Updates from November, 2009

  • it's a spy flick

    martin 15:09 on November 3, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , ,

    A weekend or so ago I was watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with the kids.  It’s a great classic movie, and I thought that the lads would like it.  They did – glad to see that it keeps entertaining the generations.

    But I noticed something now as an adult that I never noticed as a kid.  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a spy flick – and more importantly it’s a James Bond spy flick.  Here is the proof:

    • Written by Ian Fleming
    • Produced by Albert Brocoli
    • Has an evil German badguy – Baron Bomburst
    • Has Desmond Llewelyn in the movie – the original ‘Q’ from the 007 flicks for those who don’t recognise the name.
    • Typical ‘Bond Girl’ named heroine – Truly Scrumptious
    • Gadgets galore – hell the car flies, floats and does all sorts of things in between.

    Now maybe I’m just a bit behind the times – but noticing all those things made me laugh.  It was, however, a bit hard to explain why I was laughing at the credits to the kids.

     

  • hail to the king

    martin 16:16 on October 1, 2009 | 5 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: cereal killers, , , , patrick sphorer

    Its been a long time between drinks, but finally Patrick has come to the party and is in the process of releasing a new MWAG movie – Cereal Killers 2.

    Finally.

    Ive been a huge fan of his work – not that there has been huge amounts of it to date – since I can remember. Patrick has single handedly introduced countless people into the stories behind paintball – and not just a focus on the game of paintball.

    Hes featuring a whole bunch of new players this time – Angel Ryan from Dynasty, Tyler Humphrey (Aloha Tyler), Konstantine Federov, Brian Fow – and a host of other top class players. I cant freaking wait for it to ship (Ive got 10 or so copies coming, so drop me a message if you want a copy or something).

    Trailer below for your viewing pleasure.

     

  • martin 15:54 on September 10, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: banking, , , cash

    Wow. Went past the bank to see about putting some money on term deposit for the business. The ‘savings’ account I’m using for the business is as good a return.

    Thats crazy

     

  • has it been a year

    martin 10:09 on September 2, 2009 | 1 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , family, , , ,

    Wow – time flies when you’re having fun. It’s been 12 months now since Tania and I took over TAG Paintball here in Wellington.

    It’s been a long 12 months to be fair.

    For most of that time I’ve been running two fulltime jobs and trying to fix a business that was in a dreadful state when we took it over.  In that time I’ve been made redundant, had some family issues that have had to be dealt with – and generally been moving from one crisis to another.  I understand more fully the rollercoaster of emotions that I have heard people speak of around owning your own business.

    The field is in a much stronger place now then it was when we took over.  We’ve upgraded all of the equipment, purchased a new (more efficient) vehicle – and taken major inroads into fixing the damaged relationships that the previous owners had left for us to inherit.

    The next 12 months for us are key.  We have the tools, and the systems now to get things moving – we’re planning the marketing push for summer and with any luck we’ll be able to start seeing the fruits of our labour.  Having time to focus on the business since leaving NZ Post has been great – but there are still lots to be done.

    I guess that we’ll see how things go from here.  But I know now that (like having children) no matter how much you know it’s going to be hard, that it’s going to take sacrifice to make it work – you really have no idea until you take the plunge and commit to something like this.

    Whatever.  I’m still here.

     

  • martin 12:25 on August 21, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: avatar, , new zealand, peter jackson, weta

    The trailer for Avatar is out now. Just a teaser really.

    You can find it here: http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/08/20/james-camerons-avatar-teaser-trailer/ or on the Apple site.

    One that I’m intending on watching!

     

  • martin 13:19 on August 20, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: 48hrs, , dont quit your day job, dqydj, film, film school, ,

    A friend has started a small film school business. Target market those with small to no budgets. Should be a bit of a laugh for her – and on the upside she has managed to rangle some supreme talent to help run the sessions.

    You can check out http://www.dontquityourdayjob.co.nz if you’re at all interested.

     

  • you get nothing

    martin 11:34 on August 20, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , negiotate, ,

    Without asking. I’ve heard that a thousand times at least – but it’s never made more sense than since I’ve starting running my own business.

    You get all sorts on the field – asking for freebies, discounts – anything that can be asked has been asked.  We’ve got standard responses to most questions that people ask – but they do always get asked.

    I’ve started doing the same sort of thing with my suppliers – a couple below for your reference:

    Q – Would you like to advertise in our magazine? (Targetting a key demographic at a key time of year for us)

    A – Sure, but only if you ensure that we are the only Wellington based paintball field that does.

    Result – We’re advertising (with a quarter page ad) and will be the only Wellington paintball field in there.

    Q – We’re going to have you pay the advertising bill in one installment (from a large corporate we advertise with)

    A – How about we spread those payments out over a year?

    Result – We’re spreading the payments over 10 months (or so), but have to move to direct debit (happy with that)

    End of the day the message is clear – especially in these trying economic time – try and negiotate with your suppliers for more favourable terms, small discounts.  Be prepared to give a little as well – but it will make things easier in the long run.

     

  • martin 09:07 on August 20, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , darren, , , penny arcade

    I saw this on Penny Arcade today. Made me laugh.

    http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2009/20090819.jpg

    Just remember Darren – you set me on fire biatch.

     

  • martin 09:05 on August 20, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , ,

    I don’t know what it is – but the field has been amazingly busy for the last couple of weekends – and the current bookings have the same for this weekend coming.

    It’s nice – but would like to have some science around it. Heck at this stage the last month of winter will be as big as one of our summer months. Maybe we’re doing something right for a change :) Either way I need a lot more paint – and if it don’t arrive on time tomorrow then I could be stuffed :)

     

  • martin 22:01 on August 12, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ,

    Ok. So while my ‘tweets’ are still going to show up on the blog, I’ve moved away from having them autotagged with anything. It was distorting the tag widgit to the right.

    Enjoy the change people.

     

  • martin 14:42 on August 5, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,

    Today was a day of coffee & catchup with friends. I even through in a couple of work meetings to make the day full … it has been great.

    Saw Stick for a coffee – we talked shop. He joins the ranks of the out of contract/unemployeed (as so many of us have lately) in a few weeks. It’s almost like there’s a recession or something on.

     

  • java goodness

    martin 21:09 on August 4, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , ,

    Source: NZ Stuff

    Source: NZ Stuff

    And on the subject of coffee goodness – the venue of choice for those is anywhere in Wellington with “Mojo” in the name.  The guys are awesome at all the venues I’ve been to – but big shouts out to the team at Old Bank Arcade & on the waterfront.

    On the subject of the waterfront the Mojo team are moving head office to shed 13.  Can’t wait for them to finish so we can whip into the store and see the factory.

     

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