Tonyontheweb.com

Givers and Takers

There are givers and takers in this world.
I hate takers.
You know who you are.

Uncool People

This is a picture of an arrow. It is painted in the parking lot of the Whole Foods Market where I do my shopping. It's about 4 feet long and 3 feet wide. I've never had trouble seeing it but apparently many do. You see, whenever I go to Whole Foods there's always one, many times more than one, person driving the wrong direction. This wouldn't be so bad if the parking lot was larger, with plenty of room to drive either direction, or if it weren't busy. It neither one of these things. The lanes in the parking lot are very narrow making it very difficult for two cars to drive in. And the parking lot is packed with cars and people from the time they open to the time they close. The topper to this story is that these people, who in my opinion have no regard for anyone but themselves, will give you the dirtest look if you block their way as if you are the one driving the wrong direction. Unbelieveable!

Slow Motion

I have a BIG FAT problem with people who lack a sense of urgency. That probably explains why I choose to work alone in my home. If the job doesn't get done or doesn't get done quickly, I'm the only one to blame. It's the perfect environment for a control freak like myself.

On the rare occasion I have to venture out and interact with other people, I'm amazed at how some people even survive! Patrick and I are going to be working pretty late tonight so I decided to run over to Starbucks and pick us up some coffee. BIG MISTAKE. There was a skeleton crew of three. One of the workers works incredibly hard and was cleaning tables on the patio. Another isn't the brightest bulb on the tree but was doing his best at the cash register. The third is the one that really got me going. SLOW, SLOW, SLOW. What is it?!? Get the drinks poured and get the customer on his or her way! Why should people be waiting for you to rinse and dry blender pitchers?!? Get the customer his order and then worry about cleaning up!

I enjoy real cream in my Americano so I requested it from her after waiting what seemed like an hour for the drink itself. She handed me the container with a splash of cream in it. I asked her for another. After asking her a second time, obviously she heard in slow motion as well, she said "Okay, I'll have to go to the back for that." GO! I don't care where you have to go to get it just get it and make it quick!

Mean while the other two workers are literally running circles around her, getting things stocked, wiping down counters, roasting coffee beans, you name it. People like her should be FIRED! They bring done the morale of the entire staff. Why should they work hard on their shift when she’s going to shuffle aimlessly through her's. Eventually the entire staff is working in slow motion.

When I used to manage special events I would have waiters that operated in the same manner. I would fire them. They wrote letters saying how unfair I was, how mean I was, how the only reason I was a manager was because I looked good in a suit. (I liked that one!) I started as a waiter and within a month I was managing parties. Why? Because I have a sense of urgency! I was there to work, not hide in the back or walk around in a daze or run off every twenty minutes for a smoking break!

Needless to say, I quit catering. If I had done it much longer I would have killed someone or someone would have killed me. I'm sure that girl tonight had a very good reason why she was moving in slow motion; her feet hurt, she broke up with her boyfriend, she was tired. I DON'T CARE! DRINK A COFFEE! Leave your personal drama at home. All I want is my coffee. Is that too much to ask for?

Hollywood Bowl, Good Times

I love the Hollywood Bowl. Sitting outside, listening to great music. So why do other people feel the need to talk through the entire program? A couple of weeks ago Patrick and I were at the Bowl for an evening of Gershwin. Sitting in front of us was a couple practically doing it cowgirl style right there on the bench! We suspected the boyfriend was having sexuality issues or maybe it was the girlfriend, she was the one with her tongue halfway down his ear canal! People, I know the night air, the stars, the beautiful music, can really get you in the mood but give me a break! Get a room! And shut up! There's about 7000 people seated behind you trying to enjoy the show! Jeeeez!

Cool People

Cool people are under rated. It amazes me that there aren't more of them (us), people that are encouraging and supportive. People that celebrate accomplishments and challenge you to do more.

Recently I was exploring the idea of marketing myself as a style/culture geek. I say geek because style/culture expert sounds uppity (I have no idea how to spell that but you know what I mean). I thought that with my background as an actor and my experience as a web designer, I had something to offer. Hey, if Jai Rodriguez can do it, I CAN. I've come to realize that one of the main parts of my job as web designer is marketing; how am I going to position my client and/or their product in the best possible light. Isn't that what these people are doing on those shows?

I made the mistake of sharing this idea with a person that's already doing this. I live in LA you'd me amazed at the people I meet at the gym! The amount of resistance to the idea was overwhelming! Who do you know? Who are you? What shows have you done? No one. No one. None. So what! Who did you know when you first started? What were you when you first started? What shows had you done before your first show? Give me a break. Lady Luck is who he knew.

I guess that's why I'm not a star (yet). I can't stand the competition. I didn't say to this person "I want your job." There are hundreds of stations and thousands of shows. I believe there's plenty to go around. I'll never do that again!

Even people that are supposed to be your friends aren't always cool. Years ago when I was still working as an actor. I booked a commercial. It was a Spanish language commercial which meant that it would air internationally and would probably make me a lot of money. I told a girl friend of mine and she reacted strangely. "Why didn't I go out for that job?" Maybe because I'm a Hispanic man and you're a Caucasian woman?!? She couldn't just be happy for me! Neither one of us are still acting. Probably a good thing.

Thanks to all the cool people out there who don't covet their neighbors achievements, who encourage them to do more, and help them up when they stumble. Look out you Queer Eye guys. Here comes Tonyontheweb!