February 12, 2024 • 21 mins
Fred and Jason were shooketh when something happened at a client lunch
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Guys, it's tangent time. We just wrapped up our program,
our live program, and I really should take notes. I
should be taking notes throughout the show on the things
that come up that I didn't want to know more about.
But I don't do that. I don't do that at
all because I have severe add at times and too
many other shiny objects. But let's do the tangent.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Here we go. It's the tangent with the bread show
giving me all the we couldn't talk about on air.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Jason and I went to if any of you have
ever been to any kind of like executive work, launch
or dinner or whatever with clients, then you know the vibe.
And in my opinion, I witnessed what I believe to
be the tackiest thing I've ever seen at a business
related function. Would you agree?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Yeah? It was not executed well and the message was
not clear?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
So how do I say this vaguely? Here?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Okay, So we were out to lunch. It was a
large client meeting last week, large big client, many people
representing said client.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I had a polo on. Yeah. Yeah, you were.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Basically in a tux as far as I'm.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Concerned, compared to my normal day to day.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Yes, and so we read this thing and this client
was was very complimentary of of us, and and you know,
it was a very fancy lunch by the way, I'm
sure it was thousands of dollars that was spent on
this thing, and the client was very happy. The client
had mentioned that they had been to a meeting previously
in that that morning before lunch, where that was not
(01:31):
as pleasant, where they had basically told a competitor of
ours that they were not happy.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
I guess.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I mean, I'm paraphrasing here. I don't really know what
was said, but would you agree you can stop me
if I'm wrong about any of this? Would you agree
that it was sort of like not great over there?
You guys are great?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
It was, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
The messaging in the different lunches was different from the
previous one they had to ours.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
The uh oh really yeah, ye know what I mean,
Like they were happy with.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Us, and I guess there was no food included in
the pre meeting. So when they said, well would you
at the previous meeting that didn't go well, they were like,
I guess they offered like would you like to go
to lunch or breakfast or something, and they're like no,
because we're going with iHeart. Oh. And so they show
up to our meeting, and our meeting is going very
well and we're meeting everybody, and these a lot of
(02:17):
really great people, good ideas, whatever, whatever. The end of
the lunch comes and dessert is about to be served,
and a manager or somebody from the restaurant comes and
whispers in uh, the boss's ear, and he looks at
this person and audibly, like out loud so everyone can hear,
basically said fuck that, like no, no, absolutely not, And
(02:39):
then he proceeds to tell it. Of course, because he's messy,
he proceeds to then tell everybody at the table what
had just happened. So it turns out that our competitor
had called over to the restaurant and offered to buy dessert,
but a half slice of pie for each person at
the table.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
A half. Have you not heard this?
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yeah, well a little bit of it, A half Because no,
I thought everyone in the room heard the story, but.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
I thought it was on a radio. The acting was
so good, So.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
When you told us the story off the year, I
thought it was just a slice of it was only
half a slice.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Of Yes, they offered to send out half slices of
pie for everyone at the table.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Check this movie, because you guys are still thinking about it. Yeah,
not a good way. Well I know, but it got
in your heads.
Speaker 6 (03:30):
Maybe it was me, but.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
It didn't get into her. It got into her head
like in a bad way. Like it's just it's so bootleg.
I mean, first of all, who hijacks a like?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Truly?
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Who? Like? I mean, I've been I've walked into restaurants
before where our clients are eating with other competitors, and
I won't even go over there because I think that's
rude because that's their time, right, it's their meal, it's
their function, it's their relationship. I can come up with
my own right. If I want to take a client out,
I should do it myself or whatever. But then it
(04:08):
was just it's so par for the course that like
the client was basically like these guys are not great,
and then their giant gesture is to send out discount desserts.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
I mean, I just I.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
Would you would think they would pay for the meat,
like if you want, like, if you're not in good
graces with this client, like they've told you you're nine
good graces, I'd have been like, yo, let me pick
up this check to getting your good graces.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
I think you stay away from the whole thing. Yeah,
I don't think you get involved with the competitors thing.
I mean, unless you're really trying to stick it to
us somehow. And I don't know how you would do
that by buying the lunch, Like, I don't think any
I don't know. There's got to be another way if
you're gonna go rogue and like you know, I don't know,
some sort of guerrilla warfare thing. Again, But it had
nothing to do with us. I honestly believe that it
(04:50):
was intended to be a nice gesture, but like it
came off cheap, It came off tacky, it came off desperate.
And I think everybody at the table saw that. And
I have to wonder, like, did was that a unilateral
move by a person who meant to do something nice
or did they actually get in a room together and
go all right, all right, all right, boy, we're in
a bad spot. Send half desserts over there right now,
(05:12):
call them up. Oh wait, how much is dessert? Okay,
cut that in half and then they can have that. Like,
if you're gonna do the gesture. Then do the gesture right,
send out every dessert, send out ten of every dessert, like,
go way over the top.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
What did the clients say? Did you get any response
from them?
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Like, they didn't say much, but you could tell they
thought it was bush league?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Okay, didn't don't you think?
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Yeah, but we were all happy because then we got
all the pies. Then all the pies came, and so
we got.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Tried half pie. No, half pie was never delivered.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
It didn't get delivered.
