It is almost 11:00 pm on Friday night the 14th of May, I am working on my fourth CigaRobbie Radio Program which airs tomorrow at 3:00 pm on WSRQ Radio 1220 AM / 106.9 FM or on http://www.wsrqradio.com/ and afterward there is a concert in the parking lot of the studio can't wait!
Last night me and a couple of my friends who meet every couple of weeks on Thursday nights, sat down and I smoked the Punch Upper-Cut it had been sitting im my humidor for about two months. It is a very mediocre cigar, I was then going to move to a Punch Champion but I decided to call it quits.
Anyway tonight got home from work, and had to get my Brighthouse modem situated here in the new CigaRobbie offices... by the way the new number is 941.405.4008 looking for show sponsors! Anyway after that was done I had to work on my "Cigar of the Week" spot on The Tony Katz Radio Show on http://www.allpatriotsmedia.com/ so knowing I was going to have Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars on tomorrow what did you think I picked from the http://www.cheaphumidors.com/ selection? That's right, I lit up a Tatuaje Havana VI, which Tony referred to as the "red labeled" cigar? I agreed and we moved on... Guy's I want you to help me out... go to http://www.cheaphumidors.com/ and when you purchase something punch in C-I-G-A-R-O-B-B-I-E into the coupon code for an extra 10% off your purchase.
Tomorrow I will be smoking the Romeo y Julieta 1875 Habana Reserve & a cigar I gave out to guest at my Super Bowl Party this past year in their gift boxes, Casa Fernandez Arsenio 2009 which is a great cigar. Afterward as I wind down after my show at Maduro's Cigar & Bar enjoying my Americano I will smoke something of Pete's.
Great show the hour needs to be pushed to two, I have more guest than I have time: Christine Morgan our lovely lady of stick, then Andre from Toro y Leon Cigars, then Scottie Hayes from the "drive at five" on WSRQ and giving us the Preakness Report! and finally you've asked for it and I give you the man Pete Johnson!
I'm looking for your calls tomorrow, please call into the show on the listener lines 941-373-1220 from 3-4 pm EST lets talk stick!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Interview with Pete Johnson
I have Pete Johnson from Tatuaje Cigars coming on the show this week, he was actually scheduled for last week but had to cancel. It worked out cause we had Oscar Sanabria from Cigar Snob and my father who came on and spoke about my first experience with tobacco... it was very funny!
I spoke to Pete over the phone tonight to confirm for this week, sounds like he is very excited to come on and speak about his new vintage line of cigars, and the concept he was telling me about of using the same field or piece of soil on the Garcia farm and produce lot of tobacco year after year for the same cigar! Sounds interesting, and Pete should be a great interview.
Looking forward to all of you calling in and talking stick! Remember its 941-373-1220 and its every Saturday afternoon from 3-4 EST on http://www.wsrqradio.com/ 1220 AM / 106.9 FM
Looking to be interactive on the show I have my email and face book up throughout the show interacting with you the listener.
I spoke to Pete over the phone tonight to confirm for this week, sounds like he is very excited to come on and speak about his new vintage line of cigars, and the concept he was telling me about of using the same field or piece of soil on the Garcia farm and produce lot of tobacco year after year for the same cigar! Sounds interesting, and Pete should be a great interview.
Looking forward to all of you calling in and talking stick! Remember its 941-373-1220 and its every Saturday afternoon from 3-4 EST on http://www.wsrqradio.com/ 1220 AM / 106.9 FM
Looking to be interactive on the show I have my email and face book up throughout the show interacting with you the listener.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
How Bad is Cigar Aficionado
We've all had our doubts about the cigar ratings in Cigar Aficionado, right? At some point in time everybody I talk to in the industry, weather openly or under their breathe always say "yes we know Marvin and all of his well suited cronies give high ratings to full page sponsors in the magazine."
Let's take for example the Top 25 issue dated December 2009, first of all this is his (Marvin R. Shanken, Editor & Publisher) Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Edition, who does he choose for the cover? Hugh Grant, are you kidding me, Hugh Grant! He doesn't even have a cigar in the photo, because we know he doesn’t smoke cigars.
Oh wait it gets a whole lot better, if you turn to page 172 for the cigar ratings; first category "Churchill’s" No. 1. Wrong, a 91 rating for J.C. Newman’s, Brickhouse, only to be followed by that well known full page advertiser: Xikar, with their flop the HC Habano Colorado. But what really clued me in on the whole thing was they had the best and most underrated cigars of last year: Frank Llaneza's 1961 and receiving an 88 rating these guys are idiots!
