Blogs and Comments

Since my contract's arrived today, I guess it's public info that the Hawk's will be hosting the first annual 'Streetfest' to coincide with the opening day of training camp, Saturday, September 20. I hope the Chicago Bears take notice because I think it's a pretty cool thing! The Bears training camp has always been a great and inexpensive way to meet the team and generate excitement, but combining the other activities of the 'Streetfest' would make it even better- so way to go again, Blackhawks! Another first for the new management and PR team!

The first Blackhawks Convention has come and gone. Since this blog entry is in Art 101 I’ll focus on the art and business aspects of the convention, rather than my personal opinions and emotions connected with it. I’ve enjoyed reading all of the email from young artist’s concerning the business end of the artistic endeavor and hope they can learn something from all of these blogs. Remember kids, business is work-hard work-and there’s no one to blame for poor preparation and mistakes but yourself. A lot of artist’s aren’t prepared to be business people!

What a difference a year makes at Prospects Camp! I could tell you what I observed about the players on the ice, but folks on the Blackhawks Message Boards with much deeper knowledge than mine have already done so. I’d like to give a little insight into a different aspect of Camp.

Campbell, Huet and Walker-not the name combination I expected the Hawks to post during the first week of the UFA signing frenzy, but then the draft pick was a bit of a shock as well. Everyone knew the Hawks were lusting after Campbell because it was obvious and that made him expensive. My only concern with the cost involves players like Keith, Tazer and Kaner who will rightfully expect similar or better compensation in the next two years. I don’t see how the Hawks will arrange things to stay within the salary cap, but then its not my problem either.

The business of art continues, and I haven’t changed my opinion. In fact, I hate it more! For three days I’ve had artwork waiting on my drawing board, but for three days I’ve been sitting by this screen, researching answers and designing shopping carts. The problems now are integrating our shopping cart with my Authorize.net gateway. Two months ago I had no idea what a gateway was, now I’m getting to know the monster inside and out!

Congratulations are in order to the Detroit Red Wings on winning another Stanley Cup! Its not popular to say anything good about Detroit if you’re a Chicago fan, and I’ll admit I was hoping the Penguins would force a game seven, but it was primarily because I didn’t want the great hockey to end.

The Blackhawks at Wrigley in January! How quickly things change! No one in the Organization has confirmed it yet (and I've tried!) even though its all over the media. So it may not be official yet, but wouldn't an announcement Friday at Wrigley with our ‘Ambassadors’ on hand to hype the event be beautiful timing? You have to admit, John McDonough does make things happen. It sounds like the problems at old Yankee Stadium appear to have been too much to overcome with all of the other issues that come into play with an outdoor game in early winter; besides, we're due!

The least enjoyable thing I do is business, but right now its taking up most of my days and nights. My wife asked me to speak at her school’s career day but I was too busy-and I didn’t want to depress her students! Even though the creation process can be very slow and tedious, it is a familiar process with both predictable and satisfying results. I’m happy, the clients are happy, the recipients are happy-as they say- “its all good!”

Today’s skate is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and I’ve already been working for two hours. Most fans arrive around 10 am and many stop by to say “hi” and catch a peek of the art on today’s drawing board or which player’s are out looking at their own drawings. It’s a great opportunity for fans to see the players at arm length and most of the guys are great about giving autographs and posing for photos with the fans after practice. I’m still an unabashed fan of the game and vividly remember how special it felt to meet the players when I was a little boy.

It begins at 5 a.m. in Kankakee...its dark and cold and I'm hungry. I have a two-hour drive and a greasy McGriddle breakfast ahead of me. I'll arrive before any player or coach, sometimes even before Troy and Clint begin to unload the player's gear. I split the drive with my wife, who I dropped off in Cicero, and finish my trek here at the Edge in Bensenville. After unloading all of my artwork and photographic gear, I set up my mp3 player boom box and fire up the music to wake me up.