I taught the other guy to take my job. Luckily for me, it took him three years to learn. Unluckily, eventually he did learn… Don’t worry, no names are mentioned in the telling of this tale…
“So, Klass, what exactly do you do for work? Yell into your iPod?”
I’m at a fork in the road, career wise, and need to come to grips with the fact that the only way I will survive is to accept both Dans. And hope that others can too.
Did you know you can’t take photos of the merchandise at CostCo? How else am I supposed to get approval on everything?
Lastly, to be clear: The Premium Shows are at “96,” the free shows are at “64.” Still better than “32.”
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I have very little knowledge about taking photos of mechandise at CostCo.
As I was listening, I actually felt anger that these people did this to you Dan.
It’s such an underhanded way, I’ve had similar experiences so I am exceptionally vigilant for this type of thing happening to me. If I am aware that this is what somebody is trying to do, I start making stuff up on the fly just to hurt their stupid little heads.
The angering part is that they do it, when it’s just a simple case of RTFM. Or in your case RTFM that hopefully Dan will give you!
By the way Dan, you’re getting some annoying comment spam here.
That guy who stole your work is an idiot and an arsehole. Contemptible.
I have to defend Audible here. If you buy through the Audible website, a lot of the books now have an enhanced option, which means double the bitrate, 64 Kbps AAC instead of the previous best quality, which was 32 Kbps MP3. It’s okay enough.
Hi Dan,
Premium subscriber, first time writer…
I first tuned into the Bitterest Pill after opening Podcasting Solutions during a browse through Powell’s Technical Books during a momentary flicker of interest in podcasting.
Well, sorry to say, I didn’t carry on with the podcasting as the desire flickered away pretty quickly, but the Bitterest Pill is STILL my favorite and most consistently listened to podcast, and I’m so glad for the random set of circumstances that led me to it.
I really love what you do….and REALLY hope that you don’t have to ‘kill’ the pill. However, having listened to you over the past 4 years, I’ve come to care about what happens to you and your family. So, I wish you the best whatever you decide to do.
All the Best,
~AJ 🙂
The food preparation battle happens at my house as well. I microwave the waffle first to get the frozen out of it (just for about 8 secs) THAN put in the toaster oven. You have to try that – made my life a lot easier.
People believe in today’s society that everyones property is their own. They are also sharing this attitude with their kids. When I was a kid I was told to stay off peoples yards. No argument. I have owned 3 homes and have had various situations where kids felt like they had the right to roll around in my yard, leave their toys in it making it look like a trailer park, ramp their bikes down my driveway, etc. Whenever I mentioned anything about the prior people acted like I had a whole lot of NERVE to be saying anything. I have also had the dogs in my yard thing. I have a very small dog and we pick up after him. I do not want to be picking up after your Mount Rushmore sized dog. Urgh.
I have told people about you Dan – keep it up- and thanks.
Indeed Dan, I am enjoying living in New Zealand, but I didn’t get a choice- thanks parents!
But if you do ever get here let me know. The other hobbits would like to buy you a drink. (probably pressed with their furry hobbit feet)
Philippa, sounds great! Now all I have to do if figure out where New Zealand is. I’m a product of the American school system, you know? Maybe I really DO need to keep the kids in private school…
(check out Philippa’s work! http://www.pjballantine.com)
My wife just got stiffed too in the most outrageous fashion – it’s as if people think, because you are a contractor and not an employee, they can lower their normal standards of courtesy and human decency and treat you like shit.
I love the recordings, painful as they are at times. I’ve said it before, which I think you don’t like, that your life is like a Larry David episode – with both shows I regularly have my head in my hands – it’s compelling but also uncomfortable such are the parallels with my accident prone life.
Much as I love the recordings and I would really miss listening to you, I think you’re right – maybe you should quit and try to establish Dan 2.0 and get a regular job.
Here’s a thought. Why don’t you and Tim Coyne set up a regular business and go straight to the client (and others) and stiff The Other Guy and co yourself?! Your credentials in new media work are amazing and I bet loads of companies would love to hire you.
Good luck Dan, we love you!
ps I’ve lived in New Zealand too and it’s great, but about 10 years behind the times and very isolated. I’d recommend a trip!
Wayne –
Actually, I don’t mind the comparisons to Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm) at all. My life very much feels like that, often, without all the money and professional success. One of the things that has inspired me to do the video podcast I’ve never done is how much I love Curb. On the other hand, I’ve also always worried that it would come off as a rip off of Curb. Which is would be…
Great idea about Tim Coyne and me wroking together: http://www.jacketmedia.com The new, major push has begun.
And, lastly, I’d LOVE to go to New Zealand. LOVE TO. Not sure I would ever leave.
Dan,
No deep insight to share. You are one of the first new media guys I ever heard. Back when podcasters pimped for votes on Podcast alley. Itunes and Oprah came along and ruined it for everyone. I don’t listen to her and I miss Juice.
