Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Forum News and Suggestions => Old Advertisers => Admin Board => Vitas Cricket => Topic started by: Vitas Cricket on December 11, 2012, 05:42:55 PM
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It is Robins birthday tomorrow, and naturally he will be taking the day off, i think he's going to London for the day, leaving me alone in the shop.
To pass the time, i have decided to host a live Q&A, 1630-1800 UK time tomorrow.
Rather than simply trying to flog gear to CBF members, i think it's important to properly interact. So here's your chance to get to know a bit more about the people behind Vitas Cricket.
You can ask absolutely anything you want in this topic. What is my favourite bat/kit, which 2013 ranges am i most excited by, what are my thoughts on current events in international cricket, what was my batting average last year, what was robins average, what is the biggest 6 i've ever seen, whatever you want!
I'll answer every question asked. Please keep your eye on this topic tomorrow afternoon, i'll bump it when i've got my typing hands ready.
Jake
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OK guys, i've got bats in all my clamps and no customers due in for a net until 6. Fire away.
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Will get this started for you then :D , what bat do you currently own yourself?
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Who is yout favourite batsman of all time?
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What did you get Robin for his birthday? :)
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Why the lion as Vitas logo and why the pink of all colours ? :D .
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What bat do you think has the best value for money factor?
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what was in your opinion the best performing best you have sold?
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What is your favourite cricket brand and why?
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What's the bast bat you've ever owned?
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Why don't you stock newbery bats? :D
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What is your favourite cricket brand and why?
Always been a Gray Nicolls man. I just like the image of the brand, the players they had when i was growing up probably helped too. Having now visited Robertsbridge which is like something out of the Shire, i love them even more.
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What are your thoughts on the retro bats companies like GN and Slazenger are releasing, and what bat would you most like to see back?
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I notice you stock Bellingham and Smith bats. When did you first hear of them and when did you first use one?
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Who is yout favourite batsman of all time?
Simple.
Thorpe.
Will get this started for you then :D , what bat do you currently own yourself?
Bellingham and Smith Supreme
Gray Nics Powerbow Strauss LE
Soon a Laver Reserve
Vitas Cricket Lion Roar
What did you get Robin for his birthday? :)
Nothng, yet! :-[
Why the lion as Vitas logo and why the pink of all colours ? :D .
Robins favourite colour is pink, and he really likes lions is the long and the short of it!
what was in your opinion the best performing best you have sold?
Probably an SS KP to a team mate. HAd a hit with it in our net after knocking it in and its just unbelievable! He's a talented batsmen but he just flicks things for 6 with that bat.
What bat do you think has the best value for money factor?
Probably a toss up between many smaller brands. But for me its bellingham and smith, having owned much of their gear over the years. The bats are absolute stonkers for £230 and they do really top end softs for half the price of the big manufacturers.
Hand picking is important though, we have some lovely looking low end Kookaburra menaces.
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What's the bast bat you've ever owned?
Either my Legend from when they first came out. Or a B&S LE that ive had forever, it finally gave up on me this summer.
Why don't you stock newbery bats? :D
didnt reply to our initial enquiries. At the moment we cant expand into any more brands, but hoping to for 2014.
What are your thoughts on the retro bats companies like GN and Slazenger are releasing, and what bat would you most like to see back?
I personally love the retro thing, look so classy. Whilst not really as retro as say a Dynadrive, I would kill to see a Kookaburra bubble again.
I notice you stock Bellingham and Smith bats. When did you first hear of them and when did you first use one?
Used to be stocked by a retailer fairly local to me for years. I used one because it was something a bit different and the price appealed to me. I stuck with them because the bats are lovely. I am a closeish friend of the guy dealing with B&S in the UK now, which is nice.
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Had a question on cricket insight that i found interesting, thought i'd share here:
Poor timing for me mate, will be picking up couple new SS ganguly bats and my personal stick for the upcoming season from customs (I guess you know the feeling, anytime new stock comes, always anxious and can't wait to get them). Maybe I can leave some questions now and you answer during that time tomorrow.
Which brand and range bat is the best bat you ever laid your eyes on (doesn't have to be about performance, on looks and your theory as to how it will play) and the reason why you choose that one?
What do you rank as your worse day at Vitas Cricket and why?
What do you rank as your best day at Vitas Cricket and why?
Which international cricketer you felt the best meeting, if any?
Ever bowl/bat against any int. players, how did it go?
Cheers :)
I personally have a soft spot for Bellingham & Smith. To me the gear is really classy to look at, its priced VERY well and most importantly, the bats absolutely fly! This is the brand i would probably go for if i was a customer, not a retailer with access to trade prices, as for the money you pay, very few can compete with B&S. I've owned several B&S bats over the years and all of them have been fantastic to look at, use, and pay for!
