Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Hey, I'm Unemployed! Woo-Hoo!

This is topic Hey, I'm Unemployed! Woo-Hoo! in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 05-14-2005, 07:51 PM:

After nearly 2 years toiling at Rent-A-Center, I was given the axe today, Saturday. I loved the job. My co-workers are some of the nicest people that I have ever worked around. I was told that my job had been eliminated. I worked hard for those idiots, and won 5 awards in my nearly 2 years with them.

Cut-backs, they said...

Tonight I am drinking Marguaritas. I'm on #2 already....

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-14-2005, 08:04 PM:

Am headed out to dinner so will have a couple for you too Bruce....

First thing Monday you go apply with their competition! Be sure to take your awards with to show em off! They WILL hire you!

Mark

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 05-14-2005, 08:50 PM:

Good Luck in your future endevours

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 05-14-2005, 09:08 PM:

OH No, I'm sorry to hear that, Bruce. I would second what Mark said. Go across the street. That'll teach 'em!

You're a good guy, I'll bet you won't have too much trouble picking back up somewhere soon.

You can always go back into broadcast, if you have to. [Wink]

Best of luck, my friend!

Posted by Floyd Justin Newton (Member # 1316) on 05-15-2005, 01:48 PM:

Bruce--

There's always a BETTER job around the corner [Wink]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-15-2005, 03:28 PM:

quote:
You can always go back into broadcast,

Tim,
Broadcast jobs are ranking right along with projectionist as far as pay scales today. The networks have really torn down theor enginering departments big time. I would never go back unless it was a transmitter gig up on Farnsworth Peak, home to over 300 transmitters of all types. That wold be ALOT of fun!

Mark

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 05-15-2005, 04:26 PM:

Yeah, I know, Mark. That's why I said, 'if you have to.' Sometimes, you just gotta take something, so you can eat. Although, I'd say Bruce will probably be able to draw unemployment benefits.
[Wink]

Posted by Jason M Miller (Member # 2597) on 05-15-2005, 05:30 PM:

Hey Bruce, I have been there before (about 2 years or so with temp jobs here and there). It sucks but just keep your chin up and you will make it through. [thumbsup]

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 05-16-2005, 07:52 AM:

OK It's MONDAY!

Going to the unemployment office this morning. My former boss has written a recommendation letter for me. We'll see what happens.

Guys, thanks for the upbeat replies.

The marguaritas were great on Saturday night. At least I didn't wake up naked in the street on Sunday!

Posted by Andrew McCrea (Member # 674) on 05-16-2005, 10:04 AM:

Good Luck with this unfortunate situation!

Posted by Bruce Hansen (Member # 281) on 05-16-2005, 08:15 PM:

Bruce,

It's just time for a better job, and more money. Good luck.

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 05-17-2005, 02:21 AM:

Hope you find a good one, Mark!

Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 05-17-2005, 01:42 PM:

Bruce, I wish you well in your Job hunt. Maybe you can set up a "White Castle" Franchise in your town! Might be worth a try.
Or you could set up a film-tech.com gift store. Just food for thought. [Smile]

Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 05-17-2005, 01:47 PM:

I believe that all White Castle restaurants are company owned, or at least they were at one time.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 05-17-2005, 11:02 PM:

quote:
Hope you find a good one, Mark!

Ha.... I'm not look'n for a job. Pretty happy where I'm at right now.

Mark

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 05-18-2005, 12:24 AM:

Whoops, meant Bruce, not Mark. Got a circuit board arcing somewhere.

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 05-18-2005, 07:52 AM:

I hate brain farts. Happen all the time.

White Castle? Listen Bob, after all these years of touting Krystals, I'm beginning to think that WC might be a good idea here. The two Krystals we have here vary wildly in quality. I ate some yesterday, and was not impressed.

WEDNESDAY: Back to the unemployment office!

Posted by Floyd Justin Newton (Member # 1316) on 05-18-2005, 09:29 AM:

So, my friend, how's it going? [Wink]

Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 05-19-2005, 02:30 PM:

Bruce....I promise to stop by and order a bag of "Whities" [Smile]

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 05-19-2005, 04:17 PM:

I'll join you Bruce. I too am unemployed as of tomorrow (no aviation classes nor Japanese tutoring during the summer). Gotta find something to do over the hot days.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 05-19-2005, 09:25 PM:

Paul, sounds like a vacation is in order!

Guys, if anyone's looking for work, you can probably get a job with my outfit. Trucking is thin for the first few weeks (while you're being trained on-the-job), but then you're set and you can make some good dough. There's a lot of opportunities for different situations, based on your needs/preferences.

US Xpress Enterprises, Driver Recruiting

No CDL? No problem. The company even has their own school, which they can finance.

Better yet, Bruce, you might look into what I did when I was drawing unemployment. I signed up for federal job-retraining funds, which paid for my truck driving school. Only thing I had to buy was my actual CDL (license) from the state of PA (about $70, as I recall). I can't remember the name of the program I was on, but I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get it. Ask your unemployment case worker. They should have information on current programs. Good luck!

Posted by Dieter Depypere (Member # 3184) on 05-30-2005, 02:56 PM:

Well I'll say... I have no work for now (until mid June when I go back projecting at Kino Drobollach).
When I was looking for work I noticed that a megaplex theatre was looking for a projectionist. Well ok, I thought, gonna write 'em.

