Jenn's New Jersey Adventures at CEC

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Hi folks!

I've been meaning to post this tale for sometime, but i've been busy but now i finally have some time to type! I thought you all might enjoy hearing about a fun adventure i had down in New Jersey a couple of weeks ago.

I was down in NJ to attend a special show and things worked out so i was able to meet up with Aaron ( CEC in NJ here on the Board) and his Mom. They kindly picked me up at the Newark airport and then we promply began our fun adventure. Aaron requested i dress for the accasion, so i ended up wearing my old red/white/blue striped manager shirt i used to wear a lot. I'll tell you...they had no trouble finding me standing outside the airport with THAT on! Ha ha !!

For ages now Aaron has expressed desire to meet me in person, and this seemed as good a time as any since i was in the neighborhood anyway. He was pretty excited, but i'll let Aaron tell you himself how he was feeling when he stops in. All i can say about Aaron is of the many people i have met connected to the CEC World, Aaron is a amazing guy and i think is well on his way for making a serious impact on the concept in his own area. He has what it takes...and he's so young! He is going to make one Hell of a Manager someday.....no doubt about that at all in my mind. Any of you who have met CEC of NJ will know what i mean!

Our first stop was his own local CEC, Long Branch if i remember the name right. It's a ex-Discovery Zone location that was converted into a CEC in 2001, so everything is pretty new. The show is a Alpha and was working fairly decently. The star attraction though of this location that hit me immediatley was the ENTHUSIASIM level of the employees/managers. The last time i saw this kind of pumped up excitement was when i was working in Methuen the first 3/4 months it was open. It was awesome...and they excelled at delivering some top-notch quality Live Show entertainment. Everyone, and i MEAN everyone ( CM and Managers alike) joined in when the Lives' went on. Ticket Splashes were also done in the Showroom during these performances, and they has a fun routine that involved the kids and Chuck E. Well done guys...it takes a lot to impress me but you certainly did with your enthusiasim! God knows the concept needs that so badly now at it's stores.....too few CEC's as we know have a "happy Cast". Most are very dull and create no "magic" for the Guests whatsoever. Not so in Long Branch!

After we all did several Lives togther ( Cast, several Managers, and me along with Chuck E.) we took a break and i was able to get to know everyone better. I don't recall all the names, but you guys ROCK! Thanks for a great time!

A little later in the evening there was a opportunity for Chuck E to come out and visit a couple of walk-in parties. We all sat around the unofficial Showroom Manager Table ( a Long Branch tradition i learned!) and the topic came up. I offered to do Chuck E for them and they were thrilled with the idea. I have not been able to perform as the Big C "officially" in a location with a auidience since i left Danvers in 2003. I was up for giving them a taste of the kind of performances we used to have up here....and they were more then eager to see what they had been hearing about for so long from Aaron.

So i dissapeared into the small costume room and prepared the suit for a Jenn Performance. Brushing, a little spot cleaning, and a good spraying was all taken care of and then it was on with the show! What a time! We had almost everyone up there with us, and the Staff could'nt beleive there eyes at what they were seeing. I don't think they had ever seen a Chuck E perform quite like i did that night. Aaron commented later that he felt they had been "inspired" by what they had seen which is nice to hear. If i can help get others excited about how much CAN be done to forward the entertainment aspect of the CEC Concept then i feel good. They certainly have a brand of magic all there own down there and i was a part of it for one night.

After the grand time in Long Branch, Aaron me and his Mom went off to visit another NJ location....Wayne. We visited here as i was eager to see the rare "Road Stage" that this older location has...primarily to photograph it for my archieve and to see it first hand. I was not expecting quite what we ended up with once we walked in the door!

The place was trashed! It was a Saturday night, so of course it was very busy. The place was a absolute mess though...very bad shape. I have not seen a CEC look this bad since i used to work at my old store during the February school vacation week with no staff! It was THAT bad folks....really ugly! Here's some "highlights":

Floor and all tables a mess....i don't think there was a clean table in the place.

Salad Bar was totally empty and trashed. I was going to order a salad but when i tried to, i was advised by the CM to not bother!