Speaker 5 (05:41):
No, that sounds like the perfect portion for me.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Well, I mean, but then cut your own pie in
half and then I mean, it's.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
A lot of pie. But then we got all the pies, okay,
full pies.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, yeah, who said half pie? It's kind of funny.
It's so tacky. It's just so tacky.
Speaker 7 (06:01):
Who paid for the lunch?
Speaker 5 (06:02):
Us?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I heard? Yeah?
Speaker 7 (06:03):
Okay, yeah, all right? Why no, that was just what
I was I was a little confused about. I'm like,
is the client paying for the lunch or are we
paying for the lunch? Or you know, the people? Oh, okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
And I just don't think anything they could have done
related to our event, our little function. I don't think
anything would have come off. I don't know, Like, you know,
I guess they had a bad meeting. I would be
focused on fixing whatever they weren't happy about, not sending
bootleg desserts to the table. I don't know, It's just
it came off really, really bad.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
I wonder if, like, okay, like you said, the client
told this competitor, like, hey, we're going to lunch. I
wonder if they told them where they're going, or these
guys had to call restaurants and be like.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
No, they must have told them, right, yeah, they must
have told them.
Speaker 7 (06:47):
But it's almost like you're trolling the client, Like if
I'm the client, like I feel like you're trolling, Like
I'm not happy with you already. Then you do this,
which is weird, and now you're just trolling me. So
now I need to pull all my money out and
just go ahead with the the people that's actually.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Picking up the check.
Speaker 7 (07:01):
It's taking me to a respectable meeting.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I've done this for a long time and I've seen
some crazy stuff, but I've really never seen anything quite
like that. Like it was really uncomfortable and weird, and
the gesture just it just fell so flat.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Yeah, it was executed for it really was. Oh man, we.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Should send them something to their company. We should send
them like a full empty pithon or something.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
I do I do think a picture was taken and
sent over there to somebody, because again I believe.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
It's possible.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
I don't know the rep and I don't mean any
disrespect because it's just so par for the course about
of what's happening with our competitor. It's just so everything
is so and no one knows what I'm talking about.
It's just so bootleg on every level that like, I
just couldn't believe this. I'm like, anyway, it's very possible
that this person unilaterally decided I want to you know,
(07:59):
I know some of the people a table, I want
to do something nice. I just think you stay away
from your competitors events, and I think if you're gonna
do something, then don't don't do half assed version of it.
If you're gonna do it, go big, you know what
I mean, like or don't.
Speaker 6 (08:15):
What was the waiter's reaction when like our boss.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Was like no, yeah, because you know, our boss is
not subtle, so he was not subtle about it. And
then he was basically like, I don't bring any of that,
and they're like, but it's paid for, And I think
he just said keep.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
The money, like do something else with it.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I don't care the pie to the staff.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, it was something like that. Then I give the
half pie to the staff.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
But like, what are you also saying about, Like what
are you saying about our lunch? Like that we're not
capable of buying you desert? Like I don't know, it
just it came off bad.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Yeah, the messaging isn't clear, Like you didn't send a
clear message, like if you're gonna come for someone, like
the message needs like I don't know what you're trying
to say.
Speaker 7 (08:54):
Right, you know you thought you ate, but you didn't, right, And.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
If someone left all the crum.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
And I have no idea what was actually said at
the other meeting, but if it was not good, something
to the extent of like we don't think we're getting
what we're paying for or we don't like this or that,
then don't do a half assed gesture after that. That's
basically just reiterating what apparently they just told you, which
was at your half hass.
Speaker 6 (09:16):
What else did you guys get? Did you guys get
the chicken.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Fried chicken was there. I didn't get to eat any
of it though.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
To try the fried chicken, I had a seafood linguini.
Oh that was really good.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah, a steak is delicious.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
I was sure if you were like uncomfortable like during
kind of like client meetings like that, like if you
eat you know what I'm saying, Oh no, like or
fucking everything.
Speaker 7 (09:37):
You know?
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Yeah, it was everything. We had, like every different type
of potato.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
I will say.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Going to eat with our boss when he's food upsas yeah,
and he's food motivated. Yeah, so it's you know, we
have our difference. Well, yes, he and I have our differences,
but when we will break bread when you go to eat,
he does not. No expense is spared right now, I
don't have proper dental care or like yeah, certainly no
(10:03):
reimbursement for mental health and they don't match our four
one K. But but I did get to be part
of a three thousand dollars lunch.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
I would imagine.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
I remember that one time he shamed us when we
went to lunch with him, and what happened like what
would your last meal be? And we gave our answers.
He's just like, that's what you would pick him like.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yes, yeah, he didn't. He didn't like that. He wanted
more specificity of the liking my Nona's meatballs.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
And that's a very serious question for him. Great, right,
And by the way, it's been known to be I
believe it was on yours. It was an interview question
and there is a wrong answer for answer.
Speaker 6 (10:37):
He was so serious, he said the five your five
favorite sandwiches in Chicago, And I obviously, like wasn't living
here at the time, and I'm not from here, so
like the pressure.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Was on, and I like thought it was funny.
Speaker 6 (10:46):
I'm like, wait, are you gonna ask me about like
where I went to school or right?
Speaker 3 (10:50):
And I passed?
Speaker 6 (10:51):
But the wrong answer was a turkey sandwich I think,
wasn't it? Yeah, he said there is a wrong he's
scared of the craft.
