Thursday February 19th, 2009 - Lake Villa, IL
I received my government stimulus check a few months ago and immediately cashed it and hid it in a drawer until something I felt that I really wanted to buy with it came along. Today was that day. I ended up spending $175 of my $311 on a collection of sports cards.
In a perfect world I wouldn’t be farting around with sports cards anymore and especially now with all that’s going on in my life and career but I like them and I’ll always enjoy the process of the hunt so I gave in and went with my gut feeling and bought them anyway.
My friend Sheri has worked at Vernon Hills Zanies since it opened and she also worked at a pawn shop for a while to make a few extra bucks. She stopped in to visit the shop and noticed that the owner had purchased a load of sports cards and called to tell me about it.
I wasn’t really looking to buy any sports cards but it never hurts to look so I took a drive over to check out the cards and have a lunch with Sheri. She’s a sweetheart and just got a new puppy she’s been telling me about so I mainly went to see the dog and have a lunch.
It was about a half hour drive from my house (what isn’t?) but I found the shop and saw the three heaping boxes of cards along with a three ring binder about half full. Most of the cards were from the 1990s and were the steroid apes like McGwire, Sosa, Canseco, etc.
There was a time when those cards would have commanded BIG bucks and I’ll bet it all that the person who sold this collection to a pawnbroker most likely took it in the shorts. I don’t really like newer cards but there were enough older ones in the lot to coax me to put in what I thought was a fair offer of $175. He was asking $250 and that was a tad high.
We shook on the deal and I paid for it and hauled my cards to the car. Sheri and I had an enjoyable lunch and then I drove home thumbing through the cards when I should’ve had all my focus on the road but I wear glasses so I had three eyes on the road instead of four.
To my surprise I ran across three Michael Jordan rookie cards I hadn’t noticed upon my first perusal in the store. At one time that was THE card in collecting and it went for huge money. Everyone wanted one and I’ve never owned one actually. If you’re a collector the one I’m talking about is the ‘86 Fleer card #57. That will be gibberish to everyone else.
I looked at the cards closely and they are in pristine condition but I have a feeling all of them are fakes. Any time there’s money in a collectible there are lowlife maggots who try to beat the system and this is no different. I have a few friends I trust to see if they are real or not. If yes - I’m probably looking anywhere from $600-$2000. Each. Not a bad profit!
If they’re not legit (and I suspect they aren’t) I’ll sell them very cheap and tell whoever I sell them to they’re counterfeits. I couldn’t live with myself if I ripped anyone off so I am going to handle this above board. I have a few friends that can tell me the truth and I will see what they say before I sell any of them. Still, it was fun to see them pop up in the box.
It’s the feeling of winning a lottery and it’s electric. I’m sure that’s why so many people gamble in casinos. Hitting the big jackpot must feel the same way - not that I’ve ever hit a big jackpot but I’ve been in the same room with people who have. It’s very contagious.
Everyone hears stories of people going to a rummage sale and buying an old painting or piece of furniture for three bucks and it turns out it’s a rare antique worth three million or more. We all want that to be us but I’m not sure how realistic that is. I do know I love the chase and it’s not possible to find the big bargain if one doesn’t go out and search for it.
I just want to keep turning my money over and over again and doubling it whenever it’s doable. I doubt if my government stimulus check will earn me much interest so I decided to see how much I could make on my own. 2% won’t transform me into Donald Trump.
Realistically I think I can double my money on the cards I bought today. Even if I don’t make a dime off the Jordan cards I still think I can sell enough quarter, dollar and fivers at card shows to bring in a return on my investment and the rest I can give to kids if I want.
A great number of the cards are totally worthless. They’re still sports cards though and I package those up and give them to kids whenever I can. They’re still fun to sort through a few times and if the kids play with them or destroy them it doesn’t make any difference.
That gives me as much or more of a thrill than making a few bucks. Time after time I’m reminded of someone’s kid I put a box of cards together for and the parents always have a lot of nice things to say and I appreciate it. That’s a way to make friends for life. What kid in the world wouldn’t want to have a big box of baseball cards to rifle through and own?
Some kid or kids will get a nice collection with what I bought today but I will still have plenty left over to package and arrange and set up at some card shows and try to sell them cheap but still make a profit. The older cards will sell eventually and those I don’t mind if I have to sit on for a while. They don’t go out of style with me. It’s the new ones I loathe.
Most of the guys in this batch are of the steroid era including Alex Rodriguez and all of it makes me sick. It’s all just greed and the bad side of humanity and that’s of course why I got these cards for as low a price as I did. These were the fallen heroes and now it’s over for them. They get to keep their money but their on field records should be totally yanked.
Even through all of it I’m still glad I did this. Why? Because it’s FUN. And it’s a risk as well. Success of any level doesn’t come without a risk of equal proportion. I bought these cards to hopefully resell and double my money. Then I want to use that money to try it all over again. Will it be cards? Maybe. Maybe not. I‘ll take it as it comes and let it develop.
