I'm at the Crossroads-Help me Decide

[Katmancross]

I write crazy reviews for Famous under the pen name Katmancross.
They hired me because of my creativity and irreverent attitude. They've published 9 reviews since mid Oct.
Apparently, they've had complaints
Too sick
Offensive to women
One review had gore
One review mentioned hookers
No muslims (my next published review is about capturing bin Laden-he tires of being a terrorist on the run and becomes a stand up comic doing open mike nights-I haven't said a word about Muslims once in prior reviews)

Mind you, the guys have been cool and saw nothing wrong with my reviews prior to publishing. But now the new rules must change because of a few complaints.

Now, as I see it, cigar sites attract men. Adult men. Children don't read what I write. And I'm sure very few women read it.

They don't pay me a dime for these reviews. They send me a 5 pack for review purposes.
I do this for the freedom and creativity it allows. Anyone can write the 1-2-3 review. And Famous wanted to get away from that.

I'm at the crossroads. Do I buckle under and do what they ask...write for the masses? Or do I take my ball and go home?
Help me.

[Mugen910]

I write crazy reviews for Famous under the pen name Katmancross.
They hired me because of my creativity and irreverent attitude. They've published 9 reviews since mid Oct.
Apparently, they've had complaints
Too sick
Offensive to women
One review had gore
One review mentioned hookers
No muslims (my next published review is about capturing bin Laden-he tires of being a terrorist on the run and becomes a stand up comic doing open mike nights-I haven't said a word about Muslims once in prior reviews)

Mind you, the guys have been cool and saw nothing wrong with my reviews prior to publishing. But now the new rules must change because of a few complaints.

Now, as I see it, cigar sites attract men. Adult men. Children don't read what I write. And I'm sure very few women read it.

They don't pay me a dime for these reviews. They send me a 5 pack for review purposes.
I do this for the freedom and creativity it allows. Anyone can write the 1-2-3 review. And Famous wanted to get away from that.

I'm at the crossroads. Do I buckle under and do what they ask...write for the masses? Or do I take my ball and go home?
Help me.

:tu

[BSB]

F*ck'm!

[massphatness]

What do you want to do, Phillip? As you said, it's not a paid gig. More of a creative outlet and/or hobby. If I'm on my own dime, I tend to do what I like. If I'm getting paid, that's another story.

[jledou]

Money talks and BS walks. It's a business and they have to do what they have to do. You have to do what you have to do.

[Ogre]

I say, dont sell out. If you are not losing anything (like your livelihood) I would worry about it. What will be next?? Having to give good reviews to cigars they say??? Just go with your gut and be happy.

[icehog3]

Be true to thine self. :)

[Dunkel]

To Hell with knucklin' under. Start your own cigar blog and write reviews the way you want. I'm sure companies will send you plenty cigars to review.

[Parshooter]

First Amendment :tu

[Katmancross]

I say, dont sell out. If you are not losing anything (like your livelihood) I would worry about it. What will be next?? Having to give good reviews to cigars they say??? Just go with your gut and be happy.


Actually, that's coming up next

[Katmancross]

Where could I set up my own blog and how would I get people to notice it?

[kaisersozei]

Cool gig. I suppose you could keep doing what you do, and it's up to them to publish or not. Doesn't sound like you're under an obligation so I'm not sure I see why Famous would get too worked up about it.

Maybe you can capture all their corny suggestions & "offensive free" comments in one big tongue-in-cheek review as your next piece of work. :tu

[JoeCool87TC]

I second it: Start your own blog. Reference the reviews they have already published.

The Constitution says nothing about protection from being offended, that's what the ON-OFF switch and channel changers are for!

Go for it, do your own thing! :2

[shilala]

If you're still gonna enjoy doing it all watered down, keep doing it. If not, get on down the road.
I can see their standpoint, it's business and they gotta be PC if that's what they want to be. You can always blog and/or post your reviews here and other places if you so desire, so there's your outlet. You're going to reach a lot more people, too.
The way I see it, you can keep on doing what you enjoy, the way you want to enjoy it, and reach lots more people. You're not losing anything. :tu

[Katmancross]

If you're still gonna enjoy doing it all watered down, keep doing it. If not, get on down the road.
I can see their standpoint, it's business and they gotta be PC if that's what they want to be. You can always blog and/or post your reviews here and other places if you so desire, so there's your outlet. You're going to reach a lot more people, too.
The way I see it, you can keep on doing what you enjoy, the way you want to enjoy it, and reach lots more people. You're not losing anything. :tu

That's good advice and I'm seeing a pattern already.
Thanks

[hscmit]

F*ck'm!

what he said

[markem]

I'm at the crossroads. Do I buckle under and do what they ask...write for the masses? Or do I take my ball and go home?
Help me.

