My final beating of this horse as I need to vent with people that may understand better than anyone. The followers of this thread.
I was much more than just an employee that was working at MPNYC. The entire concept of MPNYC was born through Al Cihak (Pinaholic) owner of the machines. Steve Epstein and Myself. Very early on I was helping to source a location for the New Pinball venue.
Once things were in the works Mr Epstein came to my house along with Al to discuss the fact that a place had been confirmed and a new partner was now in the mix Steve Zahler and that I was requested to be the Tech.
The agreement made was that I was to be the sole tech with complete control of that aspect.
The place was to be a Pinball Museum to skirt Zoning laws and not an Arcade.
Al had enough machines to provide to the new venue but they needed to be restored as they were taken off of location or out of storage.
Understanding that the machines were going to be in a Museum setting I knew that they had to be near perfect in appearance and perfect in play.
I started the restoration 6 months prior to the opening, working through the weekends and taking vacation time from my other job at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to meet the goal of having machines ready for the opening date. for 6 months I worked from 5 in the morning until 2-3 am. 7 days a week.
I did all of the restorations for less than a quarter of the work value for the love of Pinball and the thought of working on such an exciting project and for such an Icon as Steve Epstein.
I helped with the facility in the final weeks getting it ready and setting up the machines for no pay.
I helped to install things that the owners did not know how to do. I even purchased a carpet cleaner and door signs out of my pocket
I could go on and on.
The first month or so things ran fine in the repair dept as the machines were all fresh and I was the lone tech.
Then they hired the other guy and that was the start of the turmoil. Just a small fraction of that is well known to you guys from this thread.
Modern only has a Staff of 4, 2 techs and 2 staff members. One of the staff members constantly curses and swears at customers and throws them out.
The other tech (no longer at modern of just over a month ago due to wanting a hiatus and not let go as I was) not only destroyed machines as you are witness to but also fell down drunk at Modern in front of a little girl knocking over a garbage can in the process and remained on. This was within the first 3 months of his hire!
So now I am let go because, I was told" We haven't been making money in the last 5 weeks" Ironically that is the same time Mr Epstein hired his old tech from the Broadway Arcade. Is there something Im not seeing?
I put my heart and soul into that place I wasn't just a hired Tech.
I guess I have vented and most certainly this is not the venue so I do apologize for that.
I will however begin a new thread of failures out on location. I do think there should be a huge difference as the machines on location don't get a 10th the play that the machines at Modern get so a repair should stay repaired for a much longer time but then again Pinball is Pinball LOL
Ill let it be known that Al Cihak the machines owner and Alberto Santana one of the Staff members are the real reason that Modern became the Pinball Venue Icon that it has become.
Without those 2 there is no Modern its that simple. They deserve the recognition that they never get in any interview or review of Modern.
The 2 Steves take all of the credit.
Setting up 4 days prior for no pay
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More prep and no pay
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Night before opening all machines set up and in fantastic condition I was proud of the accomplishment
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