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.

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)

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.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by Katmancross

They want me to review Ugly Coyotes next.

Say no more. What a brilliant opportunity to pull the plug!!!

[Lear31MX]

Do what makes you happy.

[ucla695]

Originally Posted by Lear31MX

Do what makes you happy.

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

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

Originally Posted by mpd340

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.

[Dunkel]

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

Originally Posted by Dunkel

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......

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Dunkel

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.

Originally Posted by T.G

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.

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]

Originally Posted by T.G

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Dunkel

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.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Dunkel

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.

[floydpink]

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

Philip, did a dingo eat your baby?

[Eleven]

wwhstd?

Originally Posted by Eleven

wwhstd?

HUH?

[Eleven]

Originally Posted by Katmancross

HUH?

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

[floydpink]

Gore and hookers? How have I missed these reviews?

Originally Posted by floydpink

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.