Precisely 90 years ago!

Jan 06, 2023

I will excitedly mail (USPS) a prize to the first person who figures out the title of this post and posts that solution in the comments below!

Well, my friend, we have made it into 2023 and, frankly, I believe we deserve to be congratulated on the combination of our luck, our tribes/support, and our execution of skill that allows us to be here!


This last holiday season proved that live, in-person events are back. Corporate and private events and the demand for performers is a fairly accurate "barometer" for the state of the Union, er, they used to be fairly accurate. Before 2020, keeping an eye on the corporate live event budgets was an accurate measure of how our economy was faring. Now, I believe we are witnesses to the awareness that morale-boosting is observed as worth the expense. Folks needed to get out again and they certainly did.

Who am I to argue with why I get to work‽ I am just happy to be back!

Every year I look to get some press coverage and I should again this year, however, some of it will most likely be adjacent to what I am most known for, which is interesting. Nevertheless, as long as they spell my name correctly, my young people can prove that I once did something interesting.

As for what I plan for this year, it will begin with a purge. I have collected things for a lifetime and it is time they are distributed to other collectors. This effort will not only lighten the load but should help me recover from the devastation that the pandemic dealt to me. I have some articles and artifacts that could fetch a fair amount and it seems like the market has been primed for a lot of the stuff. Mind you, my office will not be changing. I maintain my tastes and penchant for opulent maximalism, but this will be within a more selectively curated, harmonic collection that will stay a course I set when I was just a child. When Athena and I finally buy a home, there will be a room that is the realization of this decades-old vision. The rest of the house will be tasteful and relatively minimalistic. Did I ever mention that I studied Mid-Century Modern furniture? Ah, No? Another time then.

I believe I will be "on the road" quite a bit soon; and for a few years. I have been convinced to work the university circuit. Some entertainers simply earn their entire livings in the campus event world. I have no intent to perform exclusively for students, but I am called "Professor", so I should put the last couple of decades to work for me and enjoy some more traveling. My hope is that the international campus event planning networks save me a lot of investment in marketing and that the ol' word-of-mouth marketing becomes a wind in my sails. Word-of-mouth is the mainstay marketing principle that has kept me in business for the last 28 years.

I say "kept me in business" but I mean that rather loosely. I need to restructure my business and treat it more respectfully than I have over the years. That overhaul happens in this first quarter too.

I am involved in the production of a documentary that is in "go" mode. I can't discuss the subject just yet, but it is ready and we are working to collect the last bits of small investment funding for production. Once funded, this thing will be an astounding wonder and I have every faith and promise (of some Hollyweird bigwigs) that the networks and streaming services will bid. Unfortunately, the subject is not an especially fun one so any "wins" are bittersweet.

As if my plate was not already full, I have also been convinced by a law enforcement detective friend to create an exhibit of my Dad's old Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) kit. To today's detectives, this crime scene response, evidence collection, fingerprint lifting, and elliptical bloodstain evaluation kit will look like a Model A Ford. My dad was instrumental in my interest and education in building exhibits. After that interest was piqued for one of my grade school presentations, I grew up to get certified as a master picture framer with an emphasis on preservation and conservation. Whew, I wish he could see what I will do with this crusty old box. I will share it with you here, of course.

OH! Speaking of... I am creating a new show! Two actually, but they seem to be blending together.
I have been so hyper-focused on the year 1933 that it is going to be the title and subject of a new show. If you have any resources for late 1920s or early 30s menswear, please hit me up. That era doesn't make it into the thrift stores very often. Of course, in the United States, it was Prohibition and The Great Depression times. My aim is to make this show inspirational and educational! Conceptually, this is already excitingly powerful! Oh, I am excited to share some these things with you here in the Phelyx Coffee Club! Mind you, many of these will be mild secrets; some might require a sworn oath!

Please do get ahold of me with stories, suggestions, and questions. There are frequent times I am riding as a passenger in a car being piloted by our teenage student driver. I would be greatly relieved to focus on your message!

I truly wish for your adventure to fill your heart this year!

Phelyx

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