(click the picture above for
the high definition
video - but also click
YouTube
for me!)
locked until May 3rd,
2009
7:22 PM, Tuesday,
August 12th, 2008:
YES.
YES
x2.
What an absolute
shot in the dark and the only thing I left on the
table was probably a little cash. Something I could
give two shits about.
So the scenario
was this: He loved the demo I sent, but never
mentioned it again. I have a feeling it's a little
overwhelming and truth be told there were more
pressing issues, i.e. getting the wedding video done.
So when I got a good cut of it - I brought over my
laptop and showed him everything in HD and he was
very, very happy. The best part? The notes. To sit
with someone who knows so clearly what they want and
watch their mind race? It was like watching me in 35
years. I mean to the fact that he could barely sit
more than 5 minutes, to the fact that he paced around
trying to figure out why the contrast on his TV was
off, to knowing exactly when to cut for time each
part... it was so fun. I had some great instinct on a
good deal of the wedding, but for example - he wanted
me to cut the father/daughter dance in half and
like... no one but the father is gonna make that call.
HA. But he was just awesome and we whizzed through
everything lightening fast, both discussing the merits
of going one way or another. I literally loved every
moment of it and couldn't wait to go home and make his
changes.
I did, and after a
long Sunday of DVD issues (it's 2008 already, this is
ridiculous) I had a finished product ready for
Tuesday.
Now
came the moment I was dreading... how do I
waste this man's time and ask for help
with The Egos. The wrinkle however was
that he did owe me one thing: money for
the job. So the question becomes, to The
Journey Gods, what is the magic number?
You only get one shot. You're gonna hand
over the bill and it's either going to
offend him, make him think you're
incredibly economical, or not even
register. But is there something I can do
that actually illicits a favor? Or the
openness to one? That was my quandry and
at the last moment, right as I was about
to leave for his house it hit me. 25% off.
Just straight up take 25% off. Take a big
enough chunk that he sees the value and
explain the discount by simply asking for
some advice.
Gulp.
So driving up
there, I was nervous. Like funny heart palpitations
nervous. Haven't felt that since... honestly I can't
remember. It's because the thought of offending this
guy literally makes me sick to my stomach - as I said,
I actually just like hanging out with him. So we watch
the DVD, which he loved - everything is perfect, I
give him the bill and proceed to flip around the DVD
menus a abit more as I see him standing there looking
at it. It was rather detailed, but you instantly think
he's upset. I mean this whole inner-dialogue is really
ridiculous if you saw this guy's house. I'm clearly
not taking advantage of him and in fact he wrote out
the check right there and made it a point to thank me
for being so economical. WHEW. The negotiator in me
however thought: "Damn, you left some money on the
table" - but that was quickly forgotten as I went into
the whole 25% off thing. He didn't hesitate for a
second...
"I'd love to help,
I'm just not sure if I can, been out of the game for a
few years". So he asked me some questions and we
talked for about 20 minutes. He was incredibly honest
about everything saying point blank... "I never really
had to be wiley, they handed me Knots Landing after
the success of Dallas" and well, you can't really
argue with that. He was a writer on some other shows
and just worked his way up. Met the right people...
and away he went. The more we talked about my
situation - he finally just said: I really need to see
what it is you're describing and I asked if I could
make up a pitch for him. He loved the idea and asked
if I could come by this Sunday.
Gulp
x2.
And as I drove
home, I called my father absolutely BEEMING. It's
already a success for me, because I played the cards
right. That is what I control. That's the only thing I
can do is take every card and play it right. The rest
is out of your hands. I'll pitch him on Sunday, I'll
give it my all - and he'll either know a way to help -
or he won't. But at the end of the day, guess who
won't wonder "what-if"? That's the key. Play every
possible angle. And seriously telling the story to my
dad - I just couldn't be happier. 'Cause I could've
fucked this up a bunch. But I really don't think I
did. The time we did talk he was very open, very
cordial and it was clear he was incredibly
appreciative of the work I did on the wedding, the
discount and if there's anything he can do to help...
he will.
And that my
friends, is The Journey. Those wanting to make it? You
just keep laboring over the details. You stress about
all the actions you control and eventually things
happen. There's no stress in what happens after
Sunday... none. I have no control of that. I
controlled getting to Sunday and I pulled it
off.
Now of course I
get to stress about what I'm going to show him on
Sunday. Trying to make The Egos make sense to a
complete stranger to the concept is actually a helluva
good challenge.