Their sandbox, your ball. You have to make the choice about that and whether or not you take direction from a bunch of anonymous strangers on a different cigar board.

[Cattani]

I write crazy reviews for Famous under the pen name Katmancross.
They hired me because of my creativity and irreverent attitude. They've published 9 reviews since mid Oct.
Apparently, they've had complaints
Too sick
Offensive to women
One review had gore
One review mentioned hookers
No muslims (my next published review is about capturing bin Laden-he tires of being a terrorist on the run and becomes a stand up comic doing open mike nights-I haven't said a word about Muslims once in prior reviews)

Mind you, the guys have been cool and saw nothing wrong with my reviews prior to publishing. But now the new rules must change because of a few complaints.

Now, as I see it, cigar sites attract men. Adult men. Children don't read what I write. And I'm sure very few women read it.

They don't pay me a dime for these reviews. They send me a 5 pack for review purposes.
I do this for the freedom and creativity it allows. Anyone can write the 1-2-3 review. And Famous wanted to get away from that.

I'm at the crossroads. Do I buckle under and do what they ask...write for the masses? Or do I take my ball and go home?
Help me.

As an aspiring writer myself, **** those guys. Don't turn into a sell out like so many other writers do! Man up my friend! (Esp. sine they don't pay you)

[Katmancross]

Thank you gentlemen for all of your excellent advice.
I've taken it all to heart so now all I have to do is think it through and make a decision.
They want me to review Ugly Coyotes next. A cheroot, like Backwoods, in an aluminum bag and correlate it to the cartoon character on the back.
I've got a gun, just no bullets.

[Lear31MX]

Do what makes you happy.

[ucla695]

Do what makes you happy.

:tpd: No sense in doing it if you're not going to enjoy it.

[shilala]

They want me to review Ugly Coyotes next.
Say no more. What a brilliant opportunity to pull the plug!!! :D

[Dunkel]

Yep, what Scott said! Send the pack of Ugly Coyotes back with a note saying, "No Thanks!" LOL

[Katmancross]

Yep, what Scott said! Send the pack of Ugly Coyotes back with a note saying, "No Thanks!" LOL

He's sending me the non flavored ones. God help him if he sent me a grape flavored cigar to review.
But even the original is sweet with a sweetened cap.
As I look into my crystal ball, I see me writing him and telling him "I hate them...now what?"
Update to follow......

[Eleven]

wwhstd?

[Katmancross]

wwhstd?

HUH?

[Eleven]

HUH?

What Would Hunter S. Thompson Do? (besides acid, that is!)

[floydpink]

Gore and hookers? How have I missed these reviews?

[Katmancross]

Gore and hookers? How have I missed these reviews?


The gore was when I had Mongo the rodent chew my hand off because it was trapped between rocks while hiking, and falling into a ravine, in the Alabao review.
The hookers was a reference to (they changed the word "prostitute" to "strumpets") in the Signature Series by Patel review.

Pretty petty, huh?
I forgot that 8 year old children read my reviews.

[Prefy]

Where could I set up my own blog and how would I get people to notice it?

If you are serious about setting up your own blog, fire me a PM.

[Superbad]

You can start a blog at Wordpress. I would then get the word out to people like MatthewJMicheal from Toasted foot, he is active here. You can spread the word via twitter and other means... next thing you know... boom tons of traffic, if you have the dedication and quality writing to keep it going, you can be successful.

[Katmancross]

You can start a blog at Wordpress. I would then get the word out to people like MatthewJMicheal from Toasted foot, he is active here. You can spread the word via twitter and other means... next thing you know... boom tons of traffic, if you have the dedication and quality writing to keep it going, you can be successful.


