A Performance Evaluation

I have been a part of this company for nearly three months now and I have done 2 events total. The first one was a New Year's show for one of the biggest hotels here in Dubai where I was given the amazing task of being Stage Manager slash Stage Hand. All I did for that event was walk in front of trucks (as per the rule in the hotel's pathway), hand out bottled water to the thirsty, make coffee for the Project Managers, and pick up empty bottles and other such crap lying about. The second one was the other night's fiasco, a jewellery launch for one of the biggest names in the industry, where I did the most imperfect job as Cameraman 3(or as Number 4* pointed out, cameraperson). I've forgotten how stressful and demanding a live show can get, and last night was a painful reminder of that fact.

In between those two gigs, I've just been hanging out at the Warehouse trying to learn as much as I could from the boys without bothering them too much with my newbie enthusiasm and eagerness. The decision to hang out in the Warehouse instead of staying inside the office is another story altogether which I shall adress in the future. The one month spent sorting out gels was mind and eye-cracking followed by the olfactory-challenging cleaning of distros and shelves. Organizing the filters and tapes in storage came next which I finished in record breaking time of 5 hours instead of the few days my boss predicted. From the main Warehouse I moved on to the next, this time cutting transformers and other re-usable parts from the lighting cables used in a gig about a year ago. It's been fun and tough at the same time with the story of effort and hard work showing in my now calloused hands. There's a certain pride for every single cut and bruise I've had. And the reactions I keep on getting when the boys see me doing the dirty work is just priceless!

There are days when I get home and I am just absolutely exhausted emotionally and physically. Slowly, Im getting used to working with Brits and their snide comments and sarcastic asides. One of the lighting engineers told me to ignore whatever negative comment I hear and not take it personally. Being told to bugger off or shut your trap is also normal, according to him and I shouldn't be bothered at all. Well, Im getting there indeedy...;)

Im due for a performance evaluation on the 18th. That's when they'll decide whether or not Im worth keeping as well as how much I deserve for my efforts. Am I nervous? Hmmm, definitely. Hope for the best but expect the worst. Like my Dad said, if they let you go then you have to let them go too. My confidence lies in the knowledge that whatever happens, I shall move on.

*Number 4 is a kid who works in Audio. It has become a pastime for us out back to make up new nicknames for him whenever he discovers what they mean. Number 4 is a bus in Pakistan that goes to the loony bin.