I'm at the Crossroads-Help me Decide

Originally Posted by 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!

Originally Posted by 68TriShield

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!

[shilala]

Originally Posted by Katmancross

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.

Originally Posted by shilala

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

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.

[Ogre]

[justonemorestick]

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

Originally Posted by justonemorestick

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

Originally Posted by justonemorestick

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!

Originally Posted by 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.

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

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Katmancross

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

Congrats!

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.

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.

Originally Posted by 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...

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

Originally Posted by Frodo

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

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

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