I'm Working In Oz
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:00AM Some of you may already know this, but the earth has rotated, tides have shifted, Kanye didn’t act like a complete fucktard at the Grammy’s, and I gots me a job. Dats right, Mama’s gonna buy some new shoes…and pay the power bill. Snap.
Where am I working? How sweet of you to ask. I’m working in Oz and The Wizard is my boss. More specifically, I’m working at a casting agency, and trust me, for those of us who are actors, casting agencies are Oz.
Starting a new job is such a curiously unique experience. I’ve been more or less unemployed for 6 months, working little gigs here and there, but nothing stable or permanent. I grew accustomed to waking without an alarm, keeping fewer than 10 emails in my inbox at any one time, and having absolutely no skrilla.
After a considerable length of unemployment, you're so fecking grateful to have a paycheck that nothing else really matters. You’re almost giddy with your new jobby-jobified self. You know that in a couple of weeks, you’ll be just another miserable drone, but for now it’s nice having an excuse to get out of pajamas.
What I noticed my first week of work:
-My coworkers all seem either cool or tolerable. I know that in a few months I’ll fantasize about stapling their mouths shut and forcing them to listen to a recorded soundtrack of their rambling horseshit, but for now, go ahead, tell me what your kid did last night!
-I feel rich. In actuality I’m making just enough to get by, but having an income is making me want to be a good little consumer again and go buy some shit I don’t need. I’m sure in a month or so I’ll feel broke again, but for now, I’m buying the name brand cereal.
-I don’t mind having to bathe. Soon the daily shower (and for us ladies, the make-up routine) will seem like the world’s most punishing chore, but for now, it’s refreshing. I forgot what I looked like with clean hair and mascara.
-I also forgot how much fun it is stealing shit from work, packets of sugar here, post-it notes there. NOT that I do this at my new job…just reminiscing about positions past…
-I almost appreciate being really tired. “I worked today. I earned this couch potato time.” Soon being tired will be as hated as herpes, but for now the sore feet are a novelty.
-I’m even grateful I haven’t seen every episode of every Bravo show. Because now, I have a job, and I’m busy. Of course, when the finale of Top Chef rolls around and I don’t have time to watch it, I’ll become bitter that my job is consuming my life and keeping me from such high art as the debate over Padma’s one piece jumpsuits.
But for now, in the early days of employment my vision is rosey. I’m not having Real Housewives withdrawals (yet) and I appreciate having somewhere to be during the day.
I’m the cheerful new girl at work. I’m that annoying crack-happy newbie who’s eager to please, always on time and doesn’t complain about staying late. Ick, I’m that guy. What a tool. I wonder how long this will last?
Reader Comments (25)
Yep if there's one thing you can say about employment, it's its ability to make you feel a whole lot less losery, because you have a place to go. And naturally the paycheck is not exactly something to sneeze at either. And it helps if you don't hate your job or at least the people you do it with, so it seems to me like you're definitely winning! :) Even if it means showering more. And cocktailing less. Plus come on, show me a job that doesn't provide you with STORIES. :) Yay.
Yay for the new paycheck and the name brand cereal! Glad you like your job. I really miss working in Casting. There will be days where you want to scream at the annoying, anxious, kiss assy actors waiting in the room, but hey, YOU HAVE THE POWER! They are all looking at YOU thinking you have a say in their dreams coming true. Isn't it grand?!!!! I loved when actors would treat me like royalty.
So, you're watching my vlogs and trying to find me the perfect fit, right??? ;)
Congrats on your new job!!!!! And on your showering.
Congratulations! Getting a paycheck is a very good thing. Enjoy the newness until, like you said, you start to feel bitter again. And, definitely do go out and by that name brand cereal.
Veggie: Thx Veg!! Yeah, feeling less losery is uuuuusually a bonus, unless you're trying to be a loser for Halloween. And you're exactly right, I look forward to the next onslaught of stories!
Boober: It is seriously crazy! After so many years of being on "the other side" (and continuing to do so) is a mind trip being the one with the "control" (kinda, sorta). I had one day already where I wanted to slaughter some actors though--we were casting hot female models. Good lord, the stereotypes are sadly so true!! Gaaaawd, they were annoying!