I have a personal blog at salon.com
http://open.salon.com/blog/katmancross

I guess I could do the same thing at salon with cigar reviews. The blogs that tell readers I have a new review published at Famous gets a lot of hits

[T.G]

Yep, what Scott said! Send the pack of Ugly Coyotes back with a note saying, "No Thanks!" LOL

Nah, the cigar industry is a very small place. so I would not burn bridges like that. Review them and if you're done, then politely tell them that you're done. Leave on good terms. It's always nice to have a door in the past that will open for you in the future if the paths cross again. These guys all talk, as Pete Johnson puts it, it's more like a fraternity and the competition that exists within a fraternity than it is all out business competition. If you throw these cigars back at the supplier, word will get out.

:2

[Katmancross]

Nah, the cigar industry is a very small place. so I would not burn bridges like that. Review them and if you're done, then politely tell them that you're done. Leave on good terms. It's always nice to have a door in the past that will open for you in the future if the paths cross again. These guys all talk, as Pete Johnson puts it, it's more like a fraternity and the competition that exists within a fraternity than it is all out business competition. If you throw these cigars back at the supplier, word will get out.

:2

I agree. As I posted earlier, if I find the cigars atrocious, I will tell them so and ask them what do we do now? I just can't praise a cigar I don't like.
But this thread could also be my downfall.

[Dunkel]

Nah, the cigar industry is a very small place. so I would not burn bridges like that. Review them and if you're done, then politely tell them that you're done. Leave on good terms. It's always nice to have a door in the past that will open for you in the future if the paths cross again. These guys all talk, as Pete Johnson puts it, it's more like a fraternity and the competition that exists within a fraternity than it is all out business competition. If you throw these cigars back at the supplier, word will get out.

:2

I didn't mean it to be a slap in the face. I just meant the idea of smoking an Ugly Coyote would make me say no thanks.

[Katmancross]

I didn't mean it to be a slap in the face. I just meant the idea of smoking an Ugly Coyote would make me say no thanks.

Here's the bottom line....I have a Famous catalog in front of me and there are dozens of house brands to be reviewed.
Why pick a liquor store type house brand?
What is to be gained?
Guys that smoke grape flavored cigars are always going to smoke grape flavored cigars.
Do guys that smoke peach flavored cigars read these blog sites? Do they read reviews and blogs on an online cigar store?
Who is my audience?
And who will ever read me again if I write glowingly about it?
I'm so confused.

[icehog3]

The gore was when I had Mongo the rodent chew my hand off

Crap, I thought it was about AL Gore. :lv

[T.G]

I didn't mean it to be a slap in the face. I just meant the idea of smoking an Ugly Coyote would make me say no thanks.

Gotcha. :tu

[floydpink]

I still want to know more about the hookers and the gore.

Philip, did a dingo eat your baby?;s

[Katmancross]

OK. I think an impasse has been solved. The guys at Famous have been very magnanimous about this whole thing.
They have approved publishing my reviews/stories here for the same cigar being reviewed on their site.
The review here... will be all me. The reviews at Famous will be PC, so nuns can read them.
I just have to write two stories/reviews. No problem.

I'm going to post two reviews/stories on the Review section this morning.
The first one is for La Floridita Fuerte cigars...a house brand. And it is not PC.
I will explain more on that post.

The other will be for Alabao cigars-another house brand. Nothing inappropriate on this one. But it may be more interesting for Beatles fans. Supposedly, this is a true story as told to me by George Martin in 1974 in London.

Thank you Famous!

[Don Fernando]

start your own blog, be your own boss. And there are plenty of cigar companies that will send you samplers to review their stuff.

[wayner123]

start your own blog, be your own boss. And there are plenty of cigar companies that will send you samplers to review their stuff.

Is that the purpose of most cigar blogs? To get free samples?

[Noodles]

Is that the purpose of most cigar blogs? To get free samples?

I thought reviewing cigars is the purpose of most cigar blogs. ;)

[yourchoice]

Is that the purpose of most cigar blogs? To get free samples?

Unless I am misinterpreting, this jab was unnecessary, IMHO. :2 I've read a lot of Ferdinand's reviews, and I would never draw this conclusion.:td

[Katmancross]

Is that the purpose of most cigar blogs? To get free samples?

Everyone has their own personal reason for wanting to write about cigars.
I have always written. Just love it.
So the opportunity to write funny stuff and intertwine a cigar review around it is something I've never done.
Free cigars are nice but they are also tools. Tools that allow one to write the review.
Once in a while, I get a great cigar to review. Or one that's out of my pocket range.
Almost all reviewers do it because they love cigars.