Now that i have a near unlimited choice though, i love everything about Gray Nicolls, and i have mostly gray nicolls kit. The legend i got for myself from the early batches a few years back is unbelievable, and although ive never seen one quite like it since, the Legend range just oozes class.
Worst day is either the day we found out we had been screwed over by credit card fraudsters. That or the day i broke down twice on my way in about this time last year, when the weather was -12 and nobody came into the shop all day.
Best day for the shop was probably in May when we had our biggest daily sale to date, but for me personally it was helping a talented teenage batsmen from a local club really nail his technique on a hook shot. He was really ecstatic and it's lovely to see your efforts to mould a young player working before your eyes. Subsequently he has been picked up by Northants.
Whilst not an international. This past season we had John 'the dentist' Maynard, of mid 90's Caribbean and Stanford T20 fame play for my cub. He's 42 now but still shovels it through! He had a load of great knowledge about the game at that level and at that time. Stories of shattering Viv Richards box may or may not be true, but they were great tales in the pub! Full blown internationals wise, i briefly met Steven Finn at Lords a couple of years back, nice lad. BUt for me, it was when i went on a tour of Lords probably 9 years ago now. It was a quiet day and we were the only people taking the tour. About ten minutes in, Graham Gooch joined us, that made my year!
I have had a net with Mohammad Amir this Summer as he knows the Pakistani professional at our club. Safe to say it did not go well and i'm glad i had a chest guard!
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Would love some more questions guys, or even some follow up to my previous answers.
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If you could create your perfect brand what would its ranges be like?
For example bat types, pad types, glove colours etc.
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Which would win in a fight between a horse sized duck and six duck sized horses?
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What is your preference in bats retro or modern?
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If you could create your perfect brand what its range be like?
For example bat types, pad types, glove colours etc.
Ooooh, a toughie.
Pads and gloves, i like the classy look, as little branding/colours as possible. All white with maybe a bit of silvery trim/detail. Similar to Salix, the 2013 M&H stuff, (T1 pad aside!) or Bradbury.
Bats is tough. Everyone seems to either slap a splice sticker on, or covers half the face. I'd like to do something a little different image wise, understated but classy, the Rob Pack logos appeal to me as a starting point at least:
(http://www.robertpack.adc-online.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/RPC-website-image1.jpg)
Bats, i'd probably go for some traditional profiles, handmade in England ideally, i'd like to offer something meaty as well though. Peoples eyes light up when they see the special huge H4L bats.
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What is your preference in bats retro or modern?
that is almost un-answerable. Retro looks are hands down winners.
But the current trend for flat faces is really appealing to me, i don't know if its all in my head or not, but the Argon F2 i tried at our GM event on Monday felt miles better than a normal Argon.
Then there are technological innovations to consider, like carbo handles, Slazenger's hex handles etc.
Its a tough choice, but on balance, i'd go for a retro bat if i was forced to use just one for the rest of my life.
Which would win in a fight between a horse sized duck and six duck sized horses?
Wow, that ones out there!
Surely the horse sized duck would squash the little tiny horses? Then again they could run away, equally the huge duck could swim away.
Who knows!
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What do you think will be the next big fad with cricket equipment?? We have had big edges, bright colours and now back to the retro looking bats with modern profiles etc.
What is your best selling bat,glove,pad and bag and why do you think that is?
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What is your favourite profile of bat, and why? Also, what kind of softs do you like to use? ie. Hinged or sausage gloves, traditional or modern pads, etc
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What do you think will be the next big fad with cricket equipment?? We have had big edges, bright colours and now back to the retro looking bats with modern profiles etc.
What is your best selling bat,glove,pad and bag and why do you think that is?
Tough to say, it could be a technological innovation thats just round the corner.
D3o in GM gloves hasn't really taken off in a big way. But it may get to the point where batting gloves in their current form are no longer needed. A thin layer of a d3o type material covering the backhand, encased in an attractive minimalist glove, might be enough to protect from ball impacts in the future.
Maybe everyone will return to wanting a convex shape, almost everything off the shelf at the minute is incredibly concaved to achieve massive size for low weight. Forum members are starting to realise that this can give you a less forgiving middle. It may only be a matter of time before the wider market realises too.
Last years best seller was the Oblivion LE bat.
Best glove was probably the top Kookaburra recoil
We sold no end of Grays legend pads too.
Bag is a tough one, but is as definitely a duffle bag.
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If you were allowed to play a game at any ground in the world where would it be and why?
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What is your favourite profile of bat, and why? Also, what kind of softs do you like to use? ie. Hinged or sausage gloves, traditional or modern pads, etc
I like a mid-low middle, as most pitches i play on are quite low. Other than that, i'm quite open, if something pickups right in my hand i'll use it, regardless of shape, size etc.
