I remember hearing somewhere that the difference between a $100 guitar and a $2000 guitar is the percentage of quality instruments made out of 1000. 1 out of 1000 guitars that cost $100 will be exceptional; the rest will fall somewhere between adequate and downright terrible. However, out of 1000 guitars that cost $2000, 980 of them will be exceptional and 20 of them will be less than that... but still way better than a $100 guitar. And that's what you're paying for... the ability to control the type of quality you'll be receiving.
Damn... there's gotta be some sort of nifty graph or pie chart or graphic that I can find to support that last paragraph... GOOGLE QUEST!!
Wow... I never took statistics, and I'm damn glad. Let's just say my google quest led me to pages that probably related to what I'm talking about, but I couldn't possibly understand them or hope to utilize them for this blog post...
SO...
What was I saying? Oh yeah... quality control, difference between $100 guitar and $2000 guitar... blah blah blah...
It's kinda like the difference between community theater and Broadway.
You're paying $5-$30 for a community theater show. You're paying anywhere from $110 to $260 for a Broadway show. There will be issues with the community theater show: lighting cues will be off, the costuming or set design or direction or acting might be sub par, sound might not be done very well. The Broadway show is going to be on point with everything. The determining factor with whether or not you enjoy the show will pretty much be a matter of taste. There won't be any logistic issues preventing your enjoyment (at least there shouldn't be).
It's kinda like the difference between being an amateur and a professional.
Amateurs are hobbyists and do things because they enjoy them but don't get paid to do them. Professionals enjoy what they do (hopefully), and people pay them for the services. And professionals had better provide those services error free close to 100% of the time... otherwise they won't be in business for very long. Whether you're a professional plumber, doctor, actor, musician, basket maker... people depend on knowing that you'll deliver exactly what they want when they want it.
Quality control is why:
- Apple beats Dell
- Honda beats Chevy
- The Voltaggio Brothers beat the guy behind the grill at Outback Steakhouse
Of course, those comparisons are a matter of opinion. And all people have different tastes... or are just not as willing to spend money for quality... or just don't give a shit...
But for the most part, the cream rises...
In other words... be exceptional or be forgotten...
Hmmmm... my blog posts are really circuitous...
Showing posts with label broadway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label broadway. Show all posts
Friday, April 27, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Rhythm
There's a rhythm to New York City. And, no, I'm not talking about the Barry Manilow song...
I mean that there's a cadence to how the people walk the streets, how the subway comes and goes through each station, how the rickshas and horse drawn carriages travel through Central Park, how the Broadway patrons flood out into the streets after each show, how the taxi cabs weave in and out of traffic, how the street vendors call out to you and move on to the next passerby once you've snubbed them, how the locals acknowledge you as a tourist because you're out of rhythm...
And, yes. Tourists are out of rhythm... not just in Times Square or SoHo or Central Park. Tourists everywhere are out of rhythm. Tourists at Disneyland. At the beach. In Hollywood. And it's a beautiful thing because being out of rhythm is being out of your comfort zone and the only way you can truly grow is to be outside of your comfort zone.
That's the beauty of traveling. You learn so much (if you're actually paying attention) when you travel. You step outside your bubble, you expose yourself to different customs and traditions and rhythms of life, and you can't help but become a different version of yourself through this exposure.
I wish I could travel more. And benefit from experiencing life beyond my own apartment, neighborhood, town, city, county, state, country... Because I want to learn and I want to be shaped by those experiences.
Thank you for a beautiful first anniversary trip, New York City. I hope I see you again very soon...
I mean that there's a cadence to how the people walk the streets, how the subway comes and goes through each station, how the rickshas and horse drawn carriages travel through Central Park, how the Broadway patrons flood out into the streets after each show, how the taxi cabs weave in and out of traffic, how the street vendors call out to you and move on to the next passerby once you've snubbed them, how the locals acknowledge you as a tourist because you're out of rhythm...
And, yes. Tourists are out of rhythm... not just in Times Square or SoHo or Central Park. Tourists everywhere are out of rhythm. Tourists at Disneyland. At the beach. In Hollywood. And it's a beautiful thing because being out of rhythm is being out of your comfort zone and the only way you can truly grow is to be outside of your comfort zone.
That's the beauty of traveling. You learn so much (if you're actually paying attention) when you travel. You step outside your bubble, you expose yourself to different customs and traditions and rhythms of life, and you can't help but become a different version of yourself through this exposure.
I wish I could travel more. And benefit from experiencing life beyond my own apartment, neighborhood, town, city, county, state, country... Because I want to learn and I want to be shaped by those experiences.
Thank you for a beautiful first anniversary trip, New York City. I hope I see you again very soon...
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Yes, I said I never would, but...
... I'm updating from my iPhone again.
So, sue me. I'm in New York, and I'm one of the seventy-three people age 30 or younger in America without a laptop. So, I'm updating from my iPhone.
Wow, I'm in New York. For my first anniversary. With the love of my life. And it's been a really amazing trip so far. Our first in over 4 years, which is all at once amazing and unbelievable and depressing and completely exhilarating!
Red eye flight was quick but uncomfy. Always woke up with a sore neck; could never get in a good sleeping position; slept for over 3/4 of the flight, but didn't really get any rest.
