Hit me baby one more time.
Are you kidding me? Are you freakin kidding me?
Really, I want to know. Holy @#$%, I cannot tell you how tired I am of this. Really. I’m so sick and tired of not being taken seriously because I sell yarn. I’m tired of the blank stare. I’m tired of the little condescending grin. I’m tired of the rolling of eyes. I’m tired of the conspiratorial glances. I’m tired, sick and flippin’ tired, of not being taken seriously as a businesswoman because evidently selling yarn isn’t a lucrative business. I mean really how could you possibly be successful selling yarn of all things and sock yarn to boot.
I don’t know why I continually say this is unbelievable because it happens again and again and again. I think this eternal optimism of mine just might be hiding the real truth. I think it might be hiding the fact that I am a bit dim, a little on the slow side. It must be, because every single time it takes me by surprise.
Every single time.
Like when I get a call from the bank telling me that they’re not going to take my money because I must be running a scam because there could not be any possible way to bring in this kind of money this quickly by selling sock yarn. Surprise!
Or when someone decides what I need based on the selling of yarn or organizing a knitting conference or heaven help us a sock knitting conference. Surprise!
Even better yet when what I’m communicating about what I need based on what I know is second guessed or blatantly ignored. Surprise!
When I am not given all the information I need to do my job. Surprise!
I mean really I couldn’t possibly need a dedicated server. There’s no way I would have that amount of traffic. Oh no lady you certainly do not need a storage pod that big for yarn. I could not possibly need that kind of security or a specialized database. Oh no. No way.
I couldn’t possibly need to know that there is not one ramp and door to back up and unload at but two and other docks that big trucks can unload at. Because, of course, we are not going to bring truckloads of yarn in; we’re just going to be using a van or two. Seriously, what do they think we are filling that marketplace with? Legos? ( Don(tm)t get me wrong I love the lego.) It just couldn’t possibly be yarn. Hell no, not yarn or anything used in relationship to it. No way baby.
Seriously?!
How could you possibly fill a market place that large with yarn. How could you possibly be bringing in truckloads of it. I do not know why I am continually surprised and staggered by this, but I am. And this is where I am beginning to suspect the dimness on my part. Because I do keep falling for this. I keep expecting my fellow humans to take me seriously especially when I am paying them well and on time. I am usually an optimistic upbeat look on the bright side of things and enjoy how the world works and all the people in it that make it work that way girl. BUT this, this keeps happening over and over and it causes me to waste time and energy and sometimes to look like a fool (something I loathe) and
I feel resentful, frustrated and a bit angry. I am trying really hard not to take it personally.
Today is one of those days where I am not being very successful at it.
Sorry
p.s By the way that little code malfunction above isn’t really there. Just ignore it.
Comments are closed.
Give me their phone number. I’ll try to describe to them the audible sound that will be heard over the entire northern hemisphere the nanosecond registration opens, and thousands upon thousands of knitters click “send” all at the same time.
We take you seriously, Tina. You are doing a great thing. I believe that true greatness is not often recognized.
Hang in there.
Michele
I hope we reach the tipping point in our lifetimes. Sending you hugs and many, many thanks!
– Denise
Sending warm hugs….sometimes life can be like trying to nail jello to a tree or being pecked to death by ducks….but all your friends and loyal customers know that you are amazing and knowledgable and a force to be reckoned with. You go girl!!!!
There’s too many mother *uckers *ucking with your Sh*t! (that’s the first thing that ran though my mind when I read your post)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My-P4LssMsI
Hang in there girl and fight the good, yarn fight!
Sweetheart, you know I’m RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.
Sing it, sister!! This is *exactly* the reaction I got from my colleagues when I said I wanted to do research with the knitting community!! Knitters?, they said. What could possibly be interesting about knitters? Grrr… You know we love you, though, right?
after the smoke lifts……..go pet some cashmere. Call it cash for short, it’ll help.
oh also, do you hand stitch those tiny wee gathers in the peony petals.
Or do you have fairies in the garden?
If it’s fairies, be careful starting your car…… just saying.
