Yet another taping of Comcast Newsmakers. This time in South Bend, Indiana. I haven't been normally been helping out on these shoots, but I got to go along this time. Since South Bend is a considerable drive from the Chicago area, working on the shoot means staying in a hotel a couple days. It was a 3 day, 2 night obligation. What amazed me was that I did not spend one penny while away on this trip. Let's break down the expenses:

Carpooling to South Bend in Comcast vehicles complete with gas cards. Cost = $0.

Staying at a really nice Marriott hotel downtown with a nice view of the river and super comfy beds, everyone getting their own room. Cost = $0

Getting room service for breakfast each morning. Cost = $0.

Ordering lunch for everyone at the shoot location, sandwiches one day and Culver's the next. Cost = $0.

Pre-dinner drinks at the hotel bar. Cost = $0.

Dinner for fourteen people at one of the top 5 expensive restaurants I've ever been to. Mixed drinks, 5 or 6 bottles of wine, 8 appetizers, 14 entrees (at $30 or so each), 5 or 6 a-la-carte side dishes and dessert for everyone. Cost = $0.

Working for a giganto corporation....priceless.

That first night at dinner was insane! We were there for over 3 hours, we ate and drank so much it was unbelievable. I don't even want to know what the check came to.

All in all, South Bend was a great experience. Not just from a free food standpoint, but it was also a good TV production experience. It's not every day I get to work with professionals. I would go back any time.