Peerless gets ready for the Annual Meeting in NYC.

Ah yes, the 1st week of May.  For everyone else in the world, it means the weather is warmer and Spring should be in full swing.  For Peerless however, it simply means that the annual meeting of the people who trade his commodity is about to take place in NYC at the Waldorf Astoria.  Therefore, a week of parties that is somehow the Commodity Trader's version of the Cannes Film Festival is about to take place except instead of such luminaries such as Jack Nicholson, we get people like the Hit Man I was introduced to on my 1st day as the VIP's.  

Don't get me wrong, people from all over the world come to NYC for this annual party/dinner.  In fact, if someone wanted to become acquainted with the movers/shakers of my profession, this week would be the time to do so.  However, this party is much more scaled back than it used to be since we are in recession and also because London has a party every 2 years that is much better than anything NYC can do.  Nonetheless, Peerless remembers some funny stories from Annual Parties of years past.

Back in the mid 1990's, Peerless had a large client from an Asian Nation who used the NYC Dinner as an excuse to come to NYC and do all sorts of things that would earn them a divorce in their home nation.  One year, a group of 6 people from the aforementioned company came to NYC and it was Peerless' Job to show them around NYC and cater to their every whim.  When Peerless suggested visiting the top of the WTC (remember this was 1997), they responded they wanted to go to Scores (the mecca of strip clubs in NYC).  So, Peerless hits up his Boss for the Company Credit Card and takes the people to Scores.  Everyone (including Peerless) is having a grand old time until one of the Asians realizes there is a Stripper from his Nation dancing there.  Not only was she from the said nation, but she had dyed blonde hair, a fake tan, and the largest breast implants Peerless ever saw on an Asian woman.  The Traveling Delegation get totally horrified and insist we leave right away. So, apparently it was ok for women from other oppressed 3rd world nations (Poland, Russia, etc) to be strippers but no one from their country would EVER do that sort of thing.

In any event, we ended the night in Chinatown at 4 AM all singing Karaoke and we literally held hands and Sang the Drunkest version of "We are the World."  So- Precious.  

This same delegation wanted to follow up on their visit to the Strip Club the next Day by going to buy Porno Movies that were illegal in their own Nation.  So, Peerless takes them to an XXX store on Times Square (this was before Disney took over).  At one point, one of the group actually says to Peerless "I would like something that resembles a Love Story but with lots of Dirty Sex involved."  Thinking 99% of all Pornos just involve sex and no one really pays attention to the Plot, Peerless turns and suggests "Big Black Babes Bare Butts" (it was in the "Bestseller" rack).  

In fact, Peerless has been asked to play "Matchmaker" more than once for a visiting client during Sugar Week. Another client (who was single and no longer in the business) wanted Peerless to arrange a High Priced Escort for Him.  So, Peerless had to call around to several places and finally came up with the one he felt was the best choice.  As a side note, the client paid for the lady, not Peerless.

Another time, Peerless and another broker from the floor were at the Sugar Dinner when a trader from another country walked by.  The other broker, thinking Peerless knew about the other guy, asked if he had to buy him any Hookers this year.  Peerless decides to try and play along and says not that year.  The other broker says he once spent $1000 for a hooker for the guy and the guy still didn't give him any business the following year. 

With all of the above being said, Peerless would like to point out that these events happened over 5 years ago and all the above people mentioned are no longer actively involved in the trading business.  Peerless is also certain that other people would be happy to tell stories that are more incriminating than those above but he chooses not to do so because he doesn't want to get people in trouble.