That Guy on the road....

[I'M THAT GUY!]

I have departed the employed world and decided to set out on my own.  I'm starting a food company in Louisville in August, and figure that I'm going to do entrepreneurship my own way.  I'm thinking that now is the time to go out and do those things I never got to do as a straight-laced company man- driving 20 hours for a 2 hour concert with 15 people in a bar that google maps hasn't heard of, a spirit quest with shrooms in Joshua tree, hailing a cab in NYC and having a self-important businessman steal it from me, busking on the street for a cup of coffee, just whatever the fuck life brings at me that isn't going to work every day at 9 am and having to report to Denise in Finance about my third update of budget numbers this month because she and I disagree about which pot my big score this year should go into.  

Here's why I'm posting:
1. because I'm bored at the computer.  

2. I'm curious about what adventures the scene might offer if I say I'm up for anything, anywhere I can drive to. 

3. This feels like a very momentous point in my life, and I want to shed my professional self like a lizard skin suit and become something different, something authentic, something fun, something else- and you guys are the place I feel most authentic.   

So I'm looking for ideas, places to be, things to do, scenes to check out, concerts I shouldn't miss, drives I should take.  Couches I can crash and help I can provide.  I just want to do stuff.  This thread might become my road diary, we'll see. What's going on where you are?

[delboydrums]

Although, being in Wales I can't offer any help. I would say GO FOR IT!!

I started off working for myself 8 years ago and have never looked back. The corporate thing nearly drove me around the bend and, although I was earning SO much more money then, working for myself has given me the following:

Freedom to do what I want to do / enjoy / love to do
The ability and clear conscience to know I'm (at least sometimes) doing something that makes a difference, and therefore am able to sleep at night!
No boss except Bruce
Flexibility of time - I'm there for my family: every birthday, parents' / teachers' evening and two weeks for Xmas etc.
Living proof that we really ARE our only saviors.

Good luck, Man.

[I'M THAT GUY!]

Hey, no reason I couldn't waste a few hundred on a flight when I have a few hundred to waste. I'm of the caldwell, bruce, routt, highbaugh, and reason clans of welsh and scotch ancestry. I bet there is good history to be seen and a terrible version of english to hear around wales.

[delboydrums]

Great history, and a lovely version of Welsh!

Pob lwc, ffrind.

[I'M THAT GUY!]

Jul 24, 2015 16:57:52 GMT -5 delboydrums said:

Great history, and a lovely version of Welsh!

Pob lwc, ffrind.

I'm gonna buy a guitar, write some songs, and go on world tour.  

[I'M THAT GUY!]

I have returned to the city of my birth, and decided to have a positive attitude about it. That Teen! wrote a song called "trapped in E'town" that was roundly ignored by everyone, including those poor souls that bought my self-released EP. There were kerouac references on that EP, just like in the hold steady's lryics, but I'm pretty sure that it was before I heard about THS.

Anyway, I have returned home to my mothers 3 page project list and my old friends. I've lost 30 pounds and gained a college degree since I was heere last, so ladies look out, I'm going to strike out with you even I even get the guts to approach you at all.

Heading to St. Louis on Friday for the craig finn/haha tonka show. looking forward to the drive so I can listen to "the most lamentable tragedy" in its entirety and try to make sense of the whole thing. I'm not great at complexity or understanding words in hardcore songs.

Anyone going to the show? I owe the scene some beers.

[chinaski]

Another UK-er here so can't offer much help. But all the best with this - sounds inspiring. Stay positive out there.

[I'M THAT GUY!]

Aug 5, 2015 3:53:33 GMT -5 chinaski said:

Another UK-er here so can't offer much help. But all the best with this - sounds inspiring. Stay positive out there.

My world feels very large right now. I need to get a guitar.

[I'M THAT GUY!]

I know that I'm pulling the digital version of telling a story at a party and completely ignoring that no one is listening, but I'm going to keep this thread up because fuck it, I can. Things are progressing well. I'm going to shows and ditching shows to drink NA beer with friends and talk about other shows we can go to, as well as other less important shit like where I could live and how I can pay rent and who's having babies.

I'm trying to stir up some excitement for my kickstarter by setting up a list for early fans to get some free samples. If you wanna pick up what I'm laying down, you can sign up here and I'll send you some jelly in the near future. I know it says I'm not doing international shipping, but if you add a THS reference in your address line, I'll make it happen.

docs.google.com/forms/d/19tbcSCsDZ3liqyQ51ZM1jmkRZmCFp_qtBHkAwGg6sek/viewform

I wish I could think of a food reference in the lyrics to make something THS inspired, but all I can think of is calling one of my products "The Positive Jam". Maybe I'll make something drink mixer inspired. Double whiskey doesn't make good jelly, but I'll think of something.

