Props Matt!!!!
London rocks, you'll love it there. When are you flying down?
mc
I can't wrap my head around the thought of seeing a freestyler on television. It makes me giddy. Ahhhh!
Colin Kennedy
[email protected]
[email protected]
Hi Matt -- that's great news!
Having worked with a toy company before I think I can provide some good insight on your situation.
Perhaps your relationship with Dave is an exception, but I'm guessing it's a typical one. This is my take on things, from personal experience and hearing from others in the field:
1. If toy companies sense weakness, lack of confidence or overenthusiasm to work for them they WILL take advantage of you.
2. Toys are a cutthroat industry -- every company wants the next big thing in stores and will practically kill to make their products popular.
3. When you have something to offer the company values you are the most important thing in the world, and will be treated accordingly. When your services are no longer required, you are basically lower than dirt.
Don't expect to maintain a long-term business relationship after your services have 'expired'.
4. Just because a company is succussful does not mean they will be fair to you!!
What I'm saying is, congrats on the commercial. It will be a lot of fun for you and sounds like a great summer vacation.
HOWEVER, with footbag still practically in its infancy we need to set standards as to what business proposals players should accept or reject.
Keep in mind international exposure may lead you to other partnerships, but it won't 9/10 times. Starting out as an amateur entertainer myself, I know how tempting 'exposure' sounds. But if it's an excuse for them not covering what you feel you deserve then there are problems -- rightfully so.
So Matt, if you feel like you should receive compensation for your time and abilities, make it very clear to the company NOW. If footbaggers always accept 'expenses paid' then we're really not getting anywhere in terms of footbag becoming a respected sport.
$0.02
Sorry for the devil's advocate. Just lookin out for ya buddy.
Jorden
Having worked with a toy company before I think I can provide some good insight on your situation.
Perhaps your relationship with Dave is an exception, but I'm guessing it's a typical one. This is my take on things, from personal experience and hearing from others in the field:
1. If toy companies sense weakness, lack of confidence or overenthusiasm to work for them they WILL take advantage of you.
2. Toys are a cutthroat industry -- every company wants the next big thing in stores and will practically kill to make their products popular.
3. When you have something to offer the company values you are the most important thing in the world, and will be treated accordingly. When your services are no longer required, you are basically lower than dirt.
Don't expect to maintain a long-term business relationship after your services have 'expired'.
4. Just because a company is succussful does not mean they will be fair to you!!
What I'm saying is, congrats on the commercial. It will be a lot of fun for you and sounds like a great summer vacation.
HOWEVER, with footbag still practically in its infancy we need to set standards as to what business proposals players should accept or reject.
Keep in mind international exposure may lead you to other partnerships, but it won't 9/10 times. Starting out as an amateur entertainer myself, I know how tempting 'exposure' sounds. But if it's an excuse for them not covering what you feel you deserve then there are problems -- rightfully so.
So Matt, if you feel like you should receive compensation for your time and abilities, make it very clear to the company NOW. If footbaggers always accept 'expenses paid' then we're really not getting anywhere in terms of footbag becoming a respected sport.
$0.02
Sorry for the devil's advocate. Just lookin out for ya buddy.
Jorden
Jorden Moir
-
Pyroman924
- Atomsmashasaurus Dex
- Posts: 944
- Joined: 03 Nov 2006 12:26
- Location: Raleigh, NC
That's fucking awesome Matt! Especially that it will be aired in the U.S.! Congrats on such a cool deal! 
Alan Underhill
http://www.myspace.com/pyroman924
"The more you drop, the better you get." -Ben Rinowski
http://www.myspace.com/pyroman924
"The more you drop, the better you get." -Ben Rinowski
Thanks everyone! Jorden, I've taken what you've said into account, big time. I wrote him back asking for money. not much, only a few hundred US, and I made some concessions about the trip to try to make the offer attractive to him. I'll post about what happens. hopefully, me sending that email does not equal me dropping the ball on this one.
a little back story:
I worked with this company at that NYC gig, and they paid me well. This "company" is one guy (David), and his partner / right-hand man (Michael). They sell boomerangs, and run this whole business themselves. It is very, very small, and they have sunk a LOT of money into it that isn't even close to coming back yet, but they are both very driven, high energy, good guys, and they really want to make it work.
the trip to NY was successful for them, and they got their distribution deal, which has lead to the need for a commercial, and consequently, this filming opportunity.
anyway, I hope it works out.
