It never seems to fail.. You try to plan ahead for a vacation and somehow all the procrastinators suddenly decide to get off of the fence and place that order they've been sitting on for weeks. And to top it off, they also decide that they absolutely must have it done before you plan to get away. Why is that ??? It's almost a given that this will happen, even if and especially if you've given all of your most important customers ample notice that you're closing up shop on that specific date, and that you won't be back until 2 weeks.
Sometimes these folks have sat and kept a project on hold for months, but that closing date somehow triggers an immediate need impulse in them.
Am I the only one, or does this happen to others in the sign business ?
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
I've always said the best way to increase business is to plan a vacation.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Yep, I'm dreading this. Wanda and I are flying to Las Vegas in late August. I'll be killing myself the week before to get the projects out. Then I have to get up at 5am to be at the airport in time for some TSA agent to cop a feel. Spend 5 hours in an uncomfortable seat to arrive at a place that will be 105f in the shade. And then while I'm there, sit in the hotel room watching Korean soap operas while Wanda attends various business meetings for 5 days. During which I'll throw away $25 on nickel slots, quickly losing all of it when I could have spent the money on a new tire for the riding lawnmower. Leave the hotel and go to the airport at 5pm to get felt up by another TSA agent. Spend 5 hours in an uncomfortable seat in a plane. Arive at RDU at 11pm (if I'm lucky). Drive an hour back to the house. Spend the next week or so getting over the jetlag while rushing to do redo the work that didn't get done correctly while I was gone, wishing I had that $25 I wasted on nickel slots to buy the new tire my riding mower still needs.
Posted by Russ McMullin (Member # 5617) on :
Glenn, you like traveling as much as I do!
Posted by Pete Payne (Member # 344) on :
remember when everything was hand lettered, the best way to generate sales was to burn any patterns that hadn't been used in 5 years. I'm buried in a big job that sat since we were first going to do before christmas, and it's almost before christmas again, and have an entire arena to do that's been discussed since october, just got the final? list of names for the donor wall for the third time, along with 38 interior signs and 6 sets of Geminis, but the stress of 'how will I ever get all this done on time' beats the stress of 'how will we pay our bills' anytime!
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Look on the bright side, Glenn. With the wind chill, Vegas might feel only 104°F in the shade when you get there.
Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :
Glenn... they sell whiskey in Vegas.....in fact some is free
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
I hear you Ken. That always happens. And then you work so hard the week before you are tired when you get to your vacation get away. Then you come back rested but have to make up for the time you were away so that by end end of the next week you might as well not have even gone on vacation. Glenn, why do you go? My husband Clare doesn't come to sign meets because he feels it is a waste of his time, he could be at home "Getting things done that he does know how to do." And I don't go on his winter vacations with his buddies up snowmobiling up north in the winter. I can get more things done at home while he is away. No meals to cook, work after supper without feeling guilty etc, etc. Why would you go to Vegas if it doesn't turn your crank to sit in the motel room? Your wife can make it to Vegas by herself I'm sure. Sometimes it is nice to get away from each other too. Renews conversation. And it strengthens our relationship.
[ July 11, 2011, 04:09 PM: Message edited by: Deri Russell ]
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Deri,
The missus is making me go. I haven't gone with her for the last couple years and she made it clear she expected me to go with her this time.
Cost isn't too bad. $240 per ticket round trip and the rooms at Ceasar's Palace are free.
I think this is her way of making me take some time off. I can't remember the last time I had any sort of a vacation and she says its starting to show. I think the last time I had a "real" vacation was probably 15 years ago (give or take a couple years).
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
BTW, the last few times I went with her to Vegas we stayed at the Paris. Maybe since we'll be at Ceasars this time, I'll get a better class of oriental soap operas to watch.
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
If I was stuck in Vegas a few days, I'd take a rent car to Boulder City, the western part of the Grand Canyon, etc. An early start could get you to Zion National Park. I'd be off in the hills somewhere.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
OR ... you could go out to the new shooting range in North Las Vegas and have some fun shooting (they have rental guns).
Posted by Chuck Churchill (Member # 68) on :
Two interesting places near Vegas. 1 hour East is the Valley of Fire State Park. Lots of interesting geology. It is going to be hot out there so rent a car with air.
Hoover Dam is a little over an hour South on the Nevada-Arizona border. They have a very interesting tour that gets you down beneath the dam.
A road map and some careful planning and you could see both in one day.
Save your nickels in the Casino. Just watch all the characters wandering around.
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
Well then it looks like you will be busy seeing a whole bunch of new things around and near the Vegas strip Glenn. And I do agree with her that a vacation might be just the ticket. Don't look at it as she is making me go, look at it that you have time for new adventures while she is in her meetings, and some great stuff together when she is out of her meetings. Sometimes your mindset can make all the difference. Enjoy man.
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