As much as I like to be black and white, cut and dry about almost everything, my job rarely allows me the luxury of such simplistic realities. Although an event might look perfect on paper, once you get there and set it all up, the client will walk in and scope out the venue and change it on you right on the spot. Although I am ALWAYS in the right about how a show SHOULD be set up, the client is paying my salary. So what do you do?

Adapt.

It’s not as easy as it sounds sometimes. Diplomacy is key- even vital to your success. Even when a client is DEAD WRONG, it’s up to YOU to convince them otherwise and still make them feel and think they got their way, even when they didn’t. If you got the skills, can talk the talk and walk the walk, you can adapt to any situation life may throw at you. If you follow me on Twitter (@MrJulioManuel) you’ll know I’ve had a few curve balls thrown my way last week and knocked them both out of the park. How did I do it? I adapted.

Swing for the fences. Adapt. Kick some ass and don’t take anyone’s shit. Adapt and make them your bitches!  

The other night I was walking when I came up on The Conga Room, a club here in downtown Los Angeles. There was a line to get in (it was after 10PM) and normally I wouldn’t look twice to see who was in line cuz I wasn’t going in nor was I on “the list.” But this was a line like I had never seen before.

See, there was about 50 or so people in line, and a few others scattered about chatting. Of those 50+ people, 75% of them were women- and 100% of those women were indescribably HAWT. If there was one girl there a size 4 or above, I’ll give you my next week’s paycheck in it’s entirety. It was unbelievable. Now, this is not meant to be a sexist pig blog. I just feel the need to let you all know the caliber of women in this city.

I’m sorry, but fat, even chunky or plump chicks DON’T go clubbing. Not if they have to contend with the likes of the sun-kissed, Victoria’s Secret lingerie wearing, high-heeled divas I saw last night. And poor me; I had to walk THROUGH them to get to where I was going. I was devastated. This line alone had more hot chicks than my former home city of Jacksonville.

So to all the cities I have ever lived in I tell you this; You don’t know jack about hot chicks until you come to Los Angeles: home of all the girls you CAN’T take home to mom!

You know, as much as I love Apple products, I really hate the new iPhone ads that starts AND end with the statement “If you don’t have an iPhone… then you don’t have an iPhone.” How arrogant is that??? 

See, that’s why everyone who don’t have one either by choice or because of financial reasons truly hate those of us who do own one. With commercials like that, it’s no wonder. Who here remembers the commercials with the personified Mac and PC? Those (pic above) were great! They were funny, witty, and not so pompous as what we have now. True those commercials were for Mac and not iPhone, but still.

I can’t wait until this campaign is over, and when rival cell phone companies (T-Momile) can come up with original commercials. The girl in the pink dress as a phone? Really???

The other day I decided to go get my hair cut and I’m walking down Venice Blvd in West LA when I start seeing people walking down the street dressed like the picture above. It was about 60 and sunny, a little windy but nothing to write home about. Sure a little nippy, but to warrant a scarf, coat and hat… for 60 degree weather? Really? Man, I thought Florida residents were pussies.

You gotta remember, I was born in the Bronx and pretty much grew up in New England since I was 7. So, I know about cold. When I lived in Florida for a total of about 10 years, I saw the same things in the winter; hats, coats and scarves. Now that I live here in Los Angeles, it seems to be a trend. I feel bad for these people. When and if they ever visit or move to the northeast, their winters will be a rude awakening.

Well here it is, another blog by yours truly. If you don’t know by now, I’ve made the move to Los Angeles. I took the plunge late last month and now reside in the City of Angels. So far, things are going good. Reconnecting with the other half of the family and my sisters who also live out here has been the best! I still have yet to do all the touristy stuff, but all that in time. I’ve hit some cool places though like Laguna Beach and Chinatown and have been having a great time.

I wanted this blog to be kind of an update to let you all know what’s been up with me and my lack of blogs. A cross-country move is no joke, but I’m glad I did it. Stay tuned for more updates here on the Rant as well as updates on the site including pics and videos.

Have a great week everyone!

The Grammys are coming up next month and to be totally honest, I’d rather poke my eye out with a rusty spoon before I watch that or any other music award show. I simply have no interest whatsoever in the music being played on the radio. Thank the Maker for iTunes and streaming radio apps like Pandora because I hardly ever listen to the radio. 

I miss the days when people like MJ were turning out REAL hits, not these cookie-cutter flavor of the month “artists” of today. I’m actually listening to a 90’s remix station as I write this. I wonder if good pop music is dead. I remember the grunge era of the early 90’s and wondered the same thing then. Then it was the hip hop invasion- and it wasn’t even good hip hop. Now it’s people like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry making my ears bleed. 

Trust me, I’ll be watching something else on Grammy night, or maybe I’ll just go to sleep early. 

I don’t watch Oprah. If you know me, you know I love to make jokes about Oprah revolving around her fluctuating weight, but I digress. The other day I was channel surfing and Oprah was on. I then realized something about myself- I am such a guy. I’ll explain.