I like hinged gloves, i hate sausage, i cant move my hand at all! Pads traditional every time. I'm open to a more traditional look with modern foams etc to save weight, it doesnt have to be a cane pad, but things like those horrible puma pads are just rotten, you look like robocop!
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whats the honest difference between the maverick le and players bat try answer as detailed as possible thanks
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If you were allowed to play a game at any ground in the world where would it be and why?
Toss up between MCG and Lords, its the home of cricket after all.
But having lived in Melbourne for a decent period, and having been to a pretty much sold out boxing day test at the MCG, i'd love to experience that atmosphere as a player.
Ive played at the Lords nursery ground and also the 3 W's Oval in Barbados. Both were amazing experiences.
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whats the honest difference between the maverick le and players bat try answer as detailed as possible thanks
LE's on the whole will have a cleaner face. As an LE is made from the 'better' grade 1 one wood it may also be less dense, meaning a lighter bat for its size compared to a more dense Players bat.
but thats all maybes, grading willow is something i dont claim to know an awful lot about.
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also whats your favourite gray nicolls bat other then the dynadrive or scoop and why
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so is there very little difference between the two ?? so what one would u get
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Have you ever had a bat delivered that you just knew you would struggle to sell?
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also whats your favourite gray nicolls bat other then the dynadrive or scoop and why
Powerbow. I love the shape. I own a particularly special one, a Powerbow Strauss LE.
But i have always liked Powerbows, i've owned 3 or 4 in my time.
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Have you ever had a bat delivered that you just knew you would struggle to sell?
God YES! we try to hand pick as much as possible to avoid this though.
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Of all the brands you deal with, which ones are the most professional and comfortable to deal with and why ?
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so is there very little difference between the two ?? so what one would u get
I'd go for an LE everytime if i could afford it. It's a more attractive bat to look at, and i like to have the top gear. If i couldnt afford it, the players bat is a perfect substitute, and theres nothing that says it wont perform as well, or even better than an LE
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Of all the brands you deal with, which ones are the most professional and comfortable to deal with and why ?
I've never ever had a problem dealing with Masuri, top set of blokes.
Kookaburra are so local to us that its not really possible for there to be a hiccup, same with Hunts, SS and B&S.
Grays have treated us very well considering our relatively small size every time we've visited them.
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Customer is now here for their net. Keep asking guys, i'll answer when i'm done.
Jake
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could you post some pics of the le powerbow and maverick
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Thanks for your replies Jake.
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could you post some pics of the le powerbow and maverick
Please would be nice.
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Please would be nice.
Be nice Tom!
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Be nice Tom!
Please.... :D
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Haha, indeed! Please be nice Tom, you 'orrible lad!
Jake, what is the idea behind the net at the shop? Is it to supplement income from the shop, a gimmick (in the nicest possible word) to bring people into the shop, or just cos its a bloody good idea lol, and you enjoy doing the coaching side of cricket as well as the commercial side of it?
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dont get why ur telling me what to say i ask COULD he so stay out
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When will my slazenger bag arrive? Haha
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Tough to say, it could be a technological innovation thats just round the corner.
D3o in GM gloves hasn't really taken off in a big way. But it may get to the point where batting gloves in their current form are no longer needed. A thin layer of a d3o type material covering the backhand, encased in an attractive minimalist glove, might be enough to protect from ball impacts in the future.
Maybe everyone will return to wanting a convex shape, almost everything off the shelf at the minute is incredibly concaved to achieve massive size for low weight. Forum members are starting to realise that this can give you a less forgiving middle. It may only be a matter of time before the wider market realises too.
Last years best seller was the Oblivion LE bat.
Best glove was probably the top Kookaburra recoil
We sold no end of Grays legend pads too.
Bag is a tough one, but is as definitely a duffle bag.
People spend more up your way then down here then, surprised its top end gear as I seem to think most club players use the 5star,808 models etc
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dont get why ur telling me what to say i ask COULD he so stay out
I personally would have asked him if he could please post pictures of the bats. But that's my opinion. I do apologise for causing a ruffle of feathers mate :).
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could you post some pics of the le powerbow and maverick
You asked the same thing on CIF and he posted the pictures, what more do you want? Tom didn't tell you what to say he merely implied that good manners are always more preferable...
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You asked the same thing on CIF and he posted the pictures, what more do you want? Tom didn't tell you what to say he merely implied that good manners are always more preferable...
God Damnit! I wish I could be so diplomatic. Anyway we're populating the thread with garbage gents, lets not spoil what is an excellent topic with our petty bickering............ how was that for diplomacy? ;)
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As you seem like a decent coach Jake. If you could have gotten coached by one player/coach as a youngster who would it have been?
