Build a Client Base...

You can build an unofficial client base with Uber...

Because I provide professional service, some of the local tavern owners and bar keepers want to continue requesting me personally (for their patrons who need rides back home, after getting a little too 'relaxed' at the pub!)...

So, they sometimes ask for my personal cell number. I can also give them the Uber-assigned cell number that I use. When the bar keep needs an Uber, she can call me directly...

If I am available, I will head over to the pickup location. After the 'relaxed' passenger is in the car, the bartender will request an Uber... and since I am the closest Uber driver, well, I get the request!

I never offer my number up front... and I never give it to a regular passenger. But when a pub owner or bar keep asks for it... I'm glad to give it to them....

And, this allows me to get some repeat business, from my 'unofficial' client base!

Anthony Bourdain

A few weeks ago, I picked up Anthony Bourdain... the famous author, chef, and world traveler! I didn't recognize him at first... he was with two of his entourage... and he had this crazy big beard, which I wasn't used to seeing on him!

The three guys got into the chevy, Bourdain and one guy in the back seat. As we got on our way to a local hotspot... The Back Door on Bardstown Road... the guy up front said to me, "Hey, do you know who's in the back seat?" I said, "No."

The front seater asked me, "Have you ever heard of Anthony Bourdain?" I looked in the rear view mirror... at the bearded passenger... and I said, "Oh man! You're Anthony Bourdain!"

Despite the "obvious" nature of my intro to Anthony, he was an extremely cool passenger... and very funny!

We talked about some of his experiences. He philosophized about the need for people to show more respect to one another... he said something about the government creating a bomb that seeks out and blows up _________s (the plural form of a particular part of the anatomy, which everyone shares in common... use your imagination)!

When we got to the destination, Anthony  Bourdain actually invited me in to have a drink with him! I thanked him, but thought that might be a bad idea (since I was actually gonna be picking up other passengers).

You know, I don't even know why Anthony was in Louisville KY... though I'm sure it had something to do with eating delicious food, and drinking large quantities of alcohol!

I have some pretty cool experiences driving with Uber...including the fact that I almost had a drink with one of the coolest drinkers (and chefs!) in the world.

Drunk People...

Let's talk about drunk people for a minute...

There are different kinds of drunk people:

there are happy drunks (lots of fun!)...

there are sad drunks (no fun at all!)...

there are certainly obnoxious drunks
(who always seem to believe that they can sing!)...

and, sometimes, there are the understandably drunk...


One of my passengers tonight was completely drunk! Her husband was a nice, relaxed kind of drunk... conversationally drunk. But, the wife... she couldn't even walk to the car! It took two guys to get her into the backseat. And, once she was inside, she was 'layed out'!

My initial thought was... 'really?!'

I thought, 'how can you get so drunk lady?' and, 'how can you let her get so drunk, dude?!'

I saw the neighborhood they were traveling to, and I thought, 'it figures... a couple of wealthy, privileged folks who have nothing better to spend their money on.'

But, then...the husband and I started to talk. I found out that her mom died this year. And, the bar where they had been drinking... the Dundee Tavern & Grill... that was her mom's bar. I don't mean, that's where her mom liked to drink... I mean, her mom had owned that bar... it was a 'family business'... and the daughter... the really drunk lady... had just sold the bar.

And, tonight... tonight was the last night that the Dundee Tavern & Grill would be a 'family' tavern...

There are different kinds of drunk people... happy drunks, sad drunks, obnoxious drunks... and yes, sometimes the understandably drunk as well.

Uber Rating System...

I've actually noticed on the Web, that some folks aren't sure about the "safety" of riding with Uber...

Uber is actually a very safe alternative to a taxi...

1. The vehicles themselves have to be registered, visually inspected, and approved by Uber.

2. There is a thorough background check on all new drivers... no questions there!

3. Uber has a pretty cool rating system. So, at the end of each trip, the passenger has the opportunity to rate the driver and experience. It starts with a 1 to 5 star rating. Then the passenger can make whatever comments they wish. Those ratings are tracked and compiled by Uber. And a consistently low rating means you get the kabosh! ...no more driving with Uber!

     It works the same with the passengers... drivers can rate them too! And low ratings mean... sorry, catch a cab! They won't be allowed to ride with Uber anymore!

So, over time, that creates a consistently safe and comfortable experience for everyone... and that is great stuff!

My First Trip...

Welcome back!

I remember the first pick-up request I received...

I had just finished my new-driver orientation in Southern Indiana, across the bridge from Louisville KY. I was really excited to get started, so I decided to go online for work on the way home from my orientation. I was headed south on Bardstown Road, getting closer to home, when... BEEP! ...

My first request came thru to my Uber-provided iphone4s! All of a sudden, I got a little bit nervous! This was my first trip! I wasn't sure how it would go! ...but the phone was beeping, so...

I touched the beeping screen, and I accepted the request. The app was pretty well user friendly... I could see the address of the pick-up location; I saw the GPS route to the location clearly mapped out; and I had the first name and passenger rating (very cool feature) of the guy I was going to pick up... it was all pretty much right there on the screen!

So, I made my way down Bardstown Road to the pick-up location. Two guys hopped in... one in the back seat, one next to me up front. As we got on the way to a local hotel... one of those right next to Louisville International Airport... I discovered that the two guys were comedians... not just two guys trying to be funny... actual paid comedians!

The guy up front explained that he and the guy in the back seat had flown in from L.A. earlier that week. They were part of a group of, like, 40 comedians! They were doing a gig at the local comedy shop called The Laughing Derby. These two had done their routines earlier that day, and they were flying back to California the next morning...

I think they probably did well, because the guy up front was hilarious! He very effectively denied the existence of any appeal to life in Louisville KY, causing my audible laughter... and without offending this Louisville native who was driving him down the road!

I dropped them at the hotel. As I recall, they gave me a tip! And, as I drove away, I remember thinking... yep, I think I'm gonna like this Uber thing.

Welcome!

Hey folks!

I want to welcome you to the blog site about my book...
DRIVING WITH UBER: "TREAT IT LIKE A BUSINESS", AND OTHER TIPS TO GOOD INCOME.

(Check Out This Intro Video...)

I will be posting helpful information (I hope it's helpful!) for drivers and passengers. But, I would also like to share some interesting stories with you...

So welcome, and stay tuned!

By the way, check out this resource for newly interested drivers...
video.uber.com

Oh, and if you want to register to drive... or, get your very first Uber ride free...

use this code... h2ejv