I offer my sympathies, and empathize with your frustration over not being taken seriously. Unfortunately, when doing something unique or new, often you have to show people before they’ll believe you know what you’re about.
It’s cold but you can take comfort in the knowledge that, you do know what you’re doing and what needs to be done. When those who mock you or marginalize what you do, find that out as well, you can roll your eyes, give them a “what’d you expect?” look, and a self satisfied all knowing grin. That is if you tend to be a little vengeful, like me
.
Screw the beer lady, I’m sending scotch.
My secret weapons for that glazed-eye moment? The moment after I’ve been careful to enunciate “knit-ting”?
1. The knowledge that it is their limited world view that hampers their minds in such a way that they cannot imagine someone having this much (lucrative) fun with yarn.
2. The deliberate posture that is the same I might use in dealing with very young children: speak slowly, and clearly, and repeat if necessary.
3. The foresight to know that if they ignore you and your superior knowledge of what they will be in for in a few months, they will be HOSED. [It helps if you can figure out some way in which only they will be hosed, and your vendors/teachers/attendees will not be affected, but I imagine that’s not always possible.]
Personally, having spent time in your magnificent presence, I cannot imagine anyone having the cojones to *not* take you seriously… (and Boyhood agrees).
Go fight the good fight, sister. Sorry for your sake it’s a fight, but you’re out there for all of us, and we love you.
I feel your pain. I used to run the part of the farm dealing with the birthing and raising of the baby pigs. It drove me crazy (and usually away) from the dealers who kept looking behind my back for my non-existant husband. Famous quote in our family: It’ll be different tomorrow. Maybe better,maybe worse, but at least different. Hang in there.
Sometimes it’s fun to throw it right back at them. “And your expertise on this subject matter is…?” Or my sister’s favorite “And why do you ask? or it’s sibling “What makes you say that?”
ARrrgggghhhh! People really do say the most ridiculous things.
I’m attending an engineering conference in a few weeks and couldn’t help but contrast how much you’ve put together and how much more professional your whole approach has been. The magnitude and quality of your effort is obvious to anyone who takes a minute to look!
It’s sad that so many people prejudge. I wish them all itchy socks!
So. . .do we need a letter writing campaign or what? Dump the Sock Summit registrations on their desks in a big pile? Because seriously, what the hell?
Oh, Tina, I’m so sorry!
((((hugs))))
But I am harboring this little delight in the corner of my mind – “JUST YOU WAIT TILL YOU SEE US ALL DESCEND ON PORTLAND IN AUGUST!! JUST YOU FREAKIN’ WAIT, YOU LITTLE FOOLS – WE’LL SHOW YOU!!!!!”
((((Hugs))))
you can also produce stats on: the last sock summit, number of vendors, number of attendees, and this year’s event – number of vendors, number of attendees registered to date, etc etc. Blind them with statistics. If you have $ figures from the vendors stating how much was sold, it doesn’t hurt a bit.
I’m such a librarian. But seriously, with some of these folks, statistics and dollar figures based on a previous event AND information regarding commitments to date for this year’s event can’t be refuted.
You go, girl! And I’ll pass you some scotch!
Boy, don’t these aliens know that KNITTERS make the world go around..Socks have fed many a sole…when it comes to yarn,,we buy,buy and then some.
Did they sleep through History? We will sock it to them!!
We are behind you, Tina..Sock Knitters Unite!
Sending hugs of support and a shoulder to cry on then sending you back out to play (fight the good fight). Many innovators have had to bash their heads against the wall of ignorance until the light of knowledge has shown forth. Get a helmet it will take a while. I do think there are facts and figures you can throw at them and probably already are doing that. Take many deep breaths, take time to dye, take time to take pictures and laugh with your friends. I deputized the Sockateers and your loyal employees to give you lots of hugs from me and get you laughing. Hugs, Alice
I thought you knew by now that you are not the dim one, THEY are. Pssst-they are NOT “One of US!” And, well…this really is just one of those things that is hard for the muggles to fully comprehend. Patience, my dear, we get you! (I know, kinda hard to stay in our reality sometimes, huh?)
