If you find yourself in a Quality Inn in Altoona, PA and you decide to eat the free breakfast, try to resist the urge to put the Twinkie in the waffle maker. This is the path to sadness and must be avoided. Go with the eggs instead. Ignore the fact that they existed in a powdery form less than an hour ago. You're a folk singer, the Twinkie will just add to the long line of bad decisions you've made over the years. Just roll with the eggs and get to the next town. Unsolicited advice from a man who knows....
That’s A Roll With The Easy Side of Life Outlook from a Desk Clerk That You Should Get With His Day Manager and Address what Happened Last Night B4 Doing The Cool Thing and Orbits Saved Your Tired Driving Mind & Body! Bravo! Bravo! I drove 760 Miles last week in Florida for Visiting Customers & New Job Sites for C & C Concrete Pumping in Orlando and Sanford, Florida! Ended last Saturday Celebrating My Twin Sisters Birthday, Bonnie & Connie with 300 People in New Smyrna Beach at A Mystery Dinner Show! The Food Was Much Better Than The Actors, Sadly! Arrived back in Fort Lauderdale at 11:00 PM Sunday Night! Ouch! “Home Again, Home Again, Giggidy Dodge”
Quality Inns are by and large borderline acceptable, despite the misaligned doors, cigarette smell in a non-smoking room and too-cool AC when you step out of the pool area (BRRR!), but I'll say this about the one in Austin, MN, they have a killer breakfast spread (but that was years ago...), complete with a crockpot of thick, gloppy oatmeal, just the way I like it! I even posted that on TripAdvisor and the hotel replied, kind of offended! I replied back, No no you misunderstand, I LOVED it! I was paying a compliment.
@@otisgibbs Waffled Twinkies…apart from the sadness that sounds like some “get a gremlin wet after midnight/incredible shrinking woman” stuff. This could be the start of another solar eclipse over Tennessee event…be sure to lock your doors at night, and avoid old cemeteries and abandoned amusement parks at all costs.
Hotels sell blocks of rooms to booking sites. I have been told a few times at the front desk to go online and book a room. I have, then walked in with booking code. Got my room. Weird but true.
I believe this is true, have run into it myself- like concert tix, the brokers can hold blocks of tix and the venue has none available. All about the $. Wise move Otis, find the work-around and stay chill!
Yes, I travel a lot and that’s how it works with the third party, online travel groups. It also works in reverse; I use an app - and they will not have a hotel listed that I may want to stay (Like Otis here, in the parking lot), but if I go to the front desk there are still rooms available. Meaning that the “block” as you say, bought by the third party, is sold out. Not the hotel rooms.
What I love is when you are in a long line at the taco stand. A party behind you orders on-line while you are all standing there. Their tacos are ready before you advance to the cash register.
They also profile you badly. 1. I’ve walked into hotels/motels on tours and been treated badly. Especial by the non American running the desk. Sad to say but it’s reverse racism and profiling. 2. It’s what is said above about booking sites blocking rooms
One of the sayings in AA is " even justified anger is the enemy of the alcoholic". Getting angry and upset can lead to making an irrational decision or resorting to irrational behavior (drinking or drugging) to escape the pain of an emotional upset. You done good, Otis.
Otis: if only I could be the kind, clear, concise, smart person that you are as demonstrated by this story, as well as all the videos I’ve seen in the past which I’ve enjoyed… if only. Otis, you’re an inspiration.
You just demonstrated the philosophy that I finally learned with age, which is to "pick your battles" and not waste your time arguing even when you're actually in the right. This is something I've been trying to teach my 22 year old son, but he is going to have to learn that by experience as I did...
Damn! Otis, I'm gonna miss you in Nashville, IN by 2 days... Rented a getaway cabin for me and the missus a long time back. Sure would've liked to see you live!
Great self-control, recognition that aggression would create resistance/more aggression, and staying focused on your goal rather than being right. You’re a good man, Otis!
I have a yearly out of town gig in Kentucky and fully understand the need to head out on unexplored road and take a chance on accommodations. I have had my series of desk clerk jobs over the course and met some amazing folks. . If your were clean shaven and dressed like a suburban dad you may of gotten that room on the 1st attempt. He saw you and may of had an impression you were possibly trouble. You would think that in 2024 people would be more enlightened, but ignorance is a powerful force.
