Jammin' in the Apple Store
Above are some pics of Jiri, and Sebi, and me playing blues for about an hour under the stairs in the Shinsaibashi Apple Store. One of the other great ideas Steve Jobs had was to create the Apple Stores. I remember when he launched the first store -- all employees stopped what they were doing in Cupertino and watched his presentation. Steve gave a very cool, and impassioned presentation as he spelled out his vision for retail. Steve was certainly right about his vision concerning the success of the Stores to help drive the brand forward. They have really become community hubs around the world for local creatives (as well as business people, medical professionals, etc.) to meet and share their talents and the way they use Apple products to amplify their creativity and do better work or create great art. I have presented or played in Apple Stores all over Japan, the US, and the Regent Street Store in London. Hope to be back at the London store this November. I am thankful to Apple for allowing me to present so often in their stores.
I gave my first presentation in an Apple Store in Palo Alto just after that store opened while I was still working in Cupertino around 2002 I think. The PA store was one Steve would often stroll into as he lived just a few blocks away (I also lived in Palo Alto a few blocks east of Steve's house). It was very cool to see Steve hanging out there in the store on University Ave with a big smile on his face talking to "fans" in a low-key way who'd come up to speak to him. I vividly remember one sunny day when Steve was there leaning against the software shelf in the center of the store just taking it all in. Most people may not have known who he was, but many did and they all said "hi Steve" as they passed and some stopped to chat with him. I remember him asking something like "what do think of the store?" to some people who gathered around; the people seemed thrilled to be sharing what they thought. Obviously Steve could be really tough in meetings and in business in general. He did not suffer fools happily that is for sure. But I will remember Steve for that proud, gracious, and low-key guy who used to hangout in his local Apple Store with customers as if he was just another Apple fan. Anyway, I really just wanted to say that I am very thankful for these cool spaces called Apple Stores. We have Steve Jobs to thank for these too.