Just had a fun fun fun sesh. Actually, not that fun, but it was okay. I hit fog BSOS very easily, strong shuffle, lots of repeats of DATW in > op toe, lots of rooted terrageburgers again BS, a string with strong jani > string > flip jani > ps whirl > string > reactor > string > flip mob > hand. that was fun. Mob BSOS first try. spinning pdx dlo first try thoughtlessly. swirling DLO second try (first try was a bad set). not much else. osis set ducking clip > ducking osis rpt.
fun fun. I'll post about london stuff soon.
a little back story:
I worked with this company at that NYC gig, and they paid me well. This "company" is one guy (David), and his partner / right-hand man (Michael). They sell boomerangs, and run this whole business themselves. It is very, very small, and they have sunk a LOT of money into it that isn't even close to coming back yet, but they are both very driven, high energy, good guys, and they really want to make it work.
the trip to NY was successful for them, and they got their distribution deal, which has lead to the need for a commercial, and consequently, this filming opportunity.
anyway, I hope it works out.
Just had a fun fun fun sesh. Actually, not that fun, but it was okay. I hit fog BSOS very easily, strong shuffle, lots of repeats of DATW in > op toe, lots of rooted terrageburgers again BS, a string with strong jani > string > flip jani > ps whirl > string > reactor > string > flip mob > hand. that was fun. Mob BSOS first try. spinning pdx dlo first try thoughtlessly. swirling DLO second try (first try was a bad set). not much else. osis set ducking clip > ducking osis rpt.
fun fun. I'll post about london stuff soon.
BRICK!
rfa::never give up::
nyfa
rfa::never give up::
nyfa
body is feeling good today. not much for breakfast, unfortunately. it's round about lunchtime, so hopefully I'll be ready for a good shred when I'm done.
This playing every day thing is going well. I'm getting some of my game back, still hitting new moves. Came pretty close to food > whirligig yesterday, maybe it will come today, and I can put a mullet on the end. Don't want to strain the knees too much.
Today I will work on some flails, merlins, more datw, more fairy and pixie set, some five links, and more gyro. I'm glad gyro is finally coming, and midstring spinning / spinning ducking sometimes.
Montreal is going to be so much fun. too bad I only have one bag to sell. I guess I could make one more. I still owe one to alan underhill
I bought 25 lbs of lead the other day, so i'll have plenty of fill, at least. That shit's heavy.
can't wait to party at fouf and revisit old worlds days at UQAM! It's nice being back at that familiar spot... and what's that pizza place? Mimo? I forget, someone else should be able to remember. that was THE footbag restaurant at worlds 04!
I hope some rochester people can make it to buffalo tomorrow to shred with me at thursday in the square!!!!! There's going to be mad kickers, and a SICK SICK SICK SICK band called umphrey's mcgee, all for free. Rochester people, please come and represent freestyle with me.
This playing every day thing is going well. I'm getting some of my game back, still hitting new moves. Came pretty close to food > whirligig yesterday, maybe it will come today, and I can put a mullet on the end. Don't want to strain the knees too much.
Today I will work on some flails, merlins, more datw, more fairy and pixie set, some five links, and more gyro. I'm glad gyro is finally coming, and midstring spinning / spinning ducking sometimes.
Montreal is going to be so much fun. too bad I only have one bag to sell. I guess I could make one more. I still owe one to alan underhill
I bought 25 lbs of lead the other day, so i'll have plenty of fill, at least. That shit's heavy. can't wait to party at fouf and revisit old worlds days at UQAM! It's nice being back at that familiar spot... and what's that pizza place? Mimo? I forget, someone else should be able to remember. that was THE footbag restaurant at worlds 04!
I hope some rochester people can make it to buffalo tomorrow to shred with me at thursday in the square!!!!! There's going to be mad kickers, and a SICK SICK SICK SICK band called umphrey's mcgee, all for free. Rochester people, please come and represent freestyle with me.
BRICK!
rfa::never give up::
nyfa
rfa::never give up::
nyfa
-
Paul Agostinelli
- Egyptian Footgod
- Posts: 1067
- Joined: 23 Jan 2005 14:38
- Location: Rochester NY
-
ObArA'BaRs
- Flower Child
- Posts: 2086
- Joined: 30 Jan 2006 19:05
- Location: Chicago burbs, IL
- Contact:
-
Pyroman924
- Atomsmashasaurus Dex
- Posts: 944
- Joined: 03 Nov 2006 12:26
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Hey Matt! Props on that string from yesterday, I have yet to hit Reactor off of something other than a hand serve. 
