Kelly McClure’s love/hate (mostly hate) skepticism of Olympia, Wash., lured me to her writing enough to Facebook stalk her, discover she has the coolest work history ever, and become her friendly acquaintance. Currently she discusses everyone’s favorite things in the world (ie: tunes, getting laid and celebrity crushes) as the Music Editor for VICE. While schlepping from coast to coast, Kelly has survived being fired several times — including once she thinks was Kimya Dawson’s fault — and gone on to writing/editing for BUST, VICE and other publications. But it all started for her as a 14-year-old “ball floater.” – Caroline Shadood.
1. Castle Amusement Park, Riverside, Calif. : Ball Floater
2. Back to the Grind/Vaudevilla, Riverside, CA.: Barista
I’m grouping these two together because I worked at both of them for like five seconds. Vadevilla was a coffee shop run by a drug addict/perv and I never got paid a single cent for working there. Back to the Grind is a gay coffee shop where all the cool homos worked and I didn’t officially work there, but my girlfriend did and I’d somehow get roped into making drinks when I went in to visit her.
3. Flexben, Oakbrook, IL: Customer Service Representative
This was my first “grown-up job” after college and it was for a third-party Cobra administer. Those words still come off my tongue so easily because I spent half my day there on the phone with people trying to explain what that was. I got fired because I went from being a really good worker, to not giving a shit anymore because all of a sudden I started having sex a lot.
4. Hi-Tech Solutions, Oakbrook, IL: Office Manager
Around this time I started freelancing a lot, but didn’t make money doing it and would have to have all these bullshit office jobs. This was one of them. My main duty was to format resumes that people brought in, and then give them to salesmen who would staff those people out for a million trillion dollar salaries. I was in charge of picking the location for our Christmas party one year and I made everyone go to Hooters. I got fired for misuse of FedEx privileges.
5. Cision, Chicago, IL.: Data Representative
I took this job not fully knowing what it was. Basically, I sat in a cubicle and called around to newspapers and magazines verifying their most up-to-date staff, and then we’d make all that info into lists and sell it to people for a bunch of money. I hate talking on the phone so I just made shit up. Eventually my boss found my Livejournal where I talked massive shit about my job, and fired me. But it was awesome because I used my free time, and unemployment money, to move to New York.
6. Lush Cosmetics/Some homo PR firm I can’t remember the name of/Bust Magazine/VICE: New York, NY
To make some extra money I got a part-time job at Lush in Soho and I liked it a lot. That place is insane and you have to touch people all day, but it was fun because you get to work with hot ladies, and also get an insane discount and tons of free shit. While all of this was happening I also worked (from home) as the Associate Music Editor for Bust (which was awesome), and freelanced for VICE.
7. Ace Hotel, New York, NY.: Mini Bar Attendant
I was obsessed with the Ace Hotel when it opened up, so much so that I applied for a job there and got it. This took the place of the PR firm job I had before. At first it was awesome because they gave me all these clothes for my uniform because you’re supposed to dress a certain way, and every single person who worked there was hot and gay. My only duties were to go from room to room re-stocking the mini-bars. At some point I just stopped going to work because I decided that it was “beneath me.” But now I have to go there all the time for shows and stuff and it’s awkward.
8. K records, Olympia, Washington: Publicist
9. Riot Act Media, Based out of Portland, but I worked from home: Publicist
My saving grace in getting out of Olympia and moving back to New York was getting hired on by Riot Act Media. Riot Act is the coolest publicity firm ever and is run by my two great friends, Nathan Walker and Joan Hiller. They brought me onto their team and I was able to save enough cash to move, and then worked from home back in Brooklyn for almost a year.
10. VICE Magazine, Brooklyn: Music Editor
While I was working with Riot Act I was freelancing for VICE and doing the music reviews in the print mag each month as their Reviews Editor. After a few months of doing this I was asked to come into the office as their full-time Music Editor, which meant I had to part ways with Riot Act. It was a tough decision because I love those guys, and sometimes miss the freedom of being able to work from home, but now I get to be part of the VICE family, and also have insurance for the first time in ten years and can afford my own apartment. It’s pretty great and I hope to stay with them forever and ever, Amen.
Follow Kelly on Twitter: @Wolfevibes.
View Comments (4)
Noooo, you don't say? This insufferably annoying person couldn't hold a steady job for an extended period of time? I can't imagine why not.....
Yeah, but how do you REALLY feel?
Jealous. I'm guessing jealous.
This is great, because the Co-op is one of those old-school joints where you're supposed to be thankful for like three potatoes and members are expected to work shifts where you just stand around and bs. Olympia is the worst and it's hilarious that Kelly is out there blowing up people's perceptions of this shithole.