Hold music
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85146)
Shingle Springs, California
October 15, 2009 3:21pm CST
Somebody was whistling the company's hold music today, which got my brain going in a weird direction. The hold music at my company used to be this depressing piece that reminded me of the Cymbalta (depression medication) commercials. Then they switched it over to something jazzier. Better, but after years and years of what seems like non-stop conference calls, it is getting very old.
The best hold music I ever heard was at CBS Studios when Richard used to work there. They played a selection of theme songs from various old CBS TV shows. Most places just use elevator music.
So I was reminded of when I went to Atlanta and visited the Coca Cola museum, attraction, tour, whatever it is. They had a section with old commercials and where they played old jingles from the commercials. So it occurs to me that the perfect hold music for Coca Cola would be a medley of their former theme songs.
Have you heard any good hold music lately? Got any good hold music stories? Have any brilliant suggestions for hold music that would be really appropriate for a certain organization? Or hilariously funny?
PS I don't so much mind calling somebody and being put on hold, but when they call me and put me on hold? 
5 people like this
12 responses
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
15 Oct 09
I don't think that they have hold music over her. Maybe in some companies but all I get to listen to is loads of commercials on the products they have. Usually applies to out phone company. I can recite them all by heart and even speak along with the canned voice that is speaking.
Apropos of this though. If I want to reach a Government Minister or a man/lady in high places I put on my best British Accent and am usually successful.
Or if I want their personal email address then I speak to their secretary/business administrator and pretend that I am calling from the U.K. and the person with whom I am speaking usually cooperates. Of course I have to use a bit if Bull Smith too.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Oct 09
hehehe Well how talented are you, patois, a best British accent, what next? That will get you somewhere as long as you don't try it in France! :-)
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Oct 09
It's probably better than mine, but I was talking about your English...
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
15 Oct 09
My French is not very good I know. But did you have to tell the world?
1 person likes this
@TheGreatWhiteBuffalo (4822)
• United States
17 Oct 09
Don't call me and put me on hold for your new jingle it is a great idea though... LOL...
Now if I call and I get put on hold? I'm waiting and being instructed of something to do instead of calling usually related to unemployment benefits as this is the time of the year when work becomes real slow...
Who wants to work in the cold wet weather outside getting stuck in the mud and having to lay down in it when the worst happens and you are unprepared?
Try calling a phone company lately?
Ah' such is life... hurry up and wait...
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
17 Oct 09
our local cable company kept me on hold to "temples of syrinx" by rush one day.
considering the length of that song,it wasn't a good sign..
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
16 Oct 09
I hate chimes, don't you? Our health fund still has chimes as their hold music and you can be stuck with it for up to 15 minutes sometimes, so not only the service is crap but so is the hold music! My last job was in a government department and we had the local radio as a hold tune which was great unless the operator came back in the middle of the news bulletin. I agree that calling you and then putting you on hold is rude...
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
17 Oct 09
They are monotonous, boring and can do your head in within minutes and they wonder why the clients are grumpy!
@LittleMrsSunshine (201)
•
16 Oct 09
I used to work for Green Flag in England which is a road side rescue service like the AA. Their hold music was Rescue Me! Which usually made people laugh when they were quite stressed!
I'm the same with the four seasons! used to love it but i hear it too much!!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Oct 09
That would be funny (the first couple of times anyway)...
@LittleMrsSunshine (201)
•
17 Oct 09
It wasn't funny on my second day when a lady from a radio station rang up live on air to ask about it, and i was the PR newbie anwering the phone, trying to get my boss to run the length of the office so i didn't have to talk on air!
@max1950 (2306)
• United States
16 Oct 09
i usually just hang up ,then when they call back i tell them to hold on i have my wife shackled up in the root cellar and it's feeding time and she's starting to scream and alert the neighbors, then have my little hand held air horn ready used for football games and blast it in their ear. they never call back.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
17 Oct 09
and repeats and repeats and repeats...
and then you get cut off!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Oct 09
My husband's company does not have hold music. Instead it basically plays out like a radio commercial and it drives me nuts!! It's like the same ones over and over, and they haven't changed it a bit in 5 years!! I'd much rather just listen to some sort of music, I don't care what kind!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Oct 09
Yeah me too. The ones that have nothing are the worst. You don't know if you're still on hold or disconnected...
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
16 Oct 09
If they put me on hold i would like to hear some decent music like elvis or any good musiv. The music is never anything i would listen to. I don't know who picks out the hold music but i believe they must be awfully boring folks, lol.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Oct 09
hehehe they probably do some market research thing and pick the thing that is the most soothing or something...
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
15 Oct 09
Hi dawnald,
I cannot stand hold music as they keep me holding for a long time and by the time I get to speak to them I have forgotton what I was going to ask them or my complaint, lol!
Tamara
1 person likes this
@saisakth (77)
• India
16 Oct 09
hi , i want to share some important information about music.. it is the one which it can solves all wories.. i love it , in m home always it was playing.. wherever i go i used to hear songs.. nowadays lot of places hold the background music in hotels, super markets and everything.. so that is pleasure to have it
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
17 Oct 09
I love music too, but I think you missed the point of the discussion.