As for the bag, it doesn't have to be the next one. Stitch a few for Montreal and get to mine whenever. 
I don't want to bog you down and hold back sales. I can wait a little bit. 
As for the bag, it doesn't have to be the next one. Stitch a few for Montreal and get to mine whenever. I don't want to bog you down and hold back sales. I can wait a little bit. Alan Underhill
http://www.myspace.com/pyroman924
"The more you drop, the better you get." -Ben Rinowski
http://www.myspace.com/pyroman924
"The more you drop, the better you get." -Ben Rinowski
Thanks for the posts, guys. I LOVE it when people post in my blog, even if it's just a short little thought or a hello.
Paul, too bad about buffalo. it's gonna be the ill shit. sorry about your ankle. if that were healed a little better, I'd suggest you call up mike and ride up with him and jeff hastings. it's a free concert, after all.
Crobar, thanks dogg. Hope to see you this summer. Worlds?
Alan, thanks for understanding. You've been really cool about the wait.
Danny, good to hear from you. Your game was looking great at GRASS.
Regarding the melodica I have, it is made by hohner, the world's leading manufacturer of harmonicas. they also make lots of other metal reed instruments (including the melodica) and some stringed instruments, as far as I know. The one I have is the HMS-32, which means Hohner Melodica Student - 32 keys. It is the little cousin of the HM-32, which is a more expensive model constructed somewhere that costs more to construct things than where the HMS is made. If you want, I'll make a little video of it tonight and you can see for yourself what it sounds like. The intonation is slightly questionable, but it's not terrible. The tone quality is decent. It's pretty loud. If you know how to play a keyboard and you know how to exhale, it's very easy to mess around on. I'd definitely recommend it to a harmonica enthusiast. I got mine for just over $30 (inc. shipping) at www.music123.com. It was shipped quickly. It comes with a case, a long tube for blowing in, and a short mouthpiece for playing right up on your face. Also, regarding upkeep, I'm not sure what you have to do to keep it clean. Maybe rinse it with warm water once and again, I know that's what I was told to do with my harmonicas. try www.google.com for more info.
for just over $30, you can't beat it. I can't wait to jam on it at worlds, and maybe some this weekend.
Wow, that's already a full post just responding to the posts since yesterday! and I've hardly mentioned footbag...
-------
So, last night I had a very sad dream. I dreamt I was at worlds, and I was staying in a hotel room, and there was a bunch of beds, and then a whole bunch of europeans, with whom I was apparently staying, came in. Honza was one of them, jorden was too. So I started chatting with honza, and he very flatly told me that I was a disgrace to the sport and should stop playing. That made me sad, so I went to jorden for some sympathy, but he had none for me. I don't remember much about the rest of the dream, except that after I got done talking to those two, I looked around, and all the bed spots were taken, so not only did I just get my heart broken by two legendary players, now I had nowhere to sleep for worlds. That's about all I can remember about it.
So, I guess that dream was just a big reaction to my self doubt, which is pretty significant. I don't feel bad about it at all now that I've woken up; it's no news to me that I have lots of doubt to deal with regarding myself as a player. In fact, I woke up feeling great.
even before my morning coffee, there was a bit of a bounce in my step, some excitement. I'm looking forward to today, in a big way. It's the start of a big footbag weekend of fun!
Two days ago, I got a phone call from Jack Lentz about Thursday in the Square in Buffalo this summer. It's a free concert series that all the drunks and freaky people come out for. Tonight is Umphrey's McGee, an AWESOME rock jazz jam metal fusion kind of thing, which I'm SUPER psyched for. Anyway, the reason Jack called is because of the strong kicking scene at these concerts. There are LOTS of hacky slackers, plus our favorite buffalo scenesters. So, Jack and maybe a few others are coming tonight, plus Mike Anello and Jeff Hastings from Rochester. We're going to have a good circle of some freestyle going on. Hopefully we can get some others into it. I can't wait to show off for all the hackers and hopefully sell some freedom bags, which I've sunk a few hundred dollars into without many sales at all. Glad to support my buddy D, though.
After Buffalo tonight, I'm headed to Rochester. hopefully I can sneak in some sushi before bed. I'm crashing at paul's house, then we're leaving bright and early for montreal! I can't wait to see everyone and jam out this weekend. I'm not sure at all where we're staying at UQAM, or with whom. I have to make arrangements to meet Toronto people... better do that before I forget.