Best wishes for a great camp with Todd and Tim at "What the Folk." Hope to make it another year. I also hope you get some fishing in too. Catskills are legendary.
I managed a resort motel.. a Mom Pop place..a long time ago..and I’m stymied..! The ONLY thing that I can think of is that the desk clerk wanted to rent the remaining rooms for cash visitors… so he could pocket the dough. I love the way you handled it..! There’s enough strife in this world without causing more..✌🏼💙
Thanks for the advice. I, too, would’ve been lured by the possibility of a crispy waffle-cooked Twinkie. I bet it just turned into a flattened sticky mess.
Self control is a powerful skill that can unfortunately take a lifetime to aquire, not having it can bestow control and power to others over you. This story from Otis should provide an example of wisdom that often seems absent in our world. Pleased to have shared some air with Mr. Gibbs last weekend....Ian from DC.
It always works out better to remain calm! Unhappy people are angry. I think the hotel guy thought you were a rock star with a chain saw. Good video Otis
Your motel checkin sounds a bit like an old Abbott and Costello routine! This computerized life we live these days certainly can be vexing. I got excited when you said you were in Altoona. I spent a lot of time there as a kid, swimming at the “dam,” and eating Texas Hot Dogs. My folks are from a little burg about an hour north up highway 53, so Altoona was the big city. For a moment, I thought you might be making a video about Horseshoe Curve, the 19th century engineering marvel that allowed the railroads to navigate the Allegheny mountains, and move more easily between Philly and Pittsburgh. As kids we’d scamper up a trail on the hillside to get close the curve, but I understand now it’s become like a state park, with more accessible viewing platforms, etc.
Howdy, I would have done the same thing! I find it best to circumvent the situation. Love to have some Groucho Marx glasses with the nose, yes, I have reservations..... Enjoy the mountains!
I have been told that here in Australia that the motel / hotel chains keep a number of rooms vacant for the online bookings . even if they are vacant and you walk in to book at reception like you did they don't rent you the room unless you get to deal with a caring manager . It is silly and i have been in the same situation when out on the road . Love your Music Otis and all these cool interviews . take care
I really admire how you manage to stay chill in these type of situations, Otis. I tend to fly off the handle at a certain point, and of course that only leads to more crap (or jail LOL).
Letterman must have heard Larry King take a call from Altoona once or maybe just remembered the name. His King impression was always "Altoona, PA. Go ahead!"
I have seldom found that arguing with an employee solves anything. They are following orders sent down from their corporate masters. Another reason I am thankful for having run my small business for twenty years. I never got rich but I almost never went home angry about a stupid boss or something a coworker did. You did the right thing OG.
I had a similar situation in Sioux City. In the parking lot I could see that there were rooms available. I forgot the code, but when I was standing at the front desk, the price was 40% higher. I went back out to the parking lot, sat in my car and booked the room. Walked back in and paid the cheaper price. I don’t get it, but I still felt like I was scammed.
Hi Otis, always enjoy your stories. You handled that scene so well. Good lesson for me. Safe travels and good luck with your gigs. Enjoy the east coast. Peace brother.
Excellent decision Otis. Reminded of attempting to deposit a joint tax return check and the teller insisted my partner had to be present. Said thanks, went to my car and drove to the ATM and deposited the check.
Services like Orbitz reserve rooms for their reservation platforms. It is possible that when the fellow told you he didn’t have an available reservation, it was because of that. Not sure, I seem to remember hearing something to that effect.
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Theo here Otis It’s all about pausing before judging arguing or criticizing. You did the next right thing. You are the best. I just returned from a music retreat In Wisconsin. We are all. Blessed that are connected to the creative process. Thanks for that you share
I applaud the way you handled the situation. Many people in our confrontational society who have been much more difficult and accomplished nothing. I don't know if this is the case with hotels, but I know some golf courses use 3rd party booking sites so they show the tee times that were given to the 3rd party as unavailable even if they haven't been booked. Perhaps, something like that, or, as a last resort when you don't really know whats happening, the "software glitch" defense.
It's good you sized it up quickly, and as you said, "avoided the drama." It's just how things work now. You can't just walk in and pay cash ... "they" want everything recorded online. It's how they track and market everything. Even if rooms are available you have to schedule it online. You can't just walk in. It's a digital world. I won't get conspiratorial... it's just how it works... can't use good ol' common sense/logic.
