The Last Minute Specialists

The day was going pretty well, so well in fact that I was enjoying the morning. I was so free that I could sit back with a nice steaming mug of coffee and just blog all day and even work on some tags and memes that I've been hoarding away in my meme cabinet. But somehow I knew it wouldn't last too long. And true to form, it didn't. There I was in the midst of doing this particular tag when I get a buzz on my phone:

'Nick, call for you line 1 from Mr. Xyz.'

Hmmm ... Mr. Xyz is one of my clients in the banking industry. And whenever he calls, it can never be good news. So I pick up the phone and cautiously say hello to Mr. Xyz. And he cheerfully says:

'Nick, how are you? It's been a while since I called you.'

Now, that wasn't really true cos he called me just yesterday morning and judging from the tone of his voice I knew this wasn't a social call. All the senses in my body decided to go on high alert. So I politely ask him how I may help him. He goes:

'Aiyah Nick, ah. We got this event that we need to do and I need your help.'

Ok, I say, no problem, I can do that. But I'm still very cautious and am waiting for the other shoe to drop. So I ask him when is the event and what's it all about. That's when the other shoe decides to drop.

'Aiyoo, you know us la Nick, the event is Thursday la. And we need things up by tomorrow night. Still a lot of time right?'

A lot of time my smelly foot! My eyes almost pop out of its sockets and in a barely controlled rage I say:

'Thursday? This Thursday? Today is Tuesday you know, and tomorrow is Wednesday and then it's Thursday. That's like 2 days away Mr. Xyz!'

I knew the day was going just a bit too good to be true. And he replies:

'I know, but what to do. I know you can do it one, your company the last minute specialists what!'

At this point I feel like just hanging up the phone but then my boss would strangle me cos they are one of our main clients as well. I don't actually blame him for presuming that we can get things done in such a short time. It's also partly my fault cos I tend to actually agree to do last minute jobs for them when everyone else doesn't. I take a deep breath and ask him the details for the event and what he needs done and get myself settled in for a long 2 days!

And after getting the brief from him, I find out it's a campaign to promote their new hire purchase product at this mall and I'm going to need to scramble and come up with some concepts and arrange some trade show booths, backdrops and a couple of banner stands for them. And I am cutting it really close by agreeing to do this for them. But if I refuse, they'll just go harass some other agency and I don't want them doing that. I want my company to be the first company they think of when they need work done.

The good thing is, that these days, even with the last minute deadline I'm relieved that there are a host of suppliers out there where I can get all this custom made exhibition stuff at a moments notice. People like Camelback Displays are lifesavers at times like these. They provide the complete range of exhibition booths of the easy to assemble Pipe and Drape kind with printable table skirts that you can customize with your company's logo or branding.

Back in the old days, I wold have practically pulled my hair out trying to accomodate a 2 day deadline. I'd probably at least need a minimum of 7-10 days, nothing less. And at least 6 whole days of sleepless nights would follow suit. Ok, I'd better get out of here and start working on that job instead of sitting here and blogging the rest of the day away. But it's sooooo hard to pull myself away from my blog though. Maybe just a few minutes more ... LOL!