some people...
I've noticed that I'm pretty strong when it comes to opinions about people. Especially people who shift the blame on others they believe have less power than they do.
An example of this involves a boom box. We use cheap audio equipment in the performance space simply because it's much easier to cue. You want to try that move again? Well instead of running upstairs and finding the cue to play on the loud speakers, or hiring someone else to just perch in the booth all afternoon pressing a button, we'll just sign out a portable stereo for you, so that you can do it yourselves. Of course, since the boom box has AV DEPT spraypainted on almost every flat surface available, it would be just routine that, once you're done with it, you bring it back. Where? How about the AV DEPT?
Of course, one has gone missing. Everyone is hurriedly pointing fingers at everyone else, while I'm just ducking for cover. Did I touch it? Nope. Did I see where it was last? Yep. Dance department had it. Dance department should have returned it. Dance department shouldn't just say, 'Oh, I'm sure one of the students brought it back upstairs to the office."
What office? When? Did you make sure the office door was locked? Why the bloody hell didn't you just bring it back to the AV DEPT?
And this is supposed to be higher learning.
I'm off this morning, but due back in late this afternoon. We had another snafu involving the same Dance Instructor and room bookings. I would have figured that it would be easy to confirm with the ROOM BOOKINGS DEPT that the performance that you've been advertising about for the past month was actually officially booked in the first place. This is a bloody University. You almost have to book a stall to go to the toilet around here.
Instead, three of us show up at 6pm to find out that the Performance Space has been booked for the next 2 weeks by the Cultural Studies department for rehearsals. Instead of being able to hang lights and panels at our percieved scheduled time, we decided to wait around until after the group had their rehearsal, and then hang. Estimated time of completion? 2:00 AM. And, my god, it will probably happen again tonight.
There's only so much we can bitch about it though. Technically, because of this error, I should be getting paid from 3:00 pm to 1:00 am (we finished earlier), with some bonus pay to boot, even though I had a three hour break, because someone else didn't do their jobs correctly. Officially, we are contractors, and too bad if there was 'an oversight'. Technically we can charge the department who hired us for the fuck up. But unfortunately, it doesn't get as direct as it should. Instead of penalizing the Head of the Department, who hires us personally, we should tag the Dance Instructor for her lack of follow-through. But no. I guess taking responsibility of the situation only goes so far.
I'm not really complaining though. Or, if I am, I'm simply frustrated with the situation, and even more frustrated with the instructor. I now feel the need to go over absolutely everything with her, and recheck bookings in the future, and interview her students for more information about missing material, though it's not yet my place to do so.
Yet.
This production marks my official title of House Manager. I'm pleased, and for just that, I can put up with pretty much anything. A year from now, that Dance Instructor better watch out. Hahaha. "