I typically solve things with good communication, if it's another person who "gives a damb" but some people just don't. Glad it worked out for ya I'm now gonna listen to Steve Goodmans "this hotel room" (written about somewhere he stayed in Indianapolis) (live from "the Easter tapes" album
Looks like people shared what the deal probably was. I'm glad you saved yourself the stress and time by nit arguing. I still travel, and wing it a lot, but not as much travel as when I was younger. I learned, accidentally like many of my lessons, that arguing never helps. Asking questions is cool, but when the brick wall appears, turn away. My first lesson came at 24 on my honeymoon. We were young, inexperienced travellers and we went to Maui Hawaii for said honeymoon. I step up to get the rental car and the person asks, "are you 25?" I replied "no" and was told that I couldn't rent a car, unless, I was married. I said, "I'm married!" "Do you have proof?" "How about this shiny new ring on my finger?" Not proof enough apparently so I asked her to give me a moment😅 to talk to my wife. We were worried and then I asked, "do you have that unofficial paper the church gave us?" Ah ha, I take it back, get in line and watched the lady in front of me scream and yell about some discrepancy and thought, "don't be that person." They accepted my paper and I expressed my gratitude. The lady said, "I'm so sorry about the delay and our staff is waiting for you at the lot." We got a welcoming committee including the manager who gave me his card and said, "if you kids have problems or trouble during your stay, call me " I have (almost) never have caused a fuss during 40+ years of travel since then and people have done the nicest things for me. Kill them with kindness and as Otis shared, don't lose sight of the goal. ✌️
Gigging musicians really need to familiarise themselves with the mercury retrograde phenomena that disrupts communications and things like hotel reservations. A little planning reaps great rewards during this time. I know it sounds superstitious but so does having faith your next stop will bend to your sloppy planning.
Otis, I know you were probably tired, most people that watched this video, I’m pretty sure wouldn’t have handled this in a calmly fashion. And that certainly is understandable, however you do get more with sugar than you do with vinegar. You handled this with dignity and high quality character showing the type person you are. Brings to my remembrance the plane encounters you have had in the pass, Marshall’s throwing you off the plane, your guitar didn’t make the flight with you,..etc. These are the reasons your fans love you, Amy, your pets and squirrels. You are genuine and do not pretend to be someone you aren’t and we love it. Keep it up my friend, great things you can’t even imagine are ahead. Peace
I've had a bit of bad experience with hotels lately. Best results have been with casino hotels for a while. Probably not your style but can be handy at times. Enjoy your trip Otis.
@@sunshine3914 ???? Just recommending a great app that has worked well for me. Like Otis, I wasn’t sure how far I wanted to drive each day. Just trying to pass along a handy tip
Discrimation has never left us people on all sides find a scapegoat.. Pennyslavania roads at night are scary on and off the highway.. Slept in a rest area patking lot once off the highway there.. A Henry Rollins looking dude with intense motorcycle boots came into the bathroom at the dead of night i was alone and he sallied up to the urinal next to me and began chit chat i stayed cool as you say and got out of there.. Spent a lot of time living with artists Jack Beal and Sondra Freckleton in the Catskills 90's and early 00's.. Delhi south of Oneonta, love it there... Their residence has been preserved... They were beatnicks who were in soho and such for the folk revolution.. Miss them a ton they were greatly hated for being realists and true talkers by much of the contemporary art world the last decades of their lives.. Anyway hope it goes good enjoy!! Last three years we have been working on a cabin and land in national forest northern michigan its mostly been good but the hate is here also.. Keep going back and forth between Detroit and here..
You handled it well, Otis, and still managed not to get ripped out, judging by reading the other posts here. It would be nice if they put up a billboard along the big ol' highway (dootin' doo doo doo...) that says: ANGER ALWAYS MAKES IT WORSE.
It’s almost not worth taking about Otis. It’s always the normal, every day stuff that tests one the most. Glad to see you didn’t let it get to you. Safe travels…
I'm 20 Minutes south of Altoona. It's a dead, dead area. Rust belt to the core. It's beautiful outside the city though. We do have a strong singer/songwriter scene though.
Politeness usually gets you more than arguing. Perhaps Serena Williams should have tried that approach in Paris when she and her children showed up, w/o a reservation, at a well known, very exclusive restaurant.