Speaker 7 (10:56):
No.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
I was just like, I would take a Chicago style
how you.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Would it was one of your last meals.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
I'm like, yes, it's my answer to my opinion based question.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
I don't know your grandma, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
I was so scared.
Speaker 6 (11:11):
When he tried my soup and he loved it, and
I was like, thank you Jesus.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
This man knows food.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
I told him I old loved olive gardens and it
ruined him to the rest of his life.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Like this is a guy, this is a guy that
know Joe. When he goes on vacation with his family
and stays in like a Hilton, like just a normal
hotel room, he brings burners.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
I'm serious, I'm not kidding. He brings. He brings a
whole thing. In fact, at one point.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Set off the fire alarm doing something in the bathroom,
his wife did, and then they show up want to
know what was going on in the room, and he
had to basically conceal I mean, in an entire fucking
kitchen that he brings with him because apparently he wants
to eat his own chicken cutlets or whenever when he's
on vacation, which God blessed him. Like look again, got it.
He's into hospitality. He loves food. You know, he takes it.
(12:01):
He loves this one particular restaurant because he spends a
lot of money there, a lot of the company's money there,
so they know him and they treat him a certain
kind of And by the way, I do the same
thing if I'm trying to impress people, there are places
I know I can take them, and that's what he's doing.
So yeah, no, And it was a nice lunch, and
I'm very glad that our relationship with said client seems
to be good. They seem to be happy, nice but good.
(12:23):
I really was, like for about twenty four hours, I
was shook it. I just couldn't believe it. I'm like,
I'm like, what the hell I mean?
Speaker 5 (12:34):
Oh, I posted that on social right away. I don't
have been like not half a piece.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
I think you just stay away from stay away from
competitors events like just you know what if.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
You never know what it's going to be reversed, And
that's how I true, like you never know how it's
going to be reversed, and like karma is real, Like
I would never like reach out and like do that
to somebody, Like.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
I want to believe that it was intended to be
a kind gesture. I want to believe that, but I don't.
I think even then, it's just it almost basically reiterated
what my understanding is their problem was to begin with.
You know, it's like it it's I don't know, I
don't know. I wasn't at the first meeting, but what
was indicated to me was like bush league, bush League
(13:15):
over there, and then bush league with the effort, and
I'm just like, dude, huh. Anyway, I guess I'm glad
to be working for the guy with the bigger expense account. Yeah,
I mean, you know, I will say that. But have
you guys ever been in a professional setting where something
happened and you were just like truly mind.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Blown every day?
Speaker 5 (13:33):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Right, Well, I've been out with some clients who revealed
in the in the past, way way way in the past,
like some crazy lifestyle choices and stuff, and you what
are you gonna do?
Speaker 2 (13:44):
You're just like, oh, okay, like what you just got
to play a Well, I'm.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Not gonna say, I just and this is this is
like way back in the day, like way way, way,
way way. Nobody who's on the air now, But I
was just, you know, I don't know, it's like people
we've had some in the past, we've had some short
term and very eccentric partnerships with people who come in
and they spend a lot of money, so they kind of,
I don't know, they act a certain kind of way
and God love them, you know, but sometimes it's like, oh, oh,
(14:11):
I didn't know we were Oh okay, you know, I
don't know. And you can't say anything as a client's
you know, cause like what are you gonna do? Or
have you ever had a client ask you a question
and you don't know the right answer for them?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
You know?
Speaker 1 (14:25):
So you're like, this is a fifty to fifty thing,
like I might say the wrong thing right here.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Yeah, that's my everyday life.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Yeah, And I almost said coke and a pepsi meeting once.
I almost did that that and luckily I was so
focused on not saying coke and a pepsi meeting that
I almost said coke and a pepsi meeting. But luckily
it played off like I was fucking around, and so
it played off like a haaa, like people laughed, But
what they don't realize is all like for a week
(14:54):
in my mind, I was just like, there's only one
fucking thing you can't say in this meeting, and it's coke.
You can't refer to it as a coke. You don't
drink coke. That's not a coke. That is one percent
of pepsi. And it does matter and I was so
focused on not doing it that I almost did it.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
Is it because you were in the South for a
little while and you they refer to coke as like
everything is that?
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Or you just were like, I do think that's true.
I think most places people just refer to.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Coc as like can I have a coke? And it's pepsi?
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Okay, And you're like, oh yeah, and I know Pepsi's
tried to obviously combat that for a long time. But yeah,
there was there was one word that I could not
say and I almost said. I said like half of it,
but luckily they thought it was on purpose. They're like, ah,
you're crazy, you know, play it off. Yeah, it's like
one thing, Fred, one thing, do not fuck this up?
This one thing, and I almost did it. Yeah, nothing
(15:46):
like that chasing because you spent in a lot of
these meetings.
Speaker 7 (15:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
No, I try to shut up.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
I do more of observing than anything else and only
speak when i'm spoken to because I'm afraid that I'm
going to say something wrong or poo poo something. So
I'm very much like, let me just give you the facts.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Yeah, yeah, the hell up.
Speaker 6 (16:02):
You're good at being quiet. I'm working on it. You
and Kiki are really good at like, I know you
guys are thinking thoughts, you keep them inside.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Well, I feel like you get your ass kicked enough
in meetings to like and be like, I'm gonna shut
the hell up.
