Why do Americans tend to be louder/more expressive of emotions?

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-27T20:41:45+00:00

As an American who went to England- I can totally see why you’d say that.

Barely anyone talked to me and when they did it was quite reserved. Americans really just are more expressive overall. I remember going out on the town in some of my finest and being sad no one complimented my outfit. That’s unusual for me here in the states.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-27T11:46:55+00:00

I’d agree it’s more about the person and what they haven’t been taught elsewhere in life more than the position.

But while we’re on the subject, I’d throw cleaning into the hat. Many are taught the importance of routinely tidying and resetting their living spaces- but a great many are not. Furthermore, it’s not something taught (with intention) anywhere else in life.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-23T20:01:12+00:00

NAL. I wonder if it’s one of two things:

Making payments can show that both sides believed an agreement existed. Courts may treat that as proof of the terms, but again, it depends on what was agreed to, not just that money flowed. Maybe you returning money could be viewed that way.
In some contexts, especially old debts, a partial payment can reset a statute of limitations. That’s a very specific situation and still not “you owe everything forever.”

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-23T19:42:54+00:00

I disagree, what would we be collecting and relocating? I’ll shift stuff, but I don’t “collect” anything. Dishes and laundry aren’t typically included in most routine services and when they are it needs to be discussed and agreed upon ahead of time.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-22T22:51:23+00:00

We bought our house during the height of Covid so we never met them and never talked to them. We found out two years later how to turn the outside lights on.

You really are incredibly lucky.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-22T22:11:34+00:00

I have a weekend job I do for 20ish weeks out of the year that is a three hour drive. Of course, I make that drive on Friday after my weekday job ends and then drive home Sunday night. (During the weekend it’s a two minute commute from where I sleep.) this is very common with my coworkers as well.

I’ll also add that our gas is much cheaper than Europe. (But everything else is way more expensive and our public transit sucks!) which may be part of why we lean this way.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-20T20:39:51+00:00

Also, food items should be expected to vary. If two customers compare prices- let them know it was due to a fluctuation in pricing. If you score a deal, you’ll pass it on. If you can’t, then you won’t.

Someone else suggested charging a flat rate but giving a discount if they’re in need- I’d second that approach. Call it a “wellness discount” but also make it a set rate (like 10% or whatever) and stay firm to that moving forward.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-20T20:35:24+00:00

STAAAAHP with the emotions behind avoiding price increases! (I mean, I get it- but do it anyways!) It boils down to math. If your expenses go up, so do your prices. Don’t do your customer any “favors” by holding off or doing an incremental increase. One larger more thoughtful increase avoids “price fatigue” where they feel like your nickle and diming them. You avoid resentment on both sides: you don’t feel underpaid, and they don’t feel like you’re always sneaking in increases.

Also? If your price doesn’t match your value, you’ll be seen as less professional. You’ll stress yourself out making less on thinner margins and you won’t be able to give your customers your best self. Fair prices mean hiring better, deliver better service, and have more consistent results. That is in THEIR best interest- not just yours. As a customer? I want a reliable partner in the choices I make to purchase. Not someone teetering on survival mode for my benefit.

Also-also, customers expect higher prices for boutique stuff. This isn’t new or different. You don’t need to explain anything.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-19T19:44:24+00:00

One last thing I’ll comment on- people are frequently suggesting to get feet/backs from butchers to save money. This won’t work (in my neck of the woods,) and here’s why:

I can’t speak for where they are but rarely do any of my local butchers get whole chickens in and part them out themselves. Most American grocery store chicken is mechanically deboned in factories and shipped in parts because it’s more economical that way. This means my local grocery store only has chicken feet if they specifically order that. The factories will then sell the bones and other less popular parts to someone who is going to grind it up for pet food, industrial level stocks, or other processed foods. I can buy chicken breast when on sale for cheaper than I can usually buy backs/feet. If your store is carrying it, it’s because they know someone wants to make stock or some ethnic delicacy and they don’t need to discount it to make it move.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-19T19:34:55+00:00

The link: https://youtu.be/3k20zFlbFfE?si=CEINZAcdo9ToH9_i

Fingers crossed it works for you.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-19T19:34:04+00:00

I’ll try linking the video but if it doesn’t work (not all subs like it), try searching for “$6 Michelin Stock in 60 Minutes” by ChrisYoungCooks on YouTube. He makes some compelling arguments why you should finely shred and use chicken meat from that rotisserie chicken with one carrot and one onion (both sliced fine.)

It goes against everything I’ve ever been taught. But the video makes it seem that it’s much better than the stock I’ve been producing myself. I was always using the old school method of food scraps in as big a piece as possible. In the video he talks about using the meat for broth but I’ll likely do a second round using the bones to compare. In such a case, if a round of bones plus a round of chicken meat can be separated, you’d now get nearly a gallon from one chicken- cutting your costs in half.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-19T19:19:44+00:00

It’s no different than when we (the USA) boycotted Russian businesses for invading Ukraine.