I really admire your approach, Otis - I wish I had a cool head like that but it's just not in my nature...and although it has *never* served me well at all, I would've argued with the clerk beyond a doubt, probably insuring that everything worked out to be much harder for me than necessary....maybe one day I'll learn to not let my anger run my life.
Dylan was apparently inspired to write “When The Ship Comes In” by similar motel drama. According to Joan Baez in “No Direction Home” he was upset that they had trouble getting a room and proceeded to let off steam by songwriting.
A) night audit was in progress. B) Too lazy or ill trained to check you in. C) Didn't like long haired freaky people, need not to apply. D) Some combination of all the above.
I think the days of just traveling down the road and stopping at a hotel when you are tried are over. As always, greed and money have taken over. Jack Kerouac's novel "On the Road" would be a lot different if he wrote it now. Lol...
@otisgibbs - This is an interesting channel. I learned 2 important lessons from your post: 1. Take the shortest distance between where you are & where you want to while avoiding the bulllshit as best you can. 2. Don't put a Twinkie in a waffle maker. If only I could figure out which of those two are more important...
A musician buddy who was traveling with a bandmate told me the story about pulling into a California hotel late after driving as far as they felt they could. No reservation, the bandmate walks up to the desk clerk and asks about a vacancy - for a room they only plan to occupy for 6-7 hours. The clerk quotes the day-of rack-rate, and my friend thinks “that’s it”. His bandmate isn’t having it, gets into a calm discussion with the clerk about how it’s his responsibility to try to fill every room in the joint and not only gets the room, but gets it at a 50% discount. I don’t have the energy in those situations to practice conflict resolution! I’d be a crappy salesman.
If you find yourself in a Quality Inn in Altoona, PA and you decide to eat the free breakfast, try to resist the urge to put the Twinkie in the waffle maker. This is the path to sadness and must be avoided. Go with the eggs instead. Ignore the fact that they existed in a powdery form less than an hour ago. You're a folk singer, the Twinkie will just add to the long line of bad decisions you've made over the years. Just roll with the eggs and get to the next town.
Unsolicited advice from a man who knows....
That’s A Roll With The Easy Side of Life Outlook from a Desk Clerk That You Should Get With His Day Manager and Address what Happened Last Night B4 Doing The Cool Thing and Orbits Saved Your Tired Driving Mind & Body! Bravo! Bravo! I drove 760 Miles last week in Florida for Visiting Customers & New Job Sites for C & C Concrete Pumping in Orlando and Sanford, Florida! Ended last Saturday Celebrating My Twin Sisters Birthday, Bonnie & Connie with 300 People in New Smyrna Beach at A Mystery Dinner Show! The Food Was Much Better Than The Actors, Sadly! Arrived back in Fort Lauderdale at 11:00 PM Sunday Night! Ouch! “Home Again, Home Again, Giggidy Dodge”
Quality Inns are by and large borderline acceptable, despite the misaligned doors, cigarette smell in a non-smoking room and too-cool AC when you step out of the pool area (BRRR!), but I'll say this about the one in Austin, MN, they have a killer breakfast spread (but that was years ago...), complete with a crockpot of thick, gloppy oatmeal, just the way I like it! I even posted that on TripAdvisor and the hotel replied, kind of offended! I replied back, No no you misunderstand, I LOVED it! I was paying a compliment.
I once tried to flambe Twinkies (don't ask). They would not catch a flame no matter how much liqueur was added. Twinkies are tricky like that.
😁😁🤣😂😉🤣🤣🤣🤣🤩
@@otisgibbs Waffled Twinkies…apart from the sadness that sounds like some “get a gremlin wet after midnight/incredible shrinking woman” stuff. This could be the start of another solar eclipse over Tennessee event…be sure to lock your doors at night, and avoid old cemeteries and abandoned amusement parks at all costs.
Hotels sell blocks of rooms to booking sites.
I have been told a few times at the front desk to go online and book a room.
I have, then walked in with booking code. Got my room.
Weird but true.
Orbitz, Priceline, Kayak,....buy blocks of rooms to rent directly on their sites. They are not available to the motel staff, wasn't his fault.
I believe this is true, have run into it myself- like concert tix, the brokers can hold blocks of tix and the venue has none available. All about the $. Wise move Otis, find the work-around and stay chill!