Does it always sound like I'm a hater? I always pick on the bigger guys I sometimes worry that it sounds like I am jealous? But once again just trying to get you the end user the best information
Let's take for example the Top 25 issue dated December 2009, first of all this is his (Marvin R. Shanken, Editor & Publisher) Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Edition, who does he choose for the cover? Hugh Grant, are you kidding me, Hugh Grant! He doesn't even have a cigar in the photo, because we know he doesn’t smoke cigars.
Oh wait it gets a whole lot better, if you turn to page 172 for the cigar ratings; first category "Churchill’s" No. 1. Wrong, a 91 rating for J.C. Newman’s, Brickhouse, only to be followed by that well known full page advertiser: Xikar, with their flop the HC Habano Colorado. But what really clued me in on the whole thing was they had the best and most underrated cigars of last year: Frank Llaneza's 1961 and receiving an 88 rating these guys are idiots!
Does it always sound like I'm a hater? I always pick on the bigger guys I sometimes worry that it sounds like I am jealous? But once again just trying to get you the end user the best information
Saturday, May 1, 2010
WSRQ 1220 AM / 106.9 FM Saturday
I'm really excited today it is the second CigaRobbie Radio Program, last week as I was waiting to go and sitting in the green room listening to the show before mine I was getting a little nervous that: I did not have enough material, the guest would not come through, all kinds of stuff raced through my mind. But all-in-all it went well. I finished just about two minutes early, something I will try and correct this week.
I have three guest so it is a packed show, plus I've invited my co-producer of the show Sam Mallikarjunan and my liason from http://www.cheaphumidors.com/ he will sit in as my in studio weekly guest. I think you guys will like him he's a technological prodigy that will amaze you with his marketing capabilities.
I do have my facebook, and email up when I'm in the studio so please feel free to blog, email or post on my facebook it is another way to keep the show interactive with you the listener.
Introducing my newest show sponsor today... Maduro's Cigar & Bar! here in Sarasota located 7386 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota and you can find them on the web: http://www.maduroclub.com/ I will leave the studios after every show and wind down with a cigar at Maduro's please come join me and we'll extend cigar talk!
Remember all of you out of the area can listen to the show on http://www.wsrqradio.com/ and still can call in on listener line 941.373.1220
It's 8:30 AM just finishing blog and trying to finalizing some show stuff! Take care guy's remember; Smoke 'em, if you got 'em!
I have three guest so it is a packed show, plus I've invited my co-producer of the show Sam Mallikarjunan and my liason from http://www.cheaphumidors.com/ he will sit in as my in studio weekly guest. I think you guys will like him he's a technological prodigy that will amaze you with his marketing capabilities.
I do have my facebook, and email up when I'm in the studio so please feel free to blog, email or post on my facebook it is another way to keep the show interactive with you the listener.
Introducing my newest show sponsor today... Maduro's Cigar & Bar! here in Sarasota located 7386 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota and you can find them on the web: http://www.maduroclub.com/ I will leave the studios after every show and wind down with a cigar at Maduro's please come join me and we'll extend cigar talk!
Remember all of you out of the area can listen to the show on http://www.wsrqradio.com/ and still can call in on listener line 941.373.1220
It's 8:30 AM just finishing blog and trying to finalizing some show stuff! Take care guy's remember; Smoke 'em, if you got 'em!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
A typical CigaRobbie Day!
5:30 AM - The Gym, 25 minutes of cardio & leg workout
7:30 AM - WSRQ Studio to shoot the 7-10 minute promo for the CigaRobbie Radio Program with station engineer Steve Huggins, we read through it twice Steve edited it and put it in the rotation on the Don Imus Show commerical spot.
7:45 AM - Driving to work and listening to radio station heard the promo I just taped... pretty cool!
8:15 AM - Arrive at work answer emails, checked facebook and made some calls
12:00 PM - Over to Soprano's for lunch
2:10 PM - Received call from Andre creator of Toro y Leon about booking him for May 8th show, favor for my new sponsor Maduro's Cigar & Bar. I set up a meeting for next Thursday the 6th
2:30 PM - Received call from Michael Dove, the creator of a new website called www.carsbarsandcigars.com we talked about trading a banner on his website of the CigaRobbie Radio Program and booking him on the May 8th show, he asked for an interview and feature on front page after the feature on Nick Perdomo... I said yes!
