Archive for June, 2011

I hope to delve a bit more on this, but today I wanted to touch on a few key examples.

Professional wrestlers are their own brands. They have a personality and image to promote to the fans who want to see them, and the bookers they want to pay them for doing their show.

Last year, we saw this start with a friend of the Wrestling Mayhem Show, Johnny Gargano, starting his Johnny Gargano Power Hour on YouTube.  Gargano has been a favorite in the area for a while with his work in Pittsburgh’s IWC and Ohio’s Pro Wrestling Ohio and Absolute Intense Wrestling, but it wasn’t until we started seeing these videos pop up that we started to see more of Johnny in Japan and other promotions across the country, it felt.  Johnny also managed to be my show’s very first Skype video interview (even if we may not have been technically ready for it yet).

Another is Claudio Cnastagnoli, most known in the states for his work in Chikara and Ring of honor, Claudio always prided himself on being “Very European”, and has since extended himself with a blog and video show, Claudio’s Cafe, chronicling his journeys in the US and over seas as he wrestles the world.  And his love for Starbucks coffee.  And it’s real.  The couple of shows I’ve seen him hanging out backstage, he has the Starbucks cup in hand.

Lastly is Zack Ryder.  Instead of being an independent wrestler attempting to up his brand amongst all of the untelevised groups out there, Ryder is using his own video as a platform to showcase his personality and mic talents to the fans where the WWE hasn’t been giving him the chance on television every week.  This is the most interesting, as his show has garnered him a hit amongst fans.  Even at the 3 hour RAW this week, which featured no Ryder on the show, there were “We Want Ryder” chants throughout the slower matches.  Signs for Ryder get so bad they have had to confiscate them in some cases.  Just what WWE does with this in the long run is going to be most interesting.  Do they listen to the fans screaming for this guy, or ignore it?

So in an industry where personality matters so much, how do you break through?

I'm the one in purple. Courtesy Nate Wright.

A lifetime ago, I ran a small site called WesternPAJugalos.com A cummunity site for the Juggalos (Insane Clown Posse and underground music fans) that had it’s heyday. I made a lot of great friends through that venture. Hell, some girl out there has one of our logos tattooed on her arm. FOR LIFE.

I shut the doors as my interests and energies moved on. But there were always parts of it still out there. Some guys still announce the Juggalo Day at Kennywood started by the original Pittsburgh Juggalos site, but continued through WPAJ and it’s predecessors. There were some Groups, Myspace pages, and the like.

Then something almost magical happened.

A few weeks ago, Facebook was upgrading, or deleting, I guess, their old Groups into the new version of Groups that’s more like a chat board (a feature that confused me when launched maybe a year ago.) So here’s a group with already over a hundred members gets re-invigorated, I presume by Facebook saying “hey, this thing is still over here, and you’re not all on Myspace anymore”. The discussion, catching up, and massive activity has been amazing! I haven’t seen something like this in years! Old friends that have moved on to Erie, Mansfield, Ohio, Texas, and more, have joined together, and it’s been amazing.

I learned that an old acquaintance is a Steel City Derby Demon!

I’ve been reminded of drunken nights where we walked around the Gathering of the Juggalos, a 4 day concert at a camp ground, then in Ohio, chanting “Peanut Butter Pancakes” and generally being nuts until the sun came up and I shared vodka with a TNA wrestler.

I’ve learned about some old faces I used to see at every show that have long passed on.

I’ve rediscovered a ton of pictures of myself from ages ago.  Including one of a sweet pyramid of Faygo bottles at the Presque Isle beach.

But it’s not just the Juggalos.  I’ve seen the Group for the International Wrestling Cartel brim with a bit more activity and new members to their 600 deep userbase.

So what does one do now that they’ve tried to move these conversations to the management of a Facebook Fan Page, but the community flocks back to a new/old community module like this.  do you simple follow along?

Has this Group archiving/upgrading process caught you by surprise in any of your networks?

