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Valley Village, CA: Now that I'm getting settled into my
sweet, temporary digs, I'm also trying to adjust to my new work schedule. On the road, I live out of a suitcase, travel daily on a bus or a plane, set up a temporary office in a backstage dressing room of an arena or casino in some city I have probably visited at least twice before (but might have only seen the back of the arena). After a typical 15-18 hour day, I get back on the bus (or hotel room in order to catch a few hours of sleep before an early morning flight), and do it all over again.
Typically, after a show or three, back to back, I return to Nashers, work from my home office in jammies for as long as humanly possible and pop by the office once a week to pick up a check and visit with my work family, whom I usually only talk to on email.
And that feels normal to me.
In this new position (well, same position, just new game), I have one spot I go to and from every day, five days a week. I have a badge that I swipe to get into the parking garage. (I park in a parking garage! Well, when there are enough open spaces, that is.) I set up my laptop on the same desk in the same office and say hi to the same people each day.
It's like having a real job.
Ok, a real job... with a few minor differences. Here are just a few examples:
1) The "office" is on a set. So the streets you drive on have TV-show-friendly names.
2) When you see a normal treelined street with houses and cars parked in front, no one actually lives there. Instead they serve as production offices or sets. It's like
Mayberry.... or where Mayberry was filmed.
3) Don't be surprised if you see random props scattered throughout the property (including this gigantic nose... complete with nose hair).
4) Buildings that you may work on (or right next to) were homes to former substantial TV shows you've watched for years.
5) Golf carts (and golf cart parking) are key. As in, this lot is really big.
6) A coffee shop (serving Starbucks, thank the Lord) is mere steps away from your long day's work space.
7) Even trash cans have fancy film signs.
8) Cupcakes on show day are a norm. And a necessity. (Though potentially dangerous after 12 shows.)
9) The hair & makeup stylist has his own bathroom (and is charging me to use it!). Looks like there are two stars here....
10) Most important: when the red light is flashin', don't come a' knockin' (isn't that how the saying goes?).
If this is what a 'real' job looks like, I'm thinking this is a pretty interesting place to try it out.