Condescension and smugness seem to be rampant these days, but I know one thing for sure, Sock Summit is going to be SOCKSTOCK, Woodstock for the Fiber Generation. And YOU, Stephanie and Cat (and your talented co-horts) are making it real. All those idiots who think they have a clue are going to have their tiny pea brains blown. And I can’t wait to document it. 😀
Very much looking forward to meeting you in person and giving you a big patented WonderMikeâ„¢ hug.
I love you! you have some of the best sock yarn on the planet!
I take you VERY seriously! (In the best possible way, of course.)
It’s tough this time. But after this you will have shown all of them what exactly will happen, and why you need a dedicated server and specialized database and adequate security, and why you need a loading dock, and why big trucks are involved, and just exactly how big a marketplace can be filled to overflowing, and what EXACTLY the contribution to the local economy is going to be. (You ALL should be getting several medals for this!)
And next time you can look them in the eye and say, “Just call so-and-so, and I’m sure they will be happy to explain to you what happens when you don’t believe me.”
It is going to be wonderful. A big hug from me, too.
Hey girlfriend,
Could you carry a one-pager on Stitches West or some other similar conference, including the number of booths, number transactions, total sold, etc as a comparison? And include the national trade statistics on yarn and fiber production and sales? That might help them imagine! Or wrap a big stick in the stats printouts and wham ‘em on the head… that might work, too…
I’m starting to think that people running events like your magnificent sockgasm-to-be need to stop explaining to venues *what* materials you’re bringing in and what topic your event deals with. Do they really need to know? Would “massive numbers of boxes containing products for sale” be enough info for the venue to explain its logistics accurately instead of assuming you need minimal accomodation?
Oh, and rest assured, sometimes the people in charge of such things are just jerks. I ran a corporate booth at a Drug Information Association (pharmaceutical industry) conference in Atlantic City years ago, and the union labor at the convention center was just horrible to deal with. When my male boss, who was just there to do marketing and not to run the *booth*, talked to them, suddenly they were easier to deal with. They just didn’t want to take orders or requests from a 26-year-old woman.
I feel your pain, Tina. It isn’t fair, it isn’t fun, and it gets beyond tiring. They are just ignorant and ignorant people can be educated!! It is possible and even if you don’t realize it, you are educating these people.
As difficult as your experiences are, just remember you are helping to pave roads that don’t exist yet in these folk’s minds.
It isn’t you that looks a fool, it is them. Stay strong in yourself and the rest will follow. Those people that paved roads so we could vote, so we could own property, etc. faced all kinds of hardships and we have them to thank(for things we take for granted). You are doing something beyond just sock summit and bmfa. It is so much larger than that!!!
seriously. what’s the email address? give it up and we can all just shout a happy, polite hello and see the response when his server jams and crashes. maybe not so polite and happy a reaction.
really, just a polite hello. hehe
oh and i second what wen said!!!! that girl knows!!
I’d probably give up on trying to convince them and just say, “Humor me. I’ll pay you, so you’ve got nothing to lose by giving me what I want.”
Living well *is* the best revenge. . . . (quote from George Herbert, 1593 – 1633, the problem’s been around for a while, and not just in relation to yarn/knitting/socks).
Roll with it. Roll right over them. Cheers, Deb
that sucks! mercury retrograde does not make these things any better.
things should clear up after may 30.
I find it amazing how quickly they will come around when you threaten to take your business elsewhere! I for one, appreciate and am grateful for Blue Moons exsistence. I no longer knit with anything else!
You want I should smack someone upside the head? I’ve perfected my technique. Just let me know. I’m on your side.
Wow . . . I can’t believe this kind of behavior still exists, but alas, ignorance still abounds. Good for you for getting all your frustrations out!! Now you are able to deal with the “powers that be” without being upset to the point you will scream. Your product is simply amazing, and there are thousands out there who agree and are willing to pay for it. Keep on the path. We appreciate you.