4:00 PM - Leave work for cigar night with my friends, I smoked the Padron Anniversario 1926, 40 year, and the Montecristo, No.7 great cigars, caught up with some old friends Kirk Morey, Danny Barrett, Mark Verducci and Mary Deasey... Good night!
9:00 PM - Back to work wrote the one pager that will appear on WSRQ's advertisement and website.and did some research on Friday's program with Tony Katz and my Saturday show... don't forget to listen Saturday on WSRQ Radio 1220 AM or 106.9 FM or on the web: www.wsrqradio.com
7:30 AM - WSRQ Studio to shoot the 7-10 minute promo for the CigaRobbie Radio Program with station engineer Steve Huggins, we read through it twice Steve edited it and put it in the rotation on the Don Imus Show commerical spot.
7:45 AM - Driving to work and listening to radio station heard the promo I just taped... pretty cool!
8:15 AM - Arrive at work answer emails, checked facebook and made some calls
12:00 PM - Over to Soprano's for lunch
2:10 PM - Received call from Andre creator of Toro y Leon about booking him for May 8th show, favor for my new sponsor Maduro's Cigar & Bar. I set up a meeting for next Thursday the 6th
2:30 PM - Received call from Michael Dove, the creator of a new website called www.carsbarsandcigars.com we talked about trading a banner on his website of the CigaRobbie Radio Program and booking him on the May 8th show, he asked for an interview and feature on front page after the feature on Nick Perdomo... I said yes!
4:00 PM - Leave work for cigar night with my friends, I smoked the Padron Anniversario 1926, 40 year, and the Montecristo, No.7 great cigars, caught up with some old friends Kirk Morey, Danny Barrett, Mark Verducci and Mary Deasey... Good night!
9:00 PM - Back to work wrote the one pager that will appear on WSRQ's advertisement and website.and did some research on Friday's program with Tony Katz and my Saturday show... don't forget to listen Saturday on WSRQ Radio 1220 AM or 106.9 FM or on the web: www.wsrqradio.com
Monday, April 26, 2010
What do the "Brick & Mortar's" need to do to compete with online companies?
To my CigaRobbie Crew members, I hope you enjoy the blogs and my new radio show, "The CigaRobbie Radio Program." I really want this show to be about you, the cigar smoker, and the 4.4% of your life that you live on your terms. With this in mind I am constantly trying to find better options for you "Pimp the Sticks" one of my show sponsors is www.cheaphumidors.com but I do believe nothing beats the true fellowship experience of sitting down at your local tobacconist and learning what other people are doing and smoking.
One of my newest sponsors is a quaint, local Sarasota cigar shop, it’s called Maduro's Cigar & Bar its run by two gentlemen Kim & Adrianne, they have been doing cigar wholesale to golf clubs and hotels for about ten years and decided to progress into a full tobacconist shop with beer, wines and coffee's with deep rich brown leather furniture and art deco meets Soho sheik decor, and every wall with a large plasma television it sets a inviting mood. Oh wait! I forgot one of the most important features Erin, a young, friendly blonde with a cute Australian (?) accent, I don't know but she is knowledgeable and never forgets a face or name.
Of course customer service is essential and most shops give it! I also think you get to touch, feel and purchase right there the smoke you want. They really try hard to earn your business, inviting the reps of the companies to do events and give specials plus most of them parlay food, drinks & giveaways! I every so often see guys walk into these Brick & Mortars and sit down in the furniture provided, pour a complimentary drink provided, use the lighter & cutter provided & sit down and watch the cable television, also provided by the proprietor, but not once go buy a cigar, wrong, wrong, that’s absolutely wrong!
They (Brick & Mortar's) have to charge tax; they don't have those cool sampler packs with some type of J.Peterman Catalog with funny poetic sayings, telling you how they put this awesome deal for you together. But the truth they (Brick & Mortar's) give you the option, or should I say the power to put the sampler pack together yourself, I've watched tobacconist lower prices right at the register because someone said it was cheaper at another retailer. You don't get that with the online companies, and they usually ship in four to nine days depending on the purchase day.
I really don't want to discourage you from buying cigars at the best place you can afford like: Cigar International, JR Cigars and Famous Smoke. But remember about your friend just around the corner who greets you with a smile, works hard to get the smokes you enjoy and calls you his best customer; remember the prices he pays to provide that environment: rent, product charges, utilities, insurance, tax, advertisement cost, and accessories for the customers like matches, cigar bags, lighters, cutter and toiletries! Yes it is an expense. Plus employee benefits, Christmas parties, and well you get the idea it never ends. He does it for you the customer so act like one!
