One more weekend!!!

Well!!!...we have more weekend left of the 2008 season and I must say everyone including the managers are all smiles because of it. A lot has been going too. We were slatted to have an inventory audit for Friday 31st. So we had had all our inventory counted plus having a full week to double check. So on monday we all came in when it was 38 degrees outside, ready to rock and roll! Then I get the famous call from our purchasing manager at the home office saying, "your audit is pushed to Novemeber 3rd" ARGGGGGGG!!!!!! everyone worked so hard over the weekend to make sure things were done right and now we have to play the cat and mouse game of making sure people don't mess up the work we did this weekend. Though, I have a lot of conifdence that employees will not. It just the mear fact of worrying. That's part of managment!!!

I will inlcude some pictures on this post of random people and stuff :) For the most part I have been very, very happy on the dedication and loyality from employees for the post season who travel from school to work. That's huge brownie points! I have to say and if Jon and Emily if you read this you would be proud of the people who committed to work on the weekends actually stayed true to their word. We were not understaff at all this post season in caricatures except for one weekend. But, we tied up Kathy Hogan and kidnapped her and dragged her in to work...hahaha just kidden she told me whenever you need me I am there for you guys. So Kathy came to the rescue one day to help. We had 2 weekends with 50,000 plus people, but the money did not role in like we hoped. But, everyone was trying hard to make it work. Face paint on the other hand rocked the house with doing over 2,000 bucks on numerous weekends and Whitney doing 989.00 in face paint alone in one shift. We were very happy with all the hard work from all employees who tried to make this a successful post season and we appreciate all their dedication as well.

The talks went though at the home office for next season, and we are hoping for some new exciting changes for the 2009 year. Though, nothing is for sure yet so I won't discuss any of the ideas until we know for sure. Once, I know you will know!

Here some Pics from Put-N-Bay that I stole from Jamie's camera...hahahah Jamie, jokes on you!

Not sure why Darian has to sit down on the job to do inventory! What a slacker...I will use this for ammo when he says his does not slack! hahaha..:)

Well, I will post some new pics soon when I steal some more from Jamie...;)

Fishing Trip 2008

It's true! Eric, Sam, Ben and Jamie went on an official Kaman's Art Shoppes fishing trip! Here's the proof! Let us know which picture is your favorite!

Antique Photo Fun

Hello, folks. Jamie here doing a little update! Our pal Lucky designed two nifty Halloweekend backgrounds for our green screen! We are offering this photo design at a reduced price. Thanks to a Kathy we now have several cloaks, witch accessories, and spooky apparel to add to this spooktacular experience!

Brandon, Kellen, and Anne all smiles during the slow rained out weekend. Thanks for given me some fake smiles...J/K!

A little fun!

Last weekend was a wash out at the park due to the rain we had all weekend. But, as I came across Dodgem Caricatures I noticed Mallory and Lucky looking G-Q style and so I performed a quick photo shoot of them until I was spent! Here is one of those pictures. At times you got to do what you got to do to attract attention from the guest in the park :)

It's Lucky time!!!

The tradition is still alive when Lucky (Park Manager from Idlewild) comes and draws some wacky caricatures for us while his park is shut down for a couple of weeks. Thanks Lucky!!!

Halloweekends

Well, it's here Halloweekends!!! And it was a wash out. I mean with rain. Also, with rain in the forcast for all weekend. But, you know we will just have to plow right through it and be positive. The best is yet to come! Let's hope the post season is as good as it was last year :) I am pretty sure it will i have this gut feeling.

Caricature Training

A Fun video by Eric Vincent

Fun at CP

Jamie, myself, and Ben Kaman went out to the park today to decorate the Ring/Rice stand into another Halloween Face Paint stand. We use bails of straw, pumpkins, burlap, and corn stalk. I must say it looks pretty cool. Though, we found out today that we were closing Trail Henna for the year (not our choice, but the parks) Jamie went around getting stuff and found out half of the trail henna stand was taken apart! as well as both of tables and umbrellas and also our a-frame was damaged at Twister Henna. We also closed down Midway Henna today as well for the season. So in all it was a busy day at the park. Oh and Ben treated me to Golly G's too!

Later-Eric

Jamie Smith Birthday

Well, it is here! Jamie's Birthday...Happy Birthday Jamie!!!

Jon and a Tiny shirt

Well, this video I created last year is of Jon Lindberg. It was after the season was over and we were closing up the shops in the park and and we were at Airbrush and we saw a damage kids sweatshirt and I bet Jon that he could not put it on! Well, see for yourself what happen. ENJOY! Oh by the way when I edited this vdeo, I spiced it up for more effect. This is Tony Miller's (airbrush supervisor) favorite song on the video as well as Jamie Smith favorite video of all times.

-Eric

Whitney travels to L.A. for Kaman's

Well, Whitney has made the trek across country for Kaman's Art Shoppes to work at the L.A. Fair! This is the first time Kaman's is attending the fair, and we hope we have a successful run with it. We will be offereing caricatures, body art, and photo operations. If this goes well for Kaman's this means we will do it next year and who knows, if they need help you can be called upon to go to L.A. for Kaman's next year. No guarentees though ;) Let's wish Whitney a fun and money making trip and I am sure she will have tons of stories to tell when she comes back in a couple of weeks. Good luck!

Friend's and co-workers who find their true calling.

As most of you know I am a manager for Kaman's Art Shoppes, Inc. For 13 years I have worked with many other managers, leads, and supervisors. And I have grown to like most of them not just as co-workers, but as friends. The last 3 years I have had the pleasure to work with two individuals who grown with me as well as become good friends with. Jon and Emily Lindberg. Jon who's my assistant manager and his sidekick wife Emily as my caricature supervisor. They both brought dedication, motivation, loyality, and most important.... friendship. At the beginning of the year Jon and Emily told me about going to the peace corps for a couple of years. My first reaction was, CRAP! I am going to loose 2 great people and managers. But the other reaction was that I am really happy for them. Jon and Emily are doing something that they both want and dreamed of, and that my friends says alot, when you see two people achieve their goal together. As I had lunch with them today and talked about work and some good times and employees who make our eyes twitch. When all said and done I was sad that we won't be able to share these thoughts and conservations for a couple of years. But as I left them and wish them a safe trip. I took a few moments on my drive home and thought back all the tough times and good times we had and those are the memories I will cherrish as not only a manager but as their friends. I wish nothing but the best of luck on their adventures and we will see you again soon.