Just to let you know that at least SOMEONE takes it seriously I just made my hotel reservations at the Shilo Inn and all I had to say was “Sock Summit” and she knew the dates, knew where it was, how far from the hotel, etc. She said they are very excited for all the knitters coming to town.
Tell them it’s golf junk instead of yarn, and no one will ask another question…..Yeah, give us that email address, I bet we can explain it to them……
Arrrgh! Sometimes the only language they understand is $$$$$$$$$. Or maybe I should slap them upside the other side of their head!
Sending you Loooooooovvvveeee!!!
Stay strong Tina and know in the end the only fools will be them. You’ll earn their admiration and respect and be queen of the town if you’re ever brave enough to take on this venture again.
Okay, ENOUGH. Where do we line up to knit the FU**ERS to the wall? You do not mess with WOMEN and you do not mess with KNITTERS, men, women and children. AHHH We will show them. WE WILL OVERCOME!!!
Seriously, the muggles just don’t get it. I can not wait until all of us sock summitteers descend upon Portland and take over!! They don’t call us Notorious for nothing!!
Hang in there depraved dyer!! (((hugs)))
We should all brainstorm and think of a knit item we can send as an award for the person who demonstrates the latest and greatest in talent for being (a) a horse’s rear, or (b) a pig, or (c) a baboon.
Personally, I like all of the above and perhaps they should all be provided to Tina (in abundant quantities), so that she can send one of whichever variety should suit her fancy at a particular time to a worthy recipient.
I can think of a few more satisfying things I might do, but any of those would absolutely do away with the possibility of doing business in the future with anyone whom I victimized. Cannot be too tactful I guess, in the name of all that’s yarnfully holy and in the name of Sock Summit. Or, perhaps just a dart board with names, or voodoo dolls with pins, or the thing the three beautiful witches cooked up in The Witches of Eastwick.
Anyhow, I will, if asked, knit several horse’s rears for my part in this endeavor.
I know you will prevail in this awesome task, Tina, Steph and Cat. It’s just too bad there are so many persons out there who fail to understand what you are doing, the significance of an event like this, what it takes to make it rocket, and how much of your personal energies are/have been/will be required. It must get to the point where you ache because of the idiocies and ignorances you encounter along the way.
I know you will feel so very rewarded when it comes to fruition.
The three of you, and all others who toil on this road, have my admiration and devotion. Unendingly.
Stinks big time to hear stuff like this. Sending you an uber big cyber hug and good thoughts.
I’m reminded of an old childhood chant—something about rubber and glue.
Also, from a Paul Simon song, “You have underestimated my power, as you shortly will discover.”
I agree with all the above comments. I have been reading Women’s Work, the First 20,000 Years for about the 3rd time. What you are experiencing is sexism, which is still rampant today despite all the improvements over the last 40 years.
Working with fiber is women’s work, and therefore can’t possibly be taken seriously by the ‘real’ working world.
Eventually they will learn. Grrr!
Hugs.
Sarah
Tina,
If it’s the convention center folks giving you trouble… let me know. I work about 5 blocks away and would be glad to go down there with my size 2.5 circulars and see if I could get some assistance for you…..
Just give me a name and I’ll hop pn Max and head down there!!!
How dare they, are they nutz???
Tina, hon, remember back in January when I begged Caremark to weekend-overnight-FedEx me my Humira, telling them I was trying not to die and I desperately needed this med immediately? With my doctor calling them too and telling them it was an emergency? They didn’t do it, and their contact with me turned off her answering machine for the afternoon and went home for the weekend having done nothing.
My readers bombarded them with so many indignant emails that we got five calls Monday morning starting first thing, apologizing, reassuring, ASKING FOR THE RX AGAIN!!! and then detailing exactly how and when it was going to get to us the next morning. But it was amazing to see how they went from criminally cavalier to obsequiously helpful when their inbox got stuffed.
I would be happy to do my part in returning the favor with any company you might need help with. We are knitters. And we are powerful.
Don’t worry. Let them mis-underestimate you. WE know what genius looks like. We got your back!
