I learned from my own school of hard knocks that life is too short to work with people you don’t enjoy. I want to work hard, collaborate with great talent, and have fun in the process. And I’ve found, from a practical point of view, that if you’re not having fun when producing a travel show, the actual show will suffer.
I’ve spent 800 days in the last 20 years filming. We’ve made some good TV, and I’ve suffered a lot of bloopers in the process. Here’s a collection of just a few of my screw-ups, offering what I hope you’ll find is an interesting peek into the fun we had filming our latest series. Watching this, I’m thankful for how Simon Griffith (our producer/director) and Karel Bauer and Peter Rummel (our cameramen) make this work both gratifying and so enjoyable. Starting next month, I meet the crew in Italy as we begin filming our next series. This year, God willing, we’ll produce nine new shows ‘ our most ever in a single year. Stay tuned…for more bloopers.
If you can’t see the video below, watch it on YouTube.
Like they say….. work without fun is………..WORK! Keep up the good times on your travels this year!
During the past year or so some have been monitoring how quickly the blog subjects change depending upon: how many responses; how positive or negative those responses; and whether they seem to favor RS or not.
You are extraordinarily fortunate to work with such great people.
Everything is entertaining: the tv shows, the blog and the outtakes. You and your crew always make it look so easy. Thanks for posting this video and best of luck with the new series.
I personally found this year that working in a not fun drama based business takes a toll. After 16 years in one location almost a year ago now I just decided it was time, and that meant moving a whole clientele too. But I can`t believe how happy myself and my customers are for it. I was so worried about doing this, comfort zone and all. I know for some people it is impossible for financial reasons, but if you are not finding happy times where you work try all you can to move on and find happy!
Rick, Thanks for giving us the outtakes reel. I always watch the end credits of every show just to see the outtakes. Thanks for including them. They never fail to bring a smile to my face. Keep on traveling and keep on laughing!
Rick, please do some new shows on the UK, France and Germany. Also would love to see an updated Travel Tips re transportation and featuring some of your newer bags. Thanks, Judith
Bill: Unfortunately that`s true. Even with a post with a topic so innocuous as a Blooper Reel, I half-expected to find a few posts saying, “I come here for travel info, not bloopers! You Rick Steves fans are just fawning all over his bloopers… they aren`t even that funny! etc, etc.”
We have to admire Rick Steves ETBD and his team no matter our own occasionally jaundiced opinions of the company`s marketing tactics. Hopefully somebody listens and fine tunes the message as a result. Some marketing won`t ring true with everybody but different strokes for different folks. And to have a core group of fans/customers over 35 years is no small accomplishment for any business. RS ETBD does “put itself out there” and that demonstrates confidence and assurance in an industry roiled by world events totally beyond its control. My own experience with this company is that it is successful largely because of its guides, its creator, word of mouth(blog) and staffers who have to follow through (gulp) on the promises to deliver a highly positive experience – whether on tours, guide books or radio/tv media. I do believe constructive critiques of ETBD have made it better and somewhat unique in its niche. If you get the itch, try Spain as a tour. It seems to me it could supplant Italy as a desirable destination.
Who changed this topic???
To Rick, Simon, and Karel, I enjoyed the outtakes almost as much as you did. Thanks for posting them. Jeff (Rick`s Doppelganger) at WEDU-TV in Tampa, Florida
It`s a very important part of a healthy balance to be able to laugh at one`s self.
Loved your bloopers! Plus, they were shot really well, lovely to look at, and funny! Keep up the good work! Laurie Lyon
The last few episodes I have seen — and I`m a big fan –have been the best yet. The Norway episode blew my socks off with the wonderful photography and brilliant colors! If the work you do this year is comparable or better (!) I`ll be glued to every episode, at least three times…
I`m curious and this may not be the right place to ask this…but do you ever go anywhere OTHER than Europe, just for the heck of it, not to write a guide for others?
I just love the show! Bloopers are just great! Thanks for the laughs and smiles!!