[wayner123]

Unless I am misinterpreting, this jab was unnecessary, IMHO. :2 I've read a lot of Ferdinand's reviews, and I would never draw this conclusion.:td

You are misinterpreting. I genuinely want to know. I rarely read cigar blogs so I don't know the actual purpose of them.

[yourchoice]

I would assume the purpose of most cigar blogs is to provide an outlet to discuss and review cigars and the hobby we all hold so dear. I would assume there are some that do it for free stuff, but not most. But maybe I'm not cynical enough.:sh

[Katmancross]

Good news. I was offered a writing gig for another big online cigar outlet this morning.
I took the gig.
I will write for Famous and the other outfit at the same time.
I have no contract with Famous. I am freelance.
Period.
I can't say who the other guy is quite yet, but soon.

[357]

Where could I set up my own blog and how would I get people to notice it?

I believe blogspot.com is free. A friend of mine has a poker blog there.

http://madirishpoker.blogspot.com/




BTW, congrats on the new gig.

[yourchoice]

Good news. I was offered a writing gig for another big online cigar outlet this morning.
I took the gig.
I will write for Famous and the other outfit at the same time.
I have no contract with Famous. I am freelance.
Period.
I can't say who the other guy is quite yet, but soon.

Congratulations!

[Don Fernando]

Is that the purpose of most cigar blogs? To get free samples?

no it isn't, but it is a nice bonus

[CigarNut]

Good news. I was offered a writing gig for another big online cigar outlet this morning.
I took the gig.
I will write for Famous and the other outfit at the same time.
I have no contract with Famous. I am freelance.
Period.
I can't say who the other guy is quite yet, but soon.Congrats!

[Katmancross]

I've had a dialog with pnoon (Peter) and I have to say publicly that this guy is a real mensch (Yiddish for stand up guy).
I have never been treated this fairly and kind by anyone else associated with cigars.
I would love to sit down for an afternoon and smoke a cigar with this man someday.

Best Regards,
The Kat

[mpd340]

Pack it up and find a site or blog that appreciates the humor.

[Katmancross]

Pack it up and find a site or blog that appreciates the humor.

I appreciate the advice.
All good things take time.
I wasn't even a blip on the radar 4 months ago and now I'm writing for online cigar stores.
I will continue to be freelance and just see what happens. I'm 60 and haven't worked for over 2 years. I won't work again. I've given up looking.
I have some severe injuries caused by a skydiving accident in 2001.
The State of Wisconsin just gave me health insurance. I'm going to get all new MRI's and see all kinds of docs and apply for SSDI. My back is full of herniated disks. Maybe it's time to slow down after a lifetime of construction management.
Of course, I will continue to play bass in working bands. I'm not stupid....just cranky.

[Katmancross]

I'm going to need a new avatar. If I go freelance, I can't use 12 different ones. Famous owns the one of me when I was 24...they did photoshop it, though.
I know there are lot of great artistic cigar photos out there and in here.
Can anyone recommend a member that does beautiful photos and would be willing to let me use part of their photo for my avatar?

[T.G]

I'm going to need a new avatar. If I go freelance, I can't use 12 different ones. Famous owns the one of me when I was 24...they did photoshop it, though.
I know there are lot of great artistic cigar photos out there and in here.
Can anyone recommend a member that does beautiful photos and would be willing to let me use part of their photo for my avatar?

Brooks W. is one of the best and being a professional photographer, you might be able to work out a purchase or something. Although with his own blog, who knows. I guess you'd just have to ask him.

[357]

I've had a dialog with pnoon (Peter) and I have to say publicly that this guy is a real mensch (Yiddish for stand up guy).
I have never been treated this fairly and kind by anyone else associated with cigars.
I would love to sit down for an afternoon and smoke a cigar with this man someday.

Best Regards,
The Kat

Peter is good company. I enjoyed meeting him and the Mrs at Shack Herf IV. I was bummed to find out they were going to miss last summer's Shack V. If they are heading out for VI, it would be worth the drive from Milwaukee to Sandusky OH in August 2011.

[yourchoice]

Phillip, I just read some of your reviews over at famous. Entertainingly humorous, while still informative with the review itself.

