Networking IS Working
I began really SEEING my blind spot,
about 10 hours into
my third 16-hour day in a row.
The conference days were scheduled events
of meetings, workshops, events, and showcases
for 14 hours a day
(excluding an hour for lunch,
and 90 minutes for dinner)
for 3 days straight.
That is grueling enough,
except
I also have a sagging pocketful of deadlines this week,
so I'm draggin' my ass through a time-shaped keyhole
trying to get it all done
while still attending as much of the conference as I can
FOR [the social] SCIENCE [of art]!
I start asking people
about their experience of these extra-long days
because this is non-stop
and I'm hourly and just don't have enough billable hours approved
for a 60 hour work week
because of these long-ass conference days!
What the hell, man!
EVERYONE be working salaried or commission??
I got mostly versions of,
"Yeah, it really is a very long and tiring day,
but I DO admit that I am having so much fun
so it's not like it's WORK!"
And I get it,
but also
why is "work" synonymous with unpleasantness?
Are expertise, attention, skill, time, and labor,
only seen as 'work'
(ie: useful, valuable, productive)
when we are *not* having fun?
But I hadn't thought about it in the context of
this industry in general
(entertainment industry...
TV, Film, Live Performance, Media)
but it is so EVIDENT!
It's considered a fun and glamorous job
(and it admittedly kinda is, to me)
while also widely known for its long working days,
with solid back-to-back scheduling
contract-based temporary positions with no guarantees
and/or
lots of traveling
and/or
uncomfortable situations
for days, weeks, or months on end
in all working/weather conditions
with a "no matter what" attitude
as if they were heroic EMTs or public school teachers....
Except,
they're bringing you... art!
Or failing that...
something arty/art-adjacent.
Or failing THAT...
something trashy, but fun.
But for some reason,
there is this expectation
of working 24/7
and being on *everyone's* schedule
if your job is fun entertainment.
Day schedule for business/administration/set-up/planning
Night schedule for practice/performance/creation.
That is... very normal.
Bars, galleries, performance halls,
theaters, musicians, dancers, actors,
artists, tv stations, film sets,
all recognize this schedule.
The service industry has the same problem.
But, that's the truth about art and entertainment, isn't it?
it's a service
where large portions of the job are not considered "work"
and so often go unrecognized and unpaid
despite the fact
the paid part of the work
can't be done without it.
At least, that is what my brain coughed up between sleeping 4 hours a night
and thinking how lucky I am to do what I do...
Yea?
Nay?
Hei-Hei?
about 10 hours into
my third 16-hour day in a row.
The conference days were scheduled events
of meetings, workshops, events, and showcases
for 14 hours a day
(excluding an hour for lunch,
and 90 minutes for dinner)
for 3 days straight.
That is grueling enough,
except
I also have a sagging pocketful of deadlines this week,
so I'm draggin' my ass through a time-shaped keyhole
trying to get it all done
while still attending as much of the conference as I can
FOR [the social] SCIENCE [of art]!
I start asking people
about their experience of these extra-long days
because this is non-stop
and I'm hourly and just don't have enough billable hours approved
for a 60 hour work week
because of these long-ass conference days!
What the hell, man!
EVERYONE be working salaried or commission??
I got mostly versions of,
"Yeah, it really is a very long and tiring day,
but I DO admit that I am having so much fun
so it's not like it's WORK!"
And I get it,
but also
why is "work" synonymous with unpleasantness?
Are expertise, attention, skill, time, and labor,
only seen as 'work'
(ie: useful, valuable, productive)
when we are *not* having fun?
But I hadn't thought about it in the context of
this industry in general
(entertainment industry...
TV, Film, Live Performance, Media)
but it is so EVIDENT!
It's considered a fun and glamorous job
(and it admittedly kinda is, to me)
while also widely known for its long working days,
with solid back-to-back scheduling
contract-based temporary positions with no guarantees
and/or
lots of traveling
and/or
uncomfortable situations
for days, weeks, or months on end
in all working/weather conditions
with a "no matter what" attitude
as if they were heroic EMTs or public school teachers....
Except,
they're bringing you... art!
Or failing that...
something arty/art-adjacent.
Or failing THAT...
something trashy, but fun.
But for some reason,
there is this expectation
of working 24/7
and being on *everyone's* schedule
if your job is fun entertainment.
Day schedule for business/administration/set-up/planning
Night schedule for practice/performance/creation.
That is... very normal.
Bars, galleries, performance halls,
theaters, musicians, dancers, actors,
artists, tv stations, film sets,
all recognize this schedule.
The service industry has the same problem.
But, that's the truth about art and entertainment, isn't it?
it's a service
where large portions of the job are not considered "work"
and so often go unrecognized and unpaid
despite the fact
the paid part of the work
can't be done without it.
At least, that is what my brain coughed up between sleeping 4 hours a night
and thinking how lucky I am to do what I do...
Yea?
Nay?
Hei-Hei?