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Pro Sound Web: “Getting ahead without being a jerk” is actually what our young friend said he wanted to discuss. I will use the pseudonym “Oz Man” for him due to the volatile nature of his dilemma!
Notice that he is so distraught that he offers no salutation!
3 comments:
ZoeW
said...
This article is pretty freaking deep for how it is written. How does one balance not being a jerk, or a dick with not getting walked over. I feel like I have had this exact conversation with many of the men in my class and they really struggle with letting people know what they want without sounding like dicks. Additionally I think it is very easy (especially for young designers) to be disregarded by people who have been in the industry for years. It is an interesting conundrum, I believe that the best way to balance these two juxtapositions is to get to know people as intimately as possible in order so that they know that you are not being a dick (your just telling them what you want) and so that they trust you and will not walk over you.
The second part where old sound man discusses territory issues and age is very interesting. I think back to things that happened in high school with territory and I do tend to still get annoyed with them. I think that is especially true with people who are in theater because it is such a small industry that it is hard to escape some people. But I guess there is a whole country so that you can get away if you move as far as possible.
This article may be written by "the old soundman" but it pertains to all theatre work. Working in theatre is a constant challenge between beating someone out for the job, and then working with that same person you beat out next year with them as your manager. Just because people work tech, it doesn't mean they aren't good at socializing. In fact, those who have a hard time socializing, have the hardest time making it in the theatre world. It's all about making yourself stand out to get the job done, but being friends with everyone so you can get help when you need it. Even in our classes, while working on projects, this is evident. Everyone needs someone to occasionally help them hold the wood while they glue it. It's not being a doormat, it's being a good neighbor, and a good co-worker. There's a reason it's called the theatre community. Tech people run into each other repeatedly, it's like being neighbors.
While The Old Soundman offers a creative, comedic, look into "Oz Man's" problems, they are very serious ones that we will all face one time or another throughout our career. Everyone will! Even people outside of the entertainment industry. To do well in life, you always have to beat out someone else, something that is especially true in the cutthroat entertainment industry. In the end though, as the Old Soundman said, "They work with people they get along with. I work with people that I get along with!" It's as simple as that. Yes everyone will face people they don't get along with very well, but that's just a fact of life. Be hospitable and kind and easy to get along with, and it shouldn't be that much of a problem. As far as getting ahead goes, being different certainly helps. You can't just do the exact same thing and hope to go further than your predecessor. "Oz Man" needs to develop his own style and own traits that make him the "local hero" around town.
3 comments:
This article is pretty freaking deep for how it is written. How does one balance not being a jerk, or a dick with not getting walked over. I feel like I have had this exact conversation with many of the men in my class and they really struggle with letting people know what they want without sounding like dicks. Additionally I think it is very easy (especially for young designers) to be disregarded by people who have been in the industry for years. It is an interesting conundrum, I believe that the best way to balance these two juxtapositions is to get to know people as intimately as possible in order so that they know that you are not being a dick (your just telling them what you want) and so that they trust you and will not walk over you.
The second part where old sound man discusses territory issues and age is very interesting. I think back to things that happened in high school with territory and I do tend to still get annoyed with them. I think that is especially true with people who are in theater because it is such a small industry that it is hard to escape some people. But I guess there is a whole country so that you can get away if you move as far as possible.
This article may be written by "the old soundman" but it pertains to all theatre work. Working in theatre is a constant challenge between beating someone out for the job, and then working with that same person you beat out next year with them as your manager. Just because people work tech, it doesn't mean they aren't good at socializing. In fact, those who have a hard time socializing, have the hardest time making it in the theatre world. It's all about making yourself stand out to get the job done, but being friends with everyone so you can get help when you need it. Even in our classes, while working on projects, this is evident. Everyone needs someone to occasionally help them hold the wood while they glue it. It's not being a doormat, it's being a good neighbor, and a good co-worker. There's a reason it's called the theatre community. Tech people run into each other repeatedly, it's like being neighbors.
While The Old Soundman offers a creative, comedic, look into "Oz Man's" problems, they are very serious ones that we will all face one time or another throughout our career. Everyone will! Even people outside of the entertainment industry. To do well in life, you always have to beat out someone else, something that is especially true in the cutthroat entertainment industry. In the end though, as the Old Soundman said, "They work with people they get along with. I work with people that I get along with!" It's as simple as that. Yes everyone will face people they don't get along with very well, but that's just a fact of life. Be hospitable and kind and easy to get along with, and it shouldn't be that much of a problem. As far as getting ahead goes, being different certainly helps. You can't just do the exact same thing and hope to go further than your predecessor. "Oz Man" needs to develop his own style and own traits that make him the "local hero" around town.
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