By Allen F. Weitzel I made a mistake. I committed the error of not following my own philosophy. Let me tell you more. Not a Glorious Start We had a slow draining sink in our master bathroom at home. Certainly, something every Mr. Fix-It believes they can handle. The repairs did not go well and ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel I enjoy web-based industry discussion groups. They often contemplate topics that are near to my heart. A recent post asked if the quality at Disney World was going downhill. Let us take that topic global. It Is Not About Disney Instead of questioning the quality at any Disney park, we should ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel No one can argue that clear information and communication are critical to running a successful facility. Everyone has to be on the same page to make the operation run seamlessly. However, how do you find one level of communication that works with the many different levels of your workers? Where To ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel I wish to revisit a familiar topic. One of my favorite stories is also an example of great customer service and problem solving. Where It Starts In 1978, my brother, Warren, and I were amusement industry veterans and we were both asked to speak at the IAAPA Convention in Atlanta, Ga. ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel What Is the Buddy System? Experts classify the buddy system as a process in which two people, the ‘buddies,’ operate together as a single unit so that they are able to monitor and help each other. They are normally of equal rank and pay. In the recreation industry, the buddy ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel The masses have spoken. I received several emails suggesting that I tackle the subject of how to get suggestions heard and/or how to successfully implement change within an entrenched organization. They are sister subjects. I will try to cover ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel Once again, the IAAPA discussion group and their quest for information about garbage handling provided my blog topic. Responses could vary depending upon the size, budget and type of a park or attraction. That said, here are “the garbage details” that can be useful in every entertainment facility. Reasons To Be ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel My car was getting poor gas mileage, so when I took it in for service, I asked to have my low-restriction reusable air filter removed and cleaned. I get better gas mileage using this type filter. While the car was being serviced, I was told it only had a stock paper ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel An industry chat group recently broached the subject of overstaffing. Is there such a thing? Is correct staffing an easy thing to do? Let us take a minute to address staffing and scheduling. Surprise Productivity During my career in the amusement industry, I only encountered one instance where ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel I am not saying anything new when I say that the obligation of management is to provide education, leadership, ethics, and support to all employees. We all accept that responsibility and strive to attain those goals. With that in mind, there is one more important function that management should provide ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel Recently, an industry friend from a notable amusement facility asked me to comment on the subject of providing electrical recharging services to park guests. I answered his question and then realized that this subject might be of interest to our TAP readers. Feel free to join in with your ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel Machine Gun Kelly and his gangster mob from the 1920s and 1930s were not exactly stand-up people. On September 26, 1933, in Memphis, Tenn., the gang was broken up, and ceased to carve up and fracture the law. It seems, however, that they are still around – somewhat. Our management lesson ...
Read more...My favorite form of gratification and amazement is seeing what great things employees are able to accomplish when they are trained and encouraged to perform. The Leader’s Job As I preach in my “Train The Trainer” classes, a leader often has to provide encouragement to rookies on the job, letting them know that they can ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel There are times when a small item or incident can have a giant impact on people, whether at work or at home. I am always looking for lessons learned from such events. Here is one incident example for all of us to consider. Worker’s Comp A Worker’s Comp insurance representative told ...
Read more...By Allen F. Weitzel Employees have an obligation to follow procedures and work safely. Management has an obligation to know procedures, train employees on them, and then monitor employee actions to make sure employees remember and follow those procedures, and remind them when they do not. When it comes to safety, management must understand their ...
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