Harmonica Sunbeam Blog

As you have probably heard by now I am no longer working at La Nueva Escuelita. After 12 years of good and bad memories I decided to call it quits. On April 4 and 11th I didn't show up to work so basically you can say it was job abandonment. Some people will argue that it was an uprofessional thing to do and I just may agree to some extent. However, the number of unprofessional and shady events that I have endured there as an employee completely outnumber what I did. For quite some time there was a special place in my heart for Big Ben (my boss) despite his ongoing antics to keep a negative and toxic work environment in full swing. It bothered me that I worked for someone who would only communicate with you when HE wanted something. It also bothered me that he eventually hired a teen-ager for a supposed Vice-President position and asked us to go through him in regards to ideas, complaints and etc. What the hell did he know and why would I lower myself to seeking information from someone who had no real authority when it came to pertinent issues and requests. In fact, I truly admired the kid but I think he has picked up too many of Ben's habits and ways causing him to morph into a two-faced individual w/no real knowledge of how much he has changed. Despite the fact that the numbers had fallen at the T-dance over the last couple of years, Ben refused to listen to his faithful Sunday employees (Relentless, Sugga Pie and myself) and let alone his paying customers. There is only way and that is his way no matter how insane or disastrous it may
turn out. In addition to the lack of communication from mgmt at Escuelita, I also felt that I was being taken for granted and it was more than likely assumed that I would never actually leave. Attention, advertising and lots of money was/is paid to "would-be" performers in hopes of garnering younger audiences meanwhile budget cuts were given to myself and DJ Relentless. Once Relentless left due to all the rampant foolishness, I was there to fend for myself and it eventually went downhill very fast. A dj was hired that I did not feel was ready to work a attention-involved show such as the T-dance. My thoughts on this new employee were completely ignored and from day one he had no idea what worked well for the show. Granted he is a nice person but people shouldnt be hired on their niceness but on their qualifications. In February I celebrated my 12 year anniversary there but the audience was none the wiser. I had the longest running party there (under the same name) yet there were no advertisements,decorations and dare I mention the word BONUS.I managed to survive that shade-filled evening but it was at that point I knew I had to prepare my escape from Witch Mountain. I could go on with numerous stories of unfairness and drama but Im in a better place now and would just like to move on with my life. Escuelita did not make Harmonica nor did Harmonica make Escuelita. It was a wonderful marriage for some time and then the luster and magic wore off. I did what I had to do because I could no longer work for someone who didnt appreciate or communicate effectively with me. Anyone who knows Ben will surely agree. He has his moments of genuine kindness but they are few and far between. I only wish the club the best since I do have friends who are still gainfully employed there. I am not taking this as an opportunity to bash the club or mgmt but just to tell my side of the story before it gets all distorted and filled with untruths. In closing, I would like to thank all my friends and fans who supported me throughout the years there and I would just like you to know that this is not the end of Harmonica Sunbeam, this is only the start of a new beginning. Take care and be well.

Adios Escuelita

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