It’s a way to exercise my entrepreneurial muscles and that’s my new life frontier. I love the challenge of taking this collection and making it presentable and sellable and seeing if I can turn a profit with it in reality rather than just thinking I can. Now I can prove it. And there’s still a chance those Jordan cards are real too. That would totally put it over the top.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Weather Or Not
Wednesday February 18th, 2009 - Lake Villa, IL
This is the time of year when living in the Midwest really rots. It’s either cold or snowy and sometimes both. Today the snow came and made things interesting for everyone. The temperature was right close to the freezing point and it turned the roads into a sled track.
Brake slamming wasn’t an option as everyone was sliding around trying to find traction somewhere. It was really tricky so I just took it slower than slow while I drove home after running some important errands. The last thing I need is to get into another big collision.
I don’t need a small one either. I’ve had my fill of accidents in my life and if I can avoid another one I’ll do whatever it takes including staying home and getting work done which is what I need to do anyway. It seems like the harder I work the more that needs doing.
One thing I did get done before the snow hit was visiting the Alpha Graphics in Vernon Hills. It’s the same one that does the printing for Zanies and it’s owned by a great guy that also runs the Wisconsin Paranormal Investigators. His name is Jay Bachochin and he was a guest on the Mothership Connection radio show a couple of times along with his group.
He’s been doing Zanies printing for many years and they’ve never had a problem so I’m going to hire him for several of the projects I’m working on. He’s printed a few rounds of paperwork for my comedy classes and has been very fair with pricing and I appreciate it.
I need to build relationships and that’s what I’m trying to do with all these new ventures I’m working on. I’ve built a great relationship with Zanies to the point where I’m almost a member of the families of all the managers and many of the staff. We’ve had a productive business relationship for going on twenty years that‘s crossed over into strong friendship.
That’s what I want to build again and again but I need to find more sources. I’ll need to have a reliable printer in the very near future because I want to make bumper stickers and greeting cards and I’ll need a whole new press kit and business cards too. I also could use an updated slick printed version of my comedy class handouts condensed into a booklet.
I spent about a half an hour going back and forth with Jay and he was very helpful. I am trying to find someone I can work with and I get a very good feeling from him. He totally gets the concept of what I’m trying to do and he’s on board for helping me achieve it all.
I need to really make a splash in a good way in the next little while. The Craig Ferguson shot will be a nice feather in my cap but I need to follow it up right after with something a management company and bookers can plug into. I need to keep cranking out products.
I will have another CD out before too long so that’s a positive. I’ve got at least two and maybe even three in the can but I want to get one out first and use that to finance the rest. I still have to watch the budget like a hawk but I think I’ll be able to make a solid effort I can be proud of. Now I just need some fans to buy it. Maybe I should include a free prize.
This is the time of year when living in the Midwest really rots. It’s either cold or snowy and sometimes both. Today the snow came and made things interesting for everyone. The temperature was right close to the freezing point and it turned the roads into a sled track.
Brake slamming wasn’t an option as everyone was sliding around trying to find traction somewhere. It was really tricky so I just took it slower than slow while I drove home after running some important errands. The last thing I need is to get into another big collision.
I don’t need a small one either. I’ve had my fill of accidents in my life and if I can avoid another one I’ll do whatever it takes including staying home and getting work done which is what I need to do anyway. It seems like the harder I work the more that needs doing.
One thing I did get done before the snow hit was visiting the Alpha Graphics in Vernon Hills. It’s the same one that does the printing for Zanies and it’s owned by a great guy that also runs the Wisconsin Paranormal Investigators. His name is Jay Bachochin and he was a guest on the Mothership Connection radio show a couple of times along with his group.
He’s been doing Zanies printing for many years and they’ve never had a problem so I’m going to hire him for several of the projects I’m working on. He’s printed a few rounds of paperwork for my comedy classes and has been very fair with pricing and I appreciate it.
I need to build relationships and that’s what I’m trying to do with all these new ventures I’m working on. I’ve built a great relationship with Zanies to the point where I’m almost a member of the families of all the managers and many of the staff. We’ve had a productive business relationship for going on twenty years that‘s crossed over into strong friendship.
That’s what I want to build again and again but I need to find more sources. I’ll need to have a reliable printer in the very near future because I want to make bumper stickers and greeting cards and I’ll need a whole new press kit and business cards too. I also could use an updated slick printed version of my comedy class handouts condensed into a booklet.
I spent about a half an hour going back and forth with Jay and he was very helpful. I am trying to find someone I can work with and I get a very good feeling from him. He totally gets the concept of what I’m trying to do and he’s on board for helping me achieve it all.
I need to really make a splash in a good way in the next little while. The Craig Ferguson shot will be a nice feather in my cap but I need to follow it up right after with something a management company and bookers can plug into. I need to keep cranking out products.
I will have another CD out before too long so that’s a positive. I’ve got at least two and maybe even three in the can but I want to get one out first and use that to finance the rest. I still have to watch the budget like a hawk but I think I’ll be able to make a solid effort I can be proud of. Now I just need some fans to buy it. Maybe I should include a free prize.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Michael Jordan And My Grandma
Tuesday February 17th, 2009 - Chicago, IL
Lots going on today both inside and outside my head. I don’t know where to start so I’ll bank on the power of celebrity and mention today is Michael Jordan’s 46th birthday. I will always remember that because February 17th was my grandmother’s birthday too. If there are two more completely opposite humans to ever walk this planet I couldn’t imagine it.
