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UPFRONT UP FRONT All about about locations locati ons for mil le here's a scene in the 1950 movie classic, "All T • About About Eve," Eve," where where Celeste Celeste Holm Holm confides confides in in ~ere's a scene in the 1950 movie classic, "All tion tionlabeled labeledas as'"less-productive" 'less-productive'' may may find findrevenues revenues he decides decides to to step stepback back farexceeding exceeding expectations expectations ififhe far is falling for Bette Davis that she suspects her husband at the location anew, invest in fresh equipand look Bette Davis that she suspects her husband is falling for and look at the location anew, invest in fresh equip1 Shetells tellsvolumes volumeswith withaafew few words: words: ment, anotherwoman. woman. She ment, and and service service the the account accountin inthe the same same fashion fashionhe he another ''The things about me he fell in love with, he got usof the relationship. did at the start "The things about me he fell in love with, he got us- did at the start of the relationship. edto to aa long long time time ago." ago.'' As As anyone anyone who's who's been been marmarThereare arealways alwaysgoing goingto tobe bechances chancestaken takenon onnew new ed There ried a while can tell you, this is all too true. The man For every few ''winners'' there's bound equipment. ried a while can tell you, this is all too true. The man equipment. For every few "winners" there's bound couldn't stand stand to to be be totobe and woman woman who who fell fell in in love love and and couldn't 'dog'' ininthe thegroup. group. Manufacturers Manufacturers are arenot notexexbeaa' and "dog" apart, gradually start to take each other for granted. empt from error, as the pinball Robo War and video apart, gradually start to take each other for granted. empt from error, as the pinball Robo War and video Eachspouse spousecan canbecome become"invisible" ''invisible'' to tothe theother. other. The The Rough RoughRanger Rangerattest. attest. These Thesewere, were, to toput putititkindly, kindly, not not Each early enchantment diminishes with familiarity; the It's all part the best product to hit the market recently. early enchantment diminishes with familiarity; the the best product to hit the market recently. It's all part ofcareer, career, family, family, and andhome hometend tendto toerode erodethe the of stressesof ofthe thebusiness, business,though, though, taking takingthe therisk riskand andhoping hopingfor for stresses relationship; and passion is replaced by passive accepmore good than bad. We can't be guaranteed a winrelationship; and passion is replaced by passive accep- more good than bad. We can't be guaranteed a wintance.It's It'sdifficult difficultto tomaintain maintainaahigh highlevel levelof ofromanThat's aa fairy fairy tale, tale, and and we welive live in inthe the nerevery everytime. time. That's tance. roman- ner ticism amid piles of dirty laundry and a joint checkreal world. ticism amid piles of dirty laundry and a joint check- real world. ing account account that that sometimes sometimes turns turns anemic. anemic. It'swise wisetotohead-off head-offany anyinroads inroadsinto intoyour yourbusiness. business. ing It's The operator-location relationship often suffers in Don't wait for a competitor to open your eyes. Take The operator-location relationship often suffers in Don't wait for a competitor to open your eyes. Take muchthe the same sameway. way. AAlocation locationonce once considered consideredaavital vital aalong long look look at at current currentlocations locations in in this this new new year yearand and much of the operator's route, one that receives new part think about elevating ones that have been taken for part of the operator's route, one that receives new think about elevating ones that have been taken for "slip'' granted equipmentand andmuch muchattention, attention, can can sometimes sometimes "slip" granted in in the the past. past. New New equipment equipment will will make make the the equipment and be taken for granted. It can be labeled one way, ''cook'' again, and the resulting revenues will location and be taken for granted. It can be labeled one way, location "cook" again, and the resulting revenues will andin inthe the operator's operator'smind mind does does not notneed need new new equipequip- remind remind both both operator operator and and location location why why they they made made and ment. It's a very gradual process. such a great combination in the first place. ment. It's a very gradual process. such a great combination in the first place. ofgreat greatcombinations, combinations, all allthose those couples couples Then one day a competitor approaches the location Speaking of Then one day a competitor approaches the location Speaking feeling the strain of everyday life could use some quiet and the operator sees it in a totally new light. He must and the operator sees it in a totally new light. He must feeling the strain of everyday life could use some quiet then'"wake 'wakeup" up" to tothe thevalue value of ofthe thelocation location and and decide decide time time alone. alone. ItIt takes takes planning, planning, but but is is well well worth worth it. it. then Reminisce about the early days, recall the best times, if he has been underrating it. Plants don't grow if he has been underrating it. Plants don't grow Reminisce about the early days, recall the best times, and be be happy happy that that you you found found each each other. other. Locations Locations withoutwater waterand and sun. sun. Locations Locations don't don'tprosper prosperwith with and without aren't the only places where a smile, a kind word,and and tired and dated equipment. Has the operator perhaps tired and dated equipment. Has the operator perhaps aren't the only places where a smile, a kind word, neglectedthis thislocation, location, leaving leaving ititopen opento to aamore more arar- aa little little attention attention can can make make aa big big difference. difference. neglected or appreciative suitor-the competitor? dent dent or appreciative suitor-the competitor? It's true, true, as as one one Louisiana Louisiana operator operator stated stated after after It's AMOA Expo '88, that we are now a business where AMOA Expo '88, that we are now a business where we order order ones ones and and twos twos where where in in the the past past we we have have we of a particular piece. Operators ordered fives and tens ordered fives and tens of a particular piece. Operators Bonnie Theard Theard makeaamistake mistakeby byclosing closingdown downpurchases purchasesentirely. entirely. Bonnie make Managing Editor The operator who must decide what to do about a locaManaging Editor The operator who must decide what to do about a loca- Bonnie Theard 10 PLAY PLAYMETER/February METER/ February 1989 1989 10