Photo illustration by Matt Flickner
Story by Jason Strait
Rick Sano knows what it's like to sit behind a desk. He has done it his entire life.
But now, instead of writing papers and studying for tests, Sano has a desk piled high with real-world responsibilities.
Sano graduated in December from the University of Kansas with a degree in history. He became self-employed, trading his life of higher education for a dose of real-world learning. Sano had planned on going to school for the spring semester to earn a second degree but quickly found it wasn't feasible to run his business and go to school.
Sano is one of many KU students, past and present, who have bucked the tight job market and created jobs for themselves. He owns the Bum Steer Delivery, a barbecue restaurant at 925 Iowa St. He said being accountable for his business, employees, profit-margin and finances has both positive and negative results.
Sano said that life out of college was full of eye-opening challenges distinct from
what he called the "cocoon-like atmosphere" of college life.
"These things are real," he said. "It's not like class, where you can sort of let things slide and get the job done in an effective manner. It requires a tremendous amount of dedication, and it's very easy to become unprofitable with a lack of effort."
But for those students who have smaller self-employment goals in mind, school and a business can go hand in hand.
Bryce Billings, Lawrence junior, has maintained several business ventures while going to school. He said he had found the experience to be positive and profitable.
With his brother, Billings is the co-owner of the "Shaved Ice" stand downtown in front of the Antique Mall, 830 Massachusetts St. The stand is open only in the summer, but Billings has year-round responsibilities. Billings also owns his own house
and rents some of the rooms during the semester.
Billings had some advice for prospective business owners.
"Don't take it too seriously," he said. "You have to find a happy medium between making a buck and having fun with it. If you take it too seriously, it just won't seem worth it."
Malinda Bryan, assistant director at the University's Small Business Development Center, 734 Vermont St., said that the student who aspired for self-employment should have a plan.
"It all starts with being responsible, setting goals and gathering the information to see if it's feasible for you at this time," Brvan said.
Bryan said one of the biggest obstacles for prospective business owners was obtaining resources such as loans. But a student with a plan and the right resources could become a success.
"They have the youth and the drive that you need to work 60 hours a week and be successful," she said. "It's easier for someone that age."
"I hate working for other people," Billings said. "But if I have a vested interest in something, I'll show up for it."
Although age is a factor, there is something else that drives these young entrepreneurs.
Another self-employed student, Joe Suber, Topeka senior, said he felt the same wav.
"I find myself not being motivated to work for other people," he said. "There is a lot less risk working for someone else."
He said that owning a business was rewarding because he could use his ideas.
"Working for others, you just feel frustrated," he said.
Suber, who also rents out a house that he refurbished, founded Joe's Mowing, a lawn care service he has operated for the past two summers.
Although running a business is Suber's ideal occupation, he found the responsibility of owning his own business to be almost more than he could handle at times.
"People expected me to take care of their lawns," he said. "I couldn't just call my employer and say, 'Sorry I can't come in today.' I had to be there."
Sano, who said he worked about 70 hours a week at the Bum Steer, related to that sense of responsibility.
"It's a change that puts someone who was once in the business of academic learning into a business of their own that demands an education of a different kind." he said.
"My advice to people: Don't expect your experience in the classroom to provide all of the knowledge needed for something like this." Sano said. "Common sense, dedication are the two main things any person has to have to succeed in business."
Tonight
March 1,1996
Butter Glory with the For Carnation and T-Shirt, 9 p.m. at the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $5-$6
Hill topics
—De La Soult with Lali Pill Kids, 9 p.m. at the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. Cost: $12.50
Mike Finkham with Kelly Hunt, 9:30 p.m. at the Grand Emporium, 3832 Main, Kansas City, Mo. Cover charge.
Debbie Davies, 9:30 p.m. at the Grand Emporium.
Cover change.
— Frog Pond with The What Gives and TV Fifty, 9 p.m. at the Bottlemen, Cost: $4-$5.
— Hadden Sayers, 9 p.m. at the Grand Emporium.
Cover charge.
Page 8A
Monday
The Menace, 9:30 p.m. at the Grand Emporium.
Cover charge.
Tomorrow
Tuesday
- The Bottlerockets with Michael McDermott, 9 p.m.
  at The Bottleneck. Cost: $5-$7.
— The Presidents of the United States of America, 9 p.m. at Liberty Hall, 633 Massachusetts St. Sold out.
Guitar Shorty, 8:30 p.m. at the Grand Emporium Cover charge.
— Turquiose Sol with Mop, 9 p.m. at The Granada
Cost: $3-$4.
The Ruzburns with Gren. 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck.
Cost: $5-$6.
- Itals, 8:30 p.m. at the Grand Emporium, Cover charge.