Yes, I travel a lot and that’s how it works with the third party, online travel groups. It also works in reverse; I use an app - and they will not have a hotel listed that I may want to stay (Like Otis here, in the parking lot), but if I go to the front desk there are still rooms available. Meaning that the “block” as you say, bought by the third party, is sold out. Not the hotel rooms.
What I love is when you are in a long line at the taco stand. A party behind you orders on-line while you are all standing there. Their tacos are ready before you advance to the cash register.
Boy I'm glad I'm retired and road warrior days are over!
Things have gotten too complicated, too much B.S.
They also profile you badly. 1. I’ve walked into hotels/motels on tours and been treated badly. Especial by the non American running the desk. Sad to say but it’s reverse racism and profiling. 2. It’s what is said above about booking sites blocking rooms
As my father would say “ if you can’t baffle them with bullsh&t bewilder them with brilliance ,Well played Ottis!
Pulled In to Nazareth....
No rooms left in an empty hotel. Sounds like a song! Enjoy your upcoming gigs Otis. Atb.
That's so good, there are going to be 105K versions of that soon.
@@MarkBurkenbine ©️ 🤣
Hey Otis ... "there are no problems only solutions" You 'done' good!
One of the sayings in AA is " even justified anger is the enemy of the alcoholic". Getting angry and upset can lead to making an irrational decision or resorting to irrational behavior (drinking or drugging) to escape the pain of an emotional upset. You done good, Otis.
Otis, you handled the fool who was trying to fool you perfectly. Cruise it gentle brother.
Orbitz is like when a ticket scalper discovers what a hotel is.
Missed seeing you as you came through Pittsburgh! 😀 Be safe out there!
Otis: if only I could be the kind, clear, concise, smart person that you are as demonstrated by this story, as well as all the videos I’ve seen in the past which I’ve enjoyed… if only. Otis, you’re an inspiration.
I was born in a tiny town 'on the mountain' just outside of Altoona. Appalachia baybee!
Well played.
You just demonstrated the philosophy that I finally learned with age, which is to "pick your battles" and not waste your time arguing even when you're actually in the right. This is something I've been trying to teach my 22 year old son, but he is going to have to learn that by experience as I did...
----- Otis Tour Dates -------
08/25/24. -Peace Dale, Rhode Island. -Roots Hoot
08/27/24 - 08/30/24 -Big Indian, New York
-with Todd Snider and Tim Easton
10/25/24 -Brown County Playhouse -Nashville, Indiana
03/05/25 -TivoliVredenburg -Utrecht, Netherlands
03/06/25 - Cultural Centre De Zeepziederij -Bree, Belgium
03/08/25 -Lutherse Kerk -Groningen, Netherlands
------ Details at otisgibbs.com ----------
Damn!
Otis, I'm gonna miss you in Nashville, IN by 2 days... Rented a getaway cabin for me and the missus a long time back.
Sure would've liked to see you live!
Great self-control, recognition that aggression would create resistance/more aggression, and staying focused on your goal rather than being right. You’re a good man, Otis!
My guess is you have Libra as your sun or moon sign…lol…rock on Otis!!!❤
Birds of a feather Otis!
I have a yearly out of town gig in Kentucky and fully understand the need to head out on unexplored road and take a chance on accommodations. I have had my series of desk clerk jobs over the course and met some amazing folks. . If your were clean shaven and dressed like a suburban dad you may of gotten that room on the 1st attempt. He saw you and may of had an impression you were possibly trouble. You would think that in 2024 people would be more enlightened, but ignorance is a powerful force.
"shortest distance between you and what you want"...right on Otis, you are a wise man. Enjoy.
Sounds like a good weekend ahead, even with a little drama in getting a room.
Be good to you and enjoy!
🙏🏻🤍
Wow I would so love to enjoy that Camp Todd Snider is one of my favorite artists storytellers and you are as well
I really enjoy this format. No background music or animation. The Real Deal Otis.
The Motel has to hold back rooms to cover their orbitz relationship.
Best wishes for a great camp with Todd and Tim at "What the Folk." Hope to make it another year. I also hope you get some fishing in too. Catskills are legendary.
I managed a resort motel.. a Mom Pop place..a long time ago..and I’m stymied..!