Who in the free world born after 1985 doesn’t know who Michael Jordan is? Even now he’s still a legend if not for how he played basketball but also for selling merchandise like Haines underwear and Nike shoes and Gatorade and who knows what else?. He had a big time run in the sun. He’s a marketer’s dream and one of the biggest pro sports stars ever.
My grandmother was born in 1911 in Waubeno, WI to a single mother which was not a very easy thing to live down back then. She was treated like dirt most of her childhood in a small town where she too was raised by her grandparents. Her grandfather was crippled in World War I and there was no welfare back then so times were tough at their house.
She escaped to Milwaukee when she was 16 and met my grandfather not too long after. I think she was hoping life would improve so they got married and if there were ever two people who probably shouldn’t have been married for 45 years it was those two war birds. I don’t think they should have been married at all but I guess that’s how the times were.
They eventually split up when I was twelve but they’d raised me from five months old because my parents had an ugly break up and I was going to go up for adoption. I’ve had many versions of that story told to me over the years and none were ever very pleasant. It was a bad spot at a bad time and for whatever reason my paternal grandparents raised me.
Gramps was to this day THE most positive influence on my entire childhood. I think I’d be a raging substance abuser of some kind or in prison or dead if it weren’t for the time he took to try and impart his wisdom and knowledge. He told me he felt he owed it to me for some reason for the hand I was dealt at birth and it’s difficult to admit your son is a loser.
Gramps died of cancer when I was 17. I graduated high school in June and he was dead by Christmas. That’s when everything really turned into a zoo with the family because he was the peacemaker. My father and I were always butting heads and when Gramps died it was an all out war. I never put up with my old man’s bullying and it caused major ripples.
Grandma and I never got along until I was in my late 30s. She was in her 80s then and it was only then she finally started opening up about her life. I didn’t get my first (and only) hug from her until I was 37. She eked out the words ‘I love you’ like she was trying not to wake a sleeping baby and it felt totally awkward. I said ‘What took so long?’ We cried.
We talked about a lot of things during that time and I made weekly visits when I could. I’d bring her a hamburger or a box of chocolates and she would absolutely go crazy as she never drove and was marooned in her house all alone. She appreciated any little attention.
She really opened up during those sessions and expressed her rawest feelings and all her disappointments of how her life had gone. That probably produced a lot of her anger and I know it bothered her how badly my father turned out. He didn‘t make either parent proud.
Eventually Alzheimer’s disease took over and she didn’t even recognize me anymore as I came over with my weekly meals. She would eat them and appreciate it but she had zero clue as to who I was and that was pretty difficult to sit through. I still did because I felt I’d owed her something for raising me even though it wasn’t the most pleasant of childhoods.
All of this still swirls around in my head and probably always will every February 17th because not only was it my grandmother’s birthday it’s also the day my father died. I will never forget when I got that news in 2007 and it’s one of the first things I thought of. The old man popped off on his mother’s birthday. Does it have any meaning? Who knows?
What a giant waste all this has been. Grandma’s dead and she never chased a dream or took a risk or did anything but be pissed off with how things ‘turned out’. She never took control and changed her life’s direction. Gramps and her were going in opposite paths.
My father was a complete waste of a sexual encounter and I still have no idea why I had to deal with that for so long. He was never the adult and I don’t even want to call our time of interaction a relationship because it wasn’t. It was one constant fight and he never did a damn thing to make up for his mistakes to any of us kids. He’s dead and I don’t miss him.
Michael Jordan is my age. He’s a little under a month older and he rose to becoming an international icon during that time. He talks of being close to his father and when he died it was a national news story. I always found that hard to relate to because my old man was such a wank pole. I couldn’t imagine Jordan’s good fortune. First his millions - now that.
Is Michael Jordan happy? I have no idea. I never met the guy but I have a feeling if I did we’d get along pretty well. We’re a month apart in age and of the same generation. He’s a human being like everyone else and I’m sure he’s not 100% happy all the time but I’ll bet he’s got a lot of opportunities to search for happiness that I or most others will never get.
I went off on such a tangent with all this I don’t have time to talk about all the positives that are going on and there are those too. I had lunch with Marc Schultz today and he had a DVD for me to look at with his corporate acts on it. It will be a good example of what I need to get if I want to get more corporate type higher paying work and I absolutely do.
I’m still working on my Craig Ferguson set and I also am walking in the mall every day like an old fart but better now than after my quintuple bypass when they blow out all that fast food crud and sludge I’ve eaten since becoming a road comic. It’s much better now.
The situation with my family is what it is. I don’t want to be like Grandma or my father. They never found their stride. I have and it’s being a comedian. Making other dented cans laugh takes my own pain farther away. Sad to say but some others totally relate to all this.
Lots going on today both inside and outside my head. I don’t know where to start so I’ll bank on the power of celebrity and mention today is Michael Jordan’s 46th birthday. I will always remember that because February 17th was my grandmother’s birthday too. If there are two more completely opposite humans to ever walk this planet I couldn’t imagine it.
