Thursday, November 29, 2007

Thanksgiving

Holiday Greetings!

I hope Thanksgiving was a wonderful feast for everyone, and that they didn't eat too much! That certainly is hard to do at this time of year. At least those of us in cold climates can hide underneath sweaters!

No real news here except that orders continue to trickle in for the movie. I even had a call from someone who had ordered it in the spring, had a problem with Paypal, and is now wanting to re-order. (Paypal is working fine by the way) So that is encouraging to me! I have been told that the movie would make a great stocking stuffer or present for people in the restaurant business. One viewer even made a comment about the fact that since it isn't a snazzy and polished Hollywood production, it is more genuine and real. I was happy to hear that! It defineately is relateable and an honest look into our world, good and bad...

I have applied to speak at the National Restaurant Association Food Show in Chicago in May, so I am keeping my fingers crossed! I will post the result here when I get it. Well keep warm or cool and I will write again soon!

Peace,

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

In the Paper Again

Back again...

Just a quick note to link to the latest article in the paper. There was a write up about the movie in the local paper here in southeastern Wisconsin. I was on the cover of The Week with a great article inside. I was very happy with the article written by Donna and hope you take a moment to look at it! Have a great day and be happy and safe.
Click here for link.

Chain Leader

Hello!

Wow what a great conference! It was so fabulous to meet such wonderful people at the helms of so many restaurants. Everyone was very friendly and they made it easier for me to get up and speak to such an elite group of restaurateurs. I just pretended that they were one big table... ;)

I showed the trailer for the film, then used various clips to help me tell the story about the making of the movie as well as telling them about the movie itself. I asked for help in getting the messages in the movie out there. I ended with telling them that if they have a dream in their hearts, no matter how crazy or impossible it seems, do it! Jump off that cliff because if you believe the net will be there, it will be. I know.

One of the facts I mentioned is that there is a National Waiters and Waitresses Day. Did you know that? Yup. It's May 21st, and not many people know about it. I myself who had been in the restaurant business for almost 30 years just recently found out!!! How crazy is that?? Heck, I knew about International Speak Like A Pirate Day! (September 19th) and there are a lot more people in the restaurant business than there are pirates--in this country anyway! Why don't we know about it?

I don't know what will happen from the conference, but it seems that they enjoyed my story. I was applauded twice! That was really cool to experience. I might get a different line of work from this... I do know that when I get started on the whole reason why I made the movie, I really get going and everyone seems to want to keep me away from coffee! I have been exposed to many articles and discussions about why servers aren't respected and what we can do about that. I guess I thought that making a positive movie was what I was called to do. Now I just have to figure out how to get it in front of the masses. On that note, I better get back to it. Hope all are well and jump off that cliff. It's not always smooth going but it's worth it.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

The Morning Blend

Greetings from back in Wisconsin!

The travels are over for a bit and it is great to be home again. My trip to Colorado was of course fun because I was able to be around that bunch of silly friends, and the golden leaves of the aspens as they fluttered in the wind was very familiar and great to see again.

After The Motivation Show in Chicago, where coincidentally I was able to connect with some restaurant people, I headed to New Jersey to help a friend move some furniture. We were like real truckers being almost as high as the semi's! Man it was a fun adventure. I always wanted to be a trucker and I think I still do!

Back home to prepare for my first television appearance for the movie. (I was on Hee Haw when I lived in Nashville oh-so-long ago, sittin' on a hay bale justa clappin' and a grinnin'!) But anyway, it was really fun to talk with Allison and Molly about the movie. They were very nice ladies and I think they had fun too! You can check out the segment for the next 30 days here! It was a great experience for me to be there and the staff was very friendly and helpful! I hope that this will be a start so I can be on other shows to really get the message out. One lady ordered the movie and she had never even been a waitress, she said it looked good, so she bought it!

Well. gotta go, but I will be back soon with news about other happenings that are in the works! Have a great day and be true to yourself.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Colorado

Greetings from the beautiful state of Colorado!

It's been a fun time here visiting with friends and meeting new ones. I am getting advice on the upcoming TV appearance as well as the conference in California, which is great. Being here reminds me of the time making the movie and what a fun experience it really was. There is a lot to be thankful for yes indeed. Well I am on vacation so to speak, so back to work! People to see things to get done!

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Howdy!