I went into the girls room and as i was entering, a Team 2 Leader was exiting. When i entered the restroom however, i was greeted with a shock: the bathroom was totally trashed as well! Absolutely appauling! You DON'T want to know what was on the floor....and it was more then just paper and water! What a mess...it was very bad. I think what made it even more shocking was the fact that the Team 2 Leader just left it that way!! Argh! How can one DO THAT??????

The food we ordered ( when it eventually came...) was not up to standard and was very poor quaility. I know this is CEC and if i wanted gourmet pizza i would go elsewhere...but this pizza we had was awful. It was more the obvious it had been a "emergency roll-out" pizza as it was not proofed at all and was as thin as a game ticket. No kidding folks...it was pretty sad! I won't go into what Aaron's Mom thought of the fires and hot dog she recieved....

When we asked to see a Manager to give some feedback regarding our experience, he never showed himself. Upon leaving the resturant about a half hour later, we found him sitting out in front of the resturants' street curb smoking a cigerette with a CM!! Now THAT was bad show in my eyes...

The show was in a terrible state ( what else is new nowadays huh?) Very poor condition. The cosmetics were'nt too bad, but the animation was next to zilch. The only character who worked at all really was Munch. he had all his animations. The others were seriously lacking. Very sad to see. Also while sitting there in the cramped Showroom, i noticed that kids were constantly jumping up and down off the low stage and even went so far as to pull open a back panel behind Chuck's area to reveal the show computer! The kids were all back there in the little room watching the mini dvd tv!! Crazy!!

We did'nt venture into the Game Room as the place was far too busy and noisy. Poor Aaron's Mom had her fill of all the busyness and screaming caused by the hyperactive kids ( i can't say i blame her...it was wearing on me too). We sat in the Showroom and the whole hour and a half or so we were there we NEVER saw Chuck E out walking around or doing Live Shows. Can't say i blame him really!

So in a nutshell...Wayne made a very poor impression on me. Aaron was shocked as well, as he had never seen things like that before at a CEC. I had, as i used to have to deal with those sorts of messes when i worked at my old stores. It really sucks when you get slammed and you have no staff....but this was really disgraceful and there was no excuse for some of the behaviors we witnessed that night.

It was as if these two locations we visited we the most totally opposite of each other as they possibly could be! I still am glad i was able to visit regardless as i managed to finally see the Road Stage up close and get some decent photos.

After the innitial shock of Wayne wore off, Aaron and his Mom dropped me off at the hotel i was staying in in East Rutherford. It was a fun night out, and much thanks again to everyone in Long Branch for the awesome time!

Special thanks to Aaron too for being the perfect host for such a outing! Carry on making that "Magic" in your store!

[Rapid T Rabbit]

Ah, wish I knew you were going to be in the region.

Too bad you didn't get a chance to visit my old stomping grounds at Union NJ...which is not far from Newark Airport. Anyway though today the place looks nothing like the store where I spent 9+ years performing at, and losing it two years ago this month.

[Aaron]

Wow, that was a great night!

Jenn- you did say how would I find you at the airport
so jokingly, I responded a Chuck E. shirt! Not knowing
what that kind of Chuck E. shirt looked like, I said
sure, what the hell- that works. I had one of mine on
and found you quite easily. We were a little worried
about how our little store impressed you, or where it
lacked there of. It was a treat- the slight change of
plans allowed us to go to my "home" store. We lost a
lot of our showroom girls to go back to college, and
the two you met were the only two we have left, until
the others were trained. It was so awesome- the
managers felt bad, though. We all really wanted to talk
more and get some ideas for a winter scene we are
working on, but instead was faced with the need to
grab an apron, and as we say it "Git errrr dunn"
It was magical- and thank you so kindly for the compliments!
They mean a lot to me- and to the store.
Also, it's glad to hear I made a good impression. I was
a bit tired, after having being at the store since opening
but knew I had to be ready for some fun! Your shows
rocked, and I still have voice (suprisingly!) after my
shows. I've watched, and seen what we could always
improve, and it means a lot to get a compliment. Our old
shows got nothing but complaints, that they were "dull"
so I asked permission to redo the dances and procedures...
as well as make "stage right" my closet. The goal of the
store is to one day reach a training store for this district.
It has the potential- just needs a good push.

