The Experience With Don Stugots

A few years ago, Regina and I were hosting “The Experience” podcast. After a few months, I got an email on myspace from a man named Frank Sidebottom. The email said “I am looking for an ambassador in NYC and I heard you are the man. Interested?” I had no idea who he was or why he needed an ambassador but I googled him and I was shocked to find out who this man was.

I wrote back “I would be happy to” not knowing what I was getting myself into. Frank and I would email each other once or twice a week. On one of his stays here in the States, he came on to the show and we interviewed him. Frank would appear on the show 3 times altogether and at our “Night of the Living Bands 2″ event.

Over the few years that we emailed, I only got to meet Chris (the man beneath the head) twice. The first was at the Mercury Lounge for one his gigs. We spoke and drank beer. That was during a hiatus from the show for me. I had been working a lot at the time, I had been working a lot and felt burnt out creatively. Chris told me to just go back to doing it. Take what works, use it, find what didn’t work and lose it. More importantly “if its in your head, do it. Just sit down and do what ever you comes in to your head. You are a good bloke.” I went on to ask him why he contacted me in 2007. He continued “you got passion. A passion for life and passion to entertain. I like people like that.” A few weeks later, we were back doing the Experience, months later, Frank Sidebottom would set the stage on fire (for me anyway) at The Ace of Clubs before a packed house that didn’t know what to make of him, for NIGHT OF THE LIVING BANDS 2. The next night, Frank came on to the show in our apartment and was great. He was laughing, singing, smoking and drinking.

For those of you that never heard of Frank Sidebottom, you missed out. Thankfully, there is youtube and frank’s videos are all over. His “fantastic” cover songs of punk rock are catchy as hell. They will haunt you.

Thank you Chris for being my friend. Thank you for pushing me when I more than needed it. I am sorry you will not be here for our next project, I am sure you would have loved it. Thank you for introducing me to the world of “Radio timperley” and “Sunday’s with Sadie”. Thank you for Frank Sidebottom, you have and will continue to make me laugh. I miss you.

You know I do, I really do.

Since getting laid off back on January 26th, I have been looking for work. From February till June, I was trying to get a new career of “mortgage broker” happening but it never took off. So as of June 1, I have been applying for jobs as if my name was Samuel Gerard and a new job was Dr. Richard Kimble.

Within the 1st week, I went from applying for 20 jobs a day and by the end of week 2, over 100 a day. Since I am out of work, I am not above applying for jobs that I really do not want but am willing to do. Ideally, I would like to get away from construction management once and for all but I know I will be going back. All I can do is hope for the best.

All of those emails paid off with ONE interview. It is with a construction company. I am not sure what the position is, since when the lady called me to set up the interview, I was too embarrassed to ask and she didn’t offer that information. One tip to people doing that job, say something like “you applied for the vacant DOG HANDLER position with us” just to give the person on the other end some idea of what they are coming into interview for. Do not assume that your job is the only one that the poor bastard on the other end of the line applied for.

So, tomorrow, I will jog, walk the dog and get myself ready. My good suit is cleaned and pressed, my good shirt and my burberry tie hung and my shoes shined. Tomorrow, I will walk into that office like Marion Rivera coming out of the bullpen in the 9th inning of a game 7 of the World Series.

Well, there is a lot going on here that I will blog about tomorrow but while I am here and making sure everything still works, check this out.

What’s it all about? What is it? Where was it? Why did I shove a hot dog in my mouth?

Wait for it……..

is this blog on?

Going back to doing my blog on a daily basis. Be ready for it.