There's a Billy Crystal movie called "Mr. Saturday Night" about a
once-successful television comedian who has faded into obscurity
and can't accept his situation.
His agent, played by a yet-unknown Helen Hunt, tells him he can
work nursing homes in Florida where they still remember him but he
refuses, insulted at the suggestion that he should be reduced to
such engagements. Soon, though, he calls the agent back and tells
her he'll take the work. She asks why he's changed his mind and he
replies "I need an audience."
Anyone who has ever worked in any branch of the media identifies
with that line. We all need an audience. I've always needed one,
ever since fifth grade when I acted in my first school play. My
first career, as a radio performer, was all about needing an
audience. And this job, which has now spanned almost 35 years, is
about the same thing.
Writing in Travel Weekly throughout those years brought me into
contact with a lot of people who have become valued business
associates and, in some instances, friends.
For the past several months, writing each day here on the Web
has begun to do the same although I would like to hear more often
from Web readers. I would like to know more about you, particularly
what you do in the travel field and how the Internet fits into your
life and work.
Most of the e-mail these days is about a business matter I may
have raised in an article but on occasion I get a note that
transcends business.
A few weeks, a travel agent, whom I prefer not to identify
because of the personal nature of her message, wrote the following
to me:
"I have been meaning to respond to many of your articles
throughout the years. I look forward to reading them but as we all
know this business is hectic and we get caught up in our daily
lives and forget to send out a thank you when necessary.
"You had written sometime back in the spring about a couple of
Web sites you were experimenting with, one which was google.com. It sounded
like fun to try to find long-lost friends, co-workers, etc. "Well,
I did exactly what you did and plugged in a couple of names of
people in my past. Lo and behold I found my old boyfriend who
always had and still has a special place in my heart. I contacted
him and we are still connected."
The writer went on to thank me and to say that the article in
question had "changed our lives."
It's gratifying to learn that something I might write could
generate this kind of response. It's the main reason I've stayed in
this business so many years.
Like Billy Crystal, I need the audience.