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If you are near the SF area check in for two screening's of Career Courier. Below are the details for both.

CHROME Presents Screening of "Career Courrier"

 

Time

Saturday, June 11 · 7:00pm - 11:00pm

 

Location

Sailors Union of the Pacific

450 Harrison St.

San Francisco, CA…

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I know it's a bold title, but I feel it's a bold movie. I feel that the media has strictly focused on the "x-games" mentality of the job. (Bicycle messenger) After 11 years on the bike and on the road it's so much more. That is what I tried capturing in my film Career Courier. And it was validating to some extent by the latest review. Check out the link, check out the trailer and hope to see you soon in your town at a screening.

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It's never a good time when a messenger is down. Lately, we've lost brothers and sister in our community on both East and West coast. Sometimes a messenger is down, but not out. As we know, "down" means no pay. James Adamson crashed road racing last week and broke his pelvis. He has been a fulltime messenger for over 16 years. He owns his own one-man show in Portland and now is out of work for a long time.

 

James helped me out a lot as a main character in my new courier…

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I get at least 3 or 4 phone calls a week from young people asking what they need to do to become a bicycle courier. I tell them move to New York. I hear there are still some jobs there. Most of them don't like my advice. New York is cold. You see, I'm in San Diego, so when they call me they are hoping I tell them, "Yes, I'll hire you, there has never been a better time to become a courier." Unfortunately I don't believe that. But is it just me?

When I started over ten years ago I knew…

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Today, as everyday, I've been reviewing footage shot and interviews taken. Today I am looking at messenger life in Chicago. It reminds me that we all do a similar job, but each city does it from a different point of view. And maybe that's what makes it so much fun. Continue

It's not Quicksilver. Although I loved that movie. It's not Premium Rush. Although I know I'll be in line for it next summer. It's not the story of NYC couriers. (That's another story all together) Continue

I am fascinated by this career and my assumption or optimism of how long I might do it. When I first got on the streets in 2000 I met a dude that had been a messenger for 7 years. I thought, "Dang, that's forever!" But here I am at 10 years. Then I go and meet Kurt Boone at 14 years. (Foot messengers are the real deal. I spent the longest and most exhausting part of a day trying to keep up with Kurt.) And I think, "Do I have another 4 in me? Where will I be then?" And guys like Kurt and Squid… Continue

Today I was walking out of my building (where our office is at) and I ran into 3 messengers in matching outfits trying to drum up business. They are a brand new messenger company in San Diego. I wanted to talk with them and give them a word of encouragement. Sure they are the competition. Sure, my business is in the crapper. But, I have always been an advocate of MORE bicycle couriers on the streets. Even competition. Why? It stimulates business and competition and creates an awareness in our… Continue

We are celebrating ten years in business and have been rated A+ by the BBB, now I've just got to turn the economy around and get some more clients.

http://www.bikesd.org/2010/06/interview-with-kenton-hoppas-bicycle-courier-turned-film-maker/

Everyday a messenger encourages me. Whether they are out there writing a book, putting on a race or just doing the job with a great attitude I am impressed by our community. This network is a big reason I keep trying to keep my chin up and doing the job I know is one of the best jobs out there. I just met on FB a follow cyclist using her voice to make a difference. Check out her Ghost Bikes project.… Continue

It's funny how much I can't stand being in a car much less driving one, that I am a bicycle messenger. I am constantly surrounded, by the jobs definition of course, by what I do not like. Cars. Why didn't I open up a bike shop? At least I could be surround by bikes. Or a million other jobs that don't involve being 6 inches away from cars, smelling cars, getting yelled at by people who love cars and don't love the way I ride... I digress. I'm sure the bike snob has written much more poetically… Continue

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Not sure about these films, but the trailer looked AWESOME, so I am off to the movies. "Follow Me"
http://www.anthillfilms.com

Hey Everybody, a good friend and ex-messenger, did his post grad work on bicycle messengers. He is trying to track down some of the people he interviewed throughout the country. If he interviewed you, then track him down on his Facebook link or give me a shout. Continue

Well it's Sunday afternoon. Seems to be my favorite time to blog. I feel selfish blogging after Triple X posts that beautiful birthday party pic. I just got out of the water, surfing, and my mind so far from messengering, but why wife had left the R.E. Load messenger bag page up so I wanted to find out what other people thought of our choices for work bags. (Not laptop bags!) Continue

I was digging through some old issues of Chillowmode, San Diego's messenger zine, and thought I'd put one up on my website. Free to download and exploit. No one read it then, can't say they will now. Here is the link: http://web.me.com/khoppas1/sweetcorn/Chillowmode.html

I'm not one to blog much. Mostly because my writing is boring and I have a very difficult time making my point. But this point is an easy one. At what point, as a bicycle messenger, does it get boring? I mean, you feel as if you have seen it all, done it all, pushed yourself to your maximum limit. Each day is different, but it's just a different version of yesterday. Like the Seniors leaving and the Freshman arriving, it seems every four years in the heart of a city is just a new wave of people… Continue