First, I found out that I'm still jinxed in my attempts to go to karaoke, as I cannot join Evan and his parents tomorrow night because I have to attend rehearsal.
Then, I found out Ugly Betty was cancelled. Which is just a disappointing day for my inner couch potato.
The cloudy day and hint of rain didn't really bother me, since today's high was nearly 60 degrees... are we sure it's January? Though the humidity creeping back into the air wasn't a welcome sign...
At work, the proverbial cow poo hit the fan.
There was a lot of tension from the moment I walked in, but the real culprit today was this Valentine's Show Schedule from hell. I get it. It's hard for them. They wanna put up a show for as little money as possible, but I have one gripe.
I'm not your puppet, OLC. This ain't Pinocchio. I'm a real boy, darnit.
See, all 5 of us signed 5 show/9 hour day contracts. We're all here to perform in Big Band Beat. And you, up till now, have been (pretty much) fair about scheduling us as such, paying us as such, and maintaining a decent schedule.
But see, there's this little problem when you decide half of us are going to do a special event and get paid a crap-ton of overtime, while the other half get NADA.
And it becomes a BIG problem when you decide that the special event people shouldn't have to hold their own weight and do their fair share of the regular pay job. They should just do less shows and get paid more money.
You define these as two different shows. And you want them both to be good so you're worried about people's health. But that's not MY problem. I should not have to switch my days off because you don't wanna pay people overtime. And I DEFINITELY should not be picking up the slack and doing extra shows and all day performances for people who are making THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE THAN ME.
If you're so worried about our health, cast an understudy (and actually teach him the show), pull them out of regular Big Band Beat for two weeks, or just leave the schedule as is and pay them the pocket change out of your coffers. I'm sure it'll really break the bank what with the 7 hour lines to buy Duffy's new girlfriend bear. Really. You're definitely hurting for revenue and the gai-jin are bleeding you dry.
But don't, DON'T play double standard with me and try to schedule us like we work one show when they are considered two separate shows and paid as such.
WTF, Japan? WTF?
I thought you might be the ONE contract of my life where the producers didn't pull stunts, but I forgot the one rule of capitalism and show BUSINESS... money rules all and ain't nobody gonna give a crap about what you deserve. You're in it for yourself.
Which is why this contract has been good for me. It's taught me to step up and ask for and/or demand what I want. And while I'm not always successful, at least the Japanese now know they can't pull one over on me.
The funny thing is... if they'd just explain and ask me nicely or grow a pair, invoke the terms of my contract, and tell me I HAVE to do something or they'll cut my pay... well then I might shut up and agree.
But until then, I ain't nobody's singing Pinocchio. Until you pay us equally, I ain't doing anyone else's work. Not anymore.
