Designer Times
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40. Exit Disney - Enter GurrDesign, Inc.

The years from 1954 to 1981 were fabulous. Disney assigned me to (126) projects, many of which turned out to later be considered Classics. I feel so blessed to have been born at the right time to be available as Walt Disney was gathering his players to build Disneyland. And also blessed to be invited to "seek a career in another company" in August 1981.

This second career from 1981 to 2000 found invitations to participate in (117) more projects, several of which gave me great pride and tons of publicity. I worked with industry giants in Theater, Movies, Live Spectaculars, even Rock and Roll, as well as more Theme Park stuff. I learned so much from so many innovative clients.....Universal Studios, Steve Wynn in Las Vegas, Michael Jackson, Steven Spielberg, and even the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Walt Disney Imagineering later became a client, both thru direct R&D efforts, and with Theme Park projects built for Disney by outside contractor companies.

From RiverTowne to Ursula.....a wide variety of projects from monster jobs to clever small inventions.....I was even awarded a United States Patent for a newfangled movie projector along the way. Here's a quick sample of what kind of projects happened during this second career variety show:

• RiverTowne Animated Restaurant Show - Cheap animation.
• Conan Serpent - Giant fire-breathing animated figure.
• Jackson's Victory Tour - Rock and roll touring musical show.
• Olympic Space Craft - Live spectacular TV broadcast all over the world.
• 30' Spacecraft - Quick & cheap helicopter flying light gag.
• 2010 Flying Rig - Hang live guests from wires like flying stuntmen.
• King Kong - Biggest animated figure in the whole world.
• Catastrophe Canyon - Outside supplier show for Disney. WDI R&D - Back home again at the old WED Enterprises.
• Jurassic Park - Help Steven Spielberg make big movie creatures.
• CircleVision Camera - Movie equipment for Don Iwerks.
• Pirate Battle Show - Las Vegas sinking ship live stunt show.
• MGM EFX Show - Giant Las Vegas stage show set.
• Iwerks Reversing Projector - Movie equipment patent.
• Rio Casino - Las Vegas floor show.....hanging from the ceiling.
• Godzilla - One of the last giant mechanical movie monsters.
• Angstrom - Lighting equipment invention.
• 1570 Viewfinder - Precision movie camera device (draftsman again).
• Little Mermaid Theater Ursula - Return to Disney to close out a career.

During the course of designing mechanical equipment for these post-Disney attractions I gradually learned the realities of business. When one is a creative type in a big organization like Walt Disney Productions, you are basically isolated and protected from the business of business. I never realized how little I knew about estimates, costs, liability, lawyers, and all the demon things you will meet when you jump out of the Disney nest into the "outer world".

I soon learned why some of my friends who were so inventive at Disney later struggled to survive on their own. I learned first hand why one must be in the people business first, then be in their technical trade. Creative ideas sink quickly without the protection and wisdom of the ship of good business sense. I admire those few ex-Disnoids who have built enduring organizations. And I know they certainly must have to defy bankruptcy during any business cycle reverse. I'll bet some would surely love to pop back into a safe nest. But the taste of being your own guy is heady indeed and there's no going back.

I choose the course of Single Owner Consultancy as my business plan......A California Section 1244 Stock Corporation, GurrDesign, Inc. My idea was to do specialty mechanical design work for others, rather than operate my own production house. This meant that overhead costs would be tiny.....I thought! Medical insurance, performance bonds, federal tax, state tax, city tax, unemployment tax, disability tax......California makes you pay income tax even if you're losing your shirt!

Tax forms must be submitted monthly, quarterly, annually. Actual money has to be deposited in a Federal Bank every month. Records must be kept. Business expenditures have to be logged almost every night during a red hot show biz gig, otherwise you get behind. Hire temporary help and you'd better not forget to file a form 1099 on them. You gotta pay yourself wages too.....a whole new list of deductions and forms. All this in addition to your regular personal tax stuff each April. I used the classic Dome Accounting Books to handle all this non-creative stuff. I didn't have the money to hire an ongoing accountant beyond the once-a-year tax time deal.