Oprah was doing one of her “Favorite Things” shows where she shows off products and services she likes and the audience gets one of everything she likes. Come to find out the audience is not just some random audience. This crop of Oprahlites are hand picked for their service to their communities. That’s all good. Here’s what left me amazed.

To see these people reacting to the stuff Oprah was peddling was insane. I mean, these people were losing their minds over $500 earrings and $100 candles. Really??? Then came the crem de la crem in my opinion, and it was then that I really realized how much of a guy I am. Oprah busted out a 52” Sony Bravia 3D HDTV valued over $3,600 complete with 3D glasses, BD player and three 3D movies- and that’s when I said “NOW we’re talking!” She also gave out a 7 day cruise which was pretty cool too.

She gave out like 20 products, but the TV and cruise were the only things that made me blink. You should have seen these people freaking out over cashmere sweaters and closet renovations. They even had EMT’s on the side of the stage just in case. Good Lord.

It had to be because they were on TV. How can people lose their minds over an S-shaped baking pan that will allow all brownies to have an edge? Seriously people, you all need to calm down.

This weekend I went to a meeting/potluck with the members of our praise and worship team, and also the members of our audiovisual team of our church, of which I have been a member of the team for 5 years. We had it at the house of one of the singers. I think this is the third year we have done this- a chance for us to get together and talk about what we learned the previous year and explore ideas to make the following year better. Also, the food is the bomb!

Anyway, after the food and the meeting was officially over, some stayed and just talked, ate some more, and just basically hung around to socialize… or did they? Here’s what I saw that totally amazed me. In a loud house full of people, there were still those that found a way to block out all the noise to post on Facebook, send texts, post on Twitter, and send pics. REALLY?

Now, I’m not saying I didn’t send a text or two, but to sit in a corner enthralled by your phone at a social event? C’mon! That’s just sad. I forgot who said it, but they said it was amazing how people online can be anyone they want and be totally fine, but when they have to interact in the real world, they are total introverts. Again, that’s really sad.

Friends… learn to know when to put the cell phone down. I remember this one time when I went out to Dave & Buster’s with my cousin, and he was playing a shooter- had the gun in one hand, and his smartphone in the other- TEXTING WHILE PLAYING! You know who you are, I have the pic to prove it!

Bottom line, put it away before someone invents a vortex to suck your ass into cyberspace. Oh wait… wasn’t that TRON? 

You ever call someone’s cell phone and hear a recording that says “Please enjoy the music while your party is reached?” Then you’re subjected to some of the most annoying music known to mankind. I have heard it all- from annoying current pop music they like to call “hits,” to country, stupid hip-hop, you name it, it’s out there. Why do I have to listen to that trash? What’s wrong with the standard ringer? If you’re gonna use a ringback, at least choose something good. If I was gonna use that, I’d have EWF’s “Let’s Groove,” something classic like that!

Don’t EVEN get me started on ringtones. Are those still en vogue, or are people tired of those? I’ve never gotten sucked into that trend. I only have one or two ringtones aside from the standard ones on my iPhone. I use the NFL on CBS theme for my cousin Omar, the Knight Rider theme for my friend Gilbert, and John Williams’ “Imperial March” from Star Wars for my sister Marlene. She picked that one out herself. My family gets the “Old Phone” ringtone that came with the iPhone, and everyone else gets a digital-sounding ringtone I made in GarageBand. That’s it.

Keep it simple stupid. Don’t go nuts. There’s nothing more annoying than being in an elevator and having “The Macarena” blaring on somebody’s crappy Nokia. You thought it was a good idea in your house… but not in public.

A friend of mine once told me I was lucky… that I always seemed to land on my feet. He said that things seemed to come easily my way. Well, I don’t know about all that. I try to work hard for the meager things I have. Lucky? Maybe sometimes. But another friend of mine seems to have luck down to a science.

She can’t get to the airport on time if her life depended on it, yet somehow she always seems to make it to her destination. This past weekend she was taking another trip. Now, you all know that after 9-11, you can’t even sneeze in the airport without asking those TSA agents or those trigger-happy cops for permission. But what she told me she got away with truly astounded me.

Once again she was late while driving to the airport… at 80 mph. Of course, you have to park, take a shuttle, check in, go through security, and run to your gate. If you’re late, all that stuff can really stress you out and you slowly start convincing yourself that you’re gonna miss your flight. Was she worried? Yes. Did she have a chance to make her flight? Doubtful. So after she made it through security, she decides to walk to her gate because the knew she wasn’t going to make it… or would she?

She gets to the gate, it’s empty with a lone attendant… the plane is closed up- the attendant looked at her and said “You need to get on right now…” and guess what?

THEY UNLOCKED THE PLANE AND LET HER ON BOARD!!!

Can you imagine if I would have tried that??? “Sorry sir, you’re out of luck. The plane is hermetically sealed and pressurized. Can I interest you in a bag of peanuts while you wait 7 hours for the next available flight?”

I swear- some people have all that luck… or is it skill?