“In these economic times…”
Words Allison Hurwitz
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 at 8:03 pm
(I’m providing you the perfect soundtrack. For free!)
Some people are born to sell.
Some people cry like babies and have minor heart attacks at the mere mention of the S-word.
I, my friends, am most definitely of the latter.
Editing, I can do. Writing? Check. Selling ads? Fuhgeddaboudit. Unfortunately, my dumb ass started a publication. And while it’s awesome to propel our vision of democratic media out there to the SevenCities, actually selling the idea, well, not so much.
It’s funny how despite the deep enthusiasm I have for the project, I’d generally rather die than rally others on board. That’s not true. I’d rather die than ask them for money.
One phrase I keep hearing over and over is “In these economic times…” Certainly, I can understand the sentiment. I go to sleep many nights only to stare at the alarm clock, wondering when a little Dominion troll will sneak into my power box and cut the cords (yeah, I know there probably isn’t an actual troll; but let a girl dream).
The other night I ran into my friend Mickey, who had a different perspective. Of all the economic hullabaloo, Mickey said simply, “I choose not to participate.”
He wasn’t being a jerk-off; he was dead serious. It was liberating.
When I thought about it, my situation is really no worse than it was a few months ago (or has ever been, for that matter). But it’s easy—especially when you’re already an anxiety-ridden freak—to get sucked into the panic mentality.
It’s also been mentioned just how important it is for local independents to keep on chugging, keep on advertising during hard times. And I think it’s equally important to keep trying to support these establishments as much as possible.
I don’t even know where I’m going with this—most likely nowhere. But I wanted to share Mickey’s words; to urge you as well to “not participate.”
So go to Restaurant Week (VA Beach, Ghent, and Norfolk are still kickin’ it through Sunday); you know, show ‘em you care. We’re never going to fix things starring at alarm clocks, panicking in the comfort and safety of our own homes.
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That’s the first blog post on this website that’s even made a damn bit of sense. Nice work, Allerson.
It has been observed about Caucasians that we don’t like acknowledging or talking about money because, you know, its impolite. We very much prefer making up bills later and sending them in the mail to avoid that kind of frank physical acknowledgement that there is some kind of economic transaction being proposed. Using the mail, its like some delightful game.
“Wait, you were billing me for that?”
“Surprise!”
“But I’m not happy with that.”
“Well can you have your secretary write a letter to mine? All of this verbal discussion of money is making me very uncomfortable.”
Sometimes I’ll go into a bar even though I know I shouldn’t, but maybe I have the tiniest bit of money for a few PBRs or something like them. Then before I’ve had a chance to order, the bartender will go ahead and mix a bourbon and coke for me. Of course, I am far too sheepish to correct them because it seems awfully close to taking about money. So I compliment the bartender on remembering my drink.
What you will notice happened there is that money was never discussed, but I end up spending more than I planned to. You might want to think of trying something like that. Just run ads for whoever you want and then bill them and see what happens. Sure, a few might be all “I’m not having any of this, I will never again have anything to do with you” etc., but you just might be surprising by how many advertising clients you get who are just afraid to talk about it.
I go with Booker on this one. But he neglected to mention how peer pressure will factor in to that brilliant plan. To continue a similiar analogy; sometimes I go out for a “few beers” with some friends fully aware that I’m on a budget. Naturally, after a few beers nobody seems to be leaving and I completely forget about my cell phone bill and have a few more. what am I supposed to do, tell my friends I’m going home because we’re in an economic crisis?
This seems that it would coincide with George’s plan in that when you run ads for whoever you want they’ll all assume that the other businesses are actually paying you and wouldn’t want to be left out.
Are you sure you wouldn’t like George and I to handle the advertising?
Well boys, while your strategy might get the book filled with ads, I believe it’s either unethical, illegal, or both. But sure; if you want to take over, be my freakin’ guest.
Have faith honey, a product such as this will sell itself.
Unethical, illegal? Okay, then I’ll go with what ‘Fredo just said.
Oh, c’mon, honey. Ethics are so 20th century.