My crew has taken up on your CEC cleaning stanrds, though.
It's now on the back of my door under my CEC Angels sign
next to the showroom closing procedures schedule, but
under the walk-in b-day song... you know what I mean! :rollin

My DM knows my goals- and I think he believes in me.
I know the management instore does. That means
a lot to me, more than you know.

As for Wayne- well, let's just say my whole attitude from
my store to their's changed real quick. I never got to
writing my letter to Corp as I promised--- I wound up calling
with my list and--- well, I should be seeing a package in the
mail this week from them.

The french fries, my God- I mean... seriously. The hotdog...
The service.
I believe my words were, "wow- this sucks. where's my list?"
Let's see...

-Bev Bar (literally flooding)
-gameroom (NOT even going to start on that one...)
-mic. cakes/pizzas on ground CM's walked over... (I LOVE the teamwork!)
-NO Chuck (Suprise! The standard that I seem not to know, I guess...)
-bathrooms
-food sucked
-the service that night made the food look great, though... :|
-Let's try...SLAM?...or not.
-Manager at all? Evidently, there were more than one... which bothered me the more

Basically to define that store- take every standard
in the book, and break it. Yet, make $$$. Wow.

That night made me realize how totally different our
two districts really were.

Thanks for visiting, Jenn- next time you're in town
definately let me know! We're already anticipating
your next visit.

Here's a joke for you, though...

"Have a Magical Day"... you were so shocked about that.
I even threw that one in while doing merch... wow, that's funny.

Chuck E. Cheese of NJ

[JAC07901]

I went to Wayne in 2001, shortly after the attack. The place was stocked to capacity, and most of those people were...
ARABS! GACK! I know for a fact that it was in December (holiday show).

(Also, I mean no disrespect to Arabs, but at the time it seemed very scary.)

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Yeah,...the new "Have a Magical Day.." threw me because for YEARS now the Disney Company has been using this to greet it's Guests in the Theme Parks!

It seems every day CEC is finding new ways to copy Disney. It started with the animatronics..then the theming...to more recently the pin lanyards ( pin trading anyone?) and now the "Magical Day" tag line.

I enjoyed my stay at your store a lot Aaron...and don't let it bother you for a minute regarding how busy it was! I totally understood man...really...as i've been there and know exactly what was going on and it's all cool. I'm just glad you did'nt tell em' i'm a official ex-CEC Kitchen Rat or they may have well had me rolling out in the Kitchen that night! Ha ha ha! Well, i guess they know better next time i stop by!

It's nice to see a store that in axious and above all open and excited about NEW creative ideas when it comes to entertainment. Have you considered maybe having a special Holiday Party event at your location like i did up here in Danvers? It would bring in a lot of extra business, as well as give your team a fun promotional event to play around with. Think about it, and maybe run it by your manager friends. The ones we had at my Ol' store were successes and really boosted much needed morale with our staff.( not that your store needs that...you guys have awesome vibes there!) It got everyone really excited about the fact that there is SO MUCH you can do to give Guests a great time, as well as themselves! Have a think....

And to Richard: I would have let you know i was coming down to NJ/Ny Richard but i only had one night and a few hours availible to me once i arrived. I suppose i if i thought of it ahead of time, i could have suggested to Aaron that we all just meet up at one of the locations, in this case Union! That is something we will have to do in the future should my travels bring me down there! I was in NYC for a couple of hours on !0/16 too which was not planned...so again there was'nt anyway i could have met up with you. Don't worry though...i'll be back one of these days!

[Rapid T Rabbit]

Actually JAC, there is quite a large Arab-Middle Eastern population in that part of New Jersey (Paterson area/Passaic County) and in fact, the folks who managed the Union NJ franchise store until two years ago were a big Jordanian family and they lived in that area. They must have done a lot of advertising in the ethnic community because we did get a lot of Muslim and Arab families as customers driving down the Garden State Parkway to my former store on Route 22 Union.

