Tag: work

Running Aground in Mobile, AL: My First Cruise Ship

At the end of this week I got a sweet work gig. I’ll be installing a theater’s lighting/power rig on a cruiseship. In Mobile, AL… drydock. I hope to be able to visit Henry Stuart’s hurricane-proof hut (see A Hermit’s Refuge Is Now a Writer’s Muse – New York Times). But with 10-hour days and no great transportation options from the harbor, I may not be able to leave the ship. But while onboard I get a cabin to myself and paid meals. So, being locked up on ship may mean saving all my dough.

I’m intrigued and pleased that my first time on a cruiseship will be work related. Time spent there will mean money earned, not spent. This will be an interesting view behind the scenes, and a chance to see the ship and crew free of tourists and all that they would demand. Almost every job I’ve had has an element of public display: museum installations, theatrical performances and corporate events. What takes place in order to get these events ready for public consumption is usually a whirlwind of activity, often unseen nor even suspected.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Coincidentally, while surfing the interwebs, I found out about one man’s attempt to build a cruiseship of his very own. Francois Zanella’s boat

This man’s ship is great and so is his story.

Cartoons Attack, Meet the Terrorists!

While Adult Swim’s attack on Boston was thwarted, you can meet some of the terrorist masterminds at the Museum of Design Atlanta’s Cartoon Network exhibition. The show opens tomorrow (Thursday) from 5pm-9pm. Unfortunately Adult Swim is not a part of the show, so no stuff from Aqua Teen Hunger Force or Frisky Dingo.

I have installed shows at MODA and despite Cartoon Network deciding that I didn’t need to do the thing I do to earn money (I’ll eat Ramen this month)… I’m not bitter. So, I will look at the art and drink their free booze (I hope it’s free). For those who are looking to go, the museum is here… Google Maps.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And thanks to Andy for his posts on Atlanta Makes War On Boston!!!! and Atlanta Makes War On Boston, Part 2. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known about this latest attack on the homeland.

The Cycle of Life: Or Something to That Effect

In two bits of irony, on Friday:

A) at 12 noon I got a frantic phone call, the Las Vegas Art Museum needed help finishing the installation of a show opening at 6:30 pm because their head art installer went to the hospital. What little that needed to be finished was done in time and they all seemed happy.

Why ironic? Because I got hired by the LVAM as the head art installer in 2001 when I got a similar panic-stricken call. But that time the then-newly hired director fired the same guy that fell ill on Friday. What kind of director fires their only main guy in the middle of an extremely brief turnaround? But it got me a job until I left for the Guggenheim Las Vegas. Which closed a year and a half after it opened, and now got turned into this.

B) Same day I met Diana from Global Art Transport (Vegas based? Maybe.)

Why ironic? Hers is the kind of company I wished I could have worked for instead of the non-art related job that I had for the last 2 years.

My wife commented on the irony, told me to get over it and keep packing! Whoophah!

The Ladies Were Kicking Ass

The Grand Prix World Cup (Senior World Cup Fencing) was at the Stardust Resort & Casino this weekend. Women from all around the world came to our city to whack at each other with sabers and poke at each other with foils. Electronic uniforms and wireless weapons automated the scoring and gave the event an unexpectedly hi-tech quality. It was Xena, warrior princess, with electronic beeping and LEDs.

With my brilliant wife out of town and me having worked my last day at the MGM on Friday, I’ll be searching for entertaining and free events all summer like the one I described above. Fortunately, one day before my last, the MGM gave out to all its employees freebies for the summer. I took the option of 4 free movie tickets. So do the math.

4 tickets = about $36
MGM has about 10,000 peeps… so that’s about $360,000 in gifts.

Say what you will about working in casinos (it sucked/paid the bills/kept me insured), the perks ain’t bad. That and the employee dining room had a larger buffet than some of the smaller casinos’ public buffets. Got paid for my lunch hour and ate for free. Perks!

Ticket #1. Batman Returns
Grade A-
Reasons to see the movie: Christian Bale, Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow), The Batmoblie, no Robin.

Currently researching Atlanta, surfing selected blogs (see side column) and listening to Andisheh Nouraee on his My ‘Lanta podcast.

Funny stuff.