Speaker 6 (16:13):
I mean, I don't know, I've got my eyes kicked
in life, but I can't keep my mouth shut.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I literally cannot this.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Yeah, it will teach you.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Well.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
The other funny thing is we went around, We went
around the room, and the clients first went around and said,
like what they all do for the company, And then
we went around and said what we all do for
the company. And I was second. Joe Soto was to
my right, and of course he gave it. You know, hey,
I'm just a Chicago boy living my dream. Like it
was just such a pure amazing answer because he's a
(16:45):
pure amazing guy. Uh, that shit makes me nervous, Like
speaking in front of fifteen other people. I was sweating,
and I like, I'm like, do I be witty?
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Do I be quick? Do I be? And I was.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
I was kind of so succinct about it that at
the end somebody was even like, Fred, did you go?
Because I just I didn't want to do it. But
yet I don't know how many tens of people we
talked to on the radio every day, and I don't
think twice about that, maybe because I'm comfortable with all
you guys, and it's just like I don't worry about
I know that, you know, there's there's love and acceptance,
and if I'm not funny or am funny, or if
(17:19):
I say something stupid, you know whatever, I'm not necessarily
still trying to make an impression.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
But that shit makes me so nervous.
Speaker 7 (17:25):
Say, it's such a difference than doing radio, Like we
don't see who we're talking to, so sometimes I forget
that we're actually talking outside all the time. That's why
I'm in trouble. But I speaking in front of a
group of people, Oh my god, you know, a zoom meeting.
Oh my god, I hate that so much. Like I
can just feel you staring back at me. I hate that,
like I hate as a meeting care.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
Like no one, like you want me to shut up
so this meaning can be over, Like you don't really
want me to get my five favorite colors or whatever.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
You're just like, oh my god, when I wanted to.
Speaker 6 (17:58):
Go in front of sales, like I was little shitting
my pants like on stage. I don't like that.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Yeah, And you would think no, because like I'll say
to people, I have a fear of public speaking, and
they're like, that's funny. The other thing is I said
to someone yesterday like I'm kind of an introvert, and
they're like, that's impossible, Like it's but it's very possible.
It's very possible that you can come in here and like,
you know, do this thing right.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
And and it's.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Almost more possible because you come in here and if
you're in a sales job or any other job where
you're like essentially performing every day, it's not the same
kind of energy as an organic back and forth with
a group of people. It's it's a different energy, and
so it's kind of exhausting in some ways mentally, and
so I don't know. I tend to go home and
(18:40):
I'm just quiet, and I also tend to like avoid
unnecessary social interaction because I just I'm like recharging. And
I think people they're like surprised, I listen to your show,
you talk a bunch of shit. I'm like, well, yeah,
but that's that's different, you know than i'd like a
real life one on one conver station with a stranger
(19:01):
that I don't know you it's I don't know, maybe
starts to feel like work again. I'm not sure, but
I think a lot of I think it's why a
lot of comedians, a lot of media personalities, actors. I
think it's why people sometimes think that they're kind of assholes,
and it's like, no, they're chy, they're like actually shy
when they're not when it's not on, it's off.
Speaker 6 (19:20):
Yeah. Even on the Bachelorette and even though we were drinking,
we had to go around the table and you saw
it was like fourteen girls and each like say a
story about the bride, like or like just say something.
And I was so like nervous and people were so
shocked about that, Like I but I don't like it.
I don't know if it's scary. Yeah, I got really scared.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
He did a good job, Jason, thank you did a
good job, did you thank you?
Speaker 3 (19:42):
You guys crushed it.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Yeah, Well, now I want pie.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
We had pie, peanut butter chocolate pie.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Oh my yeah no, the pie was really good. The
pie was really good. The food's really good. Actually, it's
especially good when I'm not paying for it it tastes
even better. But yeah, I don't know that was that
was that was sus It shook me into the core,
did I was?
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Really My mouth was just like open, and they looked
at you.
Speaker 6 (20:07):
I was like, yeah, I couldn't something about it too
when I wasn't even there.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Yeah, I mean it was one of those things where
like everybody at the table like does the thing where
you put your hand on your forehead and you're just like,
oh no, you didn't just do that.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
You didn't.
Speaker 6 (20:19):
Were you in fight or flight?
Speaker 4 (20:22):
I was, honestly, I was stunned, Like I was too
stunned to speak, Like I was just sitting there like whoa, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
And I know it sounds sort of mundane, but I
don't it just I don't know. I just don't fuck
with other people's meetings. Like to have your own meeting.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
It's a big deal.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Like you screwed up, okay, Like you didn't. They weren't happy,
and then you didn't. You know, they they want a
little they want to be wind and dine. They deserve it.
They spend plenty of money, they're great partners, so treat
them like that. So you fucked it up, Okay, fine,
the next time you meet with them, don't fuck it
up again, Like take them some more nice k to
the thing, buy them some fucking pie. I don't know
(20:58):
whatever you want to do next, but that that's I
would agree. It's kind of a that's a one gun
one gun anyway. Yeah, all right, Well that was my
that was my shooketh moment of the day. And I'm
still shook it and I think I'll refer to that
as the half pie incident.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
I'll never forget it.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
I don't think I will either.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
I think that goes down as one of the tackiest
things I've seen in the business setting. Now we can
do we could do a whole podcast about that, But anyway.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I'm out of time. Not today, Not today, Half pie people,
there's the chance. Have a good day.
