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Josh Balster |
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Hidden Treasure |
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7/11/06 |
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Music is my Plan 9 to Get Away. |
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Most people;s hidden treasure is a place where they can get away and relax. Well, mine is a little different. It's a place where you can shop for music. The store is located on 3012 West Cary Street in Richmond, Virginia. The name of the store is Plan 9 Music. It is named after a crazy, off-the-wall movie by Ed Wood called Plan 9 from outer Space, which definitely sums up the store. Plan 9 Music isn't your typical music store. They are not afraid to be different. This is why I like to spend time there. |
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When I first moved to Richmond, I listen to electrical music, which is hard to find at a normal music store but then, a friend showed me Plan 9 Music. They carried all the music I like and much more. Everything from country to blues, from reggae to soul, and if you would like to know if they carry your music, you can log on to www.plan9music.com. One reason I like going so much is that they carry a wide variety of music. I could spend hours on end just looking though the CDs for new music. The store is independently owned, which means they can carry any kind of music, not just the top ten titles that will definitely sell. Most people go to Plan 9 Music to sell back or trade-in their old CDs, movies, video games, and records. |
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It is not hard to spot Plan 9 Music when I'm walking down Cary Street, because the outside windows are covered with posters supporting local bands. As soon as I would walk though the doors, there are long rows of hundreds of CDs. It is a little overwhelming, which is why I make a list of everything I want before I go. Almost like a grocery list, but for CDs. The inside walls are covered with band and old movie posters. The ceiling is tall, so there is platy of wall space, which is completely covered by posters. They always have a new band or group playing over the speakers to keeps me in the mood for shopping.One thing about independent music stores that I've noticed is that their prices are usually higher than the average music store. This isn't the case with Plan 9 Music. Their prices, for the most part, are the same, but on the used CDs prices are much cheaper. One whole side of the store is just used CDs, so there is a good chance they will have that CD I want. |
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The great thing about the used section is that it is consistently changing because people are always trading CDs in. I like to go there once a week just to check on the new trade-ins, and to see if I can get a deal. A great feature the store offers is that one can to listen to any CD, new or used, before you buy it. You just bring the CD you want to the listening booth in the back and they will let you listen as long as you want. At the listening bother they have two personal CD players that one can listen to there music. As one is listening to the music, to keep ones eyes entertained, the back wall is completely covered in posters of famous people from well known bands. Being able to listen to music before I buy it is awesome when you are trying to find new music and you don't want to take a chance of buying something bad. |
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As much as I love music, I love movies more, and Plan 9 Music also has plenty of them. They have a section in the back of the store filled with movies, new and used. The reason I like their movie selection is that they carry hard-to-find titles. Some of my favorite sections they have are independent movie and old horror films. This is great because it means I don't have to order them off the Internet. For example, if you were looking for a Hard-to-find foreign film, and they don't carry it, Plan 9 Music would order it for you with no extra charge. All the movies are in alphabetical order under their genera. It makes it much easier when trying to find a movie. The movie section is growing every week with the new shipments. Plan 9 Music is always up-to-date. |
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Among the many reasons I like to shop at Plan 9 Music, there is one thing about it that stands above the rest, and that is their employees. Everybody that works there knows so much about music and can help you with almost any question you could have. Even if I have no money, I still like to go there just to hang out and talk to the employees about music. They know what the next big band is, and always suggest new bands to check out. Shawnee Custalow, a regular costumer at Plan 9 Music, likes to hang out and shop there. She said that she goes because the sales people are very knowledgeable, and the used CD prices are unbeatable. |
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So when I'm looking for a place to get away from the stress of the day, or if I just want to hang out, Plan 9 Music takes me there. If you are looking for the CD store that goes above and beyond the average music store, then you should definitely check out Plan 9 Music. |
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Works Cited |
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Custalow, Shawnee. Personal Interview. 3 July 2006. |
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Home |
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Visit Plan 9 Muisic |
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