Landed at 5:40am. Took a cab to 60 Thompson, our swanky hotel in SoHo. This place is rad and hipster-y and totally way too cool for Rachel and I. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy the hell out of this amazingly comfortable king bed with its feathery pillows and sleep inducing sheets...
Slept in a bit, then woke up and hustled down to the Seaport TKTS. Navigating the subway system is like trying to learn a new language. I wish SoCal had a subway system, but it's way too spread out. It is very liberating to walk and take trains everywhere though. I'd probably be way more healthy, too. We decided to get Jesus Christ Superstar tickets even though it's still in previews.
Train back to SoHo. Picked up pizza and garlic knots for lunch and took it back to our room. Greasy, but serviceable. Watched TV and rested till we walked to Dylan Prime for dinner. It's a steakhouse in TriBeCa, and Rachel and I ate there 5 years ago, but it feels like it could have happened months ago...
Oh yeah. Collateral is a bomb movie, and Jamie Foxx is really good. What happened to that guy?
Train to JCS. Amazing show. Really liked Jesus and Judas killed it even though he was an understudy. I loved seeing how proud of Judas the rest of the cast was during bows. They were all congratulating him, and you got the feeling that he was a great young actor that paid his dues and was finally getting his big chance. And he did so well, you couldn't help but be happy for him.
Long day planned tomorrow. Newsies lottery, brunch with Emily and Nate, a matinee?, a night show?, dinner at the View rotating restaurant in Times Square, drinks with a good friend of Rachel's that she hasn't seen in years. Long day, can't wait!!
So, sue me. I'm in New York, and I'm one of the seventy-three people age 30 or younger in America without a laptop. So, I'm updating from my iPhone.
Wow, I'm in New York. For my first anniversary. With the love of my life. And it's been a really amazing trip so far. Our first in over 4 years, which is all at once amazing and unbelievable and depressing and completely exhilarating!
Red eye flight was quick but uncomfy. Always woke up with a sore neck; could never get in a good sleeping position; slept for over 3/4 of the flight, but didn't really get any rest.
Landed at 5:40am. Took a cab to 60 Thompson, our swanky hotel in SoHo. This place is rad and hipster-y and totally way too cool for Rachel and I. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy the hell out of this amazingly comfortable king bed with its feathery pillows and sleep inducing sheets...
Slept in a bit, then woke up and hustled down to the Seaport TKTS. Navigating the subway system is like trying to learn a new language. I wish SoCal had a subway system, but it's way too spread out. It is very liberating to walk and take trains everywhere though. I'd probably be way more healthy, too. We decided to get Jesus Christ Superstar tickets even though it's still in previews.
Train back to SoHo. Picked up pizza and garlic knots for lunch and took it back to our room. Greasy, but serviceable. Watched TV and rested till we walked to Dylan Prime for dinner. It's a steakhouse in TriBeCa, and Rachel and I ate there 5 years ago, but it feels like it could have happened months ago...
Oh yeah. Collateral is a bomb movie, and Jamie Foxx is really good. What happened to that guy?
Train to JCS. Amazing show. Really liked Jesus and Judas killed it even though he was an understudy. I loved seeing how proud of Judas the rest of the cast was during bows. They were all congratulating him, and you got the feeling that he was a great young actor that paid his dues and was finally getting his big chance. And he did so well, you couldn't help but be happy for him.
Long day planned tomorrow. Newsies lottery, brunch with Emily and Nate, a matinee?, a night show?, dinner at the View rotating restaurant in Times Square, drinks with a good friend of Rachel's that she hasn't seen in years. Long day, can't wait!!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Leaving on a jet plane...
... and I know exactly when I'll be back again.
Leave for NYC with Rachel tomorrow night. I like that phrase "leave for...". It makes us sound like we're going to Oregon Trail it across the country and face the perils of the open wilderness and dodge herds of bison and escape the clutches of dysentery... Can you believe I've never actually played Oregon Trail?
I love New York. I love Rachel and I in New York. Times Square. The Subway (and subsequently, getting lost on the subway...). Broadway shows. Amazing restaurants. Such a different pace from California. People move with purpose, which is interpreted as "people are rude." No, bro. They just know what they need to do and would rather not have your tourist ass in the way...
It's our one year anniversary on March 27th, next Tuesday. It doesn't feel like a year. It feels longer. It feels shorter. It hasn't been perfect, but it has been amazing, and I am the luckiest man in the world (cue cheesy music and doves being released and running towards each other on the beach...)
Time to sleep. Then... NYC tomorrow night!!!
Leave for NYC with Rachel tomorrow night. I like that phrase "leave for...". It makes us sound like we're going to Oregon Trail it across the country and face the perils of the open wilderness and dodge herds of bison and escape the clutches of dysentery... Can you believe I've never actually played Oregon Trail?
I love New York. I love Rachel and I in New York. Times Square. The Subway (and subsequently, getting lost on the subway...). Broadway shows. Amazing restaurants. Such a different pace from California. People move with purpose, which is interpreted as "people are rude." No, bro. They just know what they need to do and would rather not have your tourist ass in the way...
It's our one year anniversary on March 27th, next Tuesday. It doesn't feel like a year. It feels longer. It feels shorter. It hasn't been perfect, but it has been amazing, and I am the luckiest man in the world (cue cheesy music and doves being released and running towards each other on the beach...)
Time to sleep. Then... NYC tomorrow night!!!
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