Guys, it's tangent time. We just wrapped up our program,
our live program, and I really should take notes. I
should be taking notes throughout the show on the things
that come up that I didn't want to know more about.
But I don't do that. I don't do that at
all because I have severe add at times and too
many other shiny objects. But let's do the tangent.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Here we go. It's the tangent with the bread show
giving me all the we couldn't talk about on air.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Jason and I went to if any of you have
ever been to any kind of like executive work, launch
or dinner or whatever with clients, then you know the vibe.
And in my opinion, I witnessed what I believe to
be the tackiest thing I've ever seen at a business
related function. Would you agree?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Yeah? It was not executed well and the message was
not clear?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
So how do I say this vaguely? Here?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Okay, So we were out to lunch. It was a
large client meeting last week, large big client, many people
representing said client.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I had a polo on. Yeah. Yeah, you were.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Basically in a tux as far as I'm.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Concerned, compared to my normal day to day.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Yes, and so we read this thing and this client
was was very complimentary of of us, and and you know,
it was a very fancy lunch by the way, I'm
sure it was thousands of dollars that was spent on
this thing, and the client was very happy. The client
had mentioned that they had been to a meeting previously
in that that morning before lunch, where that was not
(01:31):
as pleasant, where they had basically told a competitor of
ours that they were not happy.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
I guess.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
I mean, I'm paraphrasing here. I don't really know what
was said, but would you agree you can stop me
if I'm wrong about any of this? Would you agree
that it was sort of like not great over there?
You guys are great?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
It was, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
The messaging in the different lunches was different from the
previous one they had to ours.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
The uh oh really yeah, ye know what I mean,
Like they were happy with.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Us, and I guess there was no food included in
the pre meeting. So when they said, well would you
at the previous meeting that didn't go well, they were like,
I guess they offered like would you like to go
to lunch or breakfast or something, and they're like no,
because we're going with iHeart. Oh. And so they show
up to our meeting, and our meeting is going very
well and we're meeting everybody, and these a lot of
(02:17):
really great people, good ideas, whatever, whatever. The end of
the lunch comes and dessert is about to be served,
and a manager or somebody from the restaurant comes and
whispers in uh, the boss's ear, and he looks at
this person and audibly, like out loud so everyone can hear,
basically said fuck that, like no, no, absolutely not, And
(02:39):
then he proceeds to tell it. Of course, because he's messy,
he proceeds to then tell everybody at the table what
had just happened. So it turns out that our competitor
had called over to the restaurant and offered to buy dessert,
but a half slice of pie for each person at
the table.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
A half. Have you not heard this?
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yeah, well a little bit of it, A half Because no,
I thought everyone in the room heard the story, but.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
I thought it was on a radio. The acting was
so good, So.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
When you told us the story off the year, I
thought it was just a slice of it was only
half a slice.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Of Yes, they offered to send out half slices of
pie for everyone at the table.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Check this movie, because you guys are still thinking about it. Yeah,
not a good way. Well I know, but it got
in your heads.
Speaker 6 (03:30):
Maybe it was me, but.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
It didn't get into her. It got into her head
like in a bad way. Like it's just it's so bootleg.
I mean, first of all, who hijacks a like?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Truly?
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Who? Like? I mean, I've been I've walked into restaurants
before where our clients are eating with other competitors, and
I won't even go over there because I think that's
rude because that's their time, right, it's their meal, it's
their function, it's their relationship. I can come up with
my own right. If I want to take a client out,
I should do it myself or whatever. But then it
(04:08):
was just it's so par for the course that like
the client was basically like these guys are not great,
and then their giant gesture is to send out discount desserts.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
I mean, I just I.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
Would you would think they would pay for the meat,
like if you want, like, if you're not in good
graces with this client, like they've told you you're nine
good graces, I'd have been like, yo, let me pick
up this check to getting your good graces.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
I think you stay away from the whole thing. Yeah,
I don't think you get involved with the competitors thing.
I mean, unless you're really trying to stick it to
us somehow. And I don't know how you would do
that by buying the lunch, Like, I don't think any
I don't know. There's got to be another way if
you're gonna go rogue and like you know, I don't know,
some sort of guerrilla warfare thing. Again, But it had
nothing to do with us. I honestly believe that it
(04:50):
was intended to be a nice gesture, but like it
came off cheap, It came off tacky, it came off desperate.
And I think everybody at the table saw that. And
I have to wonder, like, did was that a unilateral
move by a person who meant to do something nice
or did they actually get in a room together and
go all right, all right, all right, boy, we're in
a bad spot. Send half desserts over there right now,
(05:12):
call them up. Oh wait, how much is dessert? Okay,
cut that in half and then they can have that. Like,
if you're gonna do the gesture. Then do the gesture right,
send out every dessert, send out ten of every dessert, like,
go way over the top.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
What did the clients say? Did you get any response
from them?
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Like, they didn't say much, but you could tell they
thought it was bush league?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Okay, didn't don't you think?
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Yeah, but we were all happy because then we got
all the pies. Then all the pies came, and so
we got.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Tried half pie. No, half pie was never delivered.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
It didn't get delivered.
Speaker 5 (05:41):
No, that sounds like the perfect portion for me.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Well, I mean, but then cut your own pie in
half and then I mean, it's.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
A lot of pie. But then we got all the pies, okay,
full pies.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, yeah, who said half pie? It's kind of funny.
