The title above was actually taken from a line in the movie "My Favorite Year" with Peter O'Toole. There's a character much like Sid Caesar who is looking at the newest script for his weekly comedy television show. He suddenly looks around at his writers and says, "Hey, what's that smell?"...He sniffs the air and gets really close to the papers in his hand. "It's the SCRIPT!! It STINKS!" and he throws it down on the table and walks away.
Funny line, as is the whole movie. If you haven't checked it out, you should. Peter O'Toole as the aging film star who is frozen with fear when he finds out the tv show he's agreed to appear on is only performed LIVE, and in front of a studio audience. When someone tries to calm his down by telling him it's only acting he replies, "I'm not an actor!...I'm a movie star!!"
But I digress...
While business has been actually very good for entertainment and our shows which are booked all over the U.S. and beyond, I'm noticing the slight dip in ticket sales when it comes to theme parks, stage shows and even movies. People are saving their money and staying home more and more. This economy isn't providing much of a backbone when it comes to trust that things will get better and people are either losing hours at work or their jobs completely.
With everything though, things come in cycles and in a few months or a year or two, things will once again be nice and rosy. But it's the hard times and the transitions that some people are just not very good at. Putting money away for a rainy day (or year!) is sometimes not the thing at the front of a person's mind. Greed in the markets and real estate have pushed many into borrowing heavily, thinking a quick 'flip' or a certain stock will get them back on their feet.
One of the houses in our neighborhood was recently found vacant. We had known the family living there for the past 2-3 years and they seemed quite nice and pleasant, but kept to themselves. It was only a few weeks ago that we were told that they had simply packed up and skipped out on their house and all responsibility that came with it. Don't know if it was a sub-prime loan, or wildly erratic variable rates. Or a combination of everything. But it struck close to home to us. Here was a good neighbor living just a few doors down and the news on the television which can sometimes feel so remote was happening to him directly.
Our own credit rating is quite good - solid, to use a word. But even with our stellar background, credit card fees and rates have spiked dramatically for us. We argue on the phone with the banks, but they can only give the 'corporate speak' which is nothing but double-talk. Our Equity in the house dropped by a huge amount like everyone else. Now, thankfully we bought at a time when the market was growing so even with the drop we're still ahead of the game, but I wonder just how many people out there who actually PLAYED BY THE RULES are suffering now even though they pay their mortgages and credit cards off each and every month.
Sad times. Please do a favor to yourself and others around you and try to help out as much as possible. Believe it or not, we're all in this together. If someone has to work extra hours, take some time to watch their kids or make them dinner. It's the little things that pull us all though. Get back to real neighbors in real neighborhoods. Know the parents of the kids your kid plays with. "BE" a part of the life around you. It will make things better, provide a little hope to those who could use some, and of course make the world a better place than when you first found it. : )
Until next time! All the best!!!
Official CHIPPER website: www.chipper.tv
TOURING SHOW: BLiNK! - An Incredible Evening of Award-Winning Magic!
EMAIL CHIPPER: chipper@chipper.tv
Funny line, as is the whole movie. If you haven't checked it out, you should. Peter O'Toole as the aging film star who is frozen with fear when he finds out the tv show he's agreed to appear on is only performed LIVE, and in front of a studio audience. When someone tries to calm his down by telling him it's only acting he replies, "I'm not an actor!...I'm a movie star!!"
But I digress...
While business has been actually very good for entertainment and our shows which are booked all over the U.S. and beyond, I'm noticing the slight dip in ticket sales when it comes to theme parks, stage shows and even movies. People are saving their money and staying home more and more. This economy isn't providing much of a backbone when it comes to trust that things will get better and people are either losing hours at work or their jobs completely.
With everything though, things come in cycles and in a few months or a year or two, things will once again be nice and rosy. But it's the hard times and the transitions that some people are just not very good at. Putting money away for a rainy day (or year!) is sometimes not the thing at the front of a person's mind. Greed in the markets and real estate have pushed many into borrowing heavily, thinking a quick 'flip' or a certain stock will get them back on their feet.
One of the houses in our neighborhood was recently found vacant. We had known the family living there for the past 2-3 years and they seemed quite nice and pleasant, but kept to themselves. It was only a few weeks ago that we were told that they had simply packed up and skipped out on their house and all responsibility that came with it. Don't know if it was a sub-prime loan, or wildly erratic variable rates. Or a combination of everything. But it struck close to home to us. Here was a good neighbor living just a few doors down and the news on the television which can sometimes feel so remote was happening to him directly.
Our own credit rating is quite good - solid, to use a word. But even with our stellar background, credit card fees and rates have spiked dramatically for us. We argue on the phone with the banks, but they can only give the 'corporate speak' which is nothing but double-talk. Our Equity in the house dropped by a huge amount like everyone else. Now, thankfully we bought at a time when the market was growing so even with the drop we're still ahead of the game, but I wonder just how many people out there who actually PLAYED BY THE RULES are suffering now even though they pay their mortgages and credit cards off each and every month.
Sad times. Please do a favor to yourself and others around you and try to help out as much as possible. Believe it or not, we're all in this together. If someone has to work extra hours, take some time to watch their kids or make them dinner. It's the little things that pull us all though. Get back to real neighbors in real neighborhoods. Know the parents of the kids your kid plays with. "BE" a part of the life around you. It will make things better, provide a little hope to those who could use some, and of course make the world a better place than when you first found it. : )
Until next time! All the best!!!
Official CHIPPER website: www.chipper.tv
TOURING SHOW: BLiNK! - An Incredible Evening of Award-Winning Magic!
EMAIL CHIPPER: chipper@chipper.tv
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