(no subject)

Today we have 11-6 shift. One show, and no phone calls.

The way it works is this: We call members who haven't bought season tickets again for next year. We call each member twice, over the course of four weeks. If we don't get hold of them the first two times (or we do and they're "undecided") we leave a voicemail on the third go and that's the end of things.

Now, I started the calls. On the very first day of calls I did the first two hours totally alone. Many of the members have only been called by me (we keep a record of who called whom in our database, so I know this for a fact). And yesterday, because Coworker K is a dickhead who simply gets his calling list and looks at it and does nothing, I finished the calls.

The calls are done. No more angry hangups, weeping widows, "I'm eating dinner", or querelous yentas who don't know, they just don't know, can I call them back at eight tonight? (No. I can't, alas.)

Last night I also encountered someone I can only describe as thoroughly unpleasant. She wasn't angry or upset, she was just an unpleasant woman who spends her whole life on the same emotional note, and that is "annoyed". At one point she asked "Well, where are the prices, huh?" and I started to show her where in the brochure she could see prices and she said "Dear, I don't have my glasses on." as if I was a moron. I'm sorry, you asked, I showed you. She also immediately assumed that a membership makes the tickets cost MORE than single tickets, when in fact they are less, because apparently she wasn't paying attention to the fact that the admittedly high-priced membership gets you a ticket to three shows, all three, yes, three shows.

How do these people go through life? I understand occasionally getting angry at someone and blowing up, but to spend your whole life insulting everyone who doesn't read your mind, how does that work? How do you find someone who loves you, let alone get them to marry you and procreate with you? How do you get or keep a job?

One show. No phone calls. And then, two days off in a row.

I'm going to the Conservatory on Tuesday, I think, and have an encounter with New Realism. At least Niki de Saint-Phalle isn't going to shout at me.

(no subject)

Gaudy Night
Lifeline Theatre at Theater on the Lake
Harriet's peaceful Oxford retreat becomes a nightmare as a vandal with a grudge threatens the college, its residents and Harriet's life. Where is Lord Peter now that she really needs him? Peter Greenberg and Jenifer Tyler return as the leads in this runaway hit.
Wednesday, June 27 - Sunday, July 01

OMG WHAT.

*puts in schedule request for evening off to see what will probably be a terrible adaptation but who cares, OMG GAUDY NIGHT*

(no subject)

Hey, you guys remember Paul Potts, the opera-singing mobile phone salesman from Britain's Got Talent?

The reason I like this story is not that it's an original story or a touching story -- it is a nice rags to riches variation, but the concept is hardly new and one wonders how much audience-manip went on (Potts performed last of all the performers in the finals, which is the spot actors like because you get remembered.)

What I like is what it says about humanity: it's proof that people will pick a good story over a pretty face any day.

I mean...what majority would have picked Paul if he didn't have a story? Yes, of course he's got leet 0p3ra skillz, but in a competition like this do many people actually vote for who has the most talent, and how many people in the world are qualified to judge between say, breakdancers and opera singers? It's apples to oranges. So, your average person (note: Sam's Cafe readers are well above average; shh) votes for the look and feel. Eighteen year olds are voting for the hot young dude or the bad boys; parents vote for kids; twentysomethings vote for the cool bar guys. This guy was the dark horse, 'cause all he had going for him was the fact that he sings opera. And yet he got the majority. Because he had a story.

Poor Paul. God love 'im, he's so talented and all anyone can talk about is how fug he is. :D