Post tagged with

BILLY GIBONS

Making It | Daniel Wollock’s First Flight Music

For every East Village business that’s opening or closing, dozens are quietly making it. Here’s one of them: First Flight Music.

Dan Wollock, First Flight Music, with Billy Gibbons, ZZ TopShira GoldbergDaniel Wollock of First Flight Music, with ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.

While the East Village is a Rock ‘n’ Roll Mecca, there aren’t many places where you can tuck away and play the hell out of a some bongos, or scratch out some high chords on an electric guitar, without really annoying the neighbors. There are no such auditory conundrums to battle when within the 1,500 square-feet of First Flight Music on 174 First Ave. “We insulated the space as best as we could, and we don’t teach after 8pm, so the landlord accepts it.” says owner Daniel Wollock about being on of the few places in the city that is able to teach drum lessons, and that also provides rehearsal space for bands that need some practice time.

While it’s nice to keep the neighbors happy, Mr. Wollock’s creative kindness also extends to all levels of musicians, including the unskilled. A sound room was built so people can try out instruments in private without having to showcase their skills (or non-skills) for all to hear. “Music stores are a great atmosphere to show off in, but the sound room is for people who don’t want to have to deal with the social stigma of not having skills yet. They can sit there all day and play until it feels right. I just keep handing them guitars until they are happy.”

We spoke to Mr. Wollock about how he’s managed to keep rocking and rolling since 1995.

Q.

How long have you been in the neighborhood?

A.

Seventeen and a half years. At that time, the East Village was under-served, but also a place where most musicians were living. Before me, this space was Pete’s Spice Shop. When I found it, it was a dark, dirty, hole in the wall. My father and I built it into a store.

Q.

What was your plan when opening a musical instrument shop?

A.

I spent most of my adult life building motion picture and television scenery. Guitars and music was always a sideline. When I developed a problem with my feet and had to have surgery on both of them, I was in wheelchair for several years. It was then that I kind of reinvented myself as a musical instrument dealer. I had always bought and sold guitars as a hobby and I started studying them more when I was laid up.

Q.

What’s a work day like for you?

A.

It is multi-faceted. I’m buying new products from distributors, buying used products from customers who walk-in, I’m searching the Internet and Craigslist, wherever and however I can, for stuff. 40% of our business is sales and that includes rental space. Another 40% has comes from teaching and the rest is [revenue from] repairs.

Q.

There are a lot of guitar shops in the East Village now, how do you stand out?

A.

More recent types of musical instrument stores are guitar only or vintage only. We decided along the way to be more of a universal musical store that handles a little bit of everything. We have maracas and hand drums, percussions, drum sticks, drum heads, woodwind reeds and mouthpieces. We carry a lot of the things that most stores don’t carry unless you’re a store like Sam Ash. We’re also for the little kid in need of a small inexpensive guitar, or mouthpieces for a clarinet, saxophone or trumpet. We have the stuff the typical rock n roll store won’t have, but then we have that stuff too. We’re not the trendy boutique store, but we’re for sure not corporate. Read more…