and paste commenting. I have been doing the rounds via Bloglines and looking at all the pictures from my favourite photo blogs, but haven’t been leaving comments. Generally, I try to comment as much as I can (I know how good it is for ‘morale’ to know that someone is out there appreciating them), but after the birth of my second son, I am a bit knackered to think up something witty and insightful on the hop. Thus the resort to Control+C and Control+P!

    Kris from Hobart, Tasmania.

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  7. Hi Sally, re ABC Wednesday
    check out my blog for details of how to join, then e-mail me if interested

    denise dot nesbitt at bt internet dot com

    Dx

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  8. Sally, there is a chap down in Bowral called Springer who owns a swathe of the town. Old Man Springer can be found in The Springer Arcade playing a piano similar to the one in your photo. His son brings him out and sets him up. The old chap really enjoys himself.

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  9. What a lovely idea. I've never heard of this. Most department stores blare out loud music - or Musac, is it called?

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  10. The interplay between the performer and listener is really beautiful. Mind you, is that a locked box I can see in the box - is that Davey Jones' locker?

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  11. j'aimerais bien faire mes courses dans un magasin où il y a une pianiste, cela doit être sympathique. est ce que les gens achètent plus de chose ?

    I do my shopping in a store where there is a pianist, it must be nice. is what people are buying more thing?

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  12. This could also be a scene out of many Nordstrom stores. Love the ethereal quality of this photo!

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  13. a wonderful concept. in mumbai we have piped music in malls except for certin special days when there are bands playing live music.

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  14. The lady sitting down, what she is wearing reminds me of DJ's uniform. It's similar isn't it?

    Is she a great DJ fan? hehe..

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  15. We used to have a pianist in the Victoria Centre shopping mall, but they sacked him about 6 months ago. It was a shame as everyone liked him. They just did it to save money.

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  16. Caba - ah, yes. We used to do two big shopping trips to town a year: one for 2 winter outfits and one for 2 summer outfits! I think Mum was pretty radical though and abandoned the gloves! Much to the chagrin of her step-mother I think.

    kris - no worries!

    denise: Thanks. I don't think I have my act together to join in right now. I'll see how things go...

    jilly - yep, muzak

    chick - I think DJs has the same slightly more upmarket image that Nordstrom does.

    keropok: Yes! How observant. It is a houndstooth check which certainly was the DJs scema....not sure if it still is.

    gail's man - grrrrrrrr....bean-counters.

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