Take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Sic the Sockateers on them.
And yet it seems perfectly reasonable to shut down entire cities so that cars can drive around in a circle. Sigh.
Keep thinking about how good it will feel when there’s a traffic jam as the semi’s jockey for position unloading *yarn,* the Marketplace is filled to overflowing, the Luminaries Panel audience is SRO in part because they came to see You Too, and best of all, when there’s Data to shove up their A*$#%ses the next time anyone questions you
Tina,
We knitters have faith in you, and there are a couple of us out here. hugs, Joan
Hang in there girl. It isn’t easy being a groundbreaker. Remember this is the World Domination Tour! You’ll take ‘em all.
Tina and crew,
First of all, thank you for persisting with this immense project even when things get so dang challenging. And second, please, please keep on keeping on. We are “socking” away money left and right for this event. IF we have to bring it all in cash because the banks won’t work with you then we will. It’ll be their loss not to get a cut. My husband and I are both excited to come to Portland, the Sock Summit is right before my birthday so we’re staying extra days to really do it up in style. We’ve been making plans since the very earliest info came out. So, please, let me know if there’s anything I can do to help out beyond paying for classes and buying up yarn.
Vendors: I’m coming to the Sock Summit, all the way from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. I’m bringing a friend of mine with me, and we’re super excited about the market – especially since there will be opportunities to buy amazing sock yarns and other items that aren’t available here.
People are coming from as far away as New Zealand and Australia and the city of Portland will see a definite economic impact from this event. We may be knitters, but we still like to eat, explore, see local attractions, buy books, clothing, tea and coffee. Don’t discount us. The sales of everything else is down, but yarn sales are actually up.
Tina: I’m so sorry you’re going through this again. I’m glad you have the blog to help you get your frustrations out and find the support in the people (fans) you’re working so hard for. I can’t imagine how frustrating it would be to know what you’re talking about and be ignored. Hang in there, and know all of your hard work will pay off when all of us descend upon Portland in August.
It is so unfortunate that people pre-judge how big an event could possibly be just because they don’t understand it. Personally, I can’t imagine thousands of people going to a scrapbooking convention, but they do. I can’t imagine flying cross country to dress up in weird clothes and speak a made up language to other people (Klingon, Elvish), but I know people do it.
They let you book the event, you had whatever upfront cash they required, so why no respect after that? If you can pay and nothing about an event is illegal, why not let the planners go for it? If you fail, it’s your own cross to carry, but the convention center still gets its cash. I don’t know how many people are on the mailing list to get updates, but I do know that there are over 2,500 members on the Ravelry forum, and more joining every day. Wendy Johnson’s sock book is #628 of top selling books today on Amazon after 5 weeks. That is amazing! I believe there are over 2000 members of the Blue Moon sock club, right? And thousands of people descend on various sheep and wool festivals nationwide and spend $$$. What’s not to get?!
In the 90’s, so many local yarn shops closed in the S.F. Bay Area that I decided to take spinning lessons–so that I could spin my own yarn if all of the commercial yarn sources dried up.
Happily, the knitting fad or boom that followed has turned out to “have legs”. Now there are a huge number of knitters communicating online–particularly in blogs, blog comments, knitting “magazines” like KNITTY, and social networking sites like Ravelry. There are also wonderful online sources of hand-dyed yarns, like the Blue Moon Fiber Arts site (home of the marvelous Socks That Rock!), and online sources of just about every supply that a knitter might need.
Unfortunately, it takes time for the world to take note of any new force in nature! It will happen, although it’s hard to be patient when one has to constantly explain oneself. For my part, I will continue to spend tons of money on BMFA yarns and other knitting supplies. I’m embarrassed to say how much I’ve spent on my knitting hobby in each of the last few years, but the amount would probably astound the unbelievers. 😀
We loves you, we does!
(I’ve been on Ravelry too long, I keep looking for love/agree buttons!)I second (third, thirtieth) the offer of help. What do you need? A letter-writing campaign? A plague of itchy knits in their mailbox? A hoarde of crazed knitters wielding pointy sticks, to intimidate them?
