Hard to imagine that it is October already.  Yesterday was the 4th annual (2nd annual for me) Worldwide Photo Walk.  There were 1,117 photo walks around the world and 28,294 walkers yesterday and today.

We had about 33 walkers (not all were there for the photo) down from the 50 we had last year.  I think part of the reason for that was the article about the walk ran in the Friday paper instead of the Sunday paper and naturally more people read the Sunday paper.   No matter we had a great group of people.  I made some new friends and had a wonderful time.  the TH also provided a photographer and a reporter to cover the event and you can see an interview with me if you want to waste your time by clicking here.  If you can’t get to the article click on the “Photo Syntheses.” link

My two favorite photographers were on the walk this year.  Jeanne was on the walk last year (this year she had a brand new camera) and took some excellent photos.  Angie and Josh were also on the walk this year.  Josh was wonderful the entire time.

One regret was my friend Andreas wasn’t able to join us.  He had an accident with his camera a couple of weeks ago and so he wasn’t able to go with us.  I really missed having him there.

I wasn’t going to say anything about the Tony Roma’s Restaurant but they did such a lousy job I just have to.  I contacted them a month month before our event and talked to one of the managers.  I told them what we were doing and wondered if they could accommodate 50 people for lunch and could we be segregated because we wanted to have a small program.  “No problem, we’d love to have you and you’ll be set up in your own room.” I was told.

Two weeks ago I called them and reminded them of my call and what I was looking for just to make sure we were still good to go.  “Of course, we have you down, your own room you’re good to go.”

Thursday of this last week I called again (from Iowa City) “Yes Mr. Updegraff we have you down and you will have your own room.”  I told them that the number was going to be around 35 instead of 50 and would that make any difference?  “No absolutely  not Mr. Updegraff, we’re all set for you on Saturday.”

So Saturday (the walk starts at 10:00 am) Jeanne and I roll in about 9:35 am and go to the front counter and announce that we are here.  Deer in the headlight stare from the two people at the counter.  Finally they locate the manger that I had been talking too and she said, “Yes we’re all set for you, you will be here about noon, correct.”  I assured her we would and she said, “You’re all set.”

This is what we got.  8 tables shoved together in the front of the restaurant with no meeting room and no ability to communicate with the whole group and of course no ability to present a program with photos, power point and demonstrations.  I was very, very disappointed in Tony Roma’s!

Sorry about the RANT, but POOR Service at this level needs to be pointed out.  Thanks for stopping by.  More about the Photo Walk, and I still have tons of images from my Photo Adventure of a couple of weeks ago.  Be careful.