The ONLY thing that I can think of is that the desk clerk wanted to rent the remaining rooms for cash visitors… so he could pocket the dough.
I love the way you handled it..! There’s enough strife in this world without causing more..✌🏼💙
Thanks for the advice. I, too, would’ve been lured by the possibility of a crispy waffle-cooked Twinkie. I bet it just turned into a flattened sticky mess.
Self control is a powerful skill that can unfortunately take a lifetime to aquire, not having it can bestow control and power to others over you. This story from Otis should provide an example of wisdom that often seems absent in our world.
Pleased to have shared some air with Mr. Gibbs last weekend....Ian from DC.
I've been given the "we have no rooms for you" line when I roll in with my post-backpacking funk, only to pull away in my luxury car.
I appreciate how you handled the situation. I'm a bit of a hot head and seeing you respond with diplomacy is a good influence to me.
It always works out better to remain calm! Unhappy people are angry. I think the hotel guy thought you were a rock star with a chain saw. Good video Otis
Your motel checkin sounds a bit like an old Abbott and Costello routine! This computerized life we live these days certainly can be vexing. I got excited when you said you were in Altoona. I spent a lot of time there as a kid, swimming at the “dam,” and eating Texas Hot Dogs. My folks are from a little burg about an hour north up highway 53, so Altoona was the big city. For a moment, I thought you might be making a video about Horseshoe Curve, the 19th century engineering marvel that allowed the railroads to navigate the Allegheny mountains, and move more easily between Philly and Pittsburgh. As kids we’d scamper up a trail on the hillside to get close the curve, but I understand now it’s become like a state park, with more accessible viewing platforms, etc.
It's a sign of the times we live in no trust people just want for themselves
I’d like to be driving through there. The country roads are something I miss a lot.
Enjoy your time at the mountains with your friends Otis! Much love to you!
Howdy, I would have done the same thing! I find it best to circumvent the situation. Love to have some Groucho Marx glasses with the nose, yes, I have reservations..... Enjoy the mountains!
Enjoy your time in the Catskills with your friends Otis. Beautiful part of New York.🎶🎶
See you Camp Todd !!
Handled it very well
Thank you Otis
I have been told that here in Australia that the motel / hotel chains keep a number of rooms vacant for the online bookings . even if they are vacant and you walk in to book at reception like you did they don't rent you the room unless you get to deal with a caring manager . It is silly and i have been in the same situation when out on the road . Love your Music Otis and all these cool interviews . take care
I really admire how you manage to stay chill in these type of situations, Otis. I tend to fly off the handle at a certain point, and of course that only leads to more crap (or jail LOL).
Letterman must have heard Larry King take a call from Altoona once or maybe just remembered the name. His King impression was always "Altoona, PA. Go ahead!"
I have seldom found that arguing with an employee solves anything. They are following orders sent down from their corporate masters. Another reason I am thankful for having run my small business for twenty years. I never got rich but I almost never went home angry about a stupid boss or something a coworker did. You did the right thing OG.
I did a songwriting camp at Full Moon Resort with Steve Earle. It was great.
That clerk had probably just had a doobie and was confused as a mofo😂
Otis, You handled it "The Best Way" Possible. Enjoy your Gig!
I had a similar situation in Sioux City. In the parking lot I could see that there were rooms available. I forgot the code, but when I was standing at the front desk, the price was 40% higher. I went back out to the parking lot, sat in my car and booked the room. Walked back in and paid the cheaper price. I don’t get it, but I still felt like I was scammed.
You da man Otis!!❤
Hi Otis, always enjoy your stories. You handled that scene so well. Good lesson for me. Safe travels and good luck with your gigs. Enjoy the east coast. Peace brother.
Glad you got a good night's rest instead of indulging in a pointless argument. Because I'm looking forward to your Peacedale show today! 😅
Excellent way to deal with the modern world. Good on you.
Excellent decision Otis. Reminded of attempting to deposit a joint tax return check and the teller insisted my partner had to be present. Said thanks, went to my car and drove to the ATM and deposited the check.
Services like Orbitz reserve rooms for their reservation platforms. It is possible that when the fellow told you he didn’t have an available reservation, it was because of that. Not sure, I seem to remember hearing something to that effect.
Now that's cool
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Path of least resistance
Safe travels Otis. No rooms available sounds like he was lazy and didn’t want to so any work.