Tina,
I want to first of all thank you for doing what you do, especially in times like these. No one has the vision of where you want to take your company except you, Sometimes it will take some more work to convincing those non-believers. That’s we as knitters come together and unite! I believe in 3 things you don’t want to mess with in a woman’s perspective. Their money, family and Knitting! (not in that order) You mess with those you’re going to get an a*s beating. So hang in there, I wish I could make it out there personally, but I do know this you will always have a customer here in little Lancaster, PA for life.
Good Luck to you and your crew with the sock Summit ‘09!
Vendors need to realize just how BIG the whole family of KNITTING is!!! Maybe they need to see all the attendance/subscription date from Stitches,Interweave,Vouge Knitting and all the others to get a better “grasp” on just how MANY of us there are, and just multiply that by 50x to get an idea on the amount of money spent on our small “cottage” hobby. Believe me, I’m sure they’d love to get their hands on it!!
While I had intended to attend this inaugural event, the current state of the economy prohibits my cross-country travel. I can’t wait to hear all about it, and hope to attend in the future!
Apparently, somebody isn’t paying attention to the economy. If you’re offering money for the services, then they should just give you what you ask for. Sheesh.
The number of names of the email list alone, should convince them that there are a serious number of knitters who are doing everything they can to try to get to Portland. Or how about the number of hotel rooms that have been reserved by knitters for this? Or the number of vendor applications that you’ve received (and the corresponding booth sizes? heck – WEBS alone needs a loading dock!)
Oh – and if anybody gives you grief on the software/website side of things — ask to talk to their quality person. Tell that person exactly what your requirements are and that anything less is unacceptable. Trust me – a good quality person will kick anybody ass to make sure the software/website works.
To the folks who are giving our beloved Tina (and probably Stephanie, too) grief and who think this is all just a lark or one-off thing: I am going, along with 7 of my knitting posse. We knit together 3 days a week. We buy yarn. Lots of yarn. Mostly sock yarn. We (and another couple of thousand fiber artists) went to Stitches West in 2009… and 2008… and 2007… and 2006… and 2005. We bought yarn there, too. Oh, and Sock Camp in 2008. Yep; yarn purchased there, too. Don’t forget – Rockin’ Sock Club, too, which is even better than going out to buy yarn – it comes to us in the mail! Sock knitters are a force to be reckoned with. You know that scene in “Pretty Woman,” where Julia Roberts goes back to the store that shunned her the day before? What is it she says? “Mistake. Big mistake.” Uh-huh.
We’re not wackos (okay, maybe some of us are), we just love to knit, and we love to knit socks. And we are really and truly looking forward to SS09, and really really want there to be a SS10. Please stop giving our organizers heartburn and just go with it. We’re real, and we’ll be there.
Tina: Biiiiiiiig hugs. Drink some wine, get some dye under your fingernails. You’ll feel better.
– Meg
At least when the revolution comes, we know they will have underestimated our power and numbers!
I just finished watching X-Men Last Stand with my daughter. There is a character in this movie which sums things up for me. The Juggernaut comes with a warning (he’s a bad dude, but a funny bad dude). You can’t allow him to gain any speed at all because no object can stop him once he has gained momentum.
At one point he is temporarily immobilized and he shouts after the person who immobilized him, “Don’t you know who I am? I’m the Juggernaut (expletive deleted).” Then he breaks free and proceeds to run through walls.
I don’t think it was meant to be funny, but it had me rolling when I think of us knitters showing up in force. Once we get a little momentum going, nothing can stop us.
Say it loud, say it proud!
Oh, dear. You know you’re preaching to the choir here. But just twitch a pinky, and you know said choir will be getting all righteous on their arses.
I wish you didn’t have to wait and say “I told you so”.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to…us!
I agree with Alice in the Heartland; true pioneers in any field are always being met with obstacles, ignorance and wrong-headedness. And you are a true pioneer in the fiber field. One day they will bow to you.
Hugs and thanks for making Sock Summit happen!