Good luck with everything.

[Katmancross]

Phillip, I just read some of your reviews over at famous. Entertainingly humorous, while still informative with the review itself.

Good luck with everything.


Thanks, Joel

[Katmancross]

I'm an old fart. Been smoking cigars 42 years. My dad smoked cigars and so did his father. I couldn't wait until I was 18.
This cigar review thing is very new to me.
The marketing guys at Famous suggested I post at puff. I hadn't posted on any sites...ever.
Man, I got attacked from the left and the right. They were brutal. I may be new to blogs but not cigars. I'm a structural engineer. No work. Haven't gotten a dime from unemployment for 8 months. My wife doesn't make much. We lost everything and now live in the unfinished basement of my daughter and her boyfriend. Things are bleak.
I fell into the review writing by accident. I wrote funny short reviews on the Famous pages and they wanted someone sick like me to write more formally.
After being banned by puff a couple weeks ago because someone (someone I know) went after me and he succeeded.
I come here and everyone is warm and supportive. A lot of guys here got the same treatment at puff as I did so they're still licking their wounds as well.
Nothing like being treated unfair, to bond a group.
So I sit in my basement with my computer and enjoy the hell out of CA.
I shouldn't complain about Famous. They gave me this chance. They believed in me. But they didn't figure on over sensitive readers.
pnoon is allowing me to post my edgy reviews. Of course, he wants to read them first. LOL!
So I'm happy.
The guys at CA are clearly smarter men then at puff. It was obvious right away.
I've never gotten so much good advice...ever. The guys here are thinkers.
I have a site for my music too. www.myspace.com/pkohnbass
Just thought of a funny incident.....it was 1975. I was at the only big guitar shop in London....The Fender Sound House. I was leaving and grabbed the handle to the glass door. At that very moment, Paul McCartney was on the other side pulling the handle his way. My first bass was a Hofner. I idolized the Beatles and him especially. What a bassist!
Anyway, I froze. Paul is pulling on the door and I'm stuck, not moving, not letting go of the door. He let go and looked at me and said, "What's up, mate?"
My mouth dropped and couldn't speak. A moment later, I let go of the door and as he walked by, he said, "Cheers."
At puff, the jackals would have pounced on me for writing what I just wrote. I hope you guys don't mind. I have some wonderful road stories....I can name drop with the best of them. But I was always a fan, not a jerk.
Cheers!

[kaisersozei]

Thanks for the post, Phillip, I look forward to reading your stuff!

(Hey, how did puff make it through the p*rn filter?! :lr)

[icehog3]

(Hey, how did puff make it through the p*rn filter?! :lr)

We don't filter the word "Pvff" the way the Bloated Orange Fish filters the word "Asylum". Hard to talk about the band Soul Asylum over there. :r

We just rely on our members' good taste to avoid using it in a cigar forum type of context. ;)

[Katmancross]

We don't filter the word "Pvff" the way the Bloated Orange Fish filters the word "Asylum". Hard to talk about the band Soul Asylum over there. :r

We just rely on our members' good taste to avoid using it in a cigar forum type of context. ;)


I did not know this. That word shall never cross my keyboard again.

[icehog3]

I did not know this. That word shall never cross my keyboard again.

Only in the context of smoking a cigar, Brother. :)

[Eleven]

Hard to talk about the band Soul Asylum over there. :r



The only people talking about Soul Asylum ANYWHERE are the VH1 "Where are they now?" people!

:noon

[Katmancross]

The only people talking about Soul Asylum ANYWHERE are the VH1 "Where are they now?" people!

:noon


They seem to have aged well.8362

[icehog3]

The only people talking about Soul Asylum ANYWHERE are the VH1 "Where are they now?" people!

:noon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSt3v_tvVQA

MMMMM....Claire Danes. :dr

[whodeeni]

Make it work Phillip? I look forward to checking out your reviews

[Katmancross]

Please go to the review section where I've posted my reviews/stories and read my plea for mercy at the bottom of the comments.
Thank you fellas

[Ogre]

Phillip, we accept you here because of your differences and opinions. Thats what make this place so wonderful, everyone supports each other.