The summer is officially over now that Labor Day has come and gone. I hope the grills were busy and the fun was flowing for all. I learned something about a small resort area in Illinois yesterday. They missed out on business!! My friend and I met at a small restaurant bar to enjoy lunch and old times working together at Silverheels in Colorado, and they were closed! As we were sweating in the parking lot (I was hot from my leathers as I was on my motorcycle--yes I took off the jacket...) deciding where to go, about five other parties came by and also were very disappointed. This was in a span of less than 5 minutes. So we went to the nearby community of Geneva and on the main street where many of the restaurants are, none were open! We just couldn't figure it out. We had never had a Labor Day off in our resort community and there really were many people walking around. Yes I know it's a bbq day and all, and I think that formal restaurants might not be so busy, but burger and beer spots that are appealing to many (and there also were many many bikes out on the road...) people would be busy. Ah well such is the way and we ended up enjoying an outdoor place where an incredible guitarist was serenading the customers.

I am heading to Colorado in a few days to attempt a vacation but know that won't happen. A lot of running around for the movie, but I love it. I'm just happy to be able to spend time in the mountains and be with my friends! I am excited about the things that are happening and now-- I'm slated to be on The Morning Blend, a TV show out of Milwaukee, so I am thrilled about that! I will get this word out one way or another! Well, gotta get to work!

Slainte!
Patti

Oh yeah, Irish Fest was great! Although even the Irish folks were complaining about the rain so that goes to show what a deluge it really was!

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Hello!


Been a while since I have blogged, I seem to be so busy this summer that it's flying by. The horse carriage job will be winding down soon and I can get back to concentrating on the movie!


Have I not blogged since USA Today!? Well, besides that, there was an article in Nation's Restaurant News on July 16, (http://www.nrn.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2farticle.aspx%3fid%3d343038&id=343038) and I was also in the National Restaurant Association's newsletter that went out on July 16! (http://www.restaurant.org/pdfs/washingtonreport/2007/wreport_2007_07_16.pdf) So things are happening and the word is slowly getting around. I have shipped movies to Hawaii as well as Alaska and almost every state on the mainland. Now I have shipped to Canada as well! I am officially international. (Well I kinda was before as some friends in Ireland have seen and liked the movie.)


One restaurateur even bought multiple copies to give to his FOH staff as a token of appreciation for a summer well done. If anyone else in interested in this type of fun reward, contact me as I gave him a bulk discount.


I hope you are enjoying a fun and profitable summer. I will strive to be a better blogger...

Slainte,
Patti (it's Irish Fest this weekend!)







Tuesday, June 12, 2007

USA Today!

HEY!!!

It's here! The article in
USA Today
appeared today, June 12th and what an article! I had no idea that it was going to be that big! Thank you Craig Wilson!


It talks mostly about what it's like to be a waitress and what our lives are like which mirrors the movie in that regard. As those of you who have seen the movie know how it is a slice of life look at the lives of servers. Craig and I talked of many things and the general idea is certainly there. Restaurant workers deserve respect and it
is
a hard job! Reading some of the comments people have added makes me think though that they didn't quite understand certain things. For instance my comment about the "hanky panky in the kitchen" was not saying that it doesn't happen. It does--hooking up of cooks and servers, or bartenders whatever. What was meant was that it doesn't happen in the
actual
kitchen in the middle of a shift (or bathrooms all the time as other films have portrayed), but it might happen upstairs. All righty then... we are in the paper!!!
.


We would love to hear your comments!

Thursday, May 24, 2007

USA Today

After returning from the NRA Show, and not even upacking my motorcycle, I had the wonderful experience of meeting Craig Wilson from USA Today. We spent the afternoon together at a few restaurants, talking with managers and staff about some of the unique issues of restaurant work in a resort community as opposed to restaurant work in "the real world". We had a delicious meal at Gilbert's in Lake Geneva, where I had previously worked, and chatted about my movie and also about the new movie "Waitress" which was recently released. It really strikes me how very different the movies are in some ways, yet there are very similar threads that run through each one. The timing is also amazing to me, and I hope it helps us to be discovered by someone who can help get the word out. We will see! As I said in the other note, better get back to work! Cheers!

NRA Show

WOW!
It was absolutely an amazing experience to be at the show in McCormick Place. The place is massive and there were thousands of booths and millions of people! Well maybe not that many but it sure seemed like it! I was up and down every isle and enjoyed meeting loads of great people. I knew it would be fun...restaurant people can't help but be fun! I did manage to eat some delicious food and try a bit of wine, but I really was busy yapping happily about the film. Now it's time to sort it all out and contact everyone. It will take a while--but it will get done! Ok, back to work!

Thursday, May 17, 2007

NRA Show

Hey!

Patti here and I am going to go to the National Restaurant Association Food Show in Chicago this weekend! (May 19th-22nd) I am excited as I will be around really cool people again...the restaurant crowd. I have been holed up working on the movie and all the behind the scene type things that go on, so it will be fun to get out again! I am going to do research, learn new things and eat a bunch! Better wear my big pants for this! Will be back with any news. Slainte! Patti... (Oh yeah, that's cheers in Gaelic)