Audio Marketmakers, LLC Your high end audio sales management solution
So what's happened to Audio Marketmakers?
Audio Marketmakers is, FOR NOW, not a functional enterprise insofar as importing into the USA a magnificent stable of products for you to enjoy. I am, for my "nights and weekends job," working once again with retail clients through my Sound Mind Audio-Austin business, and am also in process of securing other lines that I may represent regionally, which will enable me to bring to at least our TX/OK/AR/LA region some of the finest audio products available. As these lines become available to me in a formalized fashion, I will "rebirth" Audio Marketmakers, LLC. If not, I will work my way toward the "day job" of non-profit human services work where I have long been drawn from a Place far deeper than my meager brain can comprehend.
So what happened to Audio Marketmakers, LLC? Short version: Almost instantly after establishing this website, our asset manager had family issues and our back office manager found he had cancer. Family issues are now handled, and that cancer is now safely removed; recovery from surgery and related chemo/radiation treatments now completed. For now it looks as if, until I am able to secure some dependable staff members to take up my slack while I am on the road, Audio Marketmakers may be on what amounts to a temporary holding pattern.
I am going to continue to keep this website open, and comment on where I believe the high end audio business is headed... which I believe is "down for the count" if some very important aspects of its structure and overall model do not change substantially.
Internet pricing pressures; meaningless commentary in anonymous chatrooms from people with their own, often sabotaging, agendas; impersonal emails substituting for real relationships; texting instead of speaking on the telephone...WHAT HAS HAPPENED WHICH HAS MADE THIS ACCEPTABLE IN OUR WORLD? These and other similiar aspects of our social mores are not only polluting the otherwise useful information stream, but depersonalizing entire industries and our whole culture as well. Witness the fact that, in the high end audio business, so many people simply read about gear, see who has the most positive reviews (all positive, or the mags lose advertising revenue, or from anonymous comment-makers whose opinion is NOT YOURS, which is the only opinion that counts once it resides in your listening room), instead of actually auditioning gear!
Same thing with regard to restaurants, as another example...instead of actually visiting a restaurant or forming an actual opinion for themselves they'll go to some site and take the word of WHOMEVER???? All quite different than 30 years ago when products sang, people listened, formed their own real opinions, and purchases were made grounded in THAT, not that of some third-party "expert."
Now, instead of being able to run down to one's local audio shop and hear the latest, most dealers who really loved the stuff are long gone; bled dry of profits by consumers who selfishly considered it their right to purchase whatever, wherever from whomever, at whatever price best suited them, giving no thought to the dedication, commitment to service and support, and depth of knowledge provided by their local dealer....sales went to the lowest bidder, and that was that. No relationship and no face-to-face communication...just emails, chatrooms, and living in front of a computer screen....WHAT HAPPENED TO ACTUALLY LISTENING TO AN AUDIO PRODUCT, OR PARTAKING OF ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE FOR THAT MATTER, WITH A REAL HUMAN BEING WHOSE LIFE WAS DEDICATED TO YOUR SATISFACTION?
Such a shame. Such is our world. Corporate outsourcing of jobs resulting in massive layoffs of local workers who've dedicated their lives to The Man....Shareholders reaping FINANCIAL benefits gained through "efficiency" measures like eliminating or outright stealing employees pensions, when the actual end users -- the source of revenue for all companies -- get lower quality goods and services than could be had if bean counters and selfishness didn't run the show.
Things CAN change, but only if each of us takes responsibilty for our purchasing behavior, our social behavior, and our very way of choosing our actions minute by minute and day by day; having that reflect our values....values that inherently honor those who provide you with what you have and desire. PLEASE ask yourself before EVERY PURCHASE...who am I SERVING with this transaction? Me only? Or MANY others involved with the production and provision of this product or service?
Ever heard the term "Fair Trade?" Look it up and learn. Please. Pass the word....Please.
Our food supply (please watch a movie called Food, Inc.), our audio gear, our clothes...ALL AVAILABLE in QUALITY from QUALITY sources IF WE CHOOSE TO LOOK. SPEAK WITH YOUR WALLETS, PEOPLE!!! Buy organic, buy locally, buy fair trade, buy QUALITY or the lowest-common-denominator mentality will not only continue, it will be all from which most of us will be able to choose.
Enough of us have said "NO" to transfats...now they're gone. Kraft has now said they're removing high fructose corn syrup from their foods. Heinz is now offering organic-ingredient ketchup with SUGAR instead of high fructose corn syrup. KEEP BUYING GOOD STUFF AND WE WILL GET MORE OF IT.
SOLUTIONS!?!?!?! YES! I recommend that you
actually listen to audio gear, or find a dealer you can LOOK IN THE EYE and TRUST to direct you wisely, based on your own needs, budget, and sonic preferences.
PLEASE make certain that ALL of your purchases -- food, clothing, shelter, as well as those discretionary-income purchases like the pieces of your music system -- reflect your concern for quality, fair trade, and fair pricing that benefits ALL involved.
Please begin to look at the world as a collective in which each and every action taken and thought you may have affect global outcomes.
MAKE YOURSELF AWARE BY DOING MORE THAN JUST READING, but if you want some good stuff to read, try these books and authors on for size:
Daniel Quinn's Ishmael, My Ishmael, and The Story of B
Lynn Twist's The Soul of Money
G. Edward Griffin's The Creature from Jekyll Island -- about the Federal Reserve; which is neither Federal nor a reserve
Some interesting videos you may consider worthwhile, too:
V for Vendetta - fictional account of events in a future which is avoidable if we work together to make it so
America: Freedom to Fascism (I can make this one available to you on loan if you'd like for what it costs me to ship it to you) -- a documentary of interesting tidbits regarding the IRS, Federal Reserve, and our overall tax structure
More when I have time. For now, I'm just grateful to have income arriving from my retail operation, and consider myself blessed and thankful that so many of you continue to support That Which Matters Most to you, which supports me and my family in the process!
Love to all who care. Peaceful wishes and prayers of hope for those who don't.