I agree with the others, I would miss the Pill, but you don’t have to apologize. If you have to kill yourself off to build the career, more power to ya. If your heart and tools are new media, what ever that really means now, we’ll see you or hear you around. I’ll stay subscribed until you tell us that you have a new gig, turned Studio G into storage, bought a pellet gun to deal with the cats and a shotgun to hang near zone 9. Until then.
Dan:
Cell phone camera, sneaky application of said camera. Maybe covered up with some texting subterfuge? I have taken photos of stuff at Costco before, but usually in the ailes.. not in the pharmacy section (which is up front at my costco).
Hey Philippa lives in Wellington, where we lived. Great city. Philippa, we were in Island Bay, which was great. Wish I was still there but, faced with a heavily pregnant wife who was missing her family, we sadly left to go home.
Little known fact. Tricia’s Pie shop in Island Bay sells the best meat pies I have ever tasted, bar none. And I have tasted some pies believe me:-)
Dan, I knew you and Tim worked together – I meant, go out and target the people who are using the other guy, and others.
Dan,
Don’t kill the Pill! As a long time listener (and happy subscriber) I say this for two reasons: first, totally selfish, I’d miss the hell out of it. (I’m a laundry-doing, food-cooking, kid-transporting stay at home dad myself.) Second, though, I think you nailed it when you said you’re an artist. You are, man. I love the artistry with which you spin these stories and believe that killing a talent like that would both be a loss to the world and painful to yourself. Thus, if you’re at a crossroads and need to grow up (as you describe) here’s my 2 dollars (2 cents doesn’t get anything these days!).
First option: embrace the artist and kill the corporate shill. Write the book you’ve been threatening forever. Grow up and work through the editing and do the promotional working-your-ass-off that the Siglers and Hutchinses do and go for it! I’d buy your book in a heartbeat. With years of Pill, you have amazing material. (I know that’s easy for me to say and that it would be a while before real money came, but if you’ve gotta pimp wouldn’t you rather pimp yourself than a corporate gig?)
Second option: let the artist live, perhaps expressed less often, and build up the corporate presence online as well. Here I’m reminded of CC Chapman doing the music thing alongside the new media marketing thing. Create that other show to point people to and keep doing the artistic that obviously keeps your blood pumping. Even though CC’s busy business life often means a long time between Accident Hashes, I stay subscribed because I love the show and care about him. Same would go for you.
Bottom line: I agree with AJ above that through listening I care about your family and if killing the Pill and corporate earnings is the way you go, I’ll wish you well.
Hi Mr. Klass.
i write on your blog, since I’m not sure if my last email got to you.
I really like your podcast.
Still, this episode made me somewhat unsatisfied. For the first time, I had the feeling you’Re beeing somehow passive-agressive against me as a listener. I guess all of the above and all your listeners do tell friends about the podcast. And so do I. But yours is not the typical “hey check outthat funny podcast”-podcast. I had the feeling you would’ve wanted to talk about “more serious” or buisnes stuff, but then you changed your mind and talked about that Casco thing. So I was unsatisfied and felt as if you thought your listeners only interested in random stuff. Mentioning the Casco thing: almost every major shop does have that sort of policy to avoid “spies” or the like (I even had that expierence in Japan).
So, Mr. Klass, I hope I’m not offending you by my words, I didn’t mean to. I have much pleasure in listening to you “yelling in my ipod”.
And good luck to your cousin (what a story).
keep it up,
Martin from Germany
Dear Mr. from Germany –
Please stop calling me Mr. Klass. Unless you are ten years old. Otherwise, “Dan” is fine. I really think ten year old should call me Mr. Klass instead of looking at me with confusion and disgust. But, I digress…
It sounds to me that you listened to the shorter version of the show, and found that unsatisfying. In the full hour version, I talk at length about business stuff. This was a lopsided show, since I usually but the “random” stuff in the beginning and the “story” at the end. I was not satisfied either…
And I agree: the Pill is not an easy sell to friends. It’s hard to say, “Listen to a guy complain for an hour. No really, eventually you’ll enjoy it.” It’s like convincing someone to drink Scotch for the first time. Or rat poison…
Thanks for writing, Mr. from Germany. I appreciate it. And, of course, THANKS FOR LISTENING. New show in the next couple days. Sorry about the delay.
Dan!
We love you, Dan!
Thank you DAN, for the comment. I am ot ten years old, just trying to be polite. and yes I did listen to the shorter version. I do try to “sell” your podcast nevertheless. I even put it in my top 5 podcast on my blog. But you’re right, it’s not an easy sale.
And I do like to listen to you “complain”. especially since you are from a different culture and that sometimes freaks me out.
how can you complain about starbucks’ policy on hot coffee? In germany, noone would sue if the coffe is too hot. You’re supposed to be grown-up and think “Ah there’S hot coffe in the cup, maybe the cup is hot, too. i should watch out”. But this is a difference in culture. We in Germany are (Not yet) at the point where everybody sues anyone else.
thank you for writing back, dan.
you’re listener,
Martin