You want established? Here is W. Curtis Drapers the oldest in American: http://www.wcurtisdraper.com/
The one that throw's the best events, Outlaw Cigars: http://www.outlawcigar.com/Default.aspx
The one that moves the most cigars, Corona Cigars Orlando: http://www.coronacigar.com/
The best prices, Tampa Humidor: http://www.tampahumidor.com/
Maduro's Cigar & Bar Sarasota: http://www.maduroclub.com/
One of my newest sponsors is a quaint, local Sarasota cigar shop, it’s called Maduro's Cigar & Bar its run by two gentlemen Kim & Adrianne, they have been doing cigar wholesale to golf clubs and hotels for about ten years and decided to progress into a full tobacconist shop with beer, wines and coffee's with deep rich brown leather furniture and art deco meets Soho sheik decor, and every wall with a large plasma television it sets a inviting mood. Oh wait! I forgot one of the most important features Erin, a young, friendly blonde with a cute Australian (?) accent, I don't know but she is knowledgeable and never forgets a face or name.
Of course customer service is essential and most shops give it! I also think you get to touch, feel and purchase right there the smoke you want. They really try hard to earn your business, inviting the reps of the companies to do events and give specials plus most of them parlay food, drinks & giveaways! I every so often see guys walk into these Brick & Mortars and sit down in the furniture provided, pour a complimentary drink provided, use the lighter & cutter provided & sit down and watch the cable television, also provided by the proprietor, but not once go buy a cigar, wrong, wrong, that’s absolutely wrong!
They (Brick & Mortar's) have to charge tax; they don't have those cool sampler packs with some type of J.Peterman Catalog with funny poetic sayings, telling you how they put this awesome deal for you together. But the truth they (Brick & Mortar's) give you the option, or should I say the power to put the sampler pack together yourself, I've watched tobacconist lower prices right at the register because someone said it was cheaper at another retailer. You don't get that with the online companies, and they usually ship in four to nine days depending on the purchase day.
I really don't want to discourage you from buying cigars at the best place you can afford like: Cigar International, JR Cigars and Famous Smoke. But remember about your friend just around the corner who greets you with a smile, works hard to get the smokes you enjoy and calls you his best customer; remember the prices he pays to provide that environment: rent, product charges, utilities, insurance, tax, advertisement cost, and accessories for the customers like matches, cigar bags, lighters, cutter and toiletries! Yes it is an expense. Plus employee benefits, Christmas parties, and well you get the idea it never ends. He does it for you the customer so act like one!
You want established? Here is W. Curtis Drapers the oldest in American: http://www.wcurtisdraper.com/
The one that throw's the best events, Outlaw Cigars: http://www.outlawcigar.com/Default.aspx
The one that moves the most cigars, Corona Cigars Orlando: http://www.coronacigar.com/
The best prices, Tampa Humidor: http://www.tampahumidor.com/
Maduro's Cigar & Bar Sarasota: http://www.maduroclub.com/
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The CigaRobbie Radio Program, enjoying 4.4% of your life!
The CigaRobbie Radio Program will be a great inter-active radio program, not only will I take calls from the listeners on: cigar ratings, storing, humidification, and the process to create a cigar, but I will have facebook and other social media sites up in the studio to interact with you the cigar smoker.
As men we give so much of our lives, we give 95.6% to our jobs, the wife, kids, the business, our boss, your creditors and the government... but there is 4.4% left, that is our sanctuary our time to gather in our favorite water holes, man-caves, your own back patio and we gather in those times to live life on our terms! You give 95.6% all day long, your happy to do it, but when 4.4% time comes, we tune into WSRQ 1220 AM / 106.9 FM or www.wsrqradio.com and sink away into a fine handcrafted cigar!
Relax, and enjoy the ride as we explore the finer things in life! Remember WSRQ Radio is where Sarasota comes to talk, but the CigaRobbie Radio Program is where Sarasota comes to Smoke!
As men we give so much of our lives, we give 95.6% to our jobs, the wife, kids, the business, our boss, your creditors and the government... but there is 4.4% left, that is our sanctuary our time to gather in our favorite water holes, man-caves, your own back patio and we gather in those times to live life on our terms! You give 95.6% all day long, your happy to do it, but when 4.4% time comes, we tune into WSRQ 1220 AM / 106.9 FM or www.wsrqradio.com and sink away into a fine handcrafted cigar!
Relax, and enjoy the ride as we explore the finer things in life! Remember WSRQ Radio is where Sarasota comes to talk, but the CigaRobbie Radio Program is where Sarasota comes to Smoke!
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