Eat Up

About a week ago, Melanie and Rachel contacted me about doing a write-up for Rachel's business in Chico. I already do their website, and I love being able to exercise my creativity on such a public stage, so I jumped at the opportunity. The write-up was going to be a fun, new challenge for me to help spark my writing again. Here were my guidelines: It was to be no longer than 300 words, and would be published in a brochure style that would be placed at various restaurants around Chico. I'm not sure if any of you have seen these sort of things before, but the only place in our town I can think of that has something similar is Young Sing. It's something placed at your table to read while you wait for your food. The best part about this, is I was given a guideline, and also a deadline. I had roughly a week to work on it, so that made it even more fun. It wasn't something I could sit on and procrastinate with.

Other than the time and word constraints, the sky was the limit. Now...I'd never done anything like this before, and I had no examples to go off of. This was even better because it made me think. I was also writing these with a full understanding that I'm peddling a portable toilet business in a restaurant. Not a task to take lightly, I must say.

I decided to write three different rough drafts, each written in a different style. The first was a very standard, professional information-filled 'letter', the second was mostly bold, boastful and brash. It was tongue-in-cheek, funny and in your face. The third was what I considered a small combination of the two, but still more based on telling the history of the company. I was pretty happy with the way they all turned out, so I knew I gave the girls a broad spectrum to choose from. I sent out the rough drafts, and they loved them all. Unfortunately, they were only able to choose one. After multiple discussions with each other, they settled on the final product. The final product was a minimally edited second version (for the word limit) that I think turned out great, and I'm very proud of the fact that it will be used. I am in the process of writing a new "About Us" section of their website that should include a majority of the stuff we had to cut.

With all that said, I'm proud to present the final version for your viewing. Any and all feedback would be appreciated...positive or negative. Also, if any of you are ever in Chico, and happen to be eating at Denny's, The Oasis, The Graduate, or Forrest Ave Pizza & Pub, please take a picture of yourself with the brochure. I will hook you up with something cool like a urinal cake or have a Johnny on the Spot trucker hat made. Don't steal it though, I was kidding about that on my last post. I want people to be able to read it!

A quick P.S. before we get to the good stuff: All of the facts you will read are completely true. You just can't make that stuff up!

Congratulations! While you were sitting there waiting for your food to show up, you decided to flip through the provided literature and occupy yourself with a few entertaining facts on the Chico area’s most beloved portable toilet business around. “What can I learn about Johnny on the Spot Portable Toilets that I don’t already know?” you ask as you sip on your ice water. Plenty, my friend. For instance, Johnny on the Spot Portable Toilets is a woman owned business. Rachel Bartlett is the proud proprietor, and has been since she sold her ’78 VW convertible to buy her first truck and 8 used units back in 1998. That’s right, while you were cruising around rockin’ Savage Garden in your Dodge Neon, Rachel was busy establishing what would become the best portable toilet business in Northern California. Since then she’s built her stock to 350 units that include everything from wash stations to elegant flushable wedding units and even a unit on a trailer. You heard me Hoss, you’ll be the envy of all your friends when you roll down the road with a Johnny in tow. Whether you’re the loyal customer that has been using a Johnny since ’98, or you stumbled sideways into your first one at last year’s Soroptimist International of Bidwell Rancho Microbrew Festival, you’re well aware that the quality of a Johnny on the Spot is unmatched. So there you have it. When your date comes back from the restroom, you can boast your insider knowledge on your favorite portable toilet business over an order of seasoned fries.

Still hungry for information? I don’t blame you. Check out http://www.johnnyonthespotchico.com. Call them up and sing the first 6 bars of Truly, Madly, Deeply and see if they don’t hook you up with a discount. I’m serious.