Didn't play yesterday. I've rescheduled my guitar lessons for wednesdays instead of thursdays because I want to do thursday in the square this summer, so I did that instead. Hopefully my body is wonderfully wonderful to play tonight.
See some of you soon! and see the rest of you at worlds.
later modifizzle.
Paul, too bad about buffalo. it's gonna be the ill shit. sorry about your ankle. if that were healed a little better, I'd suggest you call up mike and ride up with him and jeff hastings. it's a free concert, after all.
Crobar, thanks dogg. Hope to see you this summer. Worlds?
Alan, thanks for understanding. You've been really cool about the wait.
Danny, good to hear from you. Your game was looking great at GRASS.
Regarding the melodica I have, it is made by hohner, the world's leading manufacturer of harmonicas. they also make lots of other metal reed instruments (including the melodica) and some stringed instruments, as far as I know. The one I have is the HMS-32, which means Hohner Melodica Student - 32 keys. It is the little cousin of the HM-32, which is a more expensive model constructed somewhere that costs more to construct things than where the HMS is made. If you want, I'll make a little video of it tonight and you can see for yourself what it sounds like. The intonation is slightly questionable, but it's not terrible. The tone quality is decent. It's pretty loud. If you know how to play a keyboard and you know how to exhale, it's very easy to mess around on. I'd definitely recommend it to a harmonica enthusiast. I got mine for just over $30 (inc. shipping) at www.music123.com. It was shipped quickly. It comes with a case, a long tube for blowing in, and a short mouthpiece for playing right up on your face. Also, regarding upkeep, I'm not sure what you have to do to keep it clean. Maybe rinse it with warm water once and again, I know that's what I was told to do with my harmonicas. try www.google.com for more info.
for just over $30, you can't beat it. I can't wait to jam on it at worlds, and maybe some this weekend.
Wow, that's already a full post just responding to the posts since yesterday! and I've hardly mentioned footbag...
-------
So, last night I had a very sad dream. I dreamt I was at worlds, and I was staying in a hotel room, and there was a bunch of beds, and then a whole bunch of europeans, with whom I was apparently staying, came in. Honza was one of them, jorden was too. So I started chatting with honza, and he very flatly told me that I was a disgrace to the sport and should stop playing. That made me sad, so I went to jorden for some sympathy, but he had none for me. I don't remember much about the rest of the dream, except that after I got done talking to those two, I looked around, and all the bed spots were taken, so not only did I just get my heart broken by two legendary players, now I had nowhere to sleep for worlds. That's about all I can remember about it.
So, I guess that dream was just a big reaction to my self doubt, which is pretty significant. I don't feel bad about it at all now that I've woken up; it's no news to me that I have lots of doubt to deal with regarding myself as a player. In fact, I woke up feeling great.
even before my morning coffee, there was a bit of a bounce in my step, some excitement. I'm looking forward to today, in a big way. It's the start of a big footbag weekend of fun!
Two days ago, I got a phone call from Jack Lentz about Thursday in the Square in Buffalo this summer. It's a free concert series that all the drunks and freaky people come out for. Tonight is Umphrey's McGee, an AWESOME rock jazz jam metal fusion kind of thing, which I'm SUPER psyched for. Anyway, the reason Jack called is because of the strong kicking scene at these concerts. There are LOTS of hacky slackers, plus our favorite buffalo scenesters. So, Jack and maybe a few others are coming tonight, plus Mike Anello and Jeff Hastings from Rochester. We're going to have a good circle of some freestyle going on. Hopefully we can get some others into it. I can't wait to show off for all the hackers
and hopefully sell some freedom bags, which I've sunk a few hundred dollars into without many sales at all. Glad to support my buddy D, though. After Buffalo tonight, I'm headed to Rochester. hopefully I can sneak in some sushi before bed. I'm crashing at paul's house, then we're leaving bright and early for montreal! I can't wait to see everyone and jam out this weekend. I'm not sure at all where we're staying at UQAM, or with whom. I have to make arrangements to meet Toronto people... better do that before I forget.
Didn't play yesterday. I've rescheduled my guitar lessons for wednesdays instead of thursdays because I want to do thursday in the square this summer, so I did that instead. Hopefully my body is wonderfully wonderful to play tonight.
See some of you soon! and see the rest of you at worlds.
later modifizzle.