[Bill86]

We don't filter the word "Pvff" the way the Bloated Orange Fish filters the word "Asylum". Hard to talk about the band Soul Asylum over there. :r

We just rely on our members' good taste to avoid using it in a cigar forum type of context. ;)

What you can't even talk about Soul Asylum over there.....that's ridiculous! I love me some runaway train and misery! BASTAGES!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSt3v_tvVQA

MMMMM....Claire Danes. :dr

NICE! Never saw that video.

Phillip, we accept you here because of your differences and opinions. Thats what make this place so wonderful, everyone supports each other.

Exactly. Opinions are great, I've bought many of cigars based on reviews and recommendations here.

[Katmancross]

Phillip, we accept you here because of your differences and opinions. Thats what make this place so wonderful, everyone supports each other.

Thanks Larry. I'm just not used to that mentality.
I live in fear...and fight crime at night with a can of Lysol and and a V cutter.

[Ogre]

Exactly. Opinions are great, I've bought many of cigars based on reviews and recommendations here.

Same here, and some of them were real TURDS.:r:r Gotta love the Brotherhood.

[Bill86]

Same here, and some of them were real TURDS.:r:r Gotta love the Brotherhood.

Ouch! Luckily that's not my fault. I only did one review. Though when it gets warmer out I've got some decently nice sticks I'll be reviewing.

[justonemorestick]

If they dont like it they wont print em

[Katmancross]

If they dont like it they wont print em

But the goal is for a happy medium. I want the gig. They want me to write it. I have to tone it down so that nuns can read it and laugh. They have given me permission to publish the rejected ones here or on my personal blog:
http://open.salon.com/blog/katmancross

So all is well. I did not expect them to allow me to do this. I think it is very gracious of them to do so.
In the meantime, I got another writing gig because of what's been published on their site. My dander is no longer up.
Plus I just submitted a new review to them that I think is pretty good for being perfectly PC.
The problem with writing creatively is that you put your heart and soul into it and no one like's their baby rejected over seemingly petty items. It's an ego thing.
I should know better.

[shilala]

Same here, and some of them were real TURDS.:r:r Gotta love the Brotherhood.
Amen, Larry. These crazy bastages will smoke ANYTHING!!! :r

[Skywalker]

Cool! Sounds like a win win situation!!!:tu

[shilala]

We don't filter the word "Pvff" the way the Bloated Orange Fish filters the word "Asylum". Hard to talk about the band Soul Asylum over there. :r

We just rely on our members' good taste to avoid using it in a cigar forum type of context. ;)
I just don't say it cause it makes me throw up in my mouth. There's a couple guys here with "banned pvffer" or something like that under their username, and that always causes me to make an awful curled up face, too.
Hard to believe the whole thing still smells so awful after all this time. *barf*

[Katmancross]

I just don't say it cause it makes me throw up in my mouth. There's a couple guys here with "banned pvffer" or something like that under their username, and that always causes me to make an awful curled up face, too.
Hard to believe the whole thing still smells so awful after all this time. *barf*

Scott,
Yeah, I know what you mean.
I was really upset, for a week, after that verkakte schlemiel kicked my butt out. But I got over it. At the time, I felt personally persecuted. Now that I'm here, I realize it's not me. It's him. Typical Napoleonic syndrome. Power. At some point the cloud of power will take him down and the boards will be full of people dancing in the street.
But I've let go. Everyone here has made that possible. So I moved on.
Whatcha' goin' to do?

[T.G]

Whatcha' goin' to do?

If everyone here donated a quarter, we could hire a toothless transvestite midget hooker to run up to capukeo in public and give him a big wet sloppy kiss like Jamie Lee Curtis did to Dan Aykroyd in "Trading Places".

Or maybe have a truckload of White Owl Pineapple tubos cigars dumped in his front yard.

Just a thought.

[Katmancross]

If everyone here donated a quarter, we could hire a toothless transvestite midget hooker to run up to capukeo in public and give him a big wet sloppy kiss like Jamie Lee Curtis did to Dan Aykroyd in "Trading Places".

Just a thought.

Why such a conservative plan?

[Katmancross]

I write crazy reviews for Famous under the pen name Katmancross.
They hired me because of my creativity and irreverent attitude. They've published 9 reviews since mid Oct.
Apparently, they've had complaints
Too sick
Offensive to women
One review had gore
One review mentioned hookers
No muslims (my next published review is about capturing bin Laden-he tires of being a terrorist on the run and becomes a stand up comic doing open mike nights-I haven't said a word about Muslims once in prior reviews)

Mind you, the guys have been cool and saw nothing wrong with my reviews prior to publishing. But now the new rules must change because of a few complaints.