I’m excited to see you play in Peace Dale 🙂
Theo here Otis
It’s all about pausing before judging arguing or criticizing. You did the next right thing. You are the best. I just returned from a music retreat In Wisconsin. We are all. Blessed that are connected to the creative process. Thanks for that you share
Choose your battles wisely - Otis Gibbs motto
I applaud the way you handled the situation. Many people in our confrontational society who have been much more difficult and accomplished nothing. I don't know if this is the case with hotels, but I know some golf courses use 3rd party booking sites so they show the tee times that were given to the 3rd party as unavailable even if they haven't been booked. Perhaps, something like that, or, as a last resort when you don't really know whats happening, the "software glitch" defense.
It's good you sized it up quickly, and as you said, "avoided the drama."
It's just how things work now. You can't just walk in and pay cash ... "they" want everything recorded online. It's how they track and market everything.
Even if rooms are available you have to schedule it online. You can't just walk in. It's a digital world. I won't get conspiratorial... it's just how it works... can't use good ol' common sense/logic.
Otis... maybe that hotel has somehow veered off into the direction of the twilight zone? Parts of some states do that - I think?
I typically solve things with good communication, if it's another person who "gives a damb" but some people just don't. Glad it worked out for ya
I'm now gonna listen to Steve Goodmans "this hotel room" (written about somewhere he stayed in Indianapolis) (live from "the Easter tapes" album
Looks like people shared what the deal probably was. I'm glad you saved yourself the stress and time by nit arguing. I still travel, and wing it a lot, but not as much travel as when I was younger. I learned, accidentally like many of my lessons, that arguing never helps. Asking questions is cool, but when the brick wall appears, turn away. My first lesson came at 24 on my honeymoon. We were young, inexperienced travellers and we went to Maui Hawaii for said honeymoon. I step up to get the rental car and the person asks, "are you 25?" I replied "no" and was told that I couldn't rent a car, unless, I was married. I said, "I'm married!" "Do you have proof?" "How about this shiny new ring on my finger?" Not proof enough apparently so I asked her to give me a moment😅 to talk to my wife. We were worried and then I asked, "do you have that unofficial paper the church gave us?" Ah ha, I take it back, get in line and watched the lady in front of me scream and yell about some discrepancy and thought, "don't be that person." They accepted my paper and I expressed my gratitude. The lady said, "I'm so sorry about the delay and our staff is waiting for you at the lot." We got a welcoming committee including the manager who gave me his card and said, "if you kids have problems or trouble during your stay, call me " I have (almost) never have caused a fuss during 40+ years of travel since then and people have done the nicest things for me. Kill them with kindness and as Otis shared, don't lose sight of the goal. ✌️
Screw that! Confront the bullshit! Embrace the altercation! I’m mad as hell and im not going to take it anymore! 😅😅😅
Gigging musicians really need to familiarise themselves with the mercury retrograde phenomena that disrupts communications and things like hotel reservations. A little planning reaps great rewards during this time. I know it sounds superstitious but so does having faith your next stop will bend to your sloppy planning.
Otis, I know you were probably tired, most people that watched this video, I’m pretty sure wouldn’t have handled this in a calmly fashion. And that certainly is understandable, however you do get more with sugar than you do with vinegar. You handled this with dignity and high quality character showing the type person you are. Brings to my remembrance the plane encounters you have had in the pass, Marshall’s throwing you off the plane, your guitar didn’t make the flight with you,..etc. These are the reasons your fans love you, Amy, your pets and squirrels. You are genuine and do not pretend to be someone you aren’t and we love it. Keep it up my friend, great things you can’t even imagine are ahead. Peace
Structural Changes. Systematic progress.
I've had a bit of bad experience with hotels lately. Best results have been with casino hotels for a while. Probably not your style but can be handy at times. Enjoy your trip Otis.
I like the way you handled this hotel situation.
Hotel tonight is the app you want to use. I used it from AZ to IN last month grabbing last minute bed
@@sunshine3914 ???? Just recommending a great app that has worked well for me. Like Otis, I wasn’t sure how far I wanted to drive each day. Just trying to pass along a handy tip
Enjoy skipping rocks on the Atlantic. Good goal to have.
You’ll be in my neck of the woods up in the Woodstock Big Indian area enjoy!