Who in the free world born after 1985 doesn’t know who Michael Jordan is? Even now he’s still a legend if not for how he played basketball but also for selling merchandise like Haines underwear and Nike shoes and Gatorade and who knows what else?. He had a big time run in the sun. He’s a marketer’s dream and one of the biggest pro sports stars ever.
My grandmother was born in 1911 in Waubeno, WI to a single mother which was not a very easy thing to live down back then. She was treated like dirt most of her childhood in a small town where she too was raised by her grandparents. Her grandfather was crippled in World War I and there was no welfare back then so times were tough at their house.
She escaped to Milwaukee when she was 16 and met my grandfather not too long after. I think she was hoping life would improve so they got married and if there were ever two people who probably shouldn’t have been married for 45 years it was those two war birds. I don’t think they should have been married at all but I guess that’s how the times were.
They eventually split up when I was twelve but they’d raised me from five months old because my parents had an ugly break up and I was going to go up for adoption. I’ve had many versions of that story told to me over the years and none were ever very pleasant. It was a bad spot at a bad time and for whatever reason my paternal grandparents raised me.
Gramps was to this day THE most positive influence on my entire childhood. I think I’d be a raging substance abuser of some kind or in prison or dead if it weren’t for the time he took to try and impart his wisdom and knowledge. He told me he felt he owed it to me for some reason for the hand I was dealt at birth and it’s difficult to admit your son is a loser.
Gramps died of cancer when I was 17. I graduated high school in June and he was dead by Christmas. That’s when everything really turned into a zoo with the family because he was the peacemaker. My father and I were always butting heads and when Gramps died it was an all out war. I never put up with my old man’s bullying and it caused major ripples.
Grandma and I never got along until I was in my late 30s. She was in her 80s then and it was only then she finally started opening up about her life. I didn’t get my first (and only) hug from her until I was 37. She eked out the words ‘I love you’ like she was trying not to wake a sleeping baby and it felt totally awkward. I said ‘What took so long?’ We cried.
We talked about a lot of things during that time and I made weekly visits when I could. I’d bring her a hamburger or a box of chocolates and she would absolutely go crazy as she never drove and was marooned in her house all alone. She appreciated any little attention.
She really opened up during those sessions and expressed her rawest feelings and all her disappointments of how her life had gone. That probably produced a lot of her anger and I know it bothered her how badly my father turned out. He didn‘t make either parent proud.
Eventually Alzheimer’s disease took over and she didn’t even recognize me anymore as I came over with my weekly meals. She would eat them and appreciate it but she had zero clue as to who I was and that was pretty difficult to sit through. I still did because I felt I’d owed her something for raising me even though it wasn’t the most pleasant of childhoods.
All of this still swirls around in my head and probably always will every February 17th because not only was it my grandmother’s birthday it’s also the day my father died. I will never forget when I got that news in 2007 and it’s one of the first things I thought of. The old man popped off on his mother’s birthday. Does it have any meaning? Who knows?
What a giant waste all this has been. Grandma’s dead and she never chased a dream or took a risk or did anything but be pissed off with how things ‘turned out’. She never took control and changed her life’s direction. Gramps and her were going in opposite paths.
My father was a complete waste of a sexual encounter and I still have no idea why I had to deal with that for so long. He was never the adult and I don’t even want to call our time of interaction a relationship because it wasn’t. It was one constant fight and he never did a damn thing to make up for his mistakes to any of us kids. He’s dead and I don’t miss him.
Michael Jordan is my age. He’s a little under a month older and he rose to becoming an international icon during that time. He talks of being close to his father and when he died it was a national news story. I always found that hard to relate to because my old man was such a wank pole. I couldn’t imagine Jordan’s good fortune. First his millions - now that.
Is Michael Jordan happy? I have no idea. I never met the guy but I have a feeling if I did we’d get along pretty well. We’re a month apart in age and of the same generation. He’s a human being like everyone else and I’m sure he’s not 100% happy all the time but I’ll bet he’s got a lot of opportunities to search for happiness that I or most others will never get.
I went off on such a tangent with all this I don’t have time to talk about all the positives that are going on and there are those too. I had lunch with Marc Schultz today and he had a DVD for me to look at with his corporate acts on it. It will be a good example of what I need to get if I want to get more corporate type higher paying work and I absolutely do.
I’m still working on my Craig Ferguson set and I also am walking in the mall every day like an old fart but better now than after my quintuple bypass when they blow out all that fast food crud and sludge I’ve eaten since becoming a road comic. It’s much better now.
The situation with my family is what it is. I don’t want to be like Grandma or my father. They never found their stride. I have and it’s being a comedian. Making other dented cans laugh takes my own pain farther away. Sad to say but some others totally relate to all this.
Time To Prepare
Monday February 16th, 2009 - Chicago, IL
Still plugging away on my set for the Craig Ferguson show. The talent booker has been super nice in allowing me extra time to go over it and get a flow that I can work with and I really appreciate that. This is all new to me and I don’t want to blow my opportunity and go in there unprepared. In the end this is all probably going to make my entire act better.