Now, as I see it, cigar sites attract men. Adult men. Children don't read what I write. And I'm sure very few women read it.

They don't pay me a dime for these reviews. They send me a 5 pack for review purposes.
I do this for the freedom and creativity it allows. Anyone can write the 1-2-3 review. And Famous wanted to get away from that.

I'm at the crossroads. Do I buckle under and do what they ask...write for the masses? Or do I take my ball and go home?
Help me.

OK. This is weird. Good things have happened since I became an inmate 10 days ago.
I now write for 5 cigar outlets and a cigar magazine. Wow. How did that happen? Padron 1926's for everyone...put it on my tab!!

[68TriShield]

Good for you Phillip!

[Katmancross]

Good for you Phillip!

Thanks Dave....I am truly flabbergasted. Obviously, there's an upside to writing silly, stupid, incomprehensible reviews that most people don't like.
The funny thing, is that I am still dirt poor and have about 15 cigars to my name. No one has delivered cigars yet.
The State of Wisconsin has granted my wife and I $76 per month in food stamps yesterday. And Jewish Family Services is sending me a couple of supermarket gift cards. And I'm $100 overdrawn at the bank.
Yippee. I'm a writer!

[Ogre]

:banger:banger:banger:banger:banger

[nick2021]

Their sandbox, your ball. You have to make the choice about that and whether or not you take direction from a bunch of anonymous strangers on a different cigar board.

x2, as much as it sucks it is their sandbox...I would not take direction from them and leave. Then again, my advice is not always the best :D

[justonemorestick]

I just read a couple of your reviews not bad I cant wait to see more especially the ones they wouldn't post.

[Katmancross]

I just read a couple of your reviews not bad I cant wait to see more especially the ones they wouldn't post.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=40965

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=40964

Thanks

[shilala]

Thanks Dave....I am truly flabbergasted. Obviously, there's an upside to writing silly, stupid, incomprehensible reviews that most people don't like.
The funny thing, is that I am still dirt poor and have about 15 cigars to my name. No one has delivered cigars yet.
The State of Wisconsin has granted my wife and I $76 per month in food stamps yesterday. And Jewish Family Services is sending me a couple of supermarket gift cards. And I'm $100 overdrawn at the bank.
Yippee. I'm a writer!
Ya know, you could have brain cancer. In jail. I think you're doin alright.
Look straight up and walk straight forward, my friend. :tu

[Katmancross]

Ya know, you could have brain cancer. In jail. I think you're doin alright.
Look straight up and walk straight forward, my friend. :tu

I know, I know.
I spend a lot of time telling myself things could be a lot worse. There are people who would give anything to live the life I am.
But after a long time, it gets old having to refer to that allegory.
But as a Jew, I have that extra DNA for whining. Can't help it.

[Katmancross]

It's a done deal. I got a writing gig at Cigar Snob Magazine!

[T.G]

It's a done deal. I got a writing gig at Cigar Snob Magazine!

Congrats!

[Katmancross]

Oh God! I just got the package with the U.C's in it. I opened the aluminum pouch and all I could smell was the strong scent of sweet pipe tobacco. God knows what a grape one or peach one smells like. I can't do it. I don't even want to put them into my humidor and be stuck with that scent for 6 months. Maybe in a quart size zipper bag in the toilet tank?

[justonemorestick]

Congrats on the new gig.

[Katmancross]

I'm solidifying deals with all the different cigar outfits and I am overwhelmed by their kindness and enthusiasm. After two years of pure hell, I find myself sniffling like a little girl. Several are excited that I will be writing as Kat. No censorship. Pure freedom.

Last week, the State of Wisconsin manned up and gave me Medicaid. Everything is virtually free now. I truly believe that all of the support and good thoughts spewed forth from CA helped. Yeah, I'm an old hippie.
I have such severe pain issues because of the skydiving accident... and in the last 2 years, things have gotten so much worse. I saw a doctor today and he ordered MRI's for my back and neck. I'm seeing another doc next week for a complete physical.
Of course, I'm afraid of what they may find. But it's better to worry about that then continue in this miserable existence. I'm just a big whiny baby.

