Sundialing
May 15, 2008 | permