Hashtag #CAS13

March 13-17, BMO Centre, Calgary, Alberta

The 2013 Calgary International Auto & Truck show was quite a success. If you were to ask the automakers, they might have a different answer but as an auto industry employee and sight-seer, I would say well done.

Something happened at the Auto Show this year - people started to pay attention.
No, not all of the talking heads who manned the different booths had too much automotive expertise but if we're talking about the cars, let's just shut up and look at them and then decide what we like.

Take for example the Scion|Racing FR-S Drift Car that maybe caused some whiplash with head turns. Drifter, Pat Cyr was partially responsible for the attention-getter and Calgary definitely appreciated the eye candy, with pictures popping up on Social Media sites like weeds in the summer.

What else surprised Calgary?
Well, Kia's display was exceptionally well-designed with a contemporary comfyness and subtle touches that were above; at least my, expectations of the South Korean motor company.

And then there was Lexus who did a beautiful job of displaying the new IS F.
Yes, with the red leather interior that looks as good as it sounds.

Notable mentions of course go to Jaguar and their newest addition, the all-wheel-drive option.
The Honda Gear concept car rotating on a platform caused a few, "kinda cool"s - it was red and sporty but has a chopped front-end that might take some getting used to.

Toyota once again played it safe.

Two lamppost-style pillars formed the entrance of the all-grey foundation which surrounded the fourth-generation 2013 RAV4 in front of one television. Truthfully, the most interesting part of the automaker's display was the matching grey exterior - ironically - of its unique FJ Cruiser.

The Crimson Mica colour of the new Avalon made a few show-goers pause for a second look, but overall, Toyota was absolutely out-done this year by its "not-so-little-anymore" little brother, Scion.

The bright colours and two-story set up made people flock to Scion. \
A drift car, a sports coupe for around $25-thousand, all backed by Toyota - the largest automaker in the world - yeah, that's what gets people talking.

SO -

At the end of the day...or weekend, the Calgary International Auto & Truck Show brought out many different sides of the automotive industry and a ballroom-full of new models to admire and critique.
What struck me the most was the inconsistency of the company representatives to want to educate the consumer. Sure, when you think of cars you probably think of GIRLS. AND CARS AND GIRLS AND GIRLS ON CARS. But here in reality, you can only hire so many girls to stand pretty next to your cars. Correct me if I'm wrong, but most of the time the girls aren't the ones who actually want to talk about the cars. The Imports were more prepared with knowledge and know-how, while the Domestics seemed to be more preoccupied with the fashion competition.

And then there were the Exotics. Those guys get all the attention.

missing: me

nearly six months ago I started working in a world of last minute decisions and an overall fight for your right. in this world it doesn't matter how many hours you decide to stay for. it doesn't matter how many people you can get on the phone or in person. in this world all that matters is the number you push out the door. this means simply that if you do not sell, you do not have the right. how many opportunities have I had to sell? in confidence, two but I'm sure every single person who has approached me, had in the back of their mind that they could indeed spend twenty or forty or sixty-plus thousand dollars with me. why? because I acknowledged their interest. I fed off their curiosity. I smiled. I joked around. I fell for them. I stopped what I was doing to assist their search for answers.

so if anybody ever asks, 'what's it like to sell cars?' 
I would say it's like fishing. I would say you have to be ready for a five-pounder and a seventy-five-pounder; you have to be patient.

it has been said before, by me, that work is sucking the life out of me. OK so maybe work isn't able to  do that exactly because shit do I ever love walking into that giant building every morning. I have been so in love with being busy for such a long time now that it doesn't even occur to me that I am too busy; that I need to start saying no to people. No?
Shit.
I can't even say it without a question mark.
The answer is yes. and it should be. because yes gets you into the adventure. and no never happens.