To all my buds, thank you for your kindness. You're all like family.
Thanks.

[Katmancross]

I write crazy reviews for Famous under the pen name Katmancross.
They hired me because of my creativity and irreverent attitude. They've published 9 reviews since mid Oct.
Apparently, they've had complaints
Too sick
Offensive to women
One review had gore
One review mentioned hookers
No muslims (my next published review is about capturing bin Laden-he tires of being a terrorist on the run and becomes a stand up comic doing open mike nights-I haven't said a word about Muslims once in prior reviews)

Mind you, the guys have been cool and saw nothing wrong with my reviews prior to publishing. But now the new rules must change because of a few complaints.

Now, as I see it, cigar sites attract men. Adult men. Children don't read what I write. And I'm sure very few women read it.

They don't pay me a dime for these reviews. They send me a 5 pack for review purposes.
I do this for the freedom and creativity it allows. Anyone can write the 1-2-3 review. And Famous wanted to get away from that.

I'm at the crossroads. Do I buckle under and do what they ask...write for the masses? Or do I take my ball and go home?
Help me.



January 14, 2011
This is the review/story that my home review store F****s-S***e would have printed if they hadn't fired me because I took other writing assignments.
As stated earlier, my wife and I are virtually homeless. The cigar reviews that Katmancross writes seems to be liked and other online outfits have asked for my services. I may have found a way out of the hole. Some want stories like this. Some want 1-2-3 reviews. Some want anonymous reviews. Some are European online stores..one I have to write in German. And one is for Cigar Snob Magazine.
Now mind you, this store and I had no contract. I was paid a 5 pack for each review.. They did me a couple solids and sent me a Blazer lighter and this week, I got a bundle of an inexpensive cigars.
I have refused offers from the other big 4-5 outfits. Because I am loyal. The stores I am working with are nothing to sneeze at but should not get in the way of writing for F. They gave me my start and I am so grateful to them. But they blindsided me with this. No warning. Just gone. It's a shame because I would have been loyal to the end and written for them for two cigars. It's a shame. So I will be seen and read in other outlets. I wish F all the best.

I printed the review in the review section

[Frodo]

Glad to see new opportunities are on the horizon...:tu

Loyalty is a two-way street. Their loss...

[Katmancross]

Glad to see new opportunities are on the horizon...:tu

Loyalty is a two-way street. Their loss...

Yeah...all up in smoke because of their wrong assumption...what happened to phone calls?

[Katmancross]

I just read a couple of your reviews not bad I cant wait to see more especially the ones they wouldn't post.


That's going to be easy, Warren. Got the old boot over exclusivity. But mostly a silly understanding.
One of my great clients is Gotham Cigars. They are giving me free rein to be me...er...Katmancross. Censorship won't exist, within reason.
I spoke to them this week and we are both pumped. I'm waiting on some sticks and I will start writing. They will the cutting edge I'd hope they'd allow at the other place.
I had a great conversation with Shelby, the Marketing Manager...and he gets me. This will be a great joy.
I will be able to name the others in short order.
Even though things are taking off for me, I am truly saddened about F****s. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have had these opportunities. They truly stepped on their own penises. I would have written for them forever, just out of loyalty. Too bad, so sad.
Onward and upward!

[Katmancross]

That's going to be easy, Warren. Got the old boot over exclusivity. But mostly a silly understanding.
One of my great clients is Gotham Cigars. They are giving me free rein to be me...er...Katmancross. Censorship won't exist, within reason.
I spoke to them this week and we are both pumped. I'm waiting on some sticks and I will start writing. They will the cutting edge I'd hope they'd allow at the other place.
I had a great conversation with Shelby, the Marketing Manager...and he gets me. This will be a great joy.
I will be able to name the others in short order.
Even though things are taking off for me, I am truly saddened about F****s. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have had these opportunities. They truly stepped on their own penises. I would have written for them forever, just out of loyalty. Too bad, so sad.
Onward and upward!


This has been like a weird marriage. Things seemed to have cooled off and business is almost back to usual. However, I will no longer have my own page and will be treated like any other blogger. I will always have my reviews on their blog page.
I'm happy about this.
I didn't want animosity between us. And the whole thing was over something silly.
They felt some betrayal. I felt I had to find a way to eek out a living.
All is good.