Being in "Pickle Land"

Zach Persin, 20, wanted a fun summer job.

So, the Las Positas College student, who describes himself as an active person, decided to seek part-time work as a sign waver with the Mr. Pickle's sandwich shop  inside the Hopyard Village.

The job entails dressing up in a pickle costume, holding up a sign, dancing and waving to passersby. Persin said the job not only gives him great exercise, but allows him to interact with customers.

Persin as the dancing Mr. Pickle is a familiar sight to Pleasanton residents. He's raised so much attention that it seems like other businesses in the area are employing similar tactics.

Just last weekend, Mr. Pickles danced off with someone dressed as "Little Ceasar" from Little Ceasar Pizza.

Persin took a timeout from dancing at the corner of Hopyard Road and Valley Avenue to talk with Pleasanton Patch about being in "Pickle World."

Can you give me your name, age and occupation?

My name is Zachary Persin, I'm 20 years old and my occupation is a pickle.

How did you get into this kind of work?

I got into this work just because I knew that I wanted a fun summer job … because I was taking summer classes, so I wanted something relaxing. For me this is relaxing, for a lot of people it won't be. But I enjoy doing exercise and things like that. So I walked in and asked for the job and I got it.

Explain what this restaurant is and what it offers people?

I had only been here once before I started working here and the sandwich was a good sandwich but I never came back. But once I started working, and eating the sandwiches, the selection is amazing.

We offer just every sandwich you can imagine. The people are great, the customer service is awesome; it's just a very fun environment to work in and to eat.

Have you ever done this type of work before?

No I've never really danced in a pickle before. I just have always been an active person. So when people drive by and they don't know it's me at first, they'll say, "Oh my gosh, I could totally see Zach doing that."

 How do people normally act toward you?

You get a lot of smiles, waves and honks. You get the occasional person who just doesn't look but they're probably having a bad day. But 99 percent of the time it's people just having fun with me … joking around with the pickle at the corner.

What kind of reaction do you get from kids?

The kids are always screaming, "Mr. Pickle, Mr. Pickle!" They're the No. 1 people who absolutely adore me.

What do you think about your recent fame?

It feels really funny because I'm a pickle in the corner. But I just got this job as a sign waver. But I guess it pays off for me. It's just fun for me, it's not fame for myself but fame for the pickle.

How do you prep for work? Do you think about the dances?

I'm always listening to music. I do not plan the music. I have an iPod and I have a shuffle button. I push the shuffle button and if a good song comes on I'll dance to that song. If a slower song comes on then I might dance to that one. It just kind of depends on my mood and how it's going out there.

I don't plan my dance moves, either. Those go to the song itself. If it's a fast-beat song, then I'll go a little faster. If it's a slow beat, then I'll sway a little bit.

What songs do you have on your iPod?

I have some techno, I have some rap, some rock. There's a series of country and slow songs. Normally, the country, I'll probably just skip over. If I could choose, it'll probably be more techno or some rap.

Do you have an arsenal of moves you go to when you're out there?

I don't actually know what I'm doing prior to me doing it. So, when the song comes on, I dance. I can't say right now I'm going to do this to this song. I don't do that.

I just let myself go when I'm out there. When people ask me, "What are you dong out there? What's going on?" I say, "I'm in Pickle Land or Pickle World." And I really don't know what's going on, either. [It's a place] where you know everyone, you wave to everyone, you smile to everyone, that kind of thing.

I just let the pickle take over. 

What do your friends and family say about what you do?

They always ask what's the story of the day, my family does.

For example, [one day] someone dropped off a cold soda for me, while they were driving. [Sometimes] people have loud speakers in their car and they'll yell out, "Hey Mr. Pickle!" on their loudspeaker while they're driving by.