BRICK!
rfa::never give up::
nyfa
rfa::never give up::
nyfa
so, I haven't heard from david since two days ago, not a word since I wrote back asking for some money. This does make me a bit nervous, but I hope that, at least, if he absolutely refuses to pay me, that he will give me one more chance to accept the offer. I mean, obviously I want to do it. I could probably afford it if I live cheap enough. But jeez, he wants to use my footage for an international ad campaign, and he wants me to sign off on my image so he can use it as much as he wants... a few hundred dollars shouldn't be too much to ask.
I hate feeling powerless. I know my talent is worth something, but if I can't get any money for it, maybe it's not, in the literal sense. PLEASE WRITE ME BACK, DAVID!
I hate feeling powerless. I know my talent is worth something, but if I can't get any money for it, maybe it's not, in the literal sense. PLEASE WRITE ME BACK, DAVID!
BRICK!
rfa::never give up::
nyfa
rfa::never give up::
nyfa
-
Sporatical_Distractions
- registered sacks offender
- Posts: 4529
- Joined: 12 Oct 2004 19:14
- Location: Guy's American Kitchen & Bar
-
Mathochist
- Multidex Master
- Posts: 278
- Joined: 24 Dec 2004 05:21
- Location: Around the world
Net Champion Cory Current gave me an Umphrees McGee CD in Memphis, since he represents Chicago musicians I guess, and I've been digging that quite a bit. So I hope you enjoy(ed?) that show.
Whatever your internal hangups are in the sport, I hope you can at least be assured that you have one of the most beautiful, fluid styles in the game. But what most makes me a devout MC fan is the positive energy you bring to every circle I've seen you in. I personally have taken all the props you've given me to heart and I can't wait until worlds to show you how my game's progressed in significant part because of your kind words.
Whatever your internal hangups are in the sport, I hope you can at least be assured that you have one of the most beautiful, fluid styles in the game. But what most makes me a devout MC fan is the positive energy you bring to every circle I've seen you in. I personally have taken all the props you've given me to heart and I can't wait until worlds to show you how my game's progressed in significant part because of your kind words.
My favorite trick is knowing when to pass.
Rob Creel III
Rob Creel III
hey Rob and Kevin, thanks for saying hi...
Kevin, no, I get more nauseous if I don't eat breakfast and then have my coffee. I've been trying to eat more in the morning instead of just coffee like I did all semester. What a bad idea that was. see, I'm trying to shred 5-6 days a week lately, so I need more energy, so, more food. hope I can keep it up.
Rob, thanks so much for the kind words. I'm glad you're liking my game. Worlds is going to be a great time; that's sweet that you're going. Where will you stay?
The session in buffalo was loads of fun. I got there at about 6:45 and joined a HUGE hack circle (so big, there was a guy in the middle). Some kids could do stalls and stuff, and I did a ripwalk and an under-the-brim stall. Then, after some difficulty, I found mike and jeff. We moved over to a more hacker-populated spot, and we got the shred on.
I was too jittery from a big energy drink I drank on the way there (note to self, don't over-do that stuff in montreal) so my game wasn't top notch for the first while. I hit some fun strings. Mike's game was GREAT. Definitely the best I've ever seen him play, looking back on it. super bothsidedness, great duck > dex > delay > rpt combos with all sorts of variety. awesome fluidity and control. That really made the session for me. Jeff is still getting his basics, I'm glad he came out and hacked it up with us for the whole session. I saw some more pickups and legovers, and an improved clipper form.
There were at least 4 kids with shoes modified for footbag, and 2 pairs of lavers amongst those. one of the kids with lavers showed a LOT of potential. he could do pendulum > sole brought to flapper > spinning butterfly. but he didn't know what a clipper stall was. he could do all his basic delays and lots of inside stalls and a bunch of weird stuff. i saw a few clean DATW-in kicks. He had a real spark for it. he had the cockiness and the energy, he'll be good if he wants to be. I challenged him to hit infinities for next week.
We all kicked with various hackers until about 9:30. Then, I bounced and drove to rochester and picked up some beer and food, and ate a lot with paul and had some beers, and played a round of guitar hero, and now here I am. Tomorrow morning, we leave for montreal. now, I'm going to shower and sleep.
goodnight.
Kevin, no, I get more nauseous if I don't eat breakfast and then have my coffee. I've been trying to eat more in the morning instead of just coffee like I did all semester. What a bad idea that was. see, I'm trying to shred 5-6 days a week lately, so I need more energy, so, more food. hope I can keep it up.