I’ve spent more time tweaking and arranging this one four and a half minute set coming up for this TV taping than I have my entire act for the past several years. I’m a jazz riffer. That’s my style. I like to go on stage and let it flow in the moment and those moments are never exactly the same from night to night so my shows are never exactly the same either.
That’s part of the fun of it for me but that’s not how TV works. I get that. They can’t let some unknown goof go on their network and riff for four and a half minutes. Who knows what disaster that could lead to and I’m fine with this whole process. I just don’t want the chance I’ve worked so hard to get be wasted by me not being ready so I’m over cautious.
I know I can do the job but I want it to be something I’m proud of too. Part of me thinks if I rehearse it too much it will come off flat and stale but that’s not necessarily the case at all. Some of the jokes I’ve done before many times and I know they get laughs. Others are tag lines or offshoots of other jokes or lines other comics added after looking over my set.
The main thing is to give it structure and that’s what I’ve always had trouble with. I like keeping it loose because the laughs are more genuine but structure is never a bad thing for an act and that’s what I teach my students. I tell them to do what I say and not what I do.
Part of that is because I had nobody to tell me what to do when I started. I did it the best way I could with the knowledge I had and quite frankly I developed some bad habits. I’m able to overcome them now because I’ve done it so long but if I had it to do over again it sure would have been nice to have someone guide me along the way. I’d be even better.
I’m fortunate enough to be blessed with enough natural comic ability to be able to make my way through just about any situation. I can think quickly on my feet and when it’s not going right I can pretend that it is and get through it. Not a lot of people can do that and it has brought me through a lot of hellacious situations but now it’s time to do it correctly.
That means I need to go over the set and take out the fat and put the jokes in the correct order and try to maintain a flow the whole time too. That’s not easy but I’m up for the big challenge of creating it in just a few weeks. I know I can do this and I’m not going to fail. Plus I’ve had a lot of great input from comedy people I really respect. This is going to fly.
I hosted the rising star showcase at Zanies in Chicago tonight and wanted to try my new set out but it just didn’t feel right so I didn’t. There were a lot of new comics there I don’t know and the audience was young and rowdy so I didn’t think it was the right place to be experimenting. I had a job to do and I did it. I’ll have plenty of time to practice the set.
Still plugging away on my set for the Craig Ferguson show. The talent booker has been super nice in allowing me extra time to go over it and get a flow that I can work with and I really appreciate that. This is all new to me and I don’t want to blow my opportunity and go in there unprepared. In the end this is all probably going to make my entire act better.
I’ve spent more time tweaking and arranging this one four and a half minute set coming up for this TV taping than I have my entire act for the past several years. I’m a jazz riffer. That’s my style. I like to go on stage and let it flow in the moment and those moments are never exactly the same from night to night so my shows are never exactly the same either.
That’s part of the fun of it for me but that’s not how TV works. I get that. They can’t let some unknown goof go on their network and riff for four and a half minutes. Who knows what disaster that could lead to and I’m fine with this whole process. I just don’t want the chance I’ve worked so hard to get be wasted by me not being ready so I’m over cautious.
I know I can do the job but I want it to be something I’m proud of too. Part of me thinks if I rehearse it too much it will come off flat and stale but that’s not necessarily the case at all. Some of the jokes I’ve done before many times and I know they get laughs. Others are tag lines or offshoots of other jokes or lines other comics added after looking over my set.
The main thing is to give it structure and that’s what I’ve always had trouble with. I like keeping it loose because the laughs are more genuine but structure is never a bad thing for an act and that’s what I teach my students. I tell them to do what I say and not what I do.
Part of that is because I had nobody to tell me what to do when I started. I did it the best way I could with the knowledge I had and quite frankly I developed some bad habits. I’m able to overcome them now because I’ve done it so long but if I had it to do over again it sure would have been nice to have someone guide me along the way. I’d be even better.
I’m fortunate enough to be blessed with enough natural comic ability to be able to make my way through just about any situation. I can think quickly on my feet and when it’s not going right I can pretend that it is and get through it. Not a lot of people can do that and it has brought me through a lot of hellacious situations but now it’s time to do it correctly.
That means I need to go over the set and take out the fat and put the jokes in the correct order and try to maintain a flow the whole time too. That’s not easy but I’m up for the big challenge of creating it in just a few weeks. I know I can do this and I’m not going to fail. Plus I’ve had a lot of great input from comedy people I really respect. This is going to fly.
I hosted the rising star showcase at Zanies in Chicago tonight and wanted to try my new set out but it just didn’t feel right so I didn’t. There were a lot of new comics there I don’t know and the audience was young and rowdy so I didn’t think it was the right place to be experimenting. I had a job to do and I did it. I’ll have plenty of time to practice the set.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Mixed Radio Signals
Sunday February 15th, 2009 - Kenosha, WI
The radio business is in a state of flux right now. Everything is in a panic and it’s even more unstable than usual and that says a lot. That’s like saying Madonna is feeling ‘a wee bit horny.’ Really? Sleeping with everyone on Craig’s List didn’t hit ‘send‘ on that email?
It’s happening in all size markets and I’ve been a victim of the ‘tornadio of radio’ a few times myself. Recently. Losing the Loop gig still stings but that was in 2004. I know it’s a long time ago but it still stinks and there was no real reason for it other than some simp in a suit in charge of a major market radio station was trying to shake things up and he did.