It's so tacky. It's just so tacky.
Speaker 7 (06:01):
Who paid for the lunch?
Speaker 5 (06:02):
Us?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I heard? Yeah?
Speaker 7 (06:03):
Okay, yeah, all right? Why no, that was just what
I was I was a little confused about. I'm like,
is the client paying for the lunch or are we
paying for the lunch? Or you know, the people? Oh, okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
And I just don't think anything they could have done
related to our event, our little function. I don't think
anything would have come off. I don't know, Like, you know,
I guess they had a bad meeting. I would be
focused on fixing whatever they weren't happy about, not sending
bootleg desserts to the table. I don't know, It's just
it came off really, really bad.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
I wonder if, like, okay, like you said, the client
told this competitor, like, hey, we're going to lunch. I
wonder if they told them where they're going, or these
guys had to call restaurants and be like.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
No, they must have told them, right, yeah, they must
have told them.
Speaker 7 (06:47):
But it's almost like you're trolling the client, Like if
I'm the client, like I feel like you're trolling, Like
I'm not happy with you already. Then you do this,
which is weird, and now you're just trolling me. So
now I need to pull all my money out and
just go ahead with the the people that's actually.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Picking up the check.
Speaker 7 (07:01):
It's taking me to a respectable meeting.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I've done this for a long time and I've seen
some crazy stuff, but I've really never seen anything quite
like that. Like it was really uncomfortable and weird, and
the gesture just it just fell so flat.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Yeah, it was executed for it really was. Oh man, we.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Should send them something to their company. We should send
them like a full empty pithon or something.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
I do I do think a picture was taken and
sent over there to somebody, because again I believe.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
It's possible.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
I don't know the rep and I don't mean any
disrespect because it's just so par for the course about
of what's happening with our competitor. It's just so everything
is so and no one knows what I'm talking about.
It's just so bootleg on every level that like, I
just couldn't believe this. I'm like, anyway, it's very possible
that this person unilaterally decided I want to you know,
(07:59):
I know some of the people a table, I want
to do something nice. I just think you stay away
from your competitors events, and I think if you're gonna
do something, then don't don't do half assed version of it.
If you're gonna do it, go big, you know what
I mean, like or don't.
Speaker 6 (08:15):
What was the waiter's reaction when like our boss.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Was like no, yeah, because you know, our boss is
not subtle, so he was not subtle about it. And
then he was basically like, I don't bring any of that,
and they're like, but it's paid for, And I think
he just said keep.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
The money, like do something else with it.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I don't care the pie to the staff.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, it was something like that. Then I give the
half pie to the staff.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
But like, what are you also saying about, Like what
are you saying about our lunch? Like that we're not
capable of buying you desert? Like I don't know, it
just it came off bad.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Yeah, the messaging isn't clear, Like you didn't send a
clear message, like if you're gonna come for someone, like
the message needs like I don't know what you're trying
to say.
Speaker 7 (08:54):
Right, you know you thought you ate, but you didn't, right, And.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
If someone left all the crum.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
And I have no idea what was actually said at
the other meeting, but if it was not good, something
to the extent of like we don't think we're getting
what we're paying for or we don't like this or that,
then don't do a half assed gesture after that. That's
basically just reiterating what apparently they just told you, which
was at your half hass.
Speaker 6 (09:16):
What else did you guys get? Did you guys get
the chicken.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Fried chicken was there. I didn't get to eat any
of it though.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
To try the fried chicken, I had a seafood linguini.
Oh that was really good.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah, a steak is delicious.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
I was sure if you were like uncomfortable like during
kind of like client meetings like that, like if you
eat you know what I'm saying, Oh no, like or
fucking everything.
Speaker 7 (09:37):
You know?
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Yeah, it was everything. We had, like every different type
of potato.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
I will say.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Going to eat with our boss when he's food upsas yeah,
and he's food motivated. Yeah, so it's you know, we
have our difference. Well, yes, he and I have our differences,
but when we will break bread when you go to eat,
he does not. No expense is spared right now, I
don't have proper dental care or like yeah, certainly no
(10:03):
reimbursement for mental health and they don't match our four
one K. But but I did get to be part
of a three thousand dollars lunch.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
I would imagine.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
I remember that one time he shamed us when we
went to lunch with him, and what happened like what
would your last meal be? And we gave our answers.
He's just like, that's what you would pick him like.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yes, yeah, he didn't. He didn't like that. He wanted
more specificity of the liking my Nona's meatballs.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
And that's a very serious question for him. Great, right,
And by the way, it's been known to be I
believe it was on yours. It was an interview question
and there is a wrong answer for answer.
Speaker 6 (10:37):
He was so serious, he said the five your five
favorite sandwiches in Chicago, And I obviously, like wasn't living
here at the time, and I'm not from here, so
like the pressure.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Was on, and I like thought it was funny.
Speaker 6 (10:46):
I'm like, wait, are you gonna ask me about like
where I went to school or right?
Speaker 3 (10:50):
And I passed?
Speaker 6 (10:51):
But the wrong answer was a turkey sandwich I think,
wasn't it? Yeah, he said there is a wrong he's
scared of the craft.