Rob, thanks so much for the kind words. I'm glad you're liking my game. Worlds is going to be a great time; that's sweet that you're going. Where will you stay?
The session in buffalo was loads of fun. I got there at about 6:45 and joined a HUGE hack circle (so big, there was a guy in the middle). Some kids could do stalls and stuff, and I did a ripwalk and an under-the-brim stall. Then, after some difficulty, I found mike and jeff. We moved over to a more hacker-populated spot, and we got the shred on.
I was too jittery from a big energy drink I drank on the way there (note to self, don't over-do that stuff in montreal) so my game wasn't top notch for the first while. I hit some fun strings. Mike's game was GREAT. Definitely the best I've ever seen him play, looking back on it. super bothsidedness, great duck > dex > delay > rpt combos with all sorts of variety. awesome fluidity and control. That really made the session for me. Jeff is still getting his basics, I'm glad he came out and hacked it up with us for the whole session. I saw some more pickups and legovers, and an improved clipper form.
There were at least 4 kids with shoes modified for footbag, and 2 pairs of lavers amongst those. one of the kids with lavers showed a LOT of potential. he could do pendulum > sole brought to flapper > spinning butterfly. but he didn't know what a clipper stall was. he could do all his basic delays and lots of inside stalls and a bunch of weird stuff. i saw a few clean DATW-in kicks. He had a real spark for it. he had the cockiness and the energy, he'll be good if he wants to be. I challenged him to hit infinities for next week.
We all kicked with various hackers until about 9:30. Then, I bounced and drove to rochester and picked up some beer and food, and ate a lot with paul and had some beers, and played a round of guitar hero, and now here I am. Tomorrow morning, we leave for montreal. now, I'm going to shower and sleep.
goodnight.
BRICK!
rfa::never give up::
nyfa
rfa::never give up::
nyfa
-
Zac Miley
- Post Master General
- Posts: 5953
- Joined: 04 Jun 2006 12:11
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Contact:
We should have like, footblog grammies.
Also, you should join the bandwagon and take billions of pictures of your room. lol.
Buffalo sounded like a lot of fun.
Also, you should join the bandwagon and take billions of pictures of your room. lol.
Buffalo sounded like a lot of fun.
Jay (8:06:01 PM): Bu-bu-buu-buug--Looks up, and the feeling goes away like a sneeze-bu-buuuh-BULLLSHITTT
Jay (8:06:14 PM): *wipes bellybutton*
Jay (8:06:14 PM): *wipes bellybutton*
Montreal was a whole bunch of fun. It's now monday morning and I am TIRED.
okay, Friday morning, we woke up and chris came and we bought food and stuff and hit the road. We got on our way by noon. The drive up was easy and uneventful. We had some pimply-faced children with badges to deal with at the border. Too much attitude from those guys, or one of them, at least. Anyway, we made it through.
We got to place des arts and got the shred on. It was great to meet some of the newer ontario players, Cassy, Alex, and Andrew. I played with Jorden for a little while using Paul's MC bag that I gave him a few sessions ago, which was playing very nice. Camille and Josh's MC bags were really nice, as well. That makes me happy that I sold some bags to people that turned out good. Clavens thinks I should switch to single floss instead of double floss and change my measurements to .8 / .9 / 32%. I think I will try that.
Anyway, back to montreal...
we partied a little back at the room, then partied at foufounes electrique or however it's spelled. I moshed a bit with Will Digges and James McCullough, that was fun. After a little bit of that, I stood back behind all the noise and jumping around. It's all so harmless and silly. Funny mating dance, at least. Had another beer, sold my only footbag (#77) to Andrew Dunford (eskimo joe - he actually is an eskimo!) and went home.
The next day started with being a bit lost with Mike Faille and Camille and Jon, but we found NDA and got in for the session. I had some fun shred, and played with Alex for a little while. I gave him a suggestion about his set heights, which were a bit too high. He brought them down a bit and it tightened up his game SOOO much. He immediately made a drastic improvement in everything he did, which was really gratifying for me, and I'm sure gratifying for him, too.
Competition was fun to watch. I should have competed. I would have done okay in circle, and could have hit some fun tricks for the Best competition. It was a bit of a wake up call to watch competition. I usually see everyone in videos, so I have this opinion of them being a LOT better than they actually are in person, which makes me unreasonably intimidated. I really should have competed.
