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Travelogue
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11.24.2002
Taking a Day Off
I had a day off from the reading tour! Sasha came out and joined me in Philadelphia, and we spent the day yesterday walking around center city and stopping in a bunch of thrift stores. I can finally give my glasses to Margaret when I get back. I found a pair of metal ones that I think will look a little 1976 on me. Which Should be good.
Last night Sasha and I saw Bowling for Columbine.
That movie is amazing. The movie came out the week that the DC Sniper Case was in full swing, and I can’t remember one TV program that invited Michael Moore on as a Guest. He had just finished a 2 hour documentary on gun violence and all of the networks were interviewing retired cops and small market sociologists.
Bowling for Columbine attacks the Clinton/Bush Administrations for sending $245 Million in Aid to the Taliban in the months before the Sept 11 Attacks, takes on the NRA for hosting rallies in the towns where children are the victims of gun violence , and even the defense contractors who have moved into fields like Welfare Reform, continuing to vacuum taxpayer monies into their profit margins.
I have a few more days worth of entries to post.
posted by John
at 7:51 AM
11.14.2002
posted by John
at 11:49 AM
My Last Big Store Rant
Yesterday I went into an unnamed corporate bookstore and offered to sign the copies of my book that they had in stock. After twenty minutes at the information desk and 4 different employees helping me, we found the three copies of my book in their store. The reason it was so difficult to find is that according to the national bookstore chain computer system, my book has been placed in the computer manual section, Isle 37b.
I talked to the manager on duty, who could plainly see that my book was not a computer manual. But told me that the book was categorized at the corporate offices in a city that if I tell you, you’ll know who it is.. And that he has no discretion in where books are placed. That even if he moved it to a more appropriate place that the other employees would dutifully place it in the section that the barcode on the back says it should go.
He told me that I should try and call the main office directly, and gave me their #.. Great, thanks for giving me the general office number for a huge corporation.
“hello, yes this is John Freyer and I’m an author…. “ pause…….. CLICK
The point is who ever categorized my book didn’t read it. And now managers across the country who read it and think it should be somewhere else can’t move it.
Meanwhile at Independent bookstores nationwide the book is in the new non fiction tables, in the art section, in the cultural studies shelf, and even on the tables as you walk in the door. That is because the employees at independent books stores not only read books (as even the managers at corporate stores surely do) but they also have the discretion to place the book where they think it belongs.
I have done 7 readings so far, and the best turn out has always been at the Independent Bookstores. Last night at Capitola Book Café there were nearly 50 people there, and people were standing in the back. Just like my visit to The Ruminator in St. Paul, and Harry Schwarz in Milwaukee.
posted by John
at 8:52 AM
11.10.2002
St. Paul and Onward
Here we go again, I’m on the road but three days and I’m already three days behind. I'll give a quick update as to my whereabouts and will promise to try and keep on track.. I think the drinks with folks every night will soon take its toll.
Madison.. Was a pretty small crowd but was nice, Brandon who bought a full John Freyer outfit came and gave me his favorite shirt, My friend Sandy saw my name in the paper and came out as well. I hadn’t seen her since the last time I was in Madison almost six years ago. My first trip to Madison was a three day trip where Amy, Sandy and I interviewed people all over State Street asking why Sandy should or should not move to Madison, in the end they were pretty convincing b/c she move there the following month and has been there ever since.
St. Paul was a big crowd and in the first five minutes I was heckled.. I kept talking about the “last time I was in Minneapolis” and a man in the audience hollered, ”You’re in St. Paul!” It went pretty well, I finally feel like I have the timing issues worked out. I have also put my glasses back on, reading in contacts has its ups and downs, and in Madison it meant blurry text just when I needed to read it.
There were a good number of people from the project there, including, Sara Langworthy of Georges Cheeseburger Fame, Katherine of the Latham Homes and Ave Maria Green, the queen of rubber band land. We all went out for dinner at the Glockenschpiel a Czech bar and restaurant, where all of the appetizers include 6 or 7 types of sausage, mmmm sausage.
As per my last trip to the Twin Cities, I had major car trouble, this time I blew out my radiator. I got it fixed at a place called Bobby and Steves, and they charged me about five or six times what it would cost in Iowa City… They also charge a $40 fee to open the hood, a fee that is tacked on in addition the $640 replacement of a radiator and rubber hoses.. I guess I’d put them on my list of places to avoid servicing your car at, unless you need the car fixed right now, (which I did, they were open till 1 am as well, so I guess I’m only complaining about the price)
posted by John
at 12:01 PM
11.7.2002
Milwaukee to Madison
Last nights reading went pretty well. It is interesting the see how different audiences react to the same entries. There was a pretty good crowd last night. I am still working on timing issues.. I end up reading a little bit too much. Tonight I will try and leave some room for questions. I ended the reading by doing a live auction, of one of my Ham shirts, with the proceeds of the auction going to a charity of the high bidders choice. The high bidder on this auction plans on making a $30 donation to Parkinson Research.
After the reading I met up with Sarah Price, and a few of her friends and they took me to Von Treers, and The Random, two of the best bars I have ever seen. The Von Treer is wall-to-wall beer steins, with pastoral and mountainous murals on every available wall and ceiling. Bavarian Kitsch and how. The Random, was simply amazing, with silver vinyl booths that wrapped around every corner, and a phone book size cocktail menu. On the back of the menu they clearly state, “Cash Only” and “No!. We Don’t Serve Beer”. I’m told that not mater what time of day or night you visit, Frank Sinatra is always playing. Our waitress joined Frank in Duet as she delivered cocktails around the room.
Madison is only an hour or so from Milwaukee, I’m scheduled to do an AM drive time interview. I wonder how many conceptual artists they’ve had on their show? Should be interesting.
posted by John
at 12:10 PM
11.6.2002
Computer Manual?
So I made it to Milwaukee and will be reading at Harry Schwartz in a few minutes. I thought I’d just pass what I’ve been hearing about a few of the large book store chains who have been placing my book in the computer manual sections and even, as I heard today, in the home and garden section.
After sending them a few e-mails saying that All My Life For Sale came from an art project and had little to do with either, how to use eBay, or home decorating, I received an email back saying that they have done considerable market research and that their computers determined this is the best place in the store for it to reside… Um what?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure their computer makes a pretty good spreadsheet, but if they opened the book and read it, they might find it a new home in the store. I suggested they could put up, somewhere,,,,,,,,,, maybe near the register…. Just a joke..
I’m on my way to Madison tomorrow
posted by John
at 5:19 PM
11.5.2002
Starting the tour!
My tour technically started last week when I read at Prairie Lights in Iowa City on Friday. But for me it starts tomorrow, when I drive to Milwaukee, and read at Harry Schwartz. This week I had Ham t-shirts made so I can give them to the various people from the projects that show up at the readings. I had them printed locally on t-shirts that are made in the USA.
I will try an post to this log every day of the next month, but anyone used to reading Temporama, won’t be holding their breath, but I will try. Sasha and I are having a few people over tonight to yell at CNN, FOX, and MSNBC, on election night. I’d like to see if Mondale makes it tonight.
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