Thoughts on Black Friday

I have been saving this one for the right time. As we enter the "buy everything and don't think about the debt" season, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on some of the corporations I have had some dealings with over the last few months. I am not saying don't buy from them, but just consider where yo are endorsing. If the customer is always right, that is only so long as they are spending money. No fault there. After all, who would think much of their employers if they stopped paying us?

Currently I have a broken phone, a cracked computer, and a pair of sunglasses that have a lens that falls out. These things happen, but not usually within a year of purchase. The kicker is that these products came from such reputable companies as Samsung (Sprint), Apple, and Oakley. So, occassionallythings break. I get that. Here is what happened when I attempted to take care of them.

Sprint:
It took a hour and a half (with no phone) for them to tell me the face was shattered. Hmmm... thank you? I was then informed that the high-end phone I purchased last November (that occasionally freaks out and freezes up) is no longer being made. I am eligible for a replacement of "equal quality." They did not however have one in the store. I would have to wait for one to be sent in. Not a problem, if I had a steady address right now. Apparently they did not have any of these rare Razor phones that everyone is holding. Perfect, a phone store without a phone to give me.

Oakley:
I tried to take them back into the store just a month or so after buying them. They tried tightening them and had the same problem I did, no success. Here's the fun part. Rather than give me an "equal quality" replacement, I had to actually send them in. I needed an "expert" to determine that they were broken and then send me another pair. Again, my nomadic life does not work with their policy of send you the fixed ones. Also again, I find myself in a store that does not have the product on its sign to give me.

Apple:
My fancy, new Mac Book has apparently a common defect. They crack where we right handers rest our palm. I have already heard through the grapevine that they will take my computer and send it away. Sounds about right. My first iPod was a disaster of send it in. Again and again I sent it in, till my warrantee was expired.

American Girl:
I know they were not on the list, but they are my employer right now and they did decide not to pay me recently. My boss, cow-tailed to an ignorant angry customer. This individual called and decided he should not have to pay for the 2 extra people that showed up and sat at his table with him because they were not on the reservation. Despite them being there, me waiting on them, and them being friends and all... he still determined paying for them was not his responsibility. My manager (fearing the loss of the entire sale) said yes sir and refunded him the two meals they were served. That also came out of my pocket and apparently she decided that was a price I should pay as well. I have the cheap bastards name and credit card last 4 digits if anyone would like to have a go at him.

So there it is. a few thoughts on some of the companies I have had business with lately. I thought I was stepping up my quality by shopping with better reputations. However, when the sale was finished, so was their responsibility to me. Today is nicknamed "Black Friday" for its renowned shopping crowds. Your dollars are powerful, but only in your pocket. Once you give them out, you you are no longer important to them. You are not a customer, you are a service number. Chose your places to endorse carefully. There are some great merchants out there that still want you satisfied after you own their product. Ideally you would send more people to them. Tell me your great merchants. Tell each other. Support them.

Happy Black Friday!

Priceless

So, it's been a week now. I have been thoroughly enjoying being back in Chicago. I have long held the theory that there are 2 types of big city people in this country. There are those that yearn for the life of Los Angeles and those that feed on the frenetic energy of New York. My opinions on LA have never been candid, but I am trying to see the benefits out there. What feels good about being back is some of the familiarity of a more "east coast" type of city. Chicago is what would happen if the Big Apple and the Midwest mated. It's a NY with a little less worldliness and you can have a car here. I am certainly not saying there is not culture here, by any means. It is not of the extent that NY has though. I have appreciated that LA does not seem to wish it were something it is not. That has long been a frustrating factor of Chicago living. It is not NY, nor ever will be. It is great in its own accounts. That's what I love about it.

Yet I digress again. I am happy here right now. My choices are being made as they come up. Sadly that leaves me sounding a shade dopey when asked, "So what are your plans?" I am still saying I don't know, but now I don't feel guilty for it. There is a bad strike going on in the film and TV world. For those that don't know, the Writer's union is on strike. The actor's union is pledging its support. Long story short: There is no work in LA for a union actor in LA right now. While I could go back and likely PA still, without the prospect of any auditions, it seems hardly worth it.