Jorden hit Walrus, torch-r-rack swirl, and big orange. also hit some huge combos that I can't remember right now. Will hit Jani Walker > PS egg in competition. As well as other huge shit, like a really really nice gauntlet. Will is the man, and also an incredible dancer. He's going to do his dance at Moe.down this year. I absolutely can't wait. i want to do the dance with him, too. it's going to be epic.
Alex said something REALLY funny to me before competitions got going. we were having our skooling session, and talking about footbag related stuff, and I was saying how I wanted to get a dragonfly with Vaska written above it on the back of my calf, to honor vasek and his revolutionary contribution to the sport. Alex said (really matter-of-factly) "oh yeah? you should think about getting a pile of shit tattooed on your other leg, and write 'Matt' above it". I cracked up, seriously one of the most funny things anyone has said to me in a long time. It spoke really well of him (to me, at least) that he was ballsy enough to look me in the face and say that. He's a good kid.
I played a bit more, ate some pizza from mr kolo, and headed home with some beers. Josh and I had a fun little competition back at the room, which was a tie that left everyone a winner (which I was super stoked about). Then, we went to foufoune and tried to have fun, but we were too exhausted from footbag competition and dorm competition. James's description of me and chris dean is hilarious, maybe he'll bless us with that.
So, then, I headed back, and camille couldn't find her favorite sweater, so we walked back to fouf, and it wasn't there, and she was sad. So we went back to pizza memo (I was pretty sure it was there, but didn't say so) and it was there, so everyone was happy again. We made it back to the dorm and ate leftover poutine and went to bed.
Sunday morning, got up at about noon, and had a croissant and some eggs and talked about cloning eggs with croissants and making some kind of croissant-laying chicken, or half croissant half chicken beast. We checked out and walked down to place des arts. There was some shred going down, and nice weather. I just walked around playing guitar and drinking coffee and socializing before getting on the road at about 2:30.
The drive back was pleasantly uneventful. I stopped in rochester for just a little bit to pick up some sashimi and a sunomono (which was disappointingly lacking in fish), then headed back to paul's house to transfer my stuff to my car and eat my supper and do some last minute bidding on some shoes on ebay. My bids were successful, and I won these babies:
I can't wait to get them. I haven't paid much for shoes in years, so I didn't mind laying down $50 after shipping for these. They're super rare samples. I love weird rare sample adidas shoes. I've gotten SO many compliments around here on my stripey lavers and my kente lavers from Waylon, so I thought I'd keep that weird shoe ball rolling. I just barely missed some great bids lately, so I'm glad I scored these. I can't wait to get my first paycheck in a couple weeks so I can get some more fun shoes.
now, I'm back. Just chilling here in the office. Lifted some chairs earlier. Might do some inventory later. Who knows? Could be a slow day. I can't believe how slow it is around here.
so, montreal was wonderful. It was great to see everyone and make new friends. I hadn't ever had so much fun with James McCullough before, but he seemed in a really lively mood for the whole tournament. We had fun moshing and drinking and just talking about freestyle and playing guitar. It was great to hang with the Ontario posse and share a room. Mike has really taken over as the leader for their crew, as far as I can tell, and he has done a really good job of getting shit organized, and getting shit done. It takes that kind of person for a scene to be really good, and often that person goes unthanked by the community. Mike Faille is like that for Toronto, Mike Anello is REALLY like that for Rochester, and has been since he started playing. I think we need a Mike Anello appreciation thread.
anyway, if you read this far, sporp.
edit: current views 7273. I wonder how many this post will get.
okay, Friday morning, we woke up and chris came and we bought food and stuff and hit the road. We got on our way by noon. The drive up was easy and uneventful. We had some pimply-faced children with badges to deal with at the border. Too much attitude from those guys, or one of them, at least. Anyway, we made it through.
We got to place des arts and got the shred on. It was great to meet some of the newer ontario players, Cassy, Alex, and Andrew. I played with Jorden for a little while using Paul's MC bag that I gave him a few sessions ago, which was playing very nice. Camille and Josh's MC bags were really nice, as well. That makes me happy that I sold some bags to people that turned out good. Clavens thinks I should switch to single floss instead of double floss and change my measurements to .8 / .9 / 32%. I think I will try that.
Anyway, back to montreal...
we partied a little back at the room, then partied at foufounes electrique or however it's spelled. I moshed a bit with Will Digges and James McCullough, that was fun. After a little bit of that, I stood back behind all the noise and jumping around. It's all so harmless and silly. Funny mating dance, at least. Had another beer, sold my only footbag (#77) to Andrew Dunford (eskimo joe - he actually is an eskimo!) and went home.