He turned out to be dead wrong but he’s still employed for some ungodly reason. He’s a slick talking used car salesman type and has never been on the air in his life but that’s the typical monkey who makes programming decisions these days. It’s totally out of control.
A similar imbecile with even less of a clue fired my friend Jerry Agar at WLS which in turn put a dagger in our Jerry’s Kidders bit we did every Monday. He replaced Jerry with a brokered show which is a total cop out. Rather than have the sales staff sell commercial spots it’s easier to sell it as a whole chunk and be done with it. They‘re whoring it all out.
It’s even trickling down to me at WLIP in Kenosha, WI for my Mothership Connection show on Sunday nights. I received word late in the week there is now an infomercial that will run on the station from 8-9pm taking out the first hour of our show and there’s not a thing I can do about it. I have two choices - quit or adapt and I did think about quitting.
It’s only a little show on a little station once a week and nobody gets a nickel for it. We do it because we all enjoy it but fun doesn’t pay bills. We could all probably find several better things to do on a Sunday evening but the show is growing on us and we all love it.
I’ve known the program director John Perry since I was at WQFM in Milwaukee back in 1991 and I consider him a friend. We’ve always had a good working relationship and I don’t ever want to do anything to burn a bridge with him because I respect his position.
He’s gone to bat for me more than once when I’ve needed a job and I’ve worked in the building off and on several times in the past dozen years or so under different ownerships. This decision was an ownership thing which was made over his head and he told me I’m stuck with either accepting it or not but in his words ‘we won’t be able to fight city hall.’
Fair enough. He’s right about that and the corporate bigwigs are doing what they think they need to do to turn a buck whether any of us in programming like it or not. I was a bit put out that it happened so quickly and I had a guest I had to cancel but that’s how it goes.
What will end up happening at least for now is that we’ll be moved ahead an hour and it won’t really make all that much difference. 8-10pm to 9-11pm isn’t a deal breaker but I’ll be careful about making long term plans because anything else could happen at any time.
The radio business is in a state of flux right now. Everything is in a panic and it’s even more unstable than usual and that says a lot. That’s like saying Madonna is feeling ‘a wee bit horny.’ Really? Sleeping with everyone on Craig’s List didn’t hit ‘send‘ on that email?
It’s happening in all size markets and I’ve been a victim of the ‘tornadio of radio’ a few times myself. Recently. Losing the Loop gig still stings but that was in 2004. I know it’s a long time ago but it still stinks and there was no real reason for it other than some simp in a suit in charge of a major market radio station was trying to shake things up and he did.
He turned out to be dead wrong but he’s still employed for some ungodly reason. He’s a slick talking used car salesman type and has never been on the air in his life but that’s the typical monkey who makes programming decisions these days. It’s totally out of control.
A similar imbecile with even less of a clue fired my friend Jerry Agar at WLS which in turn put a dagger in our Jerry’s Kidders bit we did every Monday. He replaced Jerry with a brokered show which is a total cop out. Rather than have the sales staff sell commercial spots it’s easier to sell it as a whole chunk and be done with it. They‘re whoring it all out.
It’s even trickling down to me at WLIP in Kenosha, WI for my Mothership Connection show on Sunday nights. I received word late in the week there is now an infomercial that will run on the station from 8-9pm taking out the first hour of our show and there’s not a thing I can do about it. I have two choices - quit or adapt and I did think about quitting.
It’s only a little show on a little station once a week and nobody gets a nickel for it. We do it because we all enjoy it but fun doesn’t pay bills. We could all probably find several better things to do on a Sunday evening but the show is growing on us and we all love it.
I’ve known the program director John Perry since I was at WQFM in Milwaukee back in 1991 and I consider him a friend. We’ve always had a good working relationship and I don’t ever want to do anything to burn a bridge with him because I respect his position.
He’s gone to bat for me more than once when I’ve needed a job and I’ve worked in the building off and on several times in the past dozen years or so under different ownerships. This decision was an ownership thing which was made over his head and he told me I’m stuck with either accepting it or not but in his words ‘we won’t be able to fight city hall.’
Fair enough. He’s right about that and the corporate bigwigs are doing what they think they need to do to turn a buck whether any of us in programming like it or not. I was a bit put out that it happened so quickly and I had a guest I had to cancel but that’s how it goes.
What will end up happening at least for now is that we’ll be moved ahead an hour and it won’t really make all that much difference. 8-10pm to 9-11pm isn’t a deal breaker but I’ll be careful about making long term plans because anything else could happen at any time.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
I Left My Heart In Sturgis, MI
Saturday February 14th, 2009 - Sturgis, MI
Tonight was the most fun I could have on Valentine’s Day without a date. I was booked in Sturgis, MI for a comic named Steve Sabo who I owe a couple of favors to. He books a few one nighters around his home town of Toledo to make extra money and also help him stay booked himself. Smart idea. I’ve worked for him before and he’s always been honest.
