Close Menu
  • CURRENT ISSUE
    • Cover Story
    • Profiles – Companies, Products & People
    • Spotlight Feature
    • VR Spotlight
    • Favorites & Special Reports
    • Bob Cooney Special Reports
    • Editorial
    • Datebook
    • Columns
      • Q&A with AMOA
      • Q&A with AAMA
      • NOW TRENDING by Howard McAuliffe & Nick DiMatteo
      • George McAuliffe’s GAMEROOM GURU
      • Adam Pratt’s ENDGAME
      • Jack Guarnieri’s JERSEY JACK
      • Beth Standlee’s PARTY PROFESSOR
      • Clint Novak’s PRIZE PATROL
      • FUN ACROSS AMERICA
      • Frank Seninsky’s FRANK TALK
      • Tom Fricke’s REDEMPTION & THE LAW
      • Randy White GUEST ESSAY
  • INSTANT REPLAY
  • PODCASTS & VIDEOS
    • The RePlay Podcast
    • Machines, Myths & Legends
    • Older Audio/Video Archive
  • GET REPLAY
    • Subscriptions
    • Sample Copies
    • Order Back Issues
    • Index
  • ABOUT
    • About RePlay Magazine
    • Meet the Team
    • Cookie Policy
  • LINKS
  • CONTACT
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Trending
  • First National Darts Day Rousing Success for BullShooter
  • VNEA Names Mike Wiltse New Executive Director
  • QubicaAMF Launches New Scoring System
  • K1 Speed Opening Kansas City Location
  • Semnox Makes First Install in Finland
  • IAAPA Expo Asia Continues Growth
  • Darnelle Simmons Joins Zooom Studios Team
  • Valo Motion Installs 100th ValoArena
X (Twitter) Facebook RSS Instagram YouTube
RePlay Magazine
  • CURRENT ISSUE
    • Cover Story
    • Profiles – Companies, Products & People
    • Spotlight Feature
    • VR Spotlight
    • Favorites & Special Reports
    • Bob Cooney Special Reports
    • Editorial
    • Datebook
    • Columns
      • Q&A with AMOA
      • Q&A with AAMA
      • NOW TRENDING by Howard McAuliffe & Nick DiMatteo
      • George McAuliffe’s GAMEROOM GURU
      • Adam Pratt’s ENDGAME
      • Jack Guarnieri’s JERSEY JACK
      • Beth Standlee’s PARTY PROFESSOR
      • Clint Novak’s PRIZE PATROL
      • FUN ACROSS AMERICA
      • Frank Seninsky’s FRANK TALK
      • Tom Fricke’s REDEMPTION & THE LAW
      • Randy White GUEST ESSAY
  • INSTANT REPLAY
  • PODCASTS & VIDEOS
    • The RePlay Podcast
    • Machines, Myths & Legends
    • Older Audio/Video Archive
  • GET REPLAY
    • Subscriptions
    • Sample Copies
    • Order Back Issues
    • Index
  • ABOUT
    • About RePlay Magazine
    • Meet the Team
    • Cookie Policy
  • LINKS
  • CONTACT
RePlay Magazine
You are at:Home»Current Issue»COLUMNS»Jersey Jack – April 2023
Italian flower cart - Jersey Jack 0423

Jersey Jack – April 2023

0
By RePlay Editor on April 1, 2023 COLUMNS, Jack Guarnieri's JERSEY JACK

Happy Spring!

by Jack Guarnieri, Jersey Jack Pinball & PinballSales.com

April showers bring May flowers, right? We’ve all heard that before, but have you ever stopped to think about what that really means? It does rain a lot in April but statistics say June is actually the wettest month in the U.S. Even so, the rain in April will bring the flowers of May and if you don’t believe me, there’s a song that Al Jolsen brought out in 1921 that says just that.

Aside from nurturing the blooms of nature, you can look at it in another way: Sometimes you go through some pain or sacrifice to enjoy the good times (the flowers). We all go through rough times. Whether it’s a business, a family or relationships, nothing seems to go easy for too long. There is always a bump or a pothole along the road of life.

Speaking of that, how do you deal with the everyday roadway? If I’m driving, there are definitely some mumbles as I navigate the twists and turns. We all have to deal with negative things and I think it’s best to try to turn those lemons into Limoncello. Patience may be a virtue but I feel the Covid episode increased the number of people wanting immediate satisfaction like an Amazon delivery (developing a short temper along the way).

My advice is to have patience with other people. Take a deep breath. If you have co-workers or employees who frustrate you, try communicating better. Talk to customers as if they are your valued family members. And, be sure to treasure your relationships because we don’t know how long we will have them.

For many, spring is a time of the year to reflect, prepare for renewal and to be grateful and thankful for what you have. There will always be people who have more or less than you but what’s important is to be thankful for your health, your job, your friends and family. Nothing is perfect, even if we strive for it.

Re-evaluate about your priorities. There’s a difference between what you want and what you need. Think about how you can help others and then act. Don’t just wish or hope for something. Put those thoughts into action.

Twelve years ago, I thought about starting a new pinball manufacturing company. I put those thoughts into action! Fast forward to today, and we have a thriving pinball industry with not one but more than 10 designing games today. I guess you could say that with this year’s April showers, it’s raining new pinball machines!

Who would have thought that pinball would make such a comeback? (Well, having started a pinball company, the answer would be me!) When I founded Jersey Jack Pinball, I said on a pinball podcast that I hoped that one day there would be 50 companies making pinball machines. We’re not at that level, but it’s all good.

I’ll be honest, it wasn’t easy but the water is nice and warm now. As I write this, I’m packing to go to ENADA in Rimini, Italy, where I’ll be in Luxury Games’ booth (they’re my distributor) with Francesco and his team showing off The Godfather 50th Anniversary game. I’ll get to smell the flowers and eat the cannoli.

Remember, even when it rains, every cloud has a silver lining. The rainy days build character and even if you get soaked, keep putting one foot in front of the other. The sun will come out, better days will come and you’ll smile again. You can never lose if you don’t give up.

Happy Spring.

Italian flower cart - Jersey Jack 0423


Jack Guarnieri started servicing electro-mechanical pinball machines in 1975 and has been involved in every phase of the amusement game business since then. He was an operator in NYC, then began a distributorship in 1999, PinballSales.com, selling coin-op to the consumer market. In January of 2011, he founded Jersey Jack Pinball (named after his RePlay Magazine pen name), which builds award-winning, full-featured, coin-op pinball machines. Email Jack at jack@ jerseyjackpinball.com.

Jack Guarnieri Jersey Jack Jersey Jack Pinball
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Previous ArticleProduct Profile – StepManiaX
Next Article Gameroom Guru – April 2023

Related Posts

Prize Patrol – July 2025

Endgame – July 2025

Jersey Jack – July 2025

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.







RePlay Logo

RePlay Magazine is a monthly trade publication covering the game center and route business. Since 1975, RePlay has been reporting on the equipment, people and trends that have made "coin-op" a fun and exciting business.

Get the FREE Instant RePlay Newsletter

Sign up and receive newsletters to keep you in the know.


© 2025 RePlay Magazine - All rights reserved. For permission to reproduce content, email editor@replaymag.com.
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Contact

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.