Gilbert Thurston

Random Thoughts About Life, Ministry and Whatever Else Happens to be on my Mind

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David Lee Roth & M&M’s

March 23, 2010 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever heard me preach you know that I will do just about anything to include M&M’s in as an illustration…and not just a few either…pounds of M&M’s have helped illustrate giving and how our emotions sometimes come pouring out of us.  Well I just read an article in Fast Company magazine that had to do with M&M’s and I thought I’d share.

Back in the 1980’s when Van Halen was in it’s heyday, David Lee Roth was known for his wild antics and what we’d call diva like attitudes as he and the band were on the road.  One such diva like characteristic was that the band wanted bowls full of M&M’s in their dressing room.  Wow the nerve of some people right?  Wrong…read on to find out why.

Van Halen toured to many cities every year and when they pulled into a city with 9 tractor trailer loads full of equipment and staging, there was a lot of work for the local promoter and stage hands to set-up.  Van Halen like all bands had a contract with the local promoter of everything that needed to be done in order to ensure a successful and profitable show.  There were many technical points in these contracts like, “There will be 15 amperage voltage sockets at 20-foot spaces, evenly, providing 19 amperes.”  Roth himself said the contract was thick and convoluted but needed to be followed exactly in order to not have technical errors that might destroy the entire show.

So Roth did something quite ingenious.  He inserted in the middle of the contract, Article 126 which said that the bowls of M&M’s backstage for the band must not contain any brown M&M’s or the promoter risked forfeiting the show.  When the band would show up the day of the show the first thing Roth did was go backstage to the dressing room to see if there were any brown M&M’s in the bowls.  If there were not it meant that the entire contract had been read and more than likely each of the other line items were being followed to a “T”.  If they weren’t removed then Roth demanded that every item of every line be checked since the crews were not paying attention to ensure the show went off without any technical glitches.

So what’s that have to do with us.  Simple…details matter.  Whether it’s in life, business or church, paying attention to the little details will go a long way in ensuring success.  So what are the brown M&M’s in your life or organization that you need to take care of today?

Filed Under: Growth Tagged With: David Lee Roth, details, excellence, Fast Company, M&M's, Van Halen

Inside Today’s Experiences

February 22, 2009 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

gilbertEarl

  • Remember the episode of Seinfeld where they discovered bizzaro world where they had alter egos who were completely different than they were?
  • The above picture is sort of like that.
  • Wow there was an incredible response to Earl and I swapping places today…wardrobes included.
  • Between the 9:15 and 10:45 Experience, I was walking thru the very crowded lobby and actually had a few dozen people start applauding.
  • I felt bad for Earl…everyone said to me “Oh you clean up nice”.  What could you say to him?
  • Funniest line said to me was from one of the kids who said, “Who are you and what did you do with my pastor?!”
  • I enjoyed my time over in the sanctuary today but nothing is like being with you guys at United.
  • I was able to sit in for the 9:15 and just get to experience the Experience for once.
  • I really enjoyed Earl’s message, although that Burger King dude scares me half to death when I see him on TV…in person it was even worse.
  • Noticed we had quite a few people who came over to the sanctuary from United…oops bet you were shocked to have already heard the “First Things First” message in the past.
  • At the 8:00 service when I did the M&M’s illustration, I saw Kim Mills giving me a look like, “Please don’t squash them in the carpet, please don’t squash them in the carpet.”
  • I did a much better job at 8 keeping them from going everywhere than I did at 10:45…it was like a minefield up there.
  • Actually had someone say to me, “Now that you’re wearing a suit, you’ll be able to preach.”  That’s hilarious, like a suit suddenly gives you super powers. 
  • I had a bunch of family members in today and they got to be in the sanctuary for the first time….they liked it because they only ever see me in a suit at funerals or weddings…come to think of it…that’s about the only time anyone does anymore.
  • Best question of the day was someone asked me what I’ll be buried in.  Great question…I don’t know.
  • Overall it was a fun day…I think it’s good that all 4 services and Experiences heard a fresh voice, but I’m ready to rock and roll again next week.
  • Tonight we’re heading off to the Old South Mountain Inn for dinner…been a few years since I’ve been there…usually very good…can’t wait!
  • Filed Under: Inside Today's Experience's Tagged With: Burger King, Earl Mills, gilbert thurston, Kim Mills, M&M's, Old South Mountain Inn, Seinfeld, United Worship Experience

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