Thanks Jenn, please let me know next when you might be round about these parts. Even if we had gotten together at U-NJ, I may have not been able to show you much of the place as there are perhaps only a handful of cast leftover from the franchise days, and I certainly don't know anybody there who is managing the place now, and they certainly don't know me, once one of the best Chuck E's there in the two-decade history of the place.

[Aaron]

I know we're going to work on decorating the store this year
the day before Thanksgiving. I believe that's also when we'll
put in the Holiday tape. The rest of the management team
and I will stick around, and hopefully it'll be dead that day.
The plan is to go with a Winter theme, since we definately
cannot make it too Christmas-like. The crowd we have gets
annoyed with the Holiday tape, so it'll be safe to go more
"winter". Will probably put tinsel on the little wooden legs of
the desk on our Studio C, and probably around some doors.
I know we were thinking of a Winter display ontop of the
skee ball lanes and add whatever we can find that doesn't
seem too based on one holiday. We just hope that we get
a Holiday Live show or something to work with. Bingo, Havin
and Bake a Cake get boring after the 5th time each day.

Does anyone have any ideas for the Swing?

Anyways Jenn- they now know you're a Kitchen Rat and
are ready for you to come down during first quarter. We
don't even have to through you a shirt, you have one! :rollin

Chuck E. Cheese of NJ

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Oh crap! That's right! ( D'Oh!)

Ha ha!!

First quarter hun...well we'll see what happens. I'm tickled you guys are keen on having me over to do a little hands-on reminising!

I'll HAVE to come back as i did'nt get to show everyone there my version of the Swing. As i had told you that night i was performing, the Swing was "our" show in Danvers for a good year or more at one time. We had a full routine that your team could easily cover and more then likely improve. Towards the end of my time in "D" we would have Jasper and Helen come out along with Chuck to do the Swing with about 6 CM's. It was freaking awesome!

[Aaron]

Ha- we're ready to tell you roll out 120 lg pies!
Hell, you know know how to recover a shift, right?
I just finished setting up tonight for tomorrow- wow.
My showroom has not one open table. We're going
to have to use the booths and probably push bigtime.
My smallest party on a row is for 25 kids... we're
like, whoa- whats going on?
4 parties at 10
2 parties at 12
6 at 2
5 at 4
and 3 at 6!!!
THEN two at 8.

that's gunna be one hell of a day we need to recover....

So Jenn- see you tomorrow, right? :rollin

Chuck E. Cheese of NJ

[Mr Munch88]

Hi gang, its nice to hear you want to do the swing. We are back using it in Danvers and I love it cause I put the show together!
I'd be glad to discribe it if you really want to know!
I'd also love to come down sometime and see the store myself(and bring some Chuck E magic "J" style there!)

[Aaron]

Come on down, J :) Always have room for more magic here!
I need some Swing tips desparately. I cannot stand
Havin a Party... its just old now.

Chuck E. Cheese of NJ

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Aaron....i'll see you at 8am! Get my hot tea ready!

Swift recovery is a specialty....no problems there. I'm a serious Kitchen Rat and Table Turner. Let me at em'!

I know how it is having a lot of parties and having to try to jam them all into a small size showroom. Your store's Showroom is smaller in size then Methuen's. The only real difference is that you don't have the added tables a Balcony brings. it's not easy to rotate the party waves in such a tight space. There is a fine science as you know regarding how to do it without disturbing the Guests, or worse, making them feel that you are literally rushing them out the door to make room!

We often would reserve the back row of booths to put the first wave of parties on after their 1 1/2 hour was up. That way, they could still carry on but we would be able to set up for the 2nd wave of parties. This could be tricky...but we made it work most of the time. Methuen was a high volume, fast traffic store back when it was new when i was there. It is still very busy volume-wise and they still have the same challanges with their small Showroom. We had a tight staff and we could really move on those crazy days when the place was jumping and the pizzas were literally piled up in the Kitchen.