I’ve had to cancel on him a couple of times for various reasons and even though I don’t like doing that circumstances dictated it necessary. He’s a comic himself so he gets how it is but I still felt bad about it and told him I’d pay him back and I will. I’ll fill in in a pinch and return the favor someday. This one wasn’t in a pinch so I still owe him but it was fun.
Sometimes a tiny little one nighter in the middle of nowhere with low expectations can be a pleasant surprise and tonight was one of those. The joint was packed and they were a fantastic audience all the way through. The owner hosted the show and apparently they’ve been doing it for three years now. I’d never even heard of it before but this place rocked.
They even fed us for free. It was delicious too. They had a dish called ‘baked steak’ and it melted in my mouth. It was kind of like a pot roast dish served over noodles with lots of mushrooms which I happen to love. Who’d expect all this from some little roadside joint?
No offense, I sure didn’t. Even the sound and lights were excellent. I couldn’t believe it. Usually one nighters in bars like that have various degrees of malfunction which make the whole night more difficult than it needs to be but not tonight. Everything ran smoothly for the entire evening and it truly made it a worthwhile trip. I’d come back here in a second.
Many things went into the success of this show. First, Steve Sabo is a comic and knows what it takes to have a good show at a place like this. Second, the owner actually listened and did what he said. It’s a team effort and that’s why it’s lasted for three years. Plus it’s a biweekly show and they shut it down for the summer. The owner doesn’t overexpose it.
Everything about this gig was good. The opener was a guy out of Columbus, OH named Rye Silverman who I’ve worked with before also at a Steve Sabo gig. He’s a nice guy and the audience really liked him too. He didn‘t step on my premises and we got along nicely. It all flowed perfectly. Sometimes there can be clashes or hassles but none of that tonight.
Even the hotel was surprisingly good. They had a game room with a free pool table in it and I can’t remember the last time I saw that anywhere. This was one of those times when everything just falls together and I’ve had enough times when it didn’t to really appreciate the entire scope of it. For one night in one little town things went like they’re supposed to.
Steve Sabo is a smart guy. He’s got a few of these kinds of shows around the area and it puts a few bucks in everyone’s pocket. Being a booker and a comic are two different skill sets entirely and kudos to him for doing both. It’s a good way to keep the cash flowing for all of us in a tough economy and if nobody else appreciates it I sure do. Thank you Steve.
Tonight was the most fun I could have on Valentine’s Day without a date. I was booked in Sturgis, MI for a comic named Steve Sabo who I owe a couple of favors to. He books a few one nighters around his home town of Toledo to make extra money and also help him stay booked himself. Smart idea. I’ve worked for him before and he’s always been honest.
I’ve had to cancel on him a couple of times for various reasons and even though I don’t like doing that circumstances dictated it necessary. He’s a comic himself so he gets how it is but I still felt bad about it and told him I’d pay him back and I will. I’ll fill in in a pinch and return the favor someday. This one wasn’t in a pinch so I still owe him but it was fun.
Sometimes a tiny little one nighter in the middle of nowhere with low expectations can be a pleasant surprise and tonight was one of those. The joint was packed and they were a fantastic audience all the way through. The owner hosted the show and apparently they’ve been doing it for three years now. I’d never even heard of it before but this place rocked.
They even fed us for free. It was delicious too. They had a dish called ‘baked steak’ and it melted in my mouth. It was kind of like a pot roast dish served over noodles with lots of mushrooms which I happen to love. Who’d expect all this from some little roadside joint?
No offense, I sure didn’t. Even the sound and lights were excellent. I couldn’t believe it. Usually one nighters in bars like that have various degrees of malfunction which make the whole night more difficult than it needs to be but not tonight. Everything ran smoothly for the entire evening and it truly made it a worthwhile trip. I’d come back here in a second.
Many things went into the success of this show. First, Steve Sabo is a comic and knows what it takes to have a good show at a place like this. Second, the owner actually listened and did what he said. It’s a team effort and that’s why it’s lasted for three years. Plus it’s a biweekly show and they shut it down for the summer. The owner doesn’t overexpose it.
Everything about this gig was good. The opener was a guy out of Columbus, OH named Rye Silverman who I’ve worked with before also at a Steve Sabo gig. He’s a nice guy and the audience really liked him too. He didn‘t step on my premises and we got along nicely. It all flowed perfectly. Sometimes there can be clashes or hassles but none of that tonight.
Even the hotel was surprisingly good. They had a game room with a free pool table in it and I can’t remember the last time I saw that anywhere. This was one of those times when everything just falls together and I’ve had enough times when it didn’t to really appreciate the entire scope of it. For one night in one little town things went like they’re supposed to.
Steve Sabo is a smart guy. He’s got a few of these kinds of shows around the area and it puts a few bucks in everyone’s pocket. Being a booker and a comic are two different skill sets entirely and kudos to him for doing both. It’s a good way to keep the cash flowing for all of us in a tough economy and if nobody else appreciates it I sure do. Thank you Steve.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Luck 'Em If They Can't Take A Joke
Friday February 13th, 2009 - Milwaukee, WI/Rockford, IL
Friday the 13th is Mr. Lucky’s personal holiday. I’ve said it before but that’s when every other person on Earth gets to feel what it’s like to be me for a day. They’re all waiting for some disaster to happen and the pressure is off of me for a change. I actually feel at ease.
