Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

As much as I want to applaud them for announcing hiring, I can only look at the article with doubt and cynicism. In the comments section, someone mentions that GM promised to hire a lot more somewhere else and never did. I wonder how many they've laid off recently, and also what kind of salary range, benefits, and especially union memberships they plan to support.

I've been overall supportive of GM with their "bailout" loan, but that doesn't mean I love the company or even remotely believe they have the best intentions with this new facility. They were extremely vague about the point of the facility or the hiring.

Are they firing a whole lot of other tech people who are maybe making more somewhere else? This is among my biggest concerns. If I recall correctly, another company did that, maybe IBM? Cant remember, but they basically closed a huge office in one city to open one in another, offering them the opportunity to break up the union, get rid of all well paid employees, and replace them at the new location with much lower paid employees, many under temp and contractor positions so no benefits needed to be paid.

I would read the comments section with much cynicism. Most of the people who post there are morons.

These are non-union "company" jobs. Of course the company is free to lay-off, fire or replace these workers as it sees fit. It is also free to hire contractors, part-timers or full-time people as it sees fit. I have first-hand experience with this. But seeing how many IT jobs go unfilled due to lack of qualified people, I would guess that most of these jobs will be full-time, well-paid positions with very good benefits.

One thing I do know, companies only want to hire, positive, excited non-cynical people. If you have a chip on your shoulder it will be plainly visible within minutes.

jimmydanger wrote:I would read the comments section with much cynicism. Most of the people who post there are morons.

These are non-union "company" jobs. Of course the company is free to lay-off, fire or replace these workers as it sees fit. It is also free to hire contractors, part-timers or full-time people as it sees fit. I have first-hand experience with this. But seeing how many IT jobs go unfilled due to lack of qualified people, I would guess that most of these jobs will be full-time, well-paid positions with very good benefits.

One thing I do know, companies only want to hire, positive, excited non-cynical people. If you have a chip on your shoulder it will be plainly visible within minutes.

Austin is a wonderful city! Perfect for IT guys that are musicians on the side! If I were to relocate thats where I would go. It gets Hot and the traffic is bad. Other than that its awesome. They have a street in Austin
6th street! On the weekends they shut down the street and it becomes ONE BADASS PARTY! Bands EVERYWHERE! You just stroll down the street with a cold one in your hand. As your walking you might hear a band playing on top of a 4 story building (like the Beatles did) You find the door walk up the stairs onto the roof on a Beautiful DRY Austin evening they'll have 2 bars and a band playing your favorite songs! My favorite City on the planet! Austin doesn't have the humidity we have down here in h-town. Oh and their motto is "Keep Austin Weird"

I've heard nothing but good things about Austin, and I'm sure there are a lot of young people there, which no doubt influenced GM's decision. Young people have a better grip on technology; and lots of musicians are also IT people, so it really is a smart move.

jimmydanger wrote:I would read the comments section with much cynicism. Most of the people who post there are morons.

These are non-union "company" jobs. Of course the company is free to lay-off, fire or replace these workers as it sees fit. It is also free to hire contractors, part-timers or full-time people as it sees fit. I have first-hand experience with this. But seeing how many IT jobs go unfilled due to lack of qualified people, I would guess that most of these jobs will be full-time, well-paid positions with very good benefits.

One thing I do know, companies only want to hire, positive, excited non-cynical people. If you have a chip on your shoulder it will be plainly visible within minutes.

That's interesting, really.

In my area, IT people are freeking everywhere. Most companies only hire contractor positions now, and just change IT guys like diapers every 6 months - year. There's tons of IT schools in the area, and there's several technology 'hubs' - lots of tech companies, which you would think would be more competitive for them, not us. But as it stands, I'm making $25k less than the national average for a network administrator, and should I leave my job, there would be a line out the door of people willing to replace me, for probably less too.. considering most of them a bussing tables are just unemployed.

Glad austin is doing better..

(edit), oh it's worth mentioning that my area is probably 5-10% higher cost of living than the national average. We have almost no middle class left because of the wage disparities in the whole region.

I love Austin too and I would relocate there in a heartbeat, but just some things to note, coming from a friend who used to play there a lot.

It's changed and it's pretty overrun with musicians, and my friend told me that a number of music clubs have shut down and he isn't getting the amount of gigs he used to.

Do your homework and go check out the city and talk to the people.

I was there in 2007, so apparently, it's changed a lot.

Chaeya

GM . . . LOL

Austin used to hop especially the music scene. Got overrun by damn cheap assed hippies.
Hard to spend money in clubs and concerts when your on welfare or "disability" just because your too lazy to work.

sanshouheil wrote:GM . . . LOL

Austin used to hop especially the music scene. Got overrun by damn cheap assed hippies.
Hard to spend money in clubs and concerts when your on welfare or "disability" just because your too lazy to work.

Kind of like Cheech and Chong Man!

I have watched this a thousand times and it keeps getting funnier EVERYTIME!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ea4FQH3AII

I lived In Austin in the late 70's and was just back there visiting Family last May. The town has become overrun with yuppies. That's not a bad thing, BUT, it drove up the price of living... Downtown has become an Eliteist club...(Jeff you mentioned 6th street... I used to hang there a lot...but now its a money-black-hole. Everything is expensive and they are pitching an image of what 'used to be"

Its no Surprise that GM moved to Texas. The IT market here is deemed a "best shore" opportunity. Kramer, you aren't alone , falling behind national averages.

My advice to young IT-minded careers...get in with GM for about 2-3 years and then bail and look for an IT company (GM is an Auto company) . (Unless you like working for the auto industry)


This is not to screw over GM, but to enhance your career opps as an IT specialist. You'll get brokered and pimped for lucrative contracts (assuming you 're good at what you do).

PaperDog wrote:I lived In Austin in the late 70's and was just back there visiting Family last May. The town has become overrun with yuppies. That's not a bad thing, BUT, it drove up the price of living... Downtown has become an Eliteist club...(Jeff you mentioned 6th street... I used to hang there a lot...but now its a money-black-hole. Everything is expensive and they are pitching an image of what 'used to be"

Its no Surprise that GM moved to Texas. The IT market here is deemed a "best shore" opportunity. Kramer, you aren't alone , falling behind national averages.

My advice to young IT-minded careers...get in with GM for about 2-3 years and then bail and look for an IT company (GM is an Auto company) . (Unless you like working for the auto industry)


This is not to screw over GM, but to enhance your career opps as an IT specialist. You'll get brokered and pimped for lucrative contracts (assuming you 're good at what you do).

You think it will last 3 years ?

I don't.

We'll see I guess.