Some people are just idiots, and you can’t change their minds. You can laugh when they are stunned at the results of knitters.
I just wanted to wish you good luck with Registration tomorrow. You are doing such a great job at putting this all together and I’m really looking forward to all of it. Just can’t choose between so many great classes.
If wires cross and computer thingies don’t work right, no one blames you. We have all experienced our own technology troubles. With all of the good vibes headed your way, everything will be fine.
Can’t understand how much proof they need! You have a successful business, and as long as the bills are paid for the SS what do they care!!! Just do what you are asking them to do and trust you. Geesh…can’t understand why you are getting the grief for it, so not fair!
For 20 years I have been working as a professional theatre technician and educator at a California State University. My shop has never missed a deadline. We have graduated both Oscar and Emmy winners. We have had national competition winners for ACTF at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. And yet…and yet…I cannot even get a proper notification about when the Fire Marshall is coming because, after all, Plant Operations notified the technical director (who is a man) who works with big loud power tools, and all we do is Costume and Make-up, you know, stuff for girls and gay men.
There are days when all I say is: I’m tired of this. I’m not going to have this conversation one more time today.
So sorry that at the time of creating this truly fabulous and momentous event you are being plagued with having to deal with the small minded.
They wouldn’t treat you like that if they saw your booth for Socks that Rock at MDSW. I had never ever felt your yarn, so when I saw the the line for it, I was like what the heck, but with a little coaxing from my friend, Rosi, we waited for over an hour to get a feel of it. Yikes, I spent almost my whole budget on Socks That Rock, and went back for more. So far, its the best yarn that I have ever felt. I cannot wait to get into the sock club.
How utterly frustrating to have to deal with this sort of sexism and condescension time and time again. Doubly so when you can prove your needs & objectives, etc. In my other life I work as a librarian, and you see the same thing when dealing with boards of directors, etc. Grr. Best of luck with registration, and I hope all the idiots involved reverse their rectal-cranial inversion.
Great job with the registration today! God knows the first hour was a bear to get through (I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a server crash so fast or so hard). I’d keep that host in mind for future events. Maybe they’ll take you more seriously in the future when you tell them to be prepared for a lot of knitters to storm the server all at once. =)
I’m coming to SS as a vendor (helping Karen Emrey of Royale Hare). Since we have 2 booth spaces, we’re scheduled to load in on Wednesday. I’m really glad we are because I think load in Thursday morning will be CRAZY!! I believe you have about as many vendors as Stitches West which is alway a chaotic dance just to get dockside unloading space, let alone the jockeying to load up afterwards (this year at StWest, for some reason, after space was cleared, they let us drive inside to load. Brilliant idea).
Yes, we need lots of dock-space. Yes, you need a big storage pod. Yes you need that much security and fancy computer stuff.
Do not underestimate the might and spending power of Knitters.
For We will come and spend and blow their tiny little minds to bits….
We might we wackos, but we are wackos who spend MONEY! Take us seriously… we can stimulize the economy one skein of wool at a time. They will be begging for us to come back for 2010.
Tina,
Tuesday night when I got home from work I explained the entire fiasco to my DH. He asked me if you had fired the IT guy yet.
He has a number of business, and often has the same issues. He finally had his lawyer create a document that all of our IT and outside vendors have to sign. Basically it states that he has asked for X, and expect X, and that the penalty for signing the contract and not doing X is $20,000. Anytime he gets that blank stare, he pulls out the contract and reminds them of the $20k f-up fee and says “just do it!”
It is sad that he has to do that.
So sorry! I get that reaction on a small scale just for knitting, and my purchases, but to have to deal with it on such a large scale, when it runs the risk of interfering with your business. Well, it’s not fair, and they are obviously stupid to underestimate us!
Tina,
I’m sorry to hear that you have to go through this situation yet again. I’m not sure why people won’t just take the money you are offering them for their services. I wish there was another venue to take your business to (like switching banks), because I think the biggest impact would be booking with, and giving their competition your money. I know that is not a reality this year, but maybe next year you can find a place that will treat you with the respect you deserve.