Speaker 7 (10:56):
No.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
I was just like, I would take a Chicago style
how you.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Would it was one of your last meals.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
I'm like, yes, it's my answer to my opinion based question.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
I don't know your grandma, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
I was so scared.
Speaker 6 (11:11):
When he tried my soup and he loved it, and
I was like, thank you Jesus.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
This man knows food.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
I told him I old loved olive gardens and it
ruined him to the rest of his life.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Like this is a guy, this is a guy that
know Joe. When he goes on vacation with his family
and stays in like a Hilton, like just a normal
hotel room, he brings burners.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
I'm serious, I'm not kidding. He brings. He brings a
whole thing. In fact, at one point.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Set off the fire alarm doing something in the bathroom,
his wife did, and then they show up want to
know what was going on in the room, and he
had to basically conceal I mean, in an entire fucking
kitchen that he brings with him because apparently he wants
to eat his own chicken cutlets or whenever when he's
on vacation, which God blessed him. Like look again, got it.
He's into hospitality. He loves food. You know, he takes it.
(12:01):
He loves this one particular restaurant because he spends a
lot of money there, a lot of the company's money there,
so they know him and they treat him a certain
kind of And by the way, I do the same
thing if I'm trying to impress people, there are places
I know I can take them, and that's what he's doing.
So yeah, no, And it was a nice lunch, and
I'm very glad that our relationship with said client seems
to be good. They seem to be happy, nice but good.
(12:23):
I really was, like for about twenty four hours, I
was shook it. I just couldn't believe it. I'm like,
I'm like, what the hell I mean?
Speaker 5 (12:34):
Oh, I posted that on social right away. I don't
have been like not half a piece.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
I think you just stay away from stay away from
competitors events like just you know what if.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
You never know what it's going to be reversed, And
that's how I true, like you never know how it's
going to be reversed, and like karma is real, Like
I would never like reach out and like do that
to somebody, Like.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
I want to believe that it was intended to be
a kind gesture. I want to believe that, but I don't.
I think even then, it's just it almost basically reiterated
what my understanding is their problem was to begin with.
You know, it's like it it's I don't know, I
don't know. I wasn't at the first meeting, but what
was indicated to me was like bush league, bush League
(13:15):
over there, and then bush league with the effort, and
I'm just like, dude, huh. Anyway, I guess I'm glad
to be working for the guy with the bigger expense account. Yeah,
I mean, you know, I will say that. But have
you guys ever been in a professional setting where something
happened and you were just like truly mind.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Blown every day?
Speaker 5 (13:33):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Right, Well, I've been out with some clients who revealed
in the in the past, way way way in the past,
like some crazy lifestyle choices and stuff, and you what
are you gonna do?
Speaker 2 (13:44):
You're just like, oh, okay, like what you just got
to play a Well, I'm.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Not gonna say, I just and this is this is
like way back in the day, like way way, way,
way way. Nobody who's on the air now, But I
was just, you know, I don't know, it's like people
we've had some in the past, we've had some short
term and very eccentric partnerships with people who come in
and they spend a lot of money, so they kind of,
I don't know, they act a certain kind of way
and God love them, you know, but sometimes it's like, oh, oh,
(14:11):
I didn't know we were Oh okay, you know, I
don't know. And you can't say anything as a client's
you know, cause like what are you gonna do? Or
have you ever had a client ask you a question
and you don't know the right answer for them?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
You know?
Speaker 1 (14:25):
So you're like, this is a fifty to fifty thing,
like I might say the wrong thing right here.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Yeah, that's my everyday life.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Yeah, And I almost said coke and a pepsi meeting once.
I almost did that that and luckily I was so
focused on not saying coke and a pepsi meeting that
I almost said coke and a pepsi meeting. But luckily
it played off like I was fucking around, and so
it played off like a haaa, like people laughed, But
what they don't realize is all like for a week
(14:54):
in my mind, I was just like, there's only one
fucking thing you can't say in this meeting, and it's coke.
You can't refer to it as a coke. You don't
drink coke. That's not a coke. That is one percent
of pepsi. And it does matter and I was so
focused on not doing it that I almost did it.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
Is it because you were in the South for a
little while and you they refer to coke as like
everything is that?
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Or you just were like, I do think that's true.
I think most places people just refer to.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Coc as like can I have a coke? And it's pepsi?
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Okay, And you're like, oh yeah, and I know Pepsi's
tried to obviously combat that for a long time. But yeah,
there was there was one word that I could not
say and I almost said. I said like half of it,
but luckily they thought it was on purpose. They're like, ah,
you're crazy, you know, play it off. Yeah, it's like
one thing, Fred, one thing, do not fuck this up?
This one thing, and I almost did it. Yeah, nothing
(15:46):
like that chasing because you spent in a lot of
these meetings.
Speaker 7 (15:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
No, I try to shut up.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
I do more of observing than anything else and only
speak when i'm spoken to because I'm afraid that I'm
going to say something wrong or poo poo something. So
I'm very much like, let me just give you the facts.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Yeah, yeah, the hell up.
Speaker 6 (16:02):
You're good at being quiet. I'm working on it. You
and Kiki are really good at like, I know you
guys are thinking thoughts, you keep them inside.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Well, I feel like you get your ass kicked enough
in meetings to like and be like, I'm gonna shut
the hell up.
