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I was constantly reminded that routine service is on the loss side of the theatre's ledger, thus less expensive motels are my first choice. Make no mistake, one bug or rodent and I am out of there like a shot!

If I am on holiday with my wife, Holiday Inns and Howard Johnsons present no problem.

If I am on the road by myself, doing service, however, it is another story. I am there to work, not to party. Many of the theatres I service run continuously from noon (some from as early as 10 A.M.). Thus, if I am to do a decent routine service, I find it more convenient to start my day at 10:30 P.M. (in order to give me a chance to chat with the projectionist-usher, view the operation during the show, looking for focus problems or possible worn stator contacts in the platter, for example) and work till show-time the next day.

I need no swimming pool or internet access. I do, however need a fridge and relative quiet during the day (in order to sleep). Beleive me, it can be a real bitch changing your sleeping routine for only one week.

Because I service pretty much the same routes year after year (basically, the province of Ontario), and because I have found which out-of-the-way motels serve my needs best, I have become friends with most of the motel owners (who, by and large, are mom & pop operations) and have no objection to changing the bed linen at odd hours in which I am not in the room (and yes, I always leave the chambermaid a tip).

So if I wish to make myslef a Dagwood sandwhich ( the ingredients of which are charged to the company) and have a couple of beers after work (even tho after work is as early 11 A.M.), I am not looked upon as a hopeless alcoholic, but merley a technician.

Internet service is really getting to be a necessity, though...
Most of my service calls would come in via e-mail because calling the cellular is reserved for "house-down" emergencies. If somebody was having trouble but was still on-screen they would have to e-mail. I was required to check e-mail at least 2 or 3 times a day. Also, at the end of each day I would type up a report and save it until the end of the visit. At that point, all the reports would be sent to the boss.

Also, most of our parts orders were done via e-mail. In emergencies we had a "hotline" number we could call and get parts shipped overnight but, again, that was reserved for "house-down" emergencies.

If there was any time when we needed advice we could aways e-mail one of the other techs in the company and ask them. Having 10 other guys who know the job as well as (or better than) you at your fingertips is always a plus. On top of that, there is always Film-Tech! The great thing about FT is that it's virtually 24/7 operation. It may take a few hours to get a good answer but at least it's available.