Jules: Right!!! :) Imaho totally needs to be on national tv. :)
Jen: Thanks, Jen! Newness is always so sparkly and fun. :)
Wow!! Congrats! I can't wait to hear stories about this job!
Hmm, are we taking bets how long the newness will last? I'm going with 2 months. What do you think about that?
Wow, 6 months is a long unemployment. That was at least partially self-imposed though right? But still, I totally know what you mean. I'm so happy that you're happy now! Woohoo!
YAY! I'm so happy that you are liking your job. And the good news is, a lot of people HATE their jobs from the beginning, so if your liking it now... there is a good chance it will stay at least semi-pleasant!
Jeff: Hellzya!
LuLu: 2 months is a bit ambitious...but I like ambition!
Ronny: Oh yeah, totally self-imposed. Well, it's not like I turned down jobs during that time period, but I wasn't uber-aggressive about finding one either. I needed the time to reasses my life and I was SO lucky that I saved enough moola that I could take it. But now, back to the grindstone.
Carissa: So true! It should stay at least semi-pleasant for a good while at least! Trying to keep that attitude anyway! :)
Your list totally cracked me up!
Hey man, I was wondering like, can you get me in on some auditions or what? I'll totally book that shit. Sweet man. Thanks. I owe you one.
No seriously. Can you?.......
Congrats on the job and feeling motivated about it!! I'm looking forward to reading future blogs about it though. :)
i have a 3pm callback, a 3:30pm dentist appt, a 3:45pm producer's session, and a 4pm meth orgy - is there any way i can go next?
Jenny12: Yay!
Kneebucks: Sure, as long as you're a 350 lb black man who's fluent in Mandarin and plays the banjo.
C Ros: Amen sista, they are a comin. :)
JE: Asbsolutely, for the low low price of go fuck yourself. ;) P.S. you're hilarious
HHH so happy you love your job!! Isn't it nice to leave your job not in tears!! Success!!
Yes! Stolen office goodies!! Fill up your pockets immediately! So glad you get to buy good cereal now, that's awesome. I hope the new-job glow doesn't fade too quickly. And I agree with everyone else - can't wait to hear the casting agency stories!
Gawd this is funny. Congrats on the new gig! Here's to hoping that you stay that annoyingly happy guy.
Kelly
Caroline: Right?! What a concept!
Elise: New job glow, I love that. It's slightly different than the post sex glow cuz your hair isn't messed up. Ha!
Kelly: Thank you! And truth be told, I hope I stay this guy too. :)
Yay!! A job! Can't wait to hear some good juicy actor drama stories.... then you can quit! Ha! I mean this is all just research for the blog right!!!??... And you may get some brown nosing from acting friends... that's not so bad!! :)
Rebecca: Yeah, I'm looking forward to the brown nosing, haha! Power baby, gotta love the power--it's so rare! Ha!
yay for you. i'll drink to that! (and can you tell this idiot how to get follow up comments from your blog?)
Claire: Thank you!! And oh geez, for me to tell you that I'd have to be smarter than my blog, and I'm not. Wuh wuuuuh. I'm sorry!! I wish I knew how! HHH fail.
hey, i realize i'm like 6 weeks late in seeing this, but i thought i was subscribed, was not, now i am. congrats on the job...still feeling new? or annoyed? re: your "bravo" comment: reminded me of when I lost my then-job about 5 years ago. I have a friend who Tivos all the crap out there, esp. Oprah + every single reality show you can imagine. We went out one day. "Hey, did you see Oprah yesterday?" she asks. Me: "No, why would I do that?" She: "because you're out of work and if I were I'd watch Oprah all day." She proceeded to tell me about some "amazing" singer who was on, then took me to her house to watch her tivo'ed version of it. no kidding.
congrats on the job....i look forward to more tales.
E.B.: Hilarious. I definitely watched a lot of Oprah during my unemployment. Now I barely keep up with my Bravo! Oh how times have changed. ;) Thanks for the comment!