This is an unusual year because we’ve got back to back Friday the 13ths and there are a total of three for 2009 which is the most any one year can have. I don’t know if that’s any good for anyone but me but I sure like it because I can have a chance to promote myself.
There’s another one in March and that’s the launch date I’m looking to have my Uranus Factory Outlet website up and running and able to take an order. I’ve still got a significant amount of work to do to make that happen but I’m forging ahead. Deadlines are a positive thing and bring out the best in winners. I’ll do my best to get it done when I said I would.
I had to file an extension for my trademark which cost $150 plus lawyer fees but I can’t afford to let that get away after getting it this far. I will pay the fee and keep plugging and not let up until I turn this into a reality. I’m the King of Uranus and nobody can stop me!
Right now nobody’s trying to stop me so that’s a huge plus. Most people think I’m just a kook bag and that’s ok too. I don’t care, I still think it’s fun and I’m going to make it all come together despite what anyone else thinks. Life is too short to not chase a fun dream and this is totally it - at least for me. Nobody else could pull this gimmick off any better.
Mr. Lucky is another story. There could be some young actor who could play the role of Mr. Lucky much like Dick Van Dyke played Carl Reiner for The Dick Van Dyke Show. It wouldn’t really bother me at all if he nailed it as strongly as Dick Van Dyke did. I have no problem with that at all as long as the production is a big hit. I don’t even have to be in it.
Carl Reiner got to play Alan Brady which must have been a fun role but Dick Van Dyke was the lead even though it was based on Carl Reiner’s life. He was secure enough in his skin to relinquish the lead but in return got to be on one of the greatest sitcoms in history.
I’d make that trade in a second. Mr. Lucky is a fun comic character to play but the times when it comes too close to my real life are anything but fun. I’m starting to separate them quite nicely though and Dobie Maxwell is growing as a person while Mr. Lucky is getting deeper and more recognizable as a comic persona. That’s the way to make this all work.
Today I drove up to Milwaukee to be on ‘The D List’ on ESPN Radio 540 with the guys from 10 to noon and then I drove to Rockford to be on ‘104 The X’ with my other friends ‘Stone and Double T’. It was fun to be Mr. Lucky on the air especially on Friday the 13th.
At least I’m not rusting away in my old age. I’m putting projects on the table to work on and very ambitious ones at that. I might succeed overwhelmingly or totally miss my mark but at least I’m out here DOING something. It’s about the journey and I’m on a good one.
Friday the 13th is Mr. Lucky’s personal holiday. I’ve said it before but that’s when every other person on Earth gets to feel what it’s like to be me for a day. They’re all waiting for some disaster to happen and the pressure is off of me for a change. I actually feel at ease.
This is an unusual year because we’ve got back to back Friday the 13ths and there are a total of three for 2009 which is the most any one year can have. I don’t know if that’s any good for anyone but me but I sure like it because I can have a chance to promote myself.
There’s another one in March and that’s the launch date I’m looking to have my Uranus Factory Outlet website up and running and able to take an order. I’ve still got a significant amount of work to do to make that happen but I’m forging ahead. Deadlines are a positive thing and bring out the best in winners. I’ll do my best to get it done when I said I would.
I had to file an extension for my trademark which cost $150 plus lawyer fees but I can’t afford to let that get away after getting it this far. I will pay the fee and keep plugging and not let up until I turn this into a reality. I’m the King of Uranus and nobody can stop me!
Right now nobody’s trying to stop me so that’s a huge plus. Most people think I’m just a kook bag and that’s ok too. I don’t care, I still think it’s fun and I’m going to make it all come together despite what anyone else thinks. Life is too short to not chase a fun dream and this is totally it - at least for me. Nobody else could pull this gimmick off any better.
Mr. Lucky is another story. There could be some young actor who could play the role of Mr. Lucky much like Dick Van Dyke played Carl Reiner for The Dick Van Dyke Show. It wouldn’t really bother me at all if he nailed it as strongly as Dick Van Dyke did. I have no problem with that at all as long as the production is a big hit. I don’t even have to be in it.
Carl Reiner got to play Alan Brady which must have been a fun role but Dick Van Dyke was the lead even though it was based on Carl Reiner’s life. He was secure enough in his skin to relinquish the lead but in return got to be on one of the greatest sitcoms in history.
I’d make that trade in a second. Mr. Lucky is a fun comic character to play but the times when it comes too close to my real life are anything but fun. I’m starting to separate them quite nicely though and Dobie Maxwell is growing as a person while Mr. Lucky is getting deeper and more recognizable as a comic persona. That’s the way to make this all work.
Today I drove up to Milwaukee to be on ‘The D List’ on ESPN Radio 540 with the guys from 10 to noon and then I drove to Rockford to be on ‘104 The X’ with my other friends ‘Stone and Double T’. It was fun to be Mr. Lucky on the air especially on Friday the 13th.
At least I’m not rusting away in my old age. I’m putting projects on the table to work on and very ambitious ones at that. I might succeed overwhelmingly or totally miss my mark but at least I’m out here DOING something. It’s about the journey and I’m on a good one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