Life rocks- I love you all.

[delboydrums]

Fan bloody tastic!

That looks good - best of luck with it.
We've just been making our homemade positive jam (blackcurrant and also wild plum) as well as a small batch of wild plum chutney.

I hope your venture gets the support it deserves


(PS for what it's worth, I've found that in 8 years of self-employment, word of mouth is EVERYTHING!)

[I'M THAT GUY!]

Aug 17, 2015 4:15:18 GMT -5 delboydrums said:

(PS for what it's worth, I've found that in 8 years of self-employment, word of mouth is EVERYTHING!)

I'm investing heavily in this truth- I'm spending a few hundred just to put samples in the hands of friends and random passersby. 

[bloodystereos]

Fuck yeah! Awesome, man. I'm happy for you, it sounds exciting!

Positive Jam would be a great name for some jelly. (Drop the "The".)

Show tips: Houndmouth at The Stone Pony. Saturday September 26th.
Mike Watt & The Missingmen w/ Hamell On Trial at some place called Three Links in Dallas, TX. Saturday, October 3rd.

We're going to Houndmouth. I'll let you know if I think of any others.

I like jelly. If you wanna send me a jar I can PM you my address.

Either way, best of luck on your venture!

[I'M THAT GUY!]

Aug 20, 2015 14:57:59 GMT -5 bloodystereos said:

Show tips: Houndmouth at The Stone Pony. Saturday September 26th.
Mike Watt & The Missingmen w/ Hamell On Trial at some place called Three Links in Dallas, TX. Saturday, October 3rd.

We're going to Houndmouth. I'll let you know if I think of any others. [

Either way, best of luck on your venture!

DMed you.

Oh man... I wanna go to the stone pony so bad, but I don't think I can- the last vestiges of normal life need to be retrieved from Florida that weekend.

[bloodystereos]

Ah yes, real life. It will try to sink its claws in, for sure.

Best of luck on future endeavours, I'm sure there will be a show meetup in the not too distant future!

[I'M THAT GUY!]

So, to update: I made it to the CF show in St. Louis some weeks ago. It was excellent, but me and my party left after he played because we're old and I'm sober. I've been working hard on starting my company so I can have money for shows and gas. Don't know what I'm looking to see next, almost made titus andronicus in richmond, but couldn't hack it.

There's a kickstarter, if anyone is interested.

I owe people samples still, trying to make good on that. Freedom is very tiring and stressful. Let me know if anyone is coming through louisville, I'm planted here permanently now.

[Nightclub Dwight]

Oh That Guy. I feel sort of responsible since I sort of made you That Guy when you thought Hollywood was a better idea.

I like your business plan.

My only advice would be tangerines. Its really the only answer to anyone who doesn't use jelly.

I'm always down for a quart of whiskey and a case of beer. But you knew that.

B

[I'M THAT GUY!]

For no other reason than I'm back on the board (like everyone else) speculating on the countdown announcement, I figured I might just throw an update on my life here for anyone reading. I've been in business almost 6 months and on the cusp of expanding into some local grocery stores. The level of stress and exhaustion in running a business isn't something you can prepare- it's all consuming. I thought I was ready, thought I had taken all the good advice, but it simply cannot be done until you are in the thick of it.

but the victories are big- the product is incredible. I feel proud of it every day. People love what they taste and I get new ideas all the time. I'm taking a few days off while I wait for jars to arrive so I can put food in them, and I'm waiting on art and labels and orders and money... I'm just sitting. I'm not good at sitting. If anyone is out there, listening- thanks. I hope there's a new tour and I get to see you soon.

[I'M THAT GUY!]

it's been almost a year since I posted in this thread, and I'm going to indulge myself again.

The jelly business is kaput, for now. Overhead is a terrible thing and I couldn't manage. I started my MBA and subsequently drinking again. All the weight is back, I'm working a gig for americorps for 200 bucks a week, and I'm trying to get some other, more viable businesses off the ground.

That guy needs some positivity.

[delboydrums]

Oh man, so sorry to hear that.
Such a shame as it sounded like you had a great product. I've been 10 years self-employed and I've never really made any money, just getting by really.

Hang in there, stay positive and have faith in the future. Something will turn up, especially when you get your MBA. Weirdly, getting my MA made some people take me more seriously (despite 25 years of experience).

[I'M THAT GUY!]

AAAAAAAAAND I'm now that guy who failed out of business school. I have a job that I'm contractually and practically obligated to perform until next february, but I'm looking for a new start after that.