Today would be an…unusual…step in my career.  While I had hoped to find time to work on a music video montage project for a guy, I found myself cooking breakfast for the people.

My wife’s month and a half old business at Cafe Solstice had a minor setback when our cook and food manager found themselves trapped in the wastelands of Western New York.  While we had a backup lined up with Craigslist, it fell through.

I’m the Pinch Cook.

And as with everything, after initial reservations, I took it head on, and made a game out of the day.

• I learned all of your favorite Banana on a Grill recipes.
• I learned that my mother will stalk me with technology when given the chance.  All day.  And I’m sure throughout the office… (I ran a live stream throughout the day)
• I learned that I’m in the same vein inane for not knowing the breaks for regulars, yet more fun to other customers.
• I can now make eggs over easy.  Like wut.
• I got the test the new Square Card Case with Matt. Pretty sweet. Blog to come soon on that one.

I also…produced…a bit of a video tour of the place.  Enjoy.

Well until next time.  this is Guest Chef Sorg, signing off..

You’ve been downtown and heard it.  That big horn followed by a boat full of vacationers yelling “quack quak” at you.  Ruining my shoots.  Messing with the mood of a rally at the City-County building…

Man, I wish I had a chance to go on one of those tours…

You kept your iPhone where now?

Of course I’m in that spot.  Sitting here with my iPhone 3G S, bought as soon as I could manage it after it’s launch nearing two years ago.  I’ve been free to buy something else since February this year.  Android.  WHITE iPhone 4.  But no.  I’m holding out for that June announcement to see what my next phone would look like.

And of course we have the rumors, and press release to confirm, that I’m not seeming my new phone for maybe three extra months or so.

Ick.

So tonight, when I had the final straw with my phone.  That is, I attempted to plug the near dead phone into a car charger, and had issues keeping it charging, continually losing connection.  I’ve had this issues with several connectors for a little bit.  I had Missy’s equally as old, but not quite as war torn, iPhone and tested.  No problem.  Having just updated/backed up my phone this afternoon, it was time to visit a Genius.

I heard about the Apple Store App’s addition to setup your Genius appointment on the phone, so I checked it out and scored a spot out at South Hills Village in about an hour.  Perfect timing for a Chik-fil-a and a visit!

I loitered for a good twenty minutes, awaiting my time, checking out the new iPad displays for the products that have been installed, and justifying why I don’t need an iPad 2 to myself.  (tonight’s great lie to myself: “I’d never feel it be thinner through the sort of case I use anyways”.  Good one!)

I stepped up around the bar close to my time, interjected when a mother/son duo with a cracked iPod Touch were asked if they were me, and we were go.  The fellow was a typically Apple looking fellow.  I did not check to see if he had holes in his shoes like the one Chachi wanted to fight, but he was a kindred spirit, as we sported similar beard/hair stylings.

I explained my connector issue, logged in so he could run diagnostics, and distracted myself by the Sims Medieval on the shelf beside me that Missy pointed out.  Medieval?  Really?  Will not get.  Just lost Memorial Weekend to Portal 2.  Quick, something else that’s shiny and out of my price range.

Just in the nick of time, my Apple Bizarro self came back with my phone came back and explained that it was likely a damage to the connector from wear and tear, and isn’t technically covered by AppleCare, and would likely be another $199 replacement (which I’ve already suffered due a disagreement with the element of water…) but he continued, quite a giddy excitement coming across in his speach. “…but we’ll do a one time thing and replace it for you anyways…”

Oh yes.  This is it.

It was like I was bestowed that secret Apple Geek “you’re one of us, and we’re going to reward you” handshake.  I’ve heard the legends of the unofficial cracked screen replacements “not under warranty” over the years.  Finally, I’ve experienced it.  It’s like seeing Santa delivering presents or finally seeing aliens that don’t look like that guy I knew in the ninth grade.

Have you experienced the handshake?