Being back here is giving me a chance to breathe a little and decide what my next steps should be. I am here through Christmas for sure. From there I do not know just yet but may be extending my time in Chicago if the work continues. I may stay in Denver some as well and work out there. There is the prospect of trying to line up some work in NY and finally just give it a shot.

I know I have achieved a lot in a little over a year in LA and that town has been better to me than I have given it credit for. However, it is my hand to play. I can leave the table anytime I want. If that were today, I doubt I would regret anything. I am an actor. I went to Hollywood. I had a good time and achieved a lot. The biggest thing I gained was knowledge that I could hold my own there. In the words of the well-known commercials, that alone is "priceless."

Windy City Love

I got in last night just after midnight. I was in an audition for a national commercial less than 12hrs later. So here's my weird universe story. Scotty was over yesterday morning and while he was getting ready to go to breakfast at Lucile's Denver, I looked up my agent in Chicago to send an email letting them know I would be in town for a few weeks. I could not find an email, so I decided I would call later in the day. Less than 2 minutes later, my phone rings from said agent with an audition today. I never told them I was coming. Weird

After my audition downtown I ran a couple errands, refamiliarizing myself some with Chicago sights and sounds. It felt so good to be walking around town. I missed it here a lot. Over the last couple weeks or so I have had to clarify my perspective on Chicago often. It seems those that know me well are fond of reminding me with knowing smiles that I truly did not like the Windy City very much for a long time when I first got here. That is true, I called it the town "I loved to hate."

However, after a few years of doing my best to get out of town on children's theatre tours, I started to warm up to it here. That last 2 years were friggin' fun. After all, I got to work on 6 consecutive shows with only 2 weeks down time in 15 months during one stretch. I have a great agent here that continues to help me even in LA. Plus the people are fantastic too.

Now what makes LA any different from Chicago, based on my timeline? For starters, I enjoy stage work more than film. What LA can offer is exciting and interesting, for sure. I love the constant energy there. Everyone is just one call away from fame and secure rent. That's cool. Artists should be able to earn their pay doing what they love and have sacrificed for. I, however, prefer the connection with people too much to want to leave theatre for long. Now true there is a lot of theatre in LA, some of which you don't even have to pay to play in. It is tougher there to carve away that sort of time there. If you can, you find the higher caliber of people out there for sure. LA is like all huge cities in that it is full of transplants. Hell, a good chunk of my favorite company in Chicago now live there. Guess "nothing is safe" now in LA.

The other, rather inflexible point against LA for me and me alone is that I don't like heat and sun for long. I don't. I prefer storms to get my creative wheels turning. I caught a little flack for coming to Chicago for Nov. and Dec. for this. Last year in LA, we had a couple days in the 100's at the end of Nov. Nothing like getting a Christmas tree in shorts and a tank top, wondering if an off season AC unit would fit in the car too. That's just not for me.

While I can admit, LA and Chicago have very similar starts for me, I don't believe LA will grow on me the same way. This town is closer to a NY vibe and that tempo is the one I enjoy. LA is fun and blessedly unapologetic. I am fascinated by a city so proud of itself and detested by everyone else. I continue to try and bite my tongue and just learn.
For now though, I love being in Chicago again. It's chilly and threatening snow and I could not be happier. I am learning what to like about LA. I miss Chicago and appreciate everything it did for me. Colorado is now and will always be home.

On The Fly

Funny thing when you duck out of the norm, changes become the norm. Ironic. I decided to take off from LA for a bit for work and recuperation. My phone has been constantly ringing with jobs now. I don't miss Production Assistant work at all, but I did get to work with some good people. That's whom I miss. I was asked to stick around Denver through Mon for an audition. I met with an agent here in Denver on Fri and they liked me enough to put me in for a TV show audition today. Again, ironic. Everyday here though is a treat and I continue to wonder how long I still want to wander. Nonetheless, for now I am still home and tomorrow night I get to begin a stretch in Chicago. That will be good too. I am enjoying the nomadic life thus far. With luck today's audition could extend NM to that list. Who knows? What I do know is that I love this chance to see my family and a few close friends here. Till next city...