The next day started with being a bit lost with Mike Faille and Camille and Jon, but we found NDA and got in for the session. I had some fun shred, and played with Alex for a little while. I gave him a suggestion about his set heights, which were a bit too high. He brought them down a bit and it tightened up his game SOOO much. He immediately made a drastic improvement in everything he did, which was really gratifying for me, and I'm sure gratifying for him, too.
Competition was fun to watch. I should have competed. I would have done okay in circle, and could have hit some fun tricks for the Best competition. It was a bit of a wake up call to watch competition. I usually see everyone in videos, so I have this opinion of them being a LOT better than they actually are in person, which makes me unreasonably intimidated. I really should have competed.
Jorden hit Walrus, torch-r-rack swirl, and big orange. also hit some huge combos that I can't remember right now. Will hit Jani Walker > PS egg in competition. As well as other huge shit, like a really really nice gauntlet. Will is the man, and also an incredible dancer. He's going to do his dance at Moe.down this year. I absolutely can't wait. i want to do the dance with him, too. it's going to be epic.
Alex said something REALLY funny to me before competitions got going. we were having our skooling session, and talking about footbag related stuff, and I was saying how I wanted to get a dragonfly with Vaska written above it on the back of my calf, to honor vasek and his revolutionary contribution to the sport. Alex said (really matter-of-factly) "oh yeah? you should think about getting a pile of shit tattooed on your other leg, and write 'Matt' above it". I cracked up, seriously one of the most funny things anyone has said to me in a long time. It spoke really well of him (to me, at least) that he was ballsy enough to look me in the face and say that. He's a good kid.
I played a bit more, ate some pizza from mr kolo, and headed home with some beers. Josh and I had a fun little competition back at the room, which was a tie that left everyone a winner (which I was super stoked about). Then, we went to foufoune and tried to have fun, but we were too exhausted from footbag competition and dorm competition. James's description of me and chris dean is hilarious, maybe he'll bless us with that.
So, then, I headed back, and camille couldn't find her favorite sweater, so we walked back to fouf, and it wasn't there, and she was sad. So we went back to pizza memo (I was pretty sure it was there, but didn't say so) and it was there, so everyone was happy again. We made it back to the dorm and ate leftover poutine and went to bed.
Sunday morning, got up at about noon, and had a croissant and some eggs and talked about cloning eggs with croissants and making some kind of croissant-laying chicken, or half croissant half chicken beast. We checked out and walked down to place des arts. There was some shred going down, and nice weather. I just walked around playing guitar and drinking coffee and socializing before getting on the road at about 2:30.
The drive back was pleasantly uneventful. I stopped in rochester for just a little bit to pick up some sashimi and a sunomono (which was disappointingly lacking in fish), then headed back to paul's house to transfer my stuff to my car and eat my supper and do some last minute bidding on some shoes on ebay. My bids were successful, and I won these babies:
I can't wait to get them. I haven't paid much for shoes in years, so I didn't mind laying down $50 after shipping for these. They're super rare samples. I love weird rare sample adidas shoes. I've gotten SO many compliments around here on my stripey lavers and my kente lavers from Waylon, so I thought I'd keep that weird shoe ball rolling. I just barely missed some great bids lately, so I'm glad I scored these. I can't wait to get my first paycheck in a couple weeks so I can get some more fun shoes.
now, I'm back. Just chilling here in the office. Lifted some chairs earlier. Might do some inventory later. Who knows? Could be a slow day. I can't believe how slow it is around here.
so, montreal was wonderful. It was great to see everyone and make new friends. I hadn't ever had so much fun with James McCullough before, but he seemed in a really lively mood for the whole tournament. We had fun moshing and drinking and just talking about freestyle and playing guitar. It was great to hang with the Ontario posse and share a room. Mike has really taken over as the leader for their crew, as far as I can tell, and he has done a really good job of getting shit organized, and getting shit done. It takes that kind of person for a scene to be really good, and often that person goes unthanked by the community. Mike Faille is like that for Toronto, Mike Anello is REALLY like that for Rochester, and has been since he started playing. I think we need a Mike Anello appreciation thread.
anyway, if you read this far, sporp.
edit: current views 7273. I wonder how many this post will get.
BRICK!
rfa::never give up::
nyfa
rfa::never give up::
nyfa