Geez....this brings back some memories.....

[CEC3066]

OMG did Danvers go DVD?

[Mr Munch88]

Not yet Danny, but its in the building!
As far as the swing goes...
"Chuck E's Jumping"
hands up to the left then down
hands up to the right then down(twice during that line)
"Chuck E's Jiving"
Left hand on hip, right hand in the air doing the queens wave while turning around
"Chuck E's Swingin"
hands out to the left then to the right at hip level(twice during this line)
"Come on now and jump and jive
with Chuck E Cheese"
do the twist while lowering down at the knees.
The rest of the song cast members clap while Chuck E ascts out the lines....remember to stay animated, and it is really a killer at the end when the lines repeate 6 times over again!

[PuroMax]

after a year in Brooklyn, the words Methuen and volume should not be used in the same sentence...

[Aaron]

Thanks J! I'll have to see what we can come up with.
And definately- you and Jenn need to come on down
sometime. We'll be more than happ yto have you's :)

Thanks Again,
Chuck E. Cheese of NJ

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Hi there Puro...

Yeah okay i have to agree...i'm sure Methuen's volume was nothing comapred to what you have to put up with in Brooklyn!


Aaron and Richard: Good news! Looks like there is a good chance i will be returning to NY/NJ this Spring! It's very possile...but i will not know for certain until March or even April.

Just wanted to let you know that there IS a chance.

I''d enjoy coming back....i'm sure Chuck would like to see me again....;) We never did get the chance to have him play Skeeball that night...!

[Rapid T Rabbit]

Jenn...

Hmm, I believe the weekend after Easter next year in April will be the DooDah Parade in Ocean City NJ...might you consider joining us down there on the shore?

[chuckrules]

WOW! Sounds like there was a party going on in here?:D sniff sniff and I wasn't invited? J/K For the most part Jenn it sounds like you had fun And any ways you MAs and NJ guys. Keep up the good work.:D with out use's CEC would be nothing at all.

[CEC743]

CEC 743 sitting in the corner, shaking head, asking myself, Why?

[chuckrules]

What's the matter CEC743? oh never mind I know why lol.

[CEC743]

I 'm really sorry to have to say it like this..but I wish I worked for the same company that you guys seem to work for, b/c the Chuck E Cheese's you speak of does not exist in Ohio, for sure....we got plenty of stores, but you won't find anyone that's not 100% on the ground making magic as long as it makes money mentality, and it does suck, but it's business as usual, I just alawys see these posts about danvers, and how it was so great or is so great or whatever, and I ask myself? Why? Why must it be mentioned? Why must the people or the person that worked there be so egotistical about their store or old store. I mean please don't take this the wrong way anyone, I mean no harm. It's just that, and I've had this same problem with people that used to feel that way about Team 2 here. When you step back and look at the scheme, what is there other than a giant mouse and a bunch of guys or girls in pants that come in dead winter telling a bunch of guys and girls in shorts that they need to clean this, do that, act that, dance now, break here, oh and don't get in the way of anyone else for sure. BTW, i wear pants. But I didn't always used to. I don't really know what i'm trying to say, i just get so emotional when looking at this board sometimes, thinking to the past, and i say to you all what i say to all my kitchen staff, when i need to be told WTF, you need to tell me WTF...

joe

[Mr Munch88]

Joe,
I am so sorry you feel this way. Its not that we in Danvers dont have our bad days too, its just we try not to dwell on them and know that it will pass in time. We have had our share of power crazy managers come in and try to change the world, but they are long gone and now we are enjoying ourselves again.
I am sorry you dont feel you can brag about your store.... Im also sorry you feel we dont have the right to brag about ours. If you dont want to read about the stores in massachusetts, please dont tell us we cant post on a public forum, just avoid any posts by Shiney Happy Jenn, or MrMunch88. This way you'll be happy, and so will we.
I am not saying this in a mean tone, and I am not upset , so please dont take it that way
:)
We all share the same thing here, the love of a giant mouse!
Wether he is in Massachusetts, Nj, California, or Texas, hes still our buddy Chuck.