Speaker 6 (16:13):
I mean, I don't know, I've got my eyes kicked
in life, but I can't keep my mouth shut.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I literally cannot this.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Yeah, it will teach you.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Well.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
The other funny thing is we went around, We went
around the room, and the clients first went around and said,
like what they all do for the company, And then
we went around and said what we all do for
the company. And I was second. Joe Soto was to
my right, and of course he gave it. You know, hey,
I'm just a Chicago boy living my dream. Like it
was just such a pure amazing answer because he's a
(16:45):
pure amazing guy. Uh, that shit makes me nervous, Like
speaking in front of fifteen other people. I was sweating,
and I like, I'm like, do I be witty?
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Do I be quick? Do I be? And I was.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
I was kind of so succinct about it that at
the end somebody was even like, Fred, did you go?
Because I just I didn't want to do it. But
yet I don't know how many tens of people we
talked to on the radio every day, and I don't
think twice about that, maybe because I'm comfortable with all
you guys, and it's just like I don't worry about
I know that, you know, there's there's love and acceptance,
and if I'm not funny or am funny, or if
(17:19):
I say something stupid, you know whatever, I'm not necessarily
still trying to make an impression.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
But that shit makes me so nervous.
Speaker 7 (17:25):
Say, it's such a difference than doing radio, Like we
don't see who we're talking to, so sometimes I forget
that we're actually talking outside all the time. That's why
I'm in trouble. But I speaking in front of a
group of people, Oh my god, you know, a zoom meeting.
Oh my god, I hate that so much. Like I
can just feel you staring back at me. I hate that,
like I hate as a meeting care.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
Like no one, like you want me to shut up
so this meaning can be over, Like you don't really
want me to get my five favorite colors or whatever.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
You're just like, oh my god, when I wanted to.
Speaker 6 (17:58):
Go in front of sales, like I was little shitting
my pants like on stage. I don't like that.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Yeah, And you would think no, because like I'll say
to people, I have a fear of public speaking, and
they're like, that's funny. The other thing is I said
to someone yesterday like I'm kind of an introvert, and
they're like, that's impossible, Like it's but it's very possible.
It's very possible that you can come in here and like,
you know, do this thing right.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
And and it's.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Almost more possible because you come in here and if
you're in a sales job or any other job where
you're like essentially performing every day, it's not the same
kind of energy as an organic back and forth with
a group of people. It's it's a different energy, and
so it's kind of exhausting in some ways mentally, and
so I don't know. I tend to go home and
(18:40):
I'm just quiet, and I also tend to like avoid
unnecessary social interaction because I just I'm like recharging. And
I think people they're like surprised, I listen to your show,
you talk a bunch of shit. I'm like, well, yeah,
but that's that's different, you know than i'd like a
real life one on one conver station with a stranger
(19:01):
that I don't know you it's I don't know, maybe
starts to feel like work again. I'm not sure, but
I think a lot of I think it's why a
lot of comedians, a lot of media personalities, actors. I
think it's why people sometimes think that they're kind of assholes,
and it's like, no, they're chy, they're like actually shy
when they're not when it's not on, it's off.
Speaker 6 (19:20):
Yeah. Even on the Bachelorette and even though we were drinking,
we had to go around the table and you saw
it was like fourteen girls and each like say a
story about the bride, like or like just say something.
And I was so like nervous and people were so
shocked about that, Like I but I don't like it.
I don't know if it's scary. Yeah, I got really scared.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
He did a good job, Jason, thank you did a
good job, did you thank you?
Speaker 3 (19:42):
You guys crushed it.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Yeah, Well, now I want pie.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
We had pie, peanut butter chocolate pie.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Oh my yeah no, the pie was really good. The
pie was really good. The food's really good. Actually, it's
especially good when I'm not paying for it it tastes
even better. But yeah, I don't know that was that
was that was sus It shook me into the core,
did I was?
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Really My mouth was just like open, and they looked
at you.
Speaker 6 (20:07):
I was like, yeah, I couldn't something about it too
when I wasn't even there.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Yeah, I mean it was one of those things where
like everybody at the table like does the thing where
you put your hand on your forehead and you're just like,
oh no, you didn't just do that.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
You didn't.
Speaker 6 (20:19):
Were you in fight or flight?
Speaker 4 (20:22):
I was, honestly, I was stunned, Like I was too
stunned to speak, Like I was just sitting there like whoa, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
And I know it sounds sort of mundane, but I
don't it just I don't know. I just don't fuck
with other people's meetings. Like to have your own meeting.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
It's a big deal.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Like you screwed up, okay, Like you didn't. They weren't happy,
and then you didn't. You know, they they want a
little they want to be wind and dine. They deserve it.
They spend plenty of money, they're great partners, so treat
them like that. So you fucked it up, Okay, fine,
the next time you meet with them, don't fuck it
up again, Like take them some more nice k to
the thing, buy them some fucking pie. I don't know
(20:58):
whatever you want to do next, but that that's I
would agree. It's kind of a that's a one gun
one gun anyway. Yeah, all right, Well that was my
that was my shooketh moment of the day. And I'm
still shook it and I think I'll refer to that
as the half pie incident.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
I'll never forget it.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
I don't think I will either.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
I think that goes down as one of the tackiest
things I've seen in the business setting. Now we can
do we could do a whole podcast about that, But anyway.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I'm out of time. Not today, Not today, Half pie people,
there's the chance. Have a good day.
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