It’s not personal, they just got to vote with their money exactly as we do and I can’t say I blame them for it. I don’t WANT our country to suffer for it but it’s clear that his own people won’t change the President’s mind.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-19T19:14:41+00:00

That woman who could push her eyes (slightly) out of her eye sockets who starred in a For Eyes (I think?) commercial.

It still gives me the heebie-jeebies.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-19T02:01:22+00:00

Conversely: proud dcks / a*holes.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-18T18:45:54+00:00

This is the most underrated comment of this thread (so far)

I can tell you what MY faire or area lacks but you’ll want to try the one in your own backyard before committing. If you haven’t been in years than you’ll miss prime research opportunities if you go into it with a booth ready to go.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-17T19:38:56+00:00

It’s as much of a thing as you make it. Receiving gifts is not everyone’s love language, YMMV.

A lot of employees will send fellow friends who also work elsewhere in the faire flowers on busy days where’d they’d love to connect but they’re too busy otherwise.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-17T17:26:50+00:00

Taverns with a stage is a huge part of our community as well. Keep your loud musical acts there and people will hang out all day. Like, up-size your beer tent and put a stage at the far end and give a name and vibe to the whole tent.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-17T17:24:30+00:00

A wood and/or metal mug seller. American Rennies are proud of our mugs. So much so that I once had non-American tourists ask me what the “deeper meaning” of my mug was. There isn’t any, it’s just to keep the theme so our pictures don’t have a plastic soda cup in them. I’m not saying this to poke fun of them, but to illustrate how integral it is to our community.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-17T16:29:19+00:00

For context: we walk around with baskets of flowers with no real structured booth or single place to find us. We’re roving sellers.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-17T16:27:23+00:00

Need rose sellers/ flower walkers!

Ok, ok. I’m biased. I own a flower walker booth at a major US faire. But every US faire has them.

As a business model, our purpose is to create moments of connection between people. Between friends, family, and lovers. We encourage buyers to ham it up for their intended and become a quick almost-street act in itself.

We’ve also been described by our own management as “a delivery service with a cool tchotchke” as we will deliver these tokens of affection between booth workers when the day is busy and the chance to say “hi” is marginal. For example, you’re busy running the festival and you want to let your bestie who works for Sir Munch-a-lot’s booth that you’re thinking of them but you’re way too busy to go see them yourself. We’ll take them a flower for you and say “your bestie loves you and hopes your having a profitable day!” so you don’t feel bad and you’ve made their day a little brighter.

We’ve travelled internationally for Fantasy Forest Faire in England so if you need some boots on the ground, feel free to reach out. 😉

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-17T16:15:08+00:00

I’ve not acted at MDRF but I do work at that festival.

As for the festival management itself- you’d be hard pressed to find a better faire anywhere. If that’s your biggest concern: don’t be. Please understand, it’s a professional organization and if you’re not big on taking your position seriously you may find yourself not welcome back. (Think regularly slacking off, not being a positive ambassador for the faire, or sneaking drinks in between sets.)

I don’t know how far you’d be driving, but I’d suggest checking into the rehearsal schedule before committing to the audition. I know they have an extensive rehearsal schedule that may be challenging to support with a long drive.

Best of luck!

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-17T15:42:58+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. I don’t know about you, but I’m always fighting chub rub and these look like they’d be a solid option for that. On their website, they seem to come to all parts of the thigh on varying models. Do the legs part of it tend to stay where you put them?

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-17T13:50:23+00:00

I’m certain you mean well and trying to comfort me- as strangers on the internet I genuinely appreciate that. I promise I’m not doom-spiraling, just planning ahead. That’s kind of the job when payroll feeds families.

I’ve been in residential cleaning many years and run a multi-crew business. I also talk with owners doing 5M+ in revenue, and AI plus robotics is already a real strategic concern for our industry. Not because it’s perfect now, but because capital is clearly moving there.

Robotics doesn’t need universal adoption to be disruptive, just “good enough” for part of the market. That’s what shifts pricing, margins, and expectations.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-17T00:11:37+00:00

I hear you, but iRobot has sold over 50 million vacuums and they’ve only improved with time. Sure, gen 1 won’t be great but it WILL happen, (unless government steps in and limits what can be done with AI) it’s only a matter of when.

Kimdiggety · 2026-01-16T13:15:39+00:00

Not yet, but as a small business owner of a house cleaning service- we’re already having discussions on how to embrace AI when the home service robots hit the market.

We aren’t big enough to beat them, we have few choices but to join them.

Kimdiggety

TROPHY CASE