Gathering with your closest friends and conversing about anything and everything is a remarkable experience. However, what if you’ve already recounted all your anecdotes repeatedly, and your companions are no longer interested in hearing them? This predicament was faced by a particular group of long-time friends who had shared all their narratives with each other numerous times. While seated at their favored meeting place, a coffee shop situated in Salt Lake City, Utah, 69-year-old Tony Caputo came up with a brilliant idea. He observed that a farmers market was taking place across the street, attracting hundreds of people.
The idea was proposed by Tony Caputo to rent a booth at the nearby farmers market for him and his friends to offer life advice. The rest of the group approved of the idea, and the following weekend they gathered around a table with a prominent sign that read, “Old Coots Giving Bad Advice,” with a subheading that stated, “It’s probably bad advice, but it’s free.”
They eagerly awaited inquiries from anyone passing by, with the exception of political or religious questions. Initially, a few people approached the ‘Old Coots,’ but soon a long queue of individuals formed seeking advice on various topics, ranging from education and employment to romance and technology.
The ‘Old Coots’ responded earnestly to each query, carefully considering their answers.
According to Tony, “We always pay close attention and refrain from giving advice unnecessarily.” Initially, the group was comprised of four or five men, but they soon realized that they may not be the best candidates to respond to some of the queries posed by women. Consequently, they invited a few women to join the team, making it more balanced and appealing to a larger audience.
Today, the ‘Old Coots’ table has become the most sought-after destination in the entire farmers market, with people traveling from far and wide to seek their advice. The group even established their own Facebook page after the market and social media success, and they now have their own podcast where people can call in and ask questions.
The group’s popularity has continued to soar, and people from all corners of the world have shared reviews of the valuable advice they received. “They know everything, plain and simple!” exclaimed one user, while another stated, “These are the most sagacious old coots you’ll ever seek advice from.”
As a result of their increasing prominence, the ‘Old Coots’ have even made appearances on a number of television talk shows, including Good Morning America and the Strahan, Sara, and Keke show.
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, a time of great turmoil and uncertainty, it is reassuring to know that a few ‘Old Coots’ are still out there watching over us all.