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(http://i.imgur.com/S8bull.jpg?1)
Let's not all fall out guys.
Haha, indeed! Please be nice Tom, you 'orrible lad!
Jake, what is the idea behind the net at the shop? Is it to supplement income from the shop, a gimmick (in the nicest possible word) to bring people into the shop, or just cos its a bloody good idea lol, and you enjoy doing the coaching side of cricket as well as the commercial side of it?
A combination of all your reasons i guess. The initial idea was to have a demo bat from every manufacturer, so customers could 'try before you buy' - whilst this has worked brilliantly for the smaller manufacturers, we've not really had much joy squeezing demo gear out of Grays, GM, Kooks and Slaz, we are always working on it though.
Coaching and net hire are also a nice supplement to the retail side of things, many regular netters have never bought a cricket item from us, a lot of gear is pretty old looking. We understand not everyone gets new gear every year, so its nice to be able to take some money off them via other methods like net hire and coaching ;)
Its also great for me to be able to bunt say, 300-400 balls per day (many more on a quiet day!) and keep myself ticking over for when Saturday comes.
i absolutely love coaching. Not so much with beginners or really young children anymore, but it is so rewarding turning an average batsman into someone who can play a few shots, often just by tweaking a few things with them. And i love working with the 'elite' players like the one i mentioned before who's now doing a bit with the Northants Academy.
When will my slazenger bag arrive? Haha
Don't you know? We took your money an kept the goods!
No,seriously, if it did not come today then tomorrow mate.
People spend more up your way then down here then, surprised its top end gear as I seem to think most club players use the 5star,808 models etc
We have only just got 5 Star status with GM, so i don't know how well 5 Star will fare. But certainly not that many 909's or 707's sold noticeably well.
They do and they don't. Many many people are looking to spend as little as possible on a bat, hence our bargain bin that you may have seen in our sale topic. We are on the border of (or not far from) Cambs, Hunts, Rutland, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northants and Norfolk. So there is a lot of good quality cricket played near to us. I think people playing top level cricket want a top level bat, providing they can afford it, so maybe thats the reason.
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As you seem like a decent coach Jake. If you could have gotten coached by one player/coach as a youngster who would it have been?
My heart was with football until i was roughly 14/15 when i took up cricket properly, rather than just making up the numbers for the U11's and U13's as i had done before.. I was at the centres of excellence of Peterborough United FC and then Boston United (when Gazza was at the helm) and still played football to a very good semi pro level until i was roughly 19. By that time cricket had become my real passion though. But growing up most of my heroes were goalkeepers. I would love a one-on-one session with Peter Schmeichel!
Cricket wise, my batting hero was Thorpe, the one player the Aussies seemed to fear while they were bending us over and shafting us for all those years, would love to pick his brain.
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([url]http://i.imgur.com/S8bull.jpg?1[/url])
That powerbow looks pure filthy (the good filthy)
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When will my slazenger bag arrive? Haha
If there was a 'like' button, I would have pressed it Ryan :)
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Who is your favourite fast bowler of all time and why?
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Wilkie113 sorry mate just a bit annoyed
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Who is your favourite fast bowler of all time and why?
I like the way Brett Lee went about his business, decent bat to.
Glen McGrath had a lovely action though.
Having spent many a boyhood hour listening to the 12th man cricket tapes (a must for anyone who hasn't!) and being lucky enough to have video/dvd of quite a lot of his career, it has to be Big Merv Hughes. The tasche, the swagger, combined with the wikipedia quote:
'Hughes was a notorious consumer of both food and alcohol'
He would have been my hero if i was an Australian, and a bowler, because i love food, and alcohol, and moustaches...
Sigh, why are they all Aussies!?
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merv! he is a hero that man.
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What's happened to the maverick bat I damaged at the gear test?
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What's happened to the maverick bat I damaged at the gear test?
Grays have it. Not heard anything back, so assume they don't care much.
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Grays have it. Not heard anything back, so assume they don't care much.
Good good :D
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what are the best gn softs for 2013
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Legend in my opinion.
Maverick Elite glove if you prefer sausage finger - although maverick elites do have breaks, I still class them as sausage.
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Many thanks guys, hopefully we all know each other a little better now.
Feel free to continue to ask questions, I'll answer as and when I can.
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I think I speak on behalf of all of us, and say thanks for answering the questions Jake :)!
It's always good when we have something like this!
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No problem mate, fingers are a little more battered than after a normal day of bat repair and knocking in though!
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12th man series is amazing. as jake said id recommend it to anyone. didnt get chance to ask any questions but a nice read through. thanks for taking the time to give us an insight into the world of Vitas.