New tactics

I used a slightly altered pitch today, and got better results. I added "maybe a dollar or two" to the end of my rap, and started getting more ones and twos. A woman told me that I was "missing three things" to become a household name, and if I just diid them, all would ensue. Hmm.

New Toons!

Cops stopped me again, but it was all good.

I was in Oakland the other day, and the nice cop stopped me. He's just protecting the neighborhood. It's only the third or fourth time I've ever been stopped, and it played out the same old way: "I'm not going to cite you." was the upshot of the conversation. He told me to come back to the neighborhood "another day," and took off. He was right: i'm skirting a fine line between "soliciting," i.e., asking for money, and my "you decide" schtick, but, whatever works, you know?

San Leandro is a lot like Albany

It's interesting how different cities are so much the same, while the inbetween cities can be so different. If you look at the demographics of the area, San Leandro had 50% whites and 20% asian, while those numbers are reversed in Daly city. Each city has a feel to it, with it's own sort of culture. But, in a way, there are only a few major cultures, so, each city falls into one of them. I'm not going to do a really lengthy analysis of ethnic and cultural differences here, but it is interesting how people react to the door to door thing in different neighborhoods.

The other day someone couldn't get the cel I had shown them. I try to always have them on hand, but it's hard while travelling to keep my file in perfect order. I felt sort of bad, but it was the first time in a year anyone had made any mention of it, so, I'm not going to get all bent out of shape. Feel free to email me for the one you liked, and I will send it to you as soon as I can.

I will post more cartoons soon, sorry I can't find a cheap scanner at this point, but I'm closing in on another scanner.

Daylight savings is really weird

Aside from the fact that it get's dark really early, the whole Daylight savings thing really alters my time frame in the job. I worked today in off hours (2:30 to 4:50), when most folks aren't home. I still managed to come out with 27, or 13.50 an hours, so, not too bad.

This brings me to another thought I've been intending to mention. That is the concept of "missed doorways." I sort of got into this job, at least in part, because I have a bad leg, and usually can't walk for more then two or three hours before my sciatic starts acting up. As a result of this, I often skip certain doorways, because either the stairs are too high, or there is too long a walk down a driveway. I figure, I'm my own boss, so, i don't have to contact every person in every doorway, although I do feel like I'm denying those folks access to my work, but, i figure a neighbor might tell them.

Being on the road, sometimes i fall behind in inking my work, so, please forgive me for not getting more out quicker, but, if you want to see some of my older stuff, you can email me and I'll let you look at it. Owlk@hotmail.com

The Berkeley Hills are nice

I saw some of the coolest views of the bay today, looking through the upper middle class's windows today on the top of the East Bay Hills. Most of them were quite nice of those that were home, and two of the college kids and I talked about medicine, and it's effects on sobriety. A very interesting conversation.

One dude said the oddest thing. "I'm sorry, I can't help, but I do pity you," he said, as if commiserating with me. "Pity me," I smirked as I responded back, "I make 25 an hour doing this." (well, that's sometimes...mostly I make about 17 an hour, though today I made 14, but why not get hyperbolic in such a situation, eh?) I think that sort of floored him. It's sometimes hard for folks to put their head around the idea that i'm in my own business, selling my own stuff, making about what other folks make an hour. The irony of this was that this gentleman was overweight, in a mishapen sort of way, to be generous he was not very attractive, and he dressed like a baboon!

Well, mission failure but with it, new possibilities

I scouted out Santa Cruz, only to find that the town is sealed off from campers. I could have camped way out, but it seemed like too much of a struggle, so, I'm continuing to reside in the Berkeley hills until May, or until something else comes up.

I'm considering creating a new business, loosely based on what I'm doing now, but that would help local businesses as well. I will keep folks posted.

New toons soon, presently I'm in the process of inking a new set of drawings.

Something else interesting about Brisbane: most houses sport an inverted pentagram star. I wasn't there long enough to hear the story as to how they came to be the town symbol.

Thx to Jim and Emily for their hospitality, and thank you Brisbane for being so nice a town!

Cops treated me well in Brisbane

So, Brisbane is a small town, on a 78degree hill to the south of SF. I am visiting a friend here, and went into town to sell some toons. It's a long walk down a very steep hill. The town itself is pretty, each house is unique and the people inside the houses are all quite friendly.

About ten minutes into doing my job in this small town, a police car rolled up. "Can I talk with you a moment?" Asked the young officer. I was of course happy to talk. "Do you need a license to do this?" he asked. I told him I didn't think so, since I have no set price on my wares and (as many readers of this blog know since I changed tactics a few weeks ago) I don't ask for any money in my pitch. He smiled. Another officer arrived as we waited for my ID to check out. I told them how I've been doing this a year or so and doing well, and I'd only been stopped two other times the whole time.

My ID checked out, and they said they like my toons and told me others might call, but it was a small town after all. I just smiled and told them that they were just doing their job, which they were (and doing it well I might add). How's this compared to the "neighborhood of the damned" I was in a few weeks ago?