Kyle Wilcoxson has never been to Liberty Island.
He’s never stood on the shores of the Hudson River and marveled at the size of one of America’s greatest gifts.
But that doesn’t stop him from dressing up as Lady Liberty two or three days a week for Liberty Tax Service on N. Main Street – donning a crushed velvet robe and trademark hat to pull off the sign-spinning look at Manteca’s busiest intersection.
“It’s actually a pretty cool job,” said Wilcoxson – taking one of his iPod earbuds out so he could talk. “I get a chance to talk to a lot of different people, and that makes the time fly by. At first I didn’t think that I was going to like it, but right now money is money,”
With most workers waiting to receive their W-2 forms so that they can get ready to file their personal income taxes – which for some means a nice check back from Uncle Sam since they were overcharged throughout the year – advertisers like Wilcoxson couldn’t be targeting a better audience.
The 21-year-old, who has held jobs at Taco Bell, Mountain Mikes, and various construction trades, says that he learned of the sign-spinning gig from a friend, and that he doesn’t feel silly dressing up in order to get the attention of the motorists.
“At first I thought that people were going to yell stuff at me and maybe even throw things,” he said. “For the most part people are cool. I get some honks sometimes, but it’s all in good fun. I think I can see myself doing this again next year if I needed a job.”
And when he isn’t out spinning his sign and dressing up like the Statue of Liberty, Wilcoxson says that he’s just your average 21-year-old – spending time with his friends, relaxing, and taking advantage of all of the free time that he has before he has before it’s time to suit back up again and get back out there to try and attract the thousands of motorists that pass by daily.
“I definitely enjoy my time off, but I don’t mind being here at work,” he said. “But before too long I’m gonna have to do my taxes too.”
He’s never stood on the shores of the Hudson River and marveled at the size of one of America’s greatest gifts.
But that doesn’t stop him from dressing up as Lady Liberty two or three days a week for Liberty Tax Service on N. Main Street – donning a crushed velvet robe and trademark hat to pull off the sign-spinning look at Manteca’s busiest intersection.
“It’s actually a pretty cool job,” said Wilcoxson – taking one of his iPod earbuds out so he could talk. “I get a chance to talk to a lot of different people, and that makes the time fly by. At first I didn’t think that I was going to like it, but right now money is money,”
With most workers waiting to receive their W-2 forms so that they can get ready to file their personal income taxes – which for some means a nice check back from Uncle Sam since they were overcharged throughout the year – advertisers like Wilcoxson couldn’t be targeting a better audience.
The 21-year-old, who has held jobs at Taco Bell, Mountain Mikes, and various construction trades, says that he learned of the sign-spinning gig from a friend, and that he doesn’t feel silly dressing up in order to get the attention of the motorists.
“At first I thought that people were going to yell stuff at me and maybe even throw things,” he said. “For the most part people are cool. I get some honks sometimes, but it’s all in good fun. I think I can see myself doing this again next year if I needed a job.”
And when he isn’t out spinning his sign and dressing up like the Statue of Liberty, Wilcoxson says that he’s just your average 21-year-old – spending time with his friends, relaxing, and taking advantage of all of the free time that he has before he has before it’s time to suit back up again and get back out there to try and attract the thousands of motorists that pass by daily.
“I definitely enjoy my time off, but I don’t mind being here at work,” he said. “But before too long I’m gonna have to do my taxes too.”