Discrimation has never left us people on all sides find a scapegoat.. Pennyslavania roads at night are scary on and off the highway.. Slept in a rest area patking lot once off the highway there.. A Henry Rollins looking dude with intense motorcycle boots came into the bathroom at the dead of night i was alone and he sallied up to the urinal next to me and began chit chat i stayed cool as you say and got out of there.. Spent a lot of time living with artists Jack Beal and Sondra Freckleton in the Catskills 90's and early 00's.. Delhi south of Oneonta, love it there... Their residence has been preserved... They were beatnicks who were in soho and such for the folk revolution.. Miss them a ton they were greatly hated for being realists and true talkers by much of the contemporary art world the last decades of their lives.. Anyway hope it goes good enjoy!! Last three years we have been working on a cabin and land in national forest northern michigan its mostly been good but the hate is here also.. Keep going back and forth between Detroit and here..
You handled it well, Otis, and still managed not to get ripped out, judging by reading the other posts here.
It would be nice if they put up a billboard along the big ol' highway (dootin' doo doo doo...) that says:
ANGER ALWAYS MAKES IT WORSE.
It’s almost not worth taking about Otis. It’s always the normal, every day stuff that tests one the most. Glad to see you didn’t let it get to you. Safe travels…
I'm 20 Minutes south of Altoona. It's a dead, dead area. Rust belt to the core. It's beautiful outside the city though. We do have a strong singer/songwriter scene though.
I suspect it’s more work to book a room at the desk than it is when it comes through online.
Politeness usually gets you more than arguing. Perhaps Serena Williams should have tried that approach in Paris when she and her children showed up, w/o a reservation, at a well known, very exclusive restaurant.
I travel up and down 81 once a year, and have never had an issue with a walk in.
Sounds like he didn't want to be bothered, until he had to be.
Looking forward to meeting you in Big Indian.
Great move!!
Otis, you are a wise man… 😎
Cool as a Cucumber!! Ol Cucumber head 😂!! Safe travels my friend! Tell Todd I said Gabba gabba hey !! He’ll know what’s up 😅 🐿️😎🐿️
I really admire your approach, Otis - I wish I had a cool head like that but it's just not in my nature...and although it has *never* served me well at all, I would've argued with the clerk beyond a doubt, probably insuring that everything worked out to be much harder for me than necessary....maybe one day I'll learn to not let my anger run my life.
Blocks of rooms are dedicated for the apps only.
That sounds about right. Modern life.
Is Todd's songwriting camp really sold out? Or will there magically be openings if I sign up on the app? 🤔🤔
Have a blast and say hi to Todd!!!
Been there....I would have split and hit the next choice. Perhaps the security of customers "booked" on line appealed to the vendor. Thanks brother.
There’s a parallel story here with AXS and Ticketmaster
Dylan was apparently inspired to write “When The Ship Comes In” by similar motel drama. According to Joan Baez in “No Direction Home” he was upset that they had trouble getting a room and proceeded to let off steam by songwriting.
A) night audit was in progress. B) Too lazy or ill trained to check you in. C) Didn't like long haired freaky people, need not to apply. D) Some combination of all the above.
I think the days of just traveling down the road and stopping at a hotel when you are tried are over. As always, greed and money have taken over. Jack Kerouac's novel "On the Road" would be a lot different if he wrote it now. Lol...
Hope you got some rest
@otisgibbs - This is an interesting channel. I learned 2 important lessons from your post:
1. Take the shortest distance between where you are & where you want to while avoiding the bulllshit as best you can.
2. Don't put a Twinkie in a waffle maker.
If only I could figure out which of those two are more important...
Your a gentleman otis. By the way, any stories about your fellow Indian Ian the late great Lonnie Mack?
A musician buddy who was traveling with a bandmate told me the story about pulling into a California hotel late after driving as far as they felt they could. No reservation, the bandmate walks up to the desk clerk and asks about a vacancy - for a room they only plan to occupy for 6-7 hours. The clerk quotes the day-of rack-rate, and my friend thinks “that’s it”. His bandmate isn’t having it, gets into a calm discussion with the clerk about how it’s his responsibility to try to fill every room in the joint and not only gets the room, but gets it at a 50% discount. I don’t have the energy in those situations to practice conflict resolution! I’d be a crappy salesman.