THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 13, 1996 TAG: 9603120114
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: EARNING A LIVING IN VIRGINIA BEACH
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
As guitar players, Michael Mosgrove and Chris Ambrosino know first hand how difficult - if not impossible - it is to find last-minute rehearsal space or even buy a new set of guitar strings after 9 p.m.
That's why Mosgrove, 37, and Ambrosino, 25, opened Jam Locker Music in January.
The duo wanted to provide space for the teenager who wants to jam at all hours, for the serious music student who needs a place to study and take lessons and for those who want to rent recording studio time in a relaxed atmosphere.
``There aren't many places where kids have the opportunity to jam on a drum set or sing through a real mike,'' said Mosgrove, the company president and a guitar player with The Barflys. ``Then, for the (longtime) musician we're taking away the hassles.''
Jam Locker Music has a set of house drums, amps and microphones. Musicians are encouraged to come in with their instruments, plug in and start jamming. There's no worry of packing and unpacking equipment and there are no noise restrictions.
``This is a multi-faceted music facility,'' said Mosgrove. ``We've put everything under one roof.''
Jam Locker Music is housed in a 5,000-square-foot building off Princess Anne Road in the Princess Anne Shoppes and features four small rooms for music lessons, a 24-track digital recording studio, and a good-sized rehearsal room.
The men have incorporated many features into the business.
For instance, Peter Mathers fixes, restores and builds guitars in a room designated as the ``Tremelo Bar & Grill.''
Then there's the room where Mike Holland of Holland Amp will build, restore and repair amps on site.
A third aspect of the business, Drum Works, is run by drummer Kenny Cross, who is retiring this year from the Atlantic Fleet Band and will be doing restoration, repairs and building drum sets as well as providing drum lessons.
Blake Wallace of Fast Trax Recording is the man in charge of the recording room and all the equipment involved.
With all these services under one roof, the men hope to cater to young musicians as well as those who have been playing for years.
``We have a great location where the kids can be dropped off for lessons and parents don't have to worry about the atmosphere. Who knows, we may even build some players where there weren't any,'' said Mosgrove, who has played with The Barflys for 11 years.
The open space of the ``commons'' area, where there are two couches and a TV, is also used for displaying instruments on consignment. That's another aspect of the business - musicians can sell their used equipment or trade for other equipment.
The men also have plans to offer one-on-one instruction in acoustic guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, bass guitar, piano, drums and percussion, banjo and mandolin.
The men sell guitar strings, picks, straps, cables and public address systems and have plans to begin a musicians' referral service.
They are also interested in inviting groups, no matter what limited musical ties they may have, to come and practice, hold seminars or even concerts there.
From jazz and chorus buffs to rock 'n' rollers, the owners hope to cater to everyone.
``We're not heavy into sales,'' said Ambrosino, the vice president and guitar player for the band Get Big. ``We want this to be a mecca for musicians, if you will, a place where they can come and hang out.''
Originally, the two men planned to open a rental rehearsal studio and just ``sell some strings.''
When their current location became available, the amount of space spurred them into thinking bigger and adding things like the rehearsal rooms.
Since February, they have reconstructed the retail space to include black sound-proof walls and neon signs. The hours, usually 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., are set for the working man who has to practice late at night or the student who can't practice drums at home after school.
Mosgrove and Ambrosino met while working for a local music company. The men knew they wanted to go into business but had no idea the business would branch out to include what it does now. Each had family members invest in the effort because, then, they didn't have the collateral banks wanted in order to lend them money.
Mosgrove and Ambrosino share many traits. Aside from a love of music and guitars, the two have both played the New York City music circuit. In fact, at different times, they both practiced at the New York City rehearsal studio, after which they fashioned their own business.
During their off-hours, they still play in their respective bands and have no intention of quitting.
Both play electric guitar but have never played together, other than impromptu jam sessions in the store's common area. MEMO: A grand opening, featuring Lewis McGhee, Tammy Gardner, B.J. Leiderman,
Kenny and The Crabs and Sea Of Souls, will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday,
at Jam Locker Music, 4402 Princess Anne Road, Suite 105. The phone
number is 467-7171.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Chris Ambrosino, left, and Michael Mosgrove opened Jam Locker Music
in a 5,000-square-foot building off Princess Anne Road in the
Princess Anne Shoppes and features four small rooms for music
lessons, a 24-track digital recording studio, and a good-sized
rehearsal room.
by CNB