During the holiday season of party savings you're the weakest link... which of course means now.And, about the "party savings" part; don't you think really great savings should be offered to you more times of the year than just now?
But it's more like, throughout the year, when it comes to party savings: you're always the weakest link. Hell, I think awesome "consumer first" deals should be offered all year round.
But I guess now is as good a time as any (for anyone planning a holiday party) to "seal the deal" and buy party-related products and services that are more about the company selling them to you -- than they are about you, first.
This is the best, most profitable time of the year for the party industry.
Wait a minute... did she just say "services" and "products"? What did she say? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I heard her say the "S" word, services.
I've got the phone up to my ear. I'm calling my favorite cousin, Curtis Everage... speaking of "services". He's recognized as thee stage electrician for Cobo Hall and Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit, so he's all about "service", great service. And he's the lighting expert that I've mentioned a few times in the past. I'm glad I brought this up, because I completely forgot that I was supposed to interview him about party lighting for you guys.
Well, that was the world's shortest conversation.
He's at "the Joe".
I totally forgot that he told me, before Thanksgiving, that he had to get The WHO: Quadrophenia and More Vintage Trouble concert set up at "the Joe" (Joe Louis Arena) in "the D" (downtown Detroit), located right next to Cobo Hall and Cobo Arena. I know, I know... that's kind of a lot of abbreviations. Right. But that's how people who live in that area refer to these places. I was calling Curtis to discuss the exact same thing this blog post is about, party business owner's pricing. And consumer's budget money for parties, or the lack thereof.
What, exactly, brings this up?
You the consumer.
That's what.
All of us in the party industry know the holidays are the party business' primary time to "get paid", make money, or whatever you want to call it. And so to be honest, this is the season that it's not really about you guys, "the consumer", per se.
I just know what I'm going to say next is going to tick some people off (if what I've written hasn't done so already), but "that's too black bad", as my friend Lauretta Webb's dear mom, Melba, used to say -- so she wouldn't cuss. You got "beef"? Read the Cater-Hater byline.
This blog is more about "you" (the consumers) and less about "them" or "us" (people with party businesses) since I'm one of the "them" too. But baby, I'm optimistically encouraging consumer advocacy! Not optimistically encouraging party business owner advocacy. Sorry, if you thought that. You got that wrong.
That "consumer encouraging" byline sounded pretty doggone awesome when I came up with it almost four years ago. Especially since I've always gone out of my way to offer my customers something unexpected and special, with no extra charges. So, I'm liking it (the byline) still today. Because when you really think about, "optimistically encouraging party consumer advocacy"... it's almost always not happening anywhere, enough... if at all.
"Yeah right", some say.
Party people, please!
There's more often than not some cockamamie, nonsensical scheme of some type of "sale" that's been devised and "sold" to you; being thrown at you guys, that's supposed to "fix" your party woes. And maybe it does (fix something party-related). But nine times out of ten, at the helm of it is someone thinking more about "them", than about "you". I know. That sucks.
I mean, really... Google "encouraging party consumer advocacy" and see what pops up. Looking out for party consumers is apparently so far off the radar, Cater-Hater's links aren't even served up the right way. Dear old Google comes up kind of goofy...
Join The New AALL Caucus on Consumer Advocacy
Ralph Nader - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Consumer advocates attack Verizon for limiting third-party tethering
About | Library Consumer Advocacy CaucusRemember that I brought this up. What is that supposed to mean? There's nothing there about you, the party consumer. Although, they did get one of my links in there...
Pimp My Party" Is Coming | Cater-HaterBut see, if you know a little something about search engines you can see that it wound up there ranking for the word"Party", not for "encouraging party consumer advocacy".
So that's what I mean. Exactly that.
Encouraging party consumer advocacy? Encouraging? Encouraging, as in party business owners that are for all of us? Yes, that's right. Every party consumer.
Not just the rich ones who can afford Colin Cowie and Preston Bailey.
Who, exactly, appointed these greedy goofballs who are keeping things status quo, that slight the majority of you, in charge of what you party consumers want to pay? I don’t recall being asked to vote on this. Did you hear about anyone that creates parties being asked to vote on this? Because I’m pretty sure I would have voted in favor of you; for you to have at least one professionally catered party, that you can all afford during your lifetimes. I mean, I'd have to be drunk or something to see this any other way. But then, seriously, if I did think like "them", I’d have to be perpetually drunk. And although I can admit that back in the day, I did get my "party on"... I'd never be (or was) that drunk. Never. Ever. I would have been totally incoherent, maybe. And passed out first (before voting started).
Encouraging party consumer advocacy. You’re kidding right?
I’m going to be honest with you, it seems to me that a lot of party people are, well, dumb. And by dumb I mean the dopey kind of I-think-I'm-cool and I'm-going-to-tell-you-what-I-think-is-cool that isn't necessarily really cool but... because you're here asking me what's cool, I-might-as-well-get-your-money kind of person who is just a little too fascinated with their own self-righteous self-worth and importance. I’m sorry to be the one to point this out to you, but this is basically what they're like. Dummies. These people are just dumb. Which makes me really not want to be included in their category, because it's just way too much about "them" and nowhere near enough about "you", like I said.
Please little dumbos, leave me out of your life plans.
Gracious people who are sick with something contagious will tell you that they'd like to have a "rain check" and catch up with you later. Dumb people who don't want to think about consumer's first need to do the same thing; catch up with us later. Way. Later. We will be informed of their illness and we will be able to decide to keep them at bay, if necessary, to avoid "catching it". I think they should have a requirement to be made to "play fair". They want you to be fair by supporting their businesses. I can't believe her. Oh Cater-Hater, you’re so freakin' stupid. Cool. Thank you for sharing. Perfect. Because I don’t have to waste my time listening to the rest of your consumer non-inclusive silly thoughts. And consumer advocacy is not for the squeamish anyway, so goodbye then and on your way out... remember, consumers rule!