You know what these [ [Mad]

] did? Just ignored the letter... I called them and I got told every time that the boss was not in da house but would call back. I am still waiting. But if they don't want projectionists although they search them (er...quite logical isn't it!?) the popcorn sellers will need to handle the prints. Oh boy! Quite fun I think...

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 05-30-2005, 03:27 PM:

Yeah, Anthony (ex hubby/current BF - WHATEVER) lost his job at the theater too... is this a new trend?

Tim, sent you a PM... just letting you know because I always miss them.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 05-30-2005, 04:50 PM:

quote: Dieter Depypere
I called them and I got told every time that the boss was not in da house but would call back.

In da house? Is that theatre in da hood? In South Central Rosenbach?

Posted by Dieter Depypere (Member # 3184) on 05-31-2005, 03:40 AM:

no, er, this megaplex is located in Klagenfurt... But also in the very south of Austria [Smile]

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 05-31-2005, 08:55 AM:

Tim: I have considered the trucking route. I just took a 2 day ride with my best friend. He's a trucker. I liked the ride, but was amazed how many drivers on the road ignore the size of my truck and do stupid things in front of us. The ones blabbling on their cell phones are the worst. I've never been flipped off so many times in 2 days!

Anyway, I enjoy driving long distances. My friend is gone again this morning to Las Vegas. He will have a 2 day layover in Arizona. I think I'd be bored to death sitting in a truck for 2 days. He tells me that some of the trips are excruciating.

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 05-31-2005, 11:08 AM:

Just faxed in a resume and cover letter for a stagehand job with Blue Man Group, which is leaving the Luxor and moving over to the Venetian. Since this will be a non-IATSE crew at the new hotel we'll see if I have a shot.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 06-03-2005, 02:52 AM:

Rach'... got it! Thanks, hon'. Wrote ya back.

Good luck, Paul! Let us know how that works out. My kids love those guys.

Bruce, it's not bad, especially if you're the type who can run a projection booth all alone for hours. You do get used to it, because your truck is your home away from home. You have your amenities and can get really comfortable. I'm a little spoiled because I run a dedicated, but when I was OTR and had a layover (first of all, my company pays you for that time), I always rested in my sleeper and watched TV, listened to the XM radio, or read books. Most truck stops also have big game and TV rooms you can hang out in. There's also plenty of other drivers in the same situation who are always willing to talk, if you just want a little human interaction. You can also listen to (or participate in) "Radio Rambo" fights on the CB that truckers often get into. It can be tremendously entertaining before it gets old. Whores also stop by your truck in some areas of the country, and bums, if you look at them. But, on layovers, I often found myself wanting more time to read. The time does fly.

I've always been a tremendously patient driver, so maybe that helps me cope with the idiots. You always have to anticipate what 4-wheelers are gonna do. Most of the time, if you think they might pull a stupid move, they will. They have absolutely no concept when they cut in front of you and hit their brakes, or pass you on the right, just how lucky they were that a driver who anticipated their selfish, foolish move was at the wheel this time. I've seen plenty out here who weren't so lucky, as I'm sure you have. Just a couple weeks ago on I-91 in CT, during afternoon rush, some guy who had stopped his car on the shoulder decided to cut straight back out into traffic that was travelling at 70mph. He didn't even get up to speed and merge back in, he just turned into the lane and hit the accelerator. I guess he expected the truck would stop for him -- if he even looked in his mirror and saw it, that is. Of course, all the lanes were packed so the truck had nowhere else to go but over this guy. There was nothing left of the car. I rolled up on this about 5 minutes after it happened. Well, it was the last stupid move that guy will ever make.

Speaking of getting the bird... that really hasn't happened to me all that much, and I DRIVE THROUGH NEW YORK CITY twice a day! (I'm convinced people in NY/NJ are really a lot nicer than they would have you believe. I think they just wear their "reputation" as a badge.) The only times I can remember getting flipped off are, oddly, once in NC and twice in MA. Naturally, these are people who just can't wait to get around a big truck (so we can all meet again at the next light). You've just gotta ignore 'em, can't let it get to you.

Good luck, Bruce. If you consider going that route and have any questions about USX, don't hesitate to let me know. I've got the info.

BTW, who's your friend drive for?

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 06-03-2005, 03:58 AM:

Hey Tim - took a look at that trucking site and curious on why drivers get paid CPM less for longer miles driven. You'd think that they get paid more for longer runs.

..course, I don't know anything about the world of the trucking world, but still have to ask this kind of question.

thx-Monte

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 06-03-2005, 01:48 PM:

Hey, Monte! They just started doing that about a year ago. Drivers like to get long hauls. Long hauls mean more miles, which means more money on your paycheck. Well, the company decided to compensate by raising the cpm for short hauls. That way, your pay is more consistent from week to week. It's a good deal.

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 08-18-2005, 09:26 PM:

I am back among the employed! The best part is: I'M AT A THEATRE!!! [beer]

More to come later... [evil]

Thanks to all for all the nice comments.

Didn't even have to sell my body again this time... [Razz]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-18-2005, 09:43 PM:

Way to go Bruce.... Please post away!!!

Mark

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 08-18-2005, 11:36 PM:

quote:
The best part is: I'M AT A THEATRE!!!

What's so good about that?

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 08-19-2005, 01:25 AM:

Because they looked at him funny running those Dolby Tone loops on the Blizzard machine at Dairy Queen.

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 08-19-2005, 07:40 PM:

[beer]

I've got 7 projectors to play with. Christies. All of them run pretty good. 6 DTS and a Dolby house. I'll be building prints in a couple of weeks. I LOVE handling film!