The Other Way of Work
From the Onion AV Club this week, an interview with artsy people (an actor and a director in the Chicago theater scene):
Q: (irrelevant)
A: I guess it's both the blessing and the curse of the business. You're not a nine-to-fiver, slaving away at the same office or whatever every day of your life. You have a different environment and a different family every time. That's the really exciting thing. But then at the end of the run, everyone goes their separate ways.
Versus my situation - nine-to-fiver (actually closer to eight-to-sixer) in an office, same people, health insurance, budget spreadsheets instead of creating art. I'm tired of my setup.
What do you prefer? If you're lodged in one, would you prefer the other?
Labels: quote
posted by MJP @ 8:26 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
So... are we supposed to answer this time?
'Cause last time you asked your blog about the existential quandry you were in, you seemed a bit put off when it answered back...
Just sayin'.
Totally! Go answer.
Excellent point. The courage to follow that through is harder to come by than I want, but how can you disagree with the sentiment?
Having had much experience in both work environments it totally depends on what your priorities are. My priority changed from working in theater, hours don't really matter to not coming home pissed off and being able to spend more than an hour a week with my husband and his schedule so I left the 'artistic' schedule. However, I also accepted a new job that had flexible scheduling so if I want to work 10-6 one day I can.
-Anter
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At 6:40 PM, Glen said...
To me, this isn't a bravery thing. This is you deciding either to foster your internal growth or stick with what seems 'safe'. If you rely on others to provide for you a sense of accomplishment and a meter sick of your progress, you'll never spring from your little prison. You've seen a more drastic case of external neediness and the results of that.
If you were satisfied with your day job, I'd leave it alone, but you constantly heave ho back and forth on it, running in place, and predictably enough, you get nowhere.
My hours are ridiculous, the level of toil often unnoticed, and thank the Spaghetti Monster I have an understanding spouse who shares my aspirations, but the process strengthens the soul, provides scads of life perspective, and in the end to me is worth far more than the stability of what would be endless routine.
Your pathological fear of marriage and 'settling' keeps the family a far future thing, so why are you wasting your time now? You've got the cash, which you aren't even that thrilled to spend. If you don't like your situation (and the frequency of complaint tends to make me think you hate it--no matter how much qualifying you do), get out.
It isn't courage--at some point, it becomes laziness and complacency, two words I have no need to associate with you. You're far better than this, and it's plain to see your considerable ability and creativity is wasted right now, which borders on criminality. So knock it the fuck off and scrape and drag yourself to a place where you can call the life shots yourself instead of giving a damn what we think. You've had several excellent ideas. Try one.
Hey, look, I was just an asshole in front of all your friends! New leaf!
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