Usually, the dummies are the self-righteous ones with the loud mouths complaining about how bad business is. Which is probably why that's the case. Now of course, because of the First Amendment they're allowed the right to state their feelings and opinions, even when they are being whiny dummies.
I know, I know... sure, it's a pain in the butt to have to listen to them, pontificating, running their mouths about the poor state of their business affairs. Which, when you think about it; of course some of them are sharing their martyrdom with you on purpose. But the good thing is, you're smart and know this, which can help you completely tune them out.
You could go directly to them and talk to them and tell them what they're doing wrong, or tell them to just plain shut the hell up. Or, what you could do is stand in front of their party business picketing with signs. But then, if enough of you did do that, the whole doggone country would just about shut down. There's just too many of them. And, there's just too many of you not getting a good enough deal. It's completely unfair; how this thing is set up. You party business people should really want consumers to benefit from your party business bad. And you should have to prove that it's true... you mean it, and put up with consumers reasonable desires/demands. But, as I've stated, most party business owners are dummies. They meet at various industry-related conventions and whatnot, co-signing each others ideas and thoughts, so they're convinced that they're "right". But if they're so... right, why are they complaining about the lack of business because you're not spending money booking them to cater your parties?
When most of them began their businesses, they were all smiles and super nice to you, giving you their time, utmost consideration, and excellent service (there's that word again), telling you that if you were ever unhappy their door would always be open. What happened to that? Right? Hello?
So far, from what I gather, and from what I've been told, many of them have stopped smiling, seem to be putting on a fake "I'm being nice to you" act, and say they'll have to get back to you later, which quite naturally makes you question their consideration, and not like their service.
I call it "them first". This mindset sadly ushered in an era and way of doing business by
Now that I've got you thinking, know what this is all about, which again... is you. And your anthem should be what Janet (Jackson) sang about, "What have you done for me lately?"
Yes, good question. What have you done, putting party consumers first, lately?
Let's just ask.
I bet they've got one hundred and fifty-six excuses, reasons, and answers that they'll create about how "they" plan to put you first... after they get their money thing sorted out first.
Dummies, at least be honest about it and tell the truth.
When enough consumers (party-related and otherwise) start to lead their way of thinking to the forefront – most business owners are going to freak. Because we all know that, traditionally, when businesses are started it is not because the owner's mantra is: "I want to save money, and create opportunities and value for my customers." Yeah, I said it. Ouchie.
Business owners want to succeed, but do it their way. Or, in other words - business owners want all of the benefits of being in business, doing it successfully, without changing a thing.
These people want you to think they're doing you some kind of favor -- selling you something, while also having you think, "We're in this together". Yeah, okay. Right. Together... as long as things stay the same way. How "political".
What?
Oh, right. I’m strange.
Have you been considered first by these people, 100% or nine times out of ten?
Exactly.
And if you want to argue this...
Fine.
Just think about how putting you first is not happening. That’s all I’m sayin'.
"So, let me get this straight. Boil this thing down for me", you say. Okay. I said that this is the best, most profitable time of the year for the party industry. Like ever. And I said that during the holiday season of party savings you're the weakest link.
Some of the deals being offered to you, that appear to be "deals", are sorry... just for appearance sake.
When you're outnumbered by consumers, being the one(s) who think you have all of the monetary influence is
always a tragedy, but never just a tragedy.This way of thinking adds up to be many things to many people: a rather ruinous commentary on party businesses culture, a PR loss, a scoop of a lifetime, a big setback for an industry that seeks to see business owners within it continue to sustain themselves and be sought after, the inability for party consumers to canonize any new party legends (only this time... someone that has something different to offer you, instead of what most people can't afford; Cowie and Bailey prices), another cautionary tale that exists, the tragic loss of revenue, a sonnet to more businesses within the industry of professional party self-destruction, an economic tanked time better left forgotten, and an opportunity to change.
In other words, I support consumers. There, I said it... yet, again.
I'm behind you consumer people a lot. I don't care who doesn't like it.
You can get mad at me, you can hate me. Great. You'll just make my day... every doggone day.
I'm sick of consumers getting the shaft.
Quite frankly, the status quo party business system doesn't make any sense to me. Sometime in the future, which I wish was more like... right around the corner or right now, I hope to see things looking differently. In the meantime, I'll keep sharing tips and tricks, and how-to information to help you save money on your party needs and necessities (during the holidays and otherwise).
After hosting Thanksgiving dinner and shopping Black Friday sales for Christmas gifts, if you're thinking about getting ready for or looking ahead to find certain Christmas party ideas or items, if you let me know what your end result goal is, I'll do what I can to help you with things along the way.
Just let me know.
*****
I do this... I write to help to create to opportunities for all of you to pursue your passion to have parties without regard to economic constraints.
I think if we keep talking about the cost of parties (I blog, you write comments), together, maybe we can break down some of the party industry price barriers and shame some of the people who've taken your money and delivered a poor quality product right into growing a conscious and treating you right (nice thought, isn't it?).
Opportunities to be inspired about parties are everywhere. Yet, people looking out for your wallet are few and far between. My goal is to inspire you, causing you to question the way things are that have been the status quo for too long. When we stand together and speak up, we can be a powerful force.
Let's keep the conversation of change going. Because in the sea of everyone talking, one voice is a whisper... several voices are a scream.
Leave a comment and share your thoughts, ideas and suggestions below. Remember to be as specific as possible because what you have to say helps us all.
Always... be encouraged and encourage others too,
“Don't be ashamed to need help. Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish. And if you've been wounded and you need a comrade to pull you up? So what?” - Marcus Aurelius
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