Things have ground down for the year. It seems like for the first time in a while many of my colleagues are looking for work. Heck, I’m even short on gigs. This is usually normal in the music biz around this time of year. But the corporate world has been hit even harder. No big xmas parties anymore. No new year’s extravaganza. For the first time since 9/11 struck, I am seeing a serious decline in trade shows and business meetings.
Most noticeably absent are several car companies at the auto shows. It’s been reported that Cobo Hall in Detroit has wide open spaces where previous clients have declined to show this year’s models. Many car shows usually have separate “press releases” where the press was invited to a private display showing off the newest fancy vehicles of each line. These things seem to be disappearing. That means our work is disappearing with it.
I was watching Ben Stein on “Meet the Press” yesterday. He was heralding how those of us with any money (and a job) left need to go out and spend. This will kick start our economy. Guess I’m not one of those folks with the extra money, especially since I’m not doing any press releases or working on any car shows at all this season. Love to help the economy Ben, but simply can’t pay the mortgage and buy the cashmere sweaters you suggest I purchase.
I gotta spend a minute and vent right now. It’s -8 degrees out and I am writing from a Holiday Inn Express in Rockford, Il. Last night my alternator went out in my Explorer as I was driving back to Chicago. Luckily my emergency idiot light came on when I was near an exit that had one of these fine hotels. I limped into the parking lot and got a room.
So this morning I wake up and call AAA, the infamous car service I’ve belonged to for 20 years. I can’t get through, which was not really a big surprise as they usually put you on hold while they get thru all the other calls about cars not starting due to freezing temperatures. However, I was not put on hold, not spoken to by anyone, just simply delivered a courtesy message that went just like this.
“Due to the vast volume of calls this morning it is impossible for us to help you at this time. If this is an emergency, please call a wrecker yourself to deal with your problems and send us the bill for reimbursement.” Click.
I do not pay 75 dollars a year to hear this message. I have not needed AAA in the 6 years since I last locked my keys in my car and needed help to get the vehicle open. But I like to pay them every year for the security of knowing that they are here when I need them. So much for that security. Wonder if I am getting ripped off now. I’ve paid about 500 bucks to them since I last needed any service, and I get an impersonal message, Tis the season to be jolly though.
Time to write a letter…., again. I really didn’t mind calling a tow truck to take my car the 1 mile down to the local Ford place, but really, couldn’t someone pick up the phone and personally tell me this?
After all, what if I had to get downtown right away for an automobile press release?
