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Uncle Bill's Holiday Greetings
Greetings from Philadelphia. Happy holidays and all that jazz. I hope the season finds you happy and well.
In keeping with tradition, I'd like to take a few minutes and thank some of the folks who've had an impact on my life this year.
That would be my staff at SRI. It's not that they had to put up with me being around a lot this year. They had to put up with me NOT being around that much. What with the conference in the summer, my teaching classes on several continents and those pesky ESTA meetings all the time, I suspect I was gone over 60% of the time. While that might sound like a staff person's dream, having to cover for the boss gets old pretty quick. But cover they did and they did it very well. So I'd like them to step up and take a bow. Here they are in alphabetical order.
You know her, you love to talk with her on the phone, Ildelis Cruz, sales Manager extraordinaire.
Sarah Gowan, IT and graphics. She's the one who makes the website work and look great. Did you see our new logo yet? That's her design.
Then there's Chris Harris, my chief inspector. This guy has more frequent flier miles than a Detroit auto executive. If he hasn't been to your theatre yet he will be soon.
Joe Joyce is our newest member. He runs the shop which means, among other things, he gets caught in between me and Mike occasionally. So please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
The unflappable Lisa May is our bookkeeping guru. She makes sure we all get paid. We like Lisa. The next time you call in looking for a receipt or a payment, ask her how her husband's latest CD is selling.
Jeff Prorock is in sales and he's also in charge of shipping and receiving. He's a rock I tell you. Always at his post ready to ship and receive. Except, of course, occasionally when the Eagles or Phillies are playing.
Mike Sapsis is my twin brother and head rigger. He's very, very good at what he does. We don't exactly get along all the time. In fact, we've been know to argue while driving down the highway on motorcycles at 80 miles an hour. This would be separate motorcycles, of course. The idea of both of us on the same bike is not a pretty one.
And last but not least, Billy Williams. He's the head CM hoist tech in the shop and a rigger too. He's keeping a record of the things he finds in chain hoists (mine and other people's) that don't belong in there. Confetti is just the start of a very odd list. He's also an extraordinary family man.
When I go off on one of my jaunts these folks do not put on the party hats and send out for pizza. The cover for me is what they do and I am extremely grateful to them all. Without them I wouldn't be able to get out of the office and annoy the rest of the world as much as I do now.
And speaking of the rest of the world...
{insert abrupt topic change here}
Some of you may have noticed that it's a bit ugly out there in the real world these days. The economy being what it is, some of you may be looking for some less expensive presents to give to friends and relatives this year. Allow me to offer some suggestions...
 First, the ta-ta-da. Remember this one? It's the cardboard inner tube from a roll of toilet paper. Once you're done with the TP, take the tube, raise it to your lips and yell like all get out. It's a trumpet! Get a
couple of your friends together and you can form a horn section. (Credit for this little gem goes to Sarah's Mom, Susan Terry. It's been a family tradition of theirs since, well...the last depression.)
If you want to start a percussion section, you'll need some one quart oatmeal containers. The Quaker Oats ones are best. Punch a hole near the top on opposite sides of the rim, run a string through the holes and over your head. Grab some chopsticks and you've got yourself a drum. A couple of those and someone playing spoons and you're all set.
Finally, there's the rubber band and, if you can find one, cigar box guitar. You get a couple of good strong rubber bands...check with your mail delivery person, they always have good ones...and wrap them around a cigar box. You can either cut a hole in the lid or cut it off completely to get a little resonance. Get a few different size boxes and viola', you've got a string section. (get it?) Hook up with the drummers and the horn section, maybe throw in a Long Reach Long Rider kazoo or two and you have a band suitable for conferences, motorcycle parades and, most importantly, caroling on a snowy night.
Whatever you do and wherever you are, I wish you health, peace and happiness for the holidays and the new year. Prosperity may be a bit too much to ask for this year but maybe we can all remember, now that we have to, that money isn't everything. Friends and family are what make the world go around. So gather around a fire with as many people as you can, toast the world and the small miracles that come with it and enjoy yourself.
Bill
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Paulson & Sapsis Team Up at Madison Square Garden
Rocky Paulson and Bill Sapsis, two of the leading rigging instructors in the United States, recently conducted a 3 day master class at Madison Square Garden. The class was attended by members of the Garden staff and Local 1 riggers.
The three day class covered Arena and Theatrical styles of rigging with an emphasis on problem solving. Rocky admitted that "the math can get a little heavy at times but these guys stuck with it. They did a great job." The final portion of the class was spent drop-testing a 220 pound weight to simulate a technician falling off a truss. "The forces involved in arresting a fall can be very surprising", Bill observed, "and the results bring home the importance of having the right fall protection equipment."
"Rocky and I haven't held a class together since 1994" noted Bill. "Up to now our schedules just never lined up. Rocky is the consummate teacher and his attention to detail is awesome." Rocky added that "Madison Square Garden is a great place to teach. The staff was very eager to have this class and their commitment to safety is inspiring. They're already planning on the next round of classes."
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Crew Member Added
From Peter Scheu:
2nd son arrived yesterday (12/16 @ 14:23). 8lb 2oz.
Name TBD (we love to drive the nurses here at St. Joe's nuts). Mom and newbie doing great. Big brother very excited.
Have a wonderful holiday everyone!
Peter Scheu
Scheu Consulting Services, Inc.
Chittenango, NY
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