Well, you know you're in a bad spot when you get turned down for a job driving a cab, because you were fired from another cab company for getting hit by an illegal with no insurance and no ID (I was technically at fault because I was making a Left hand turn when he ran the red light. It seems that my making a left negates the fact that he ran the light and was illegally driving). The company said they didn't want "issues" like that... even when it wasn't my fault and it didn't go against my record (it's only a 1 point violation and from what I've found out, I can still drive commercial with it).
On a twisted note: I got both equally good news and infuriating news at the same time yesterday. The theater I work at has a cracked out Technical Director who is mentally unstable, and is stuck in the 80's when it comes to technology (He has a Nokia 1100 black and white screen phone he keeps in a plastic sandwich bag!). He also does random things like come in on gigs that aren't his, clocks in and tells the talent he's in charge... oh yeah, and he likes to assault female co workers
The funny thing is that he has "tenure" and the two management heads are somehow linked to the idea that he's the only one that can run the venue. Yet when the major Jazz producers come through, they DEMAND that he *not* work the show. That's why I was hired, and I have since made quite the name for myself in the Jazz community as being one of the go-to live sound guys. I quite like that part...
The good news is that the TD put his resignation in (about 2 weeks after he assaulted a female co worker and pretty much got away with it). Since there are only 3 techs, and I am the one with the most real-world experience and have the endorsement of the rest of the staff I would think I stand a good chance to get the position. But noooo... it seems that the outgoing TD insisted a stagehand with ZERO education in engineering become the next TD, and he doesn't want it! And, the Admins in charge may give it to him while leaving me to do all the technical work because they see me as "Opinionated, combative and conceited". Why? Well, I refuse to let a show go bad by poor technical decisions by the TD, such as his insistence on using AUDIO CASSETTE to record a live Jazz performance by Lewis Nash! Or, when I got upset when he did not show up AT ALL for a hybrid theater/music performance with Robert Picardo until I had spent 6 hours building his light and sound designs from blind reference and he FINALLY got around to checking his messages!
I have power of my own in my corner: Several University professors, countless musicians and one of the largest Jazz promoters love my work and request me every booking they have at the venue (in fact with one of the promoters it's in their SEASON contract to have me as the engineer
). And, if I leave the producer said he'd take his talent elsewhere. I don't want to have to play that card, but if I am stuck doing all the work and none of the paid hours for someone else, then so be it.
So, that's my day: Walking several miles, fighting the busses, and getting rejected for a job that any Nigerian with a '97 Crown Vic can get while wondering if I may get passed up for a job I have 17 years experience in simply because I didn't say the right thing to the right people and actually gave a shit about a performance.
On a twisted note: I got both equally good news and infuriating news at the same time yesterday. The theater I work at has a cracked out Technical Director who is mentally unstable, and is stuck in the 80's when it comes to technology (He has a Nokia 1100 black and white screen phone he keeps in a plastic sandwich bag!). He also does random things like come in on gigs that aren't his, clocks in and tells the talent he's in charge... oh yeah, and he likes to assault female co workers
The funny thing is that he has "tenure" and the two management heads are somehow linked to the idea that he's the only one that can run the venue. Yet when the major Jazz producers come through, they DEMAND that he *not* work the show. That's why I was hired, and I have since made quite the name for myself in the Jazz community as being one of the go-to live sound guys. I quite like that part...
The good news is that the TD put his resignation in (about 2 weeks after he assaulted a female co worker and pretty much got away with it). Since there are only 3 techs, and I am the one with the most real-world experience and have the endorsement of the rest of the staff I would think I stand a good chance to get the position. But noooo... it seems that the outgoing TD insisted a stagehand with ZERO education in engineering become the next TD, and he doesn't want it! And, the Admins in charge may give it to him while leaving me to do all the technical work because they see me as "Opinionated, combative and conceited". Why? Well, I refuse to let a show go bad by poor technical decisions by the TD, such as his insistence on using AUDIO CASSETTE to record a live Jazz performance by Lewis Nash! Or, when I got upset when he did not show up AT ALL for a hybrid theater/music performance with Robert Picardo until I had spent 6 hours building his light and sound designs from blind reference and he FINALLY got around to checking his messages!
I have power of my own in my corner: Several University professors, countless musicians and one of the largest Jazz promoters love my work and request me every booking they have at the venue (in fact with one of the promoters it's in their SEASON contract to have me as the engineer
). And, if I leave the producer said he'd take his talent elsewhere. I don't want to have to play that card, but if I am stuck doing all the work and none of the paid hours for someone else, then so be it.
So, that's my day: Walking several miles, fighting the busses, and getting rejected for a job that any Nigerian with a '97 Crown Vic can get while wondering if I may get passed up for a job I have 17 years experience in simply because I didn't say the right thing to the right people and actually gave a shit about a performance.