Wednesday
Thursdav
—Vitreous Humor with Compound Red and Sideshow
9 p.m. at The Bottleneck. Cost: $4-$5.
—Monkey Meet, 8:30 p.m. at the Grand Emporium.
Monday Meet: 8:30 p.m. at the Grand Emporium.
Cover charge.
The Philosopher Kings self-titled (Columbia). Every time rock n' roll starts to become predictable, it fades away.
it finds new ways to reinvent itself.
Its newest manifestation, apparently, is lounge music. Bands such as Morphine, Love Jones and Ben Foldie Five have created a guitar-less sound that takes the best atmosphere from the Vegas lounges and spices it up with rock n' roll attitude.
This release from Canada's Philosopher Kings is no different. Catchy lyrics surround the band's thick piano and organ sound, and an upright bass adds a percussive foundation. My only beef with the album is the inclusion of an awk-
Top: Philosopher Kings
Above: Home Alive
Right: 2PAC
that, the songwriting is better than average and the production quality is great.
Watch for the first single, "Turn My Head Around," to get a little attention from the Lazer and maybe even MTV. KJHK has been spinning the disc in rotation for a couple of weeks already, so if you are curious, call and ask them to play it. It is a sure-fire way to make your martini or late-night cigarette taste a little bit better. Overall, out of ten: 7
ward cover of Bob Dylan's classic Doggystyle and Murder was the "Just Like A Woman." Aside from Case and The Dogg Dogg's Dogg
2PAC All Eye On Me (Death Row/Interscope). Why is it that everything Dr. Dre touches turns to platinum? In 1991, Dre and Sage Knight launched Deau Raw Records to release The Chronic. Since then, they've put out Snop Dogy Dogs
Music Review
by Robert Moczydlowsky
Food. Five years later the bottom line is this: The Dr. Dre and the Death Row staple make the best and most inventive rap music, period.
And now Death Row has another disc to brag about. 2PAC's latest opus, a veritable who's of West Coast rap, is appropriately the first double-disc album in rap history. Guest artists include Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg Dogg, the Dogg Pound, Rappin' 4-Tay, members of Jodeci, Danny Boy, George Clinton and Method Man.
Amazingly, these guest spots really make the album better. They aren't just cameo appearances or background vocals. Factor in 2PAC's often imitated style and his realistic lyrics, and you get one of the most well-rounded albums heard in a long while. And after spending the
the last two years in prison,
2PAC has some
real-life basis for his tales. He openly addresses criticism of his lifestyle in "Only God Can Judge Me Now" and subtly condemns the alarming death rate of inner city youth in "Shorty Wanna Be A Thug."
On the whole, though, there just might be too much music here to appreciate at once. And the fact that the hugely popular radio mix of "California Love" isn't on the album might annoy the more casual fans (a
fantastic remix is inclu-
fantastic remix is included). Overall, after a lot of listening and effort: 8
Various Artists
Home Alive,
The Art
tion that finances domestic-violence education, self-defense classes and prevention of racism and gay/lesbian oppression.
This two-disc set, featuring 45 tracks from the likes of Nirvana, Jim Carroll, Pearl Jam, Jao Jett and the Blackhearts, the Presidents of the U.S.A. and The Posies, has some of the Northwest's best acts performing some rare and previously unreleased material.
In reaction to the crime,which still is unsolved,local artists formed the Home Alive Collective, an organiza-
A little word of warning, though, for those of you who aren't down with women's empowerment and
Defense (Epic) On July 7, 1983, Mia Zapata, lead singer of the Seattle band The Gits, brutally was raped and murdered while on her way home from a performance.
In the increasingly bipolar world of rap music, artists from the East Coast are trying desperately to distinguish themselves unique.
Too often groups easily are humped together in generic East Coast or West Coast categories. One act, however, has never had a problem with uniqueness.
During the last eight years De La Soul has become the originator of the seat-like trip-hop sound and an influential part of the movement to bring melody and harmony into rap music. Tonight they make a rare Midwest appearance at the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. Tickets are $12.50 and available at the door.
Apple Quickstep's "Party Dream," but the best track in the set is gay, spoken-word artist Bobby Miller's hilarious "Keep Your Mouth Off My Sisters."
De La Soul plays tonight
Highlights include Soundgarden's "Kyle Petty (Son of Richard)" and the soulful harmonica of Green
social issues. The poetry on this disc isn't for you. Then again, maybe you are the people who need to hear it most. Overall: 6 Caroline's Spine Ignore the Ants (Anza Records). Caroline's Spine is a band that plays bar rock, pure and simple. They will never be on the radio, and they likely will never be signed to a major recordlabel.
And that's OK. Caroline's spine has an enjoyable sound to drink beer to. They play the Jazzzons on
March 7, Overall 5, but this rating will climb drastically after a couple of drinks.
9
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