[MatHat13]

Every CEC district has their worse and great times and people just go with the flow and get through whatever problem they have. There is no CEC that is never perfect if that's you guys are getting at.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Joe, i feel your pain man.

I think part of the reason you hear so much about some locations is because those who work(ed) there had a good opportunity to really make some magic and rock Guests world in a unique way, and enjoyed doing it. Personally when i was with CEC i loved my job. LOVED it. I had a passion for my work, and many readers here, including Aaron, have this same sort of passion for their job as i once did. Such folks like to share that enthusiam and passion with others. Of course it's natural to have pride in something you love to do, and i can easily see how this can come across sometimes as a ego trip. It's not ment to come across as this in all honestly. Our posts about the subject serve to try to INSPRIRE others to do the same, have a passion for what they do at making someones day, as God knows CEC needs it. You already know this judging by you comments above.

We post about what we have done to maybe inspire some other CM or Manager out there to follow suit and take a creative leap of faith. It's not ment to sound like we are downing other locations. Most locations are as you say, just business as usual...but at EVERY locations there is at least one person there who wants to make some magic for Guests. I know there is...many of them go ahead and do it not because it's there job, it's because they WANT to make people smile. Usually what happens is this person is eventually crushed by the hard realities that eventually hit them and maybe this enthusiasim is diminished
Think of our comments as encouragment from the sidelines to this said person...cheerleaders if you like. The goal is to help them continue doing things in a fun way and not get weighed down by all the daily crap most have to deal with.

I hope the above makes some sense to you. Sorry if it's coming across as something to get depressed or angered about...it's honestly not ment to be that way! We love what we do and want to share that with other people who have similar interests. This is what is so great about Showbizpizza.com...here CEC fans can get together and share ideas and info.

It's not the location that makes magic, it's the people who are there at the time. If a Store is'nt really "happening" or things don't seem to be going as well as they could, you have to be the one who stands up and not only motivate yourself, but have enough passion in what you do to motivate others to see your "vision" of what could be. You are totally capable of doing the same..it's not that hard. Sure it's just a kiddie joint where soccar moms can let there obnoxious toddlers run rampant and make a mess while being ignored most of the time by teenagers who are making zip in their paycheck and could'nt give a rat's rear about what they are doing.....but then of course there is always different ways of looking at things.:)

[CEC743]

Yeah, I appreciate what you guys said. It's funny I sometimes feel like that one guy at the store that's trying. Yeah, you're right, usually, in my case, definitely, you get crushed, I'm surprised this is my third time at CEC. haha...guess I just can't stay away from the mouse.

[Mr Munch88]

Your 3rd time back! HA!!! sounds just like me! I was livid back in 1089 when CEC let myself and my wife go(they said we quit..)
But I could not stay away. I vowed I would never work there again after the way they treated me, but in 2000 I was asked to return by Jenn and I was more then happy to return as Chuck only(something that stores would never hire for now)
Joe, keep on trying and someday hopefully you will be rewarded!

[Aaron]

743,
I understand where you're coming from. With dedication and
determination, anything is possible, and I know you can do it.
You will reach your goal, sooner or later and good things come
to those who wait. :)


Jenn and J... you two would be proud of me!
Decorated for the holidays... and doesn't look all that bad!
Should I get some pictures and share my latest "project"?

Chuck E. Cheese of NJ

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

ABSOLUTELY man!! I'd love to see what you have done!

Please take some shots and post them here if you can. If not, perhaps you can ask Richard if he could post them here for you.

Aaron, let me know if they use my Stage photos in the new Holiday Issue of the 'That's Entertainment" newsletter ( if there even is one this year...never can tell at this rate).

Thanks!

[Aaron]

I'll take some pictures tomorrow and post them
in the evening/morning. I do love the
Winter1derland scarf we had in "my closet". So
many possibilities with it, that I probably won't
be done with it until next week. It's been too
busy to be able to do anything to it.

Chuck E. Cheese of NJ

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

I wear my 1derland scarf....it's nice and warm!

It smells a little funky though after being on a Cyberbot' for about a month!

Ha ha ha!

[Aaron]

Ha! I'll have to shoot you an e-mail, Jenn.
I need some ideas about what to add to
the stage.

Chuck E. Cheese of NJ

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Anytime...you know where to write!

Feel free to send pix too...or just post them here. I'm sure others would like to see them.

[Aaron]

Check your box... I sent you something.

Chuck E. Cheese of NJ

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Thanks Aaron..

I'm glad to see you having a good time decorating the stage. Keep it up!

You are lucky...in our District holiday decor has been "banned"...( read more about it in the PTT section..thread "Artie Antlers...") |I

That's it....i'm movin' to Jersey man!! :lol

[Aaron]

In our district, it's actually being a competition.
Who does the best Studio C and who does the
best MMBB. Then we will take random regulars
and have them decide which is better of the
two category winners. The prize will be a $300
credit towards Cast Uniforms, and will be used
for Team2s to get special shirts with their names
embroidered on them. Regular cast who have
been there for at least 8 months will get a credit
towards another shirt.

Chuck E. Cheese of NJ

[MatHat13]

Hold your saying there Jenn, so happans that Burlington is doing decorations agian, they decorated for Halloween recently and Christmas last year.;)

[Mr Munch88]

Hey Mat, your GM better check with DM "JC" before decorating!
We are not allowed to decorate the waffle house at all!

[CEC3066]

WT.... First J.C. spoils CV by saying we can't have it @ the store, now THIS???? is he making his own rules????

[MatHat13]

Well no he's just worried for what Coperate might say on this that's all, sigh no DM out there seems to get their opinion from Corperate.|I

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Now guys....let's not be too hard on Ol' J.C.

Let's try to see things from his persepective...

That being said...

One has to wonder why the "Waffle House" can't have Christmas decor but the Company ITSELF is encouraging it...all the stores were just sent the usual info and photo examples of how to decorate their shows! How can the COMPANY itself be all for this decorating thing but a DM not??? WTFudge??

There is a happy ending though..... This is the 5th year straight the Company has used photos of my old decorated shows as the sample pix they send to stores. The photos are used to give people in the field ideas on how they can decorate their own stages at their own locations.

Nice to see them still in use after all these years!

[PuroMax]

I will not stand for this flagrant bashery. I saw that guy a couple weeks ago, and we enjoyed a friendly chat along with some pizza and wings with lord and savior "JP". Both of them want to see me make a triumphant return, but when you make the cost of living adjustments, it just wouldn't be worth the loss of money and inevitble boredom. Great man, though. I don't care what kind of evil he's accused of. He used me as a photo model in a powerpoint presentation of his last year, and always loved the way I'd get the kids rowdy.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

JP rocks...i love that guy. He's what CEC is all about man....:D

It's a darn shame you are'nt able to come back Puro...you are indeed missed up here!

[MatHat13]

Well I went to CEC tonight I guess what I saw....

*Stockings on the wall for Pasqually, Helen, Munch, and Jasper.
*Presents all over the stage for various CMs, along with fake presents for the characters from Santa.
*Lights over Pasqually
*Red bows in Helen's pigtails
*Jasper's box rapped as a present
*a carpet under Munch
*a bow on Munch's piano
*Reefs in the showroom
*red bows on the lights in the showroom.
*a reef on the showroom sign.

Hahahaha guess they talked JC into it, or maybe something else...;)

[MMBBfan327]

I need to see pics man!!!

[MatHat13]

I wish I took some, so stupid!:(

[dheineCECfan]

Red bows on Helen? WOW! :D

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Well it's good to hear that "B" has some cheery decorations up. Strange that "D" seems to be banned from having such things....

Hmm....

[chuckrules]

AWESOME MAT! THAT CEC STORE SOUNDS REALLY FESTIVE!:D

[CEC3066]

J.P.???? who's that?

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

The Great GM of Mighty Methuen .....

Goes by the name of "Jim"...

Hands down THE best GM in this area. He reads this Board once in a while, so it you are reading this Jim ....Love Ya!! :D