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Dance of the Pawn Shop Swindlers

It's Spring Break and the flowers are inthe cup of the chinrest.As if this kind
bloom, but there's no flowered scent to theviolin wasn't wretched enough in playable
rancid air in the red light district. Ashape, the junk before me had been crushed
matted up cat scurries away from a dumpsterand nastily glued back together. Sort of. The
as I pass, making my way across the litteredneck was askew and the top was coming undone
sidewalk to a dirty little shop with aat one side. I can safely say this was the
twitching neon sign, "Pawn Here."As Imost deplorable violin I have ever seen, and
approach the cracked glass counter I senseI've seen a lot of rotten junk in my time.I
other customers' eyes on me. I don't lookforcefully hold in judgement like a bulimic
like I belong here in my designer boots withkeeps from getting sick with company present.
my sweet little 5-year-old son at my side. MyThe shopkeeper inhales, about to launch into
son points timidly at a large rusty knifehis spiel, using pawn shop Tactic #2: Let the
with a skull engraved in the side and I'mlies begin."This here violin is a master
suddenly guilty that I've dragged him intoinstrument," he says in a hushed tone. At
such a seedy place."I hear you have athis I am compelled to say something or I'll
violin," I say to the rugged, hunched manburst. "It's a Chinese Strad-copy violin from
behind the counter. I say it in a sweet,the 1980's, most-likely a Corelli," I
treble tone that make me further stand out ininterrupt quickly. Uh oh, the jig is up. He
a "I'm just a girlie girl with too much moneyknows I'm no dupe.But wait, he tries pawn
who knows nothing about violins" sort ofshop Tactic #3: Lie some more. "No, M'am,"
way.Truth be known, I am a violinist and ahe simpers. "This is a real Stradivarius.
violin shop owner. I'm not an expert inIt's been in an attic for a long time, an
advanced violin authenticity, but I know aundiscovered treasure." His face has
good violin when I see one and I also knowobviously rehearsed the honest, pleading
when to run away screaming when it's junk.expression. His knack for lying is, in a sick
I'm here with hopes that the violin inway, admirable.This is beginning to annoy me,
question is worth repairing and restringingbut I want to see how big of a hole he'll dig
so it may be sold cheap to a student on afor himself. I look at him as if wanting to
budget, making me a little bit of cash asbe enlightened. He takes the bait and goes
well.My hopes are not high that this willfor tactic #4: Lie, but make it a real
happen, but every so often there is somethingwhopper."This violin was made by one of
worth picking up. I don't volunteer thisStradivarius' students," he lies.I almost
information as past experiences have provenlaugh out loud at this, considering
this always unreasonably jacks up the price"Stradivari," not "Stradivarius" was the
about 400%. I'm not here to gouge the guy,maker of Stradivarius violins and all of his
but I don't want to be gouged myself. Actinstruments have been accounted for. And
like I know nothing and I can usually get itreally, what kind of idiot thinks the most
at an appropriate price.I will have to dancerecently discovered Strad is for sale at a
the dance to keep this transaction fair.Thelousy pawn shop?My son is shuffling his feet,
man behind the corner clears his throatbut not complaining out loud. I wish he'd
loudly and eyes me suspiciously. I blinkthrow a tantrum so I'd have an excuse to
twice and smile, pink lipgloss shimmering inleave quickly. Instead I maintain my
his clouded eyes. He glares again, slowlycomposure and casually thank the man for his
turns then limps to a back room, shoutingtime before I turn and leave. He keeps his
over his shoulder something about how he hascool as my son and I walk out without another
to go to the "special room" where rareglance back, though to him I'm the one that
instruments are kept.This is pawn shop Tacticgot away.We danced the delicate dance of
#1: Talk up the merchandise and addbuyer and seller, expert and swindler, and
unrealistic mystique.He returns with whatthankfully no one's toes were stepped on. He
looks like a miniature coffin covered inwill go on to swindle another and may do well
dust. It's an old black wooden violin case.in the end. I am happy I still believe that
Predating plastic and styrofoam, these werepeople are good and I don't take it
the sorry excuses for cases that caused morepersonally when they go bad.As we drive away,
harm to instruments than not since they hadmy son asks why I didn't buy the nice violin.
no padding and the weak metal latches thatThe poor dear would buy an ice cube in
held them together would spontaneouslyAlaska. Thus I begin to teach him another
unhinge, causing many a fiddle to fall tolesson in life's tricky dance moves, keeping
death during transport."This is a fineyour balance while still enjoying the
antique case, made in 1883," says themusic.Twenty-nine-year-old Rhiannon Schmitt
shopkeeper. A man to my left approaches and(nee Nachbaur) is a professional violinist
says breathily, "those things are worth $500!and music teacher who has enjoyed writing for
They are very rare!" I keep my neutral gazemany years.Her business, Fiddleheads Violin
and say, "Oh yeah."First off, I have about 4School and Shop, has won several
such cases stored under my bed since I can'tdistringuished young entrepreneur business
get rid of the things. Secondly, I had seenawards for her comittment to excellence. The
this "customer" helping move stock as Ishop offers beginner to professional level
passed the shop a few days earlier. He wasinstruments, accessories and supplies.
another employee who poses as customer to addprovides a rich resource of information on
"unbiased" credibility to the lies theher school, products for sale and her many
shopekeeper spins. My son coughs and lookswritings.Rhiannon is Founding President of
around, bored out of his mind.I maintain mythe Shuswap Violin Society. She dedicates
blank expression. I'm starting to think themuch of her time to community music projects
violin inside this casket is a dead end.Theand helping young musicians in financial
shopkeeper opens the case and my suspicionsneed.She has also volunteered as an events
are confirmed.It is absolutely horrible. Apromoter, classical music radio host and as a
cheap, Chinese made Corelli or Bestler fiddlevolunteer orchestra music arranger for her
from the early 1980's. I've seen so many tolocal School District in recent
know what they are upon first glance. It hasyears.Rhiannon currently writes music columns
the usual ugly starburst orange and yellowfor two BC publications and has been featured
plastic finish, which has cracked due to heatin Australia's "Music Teacher Magazine."
exposure. The pegs are made from cheap,Writing allows her to be a creative
splintered rosewood. The chinrest and"smart-ass" and to teach people that learning
tailpiece are the cheapest shiny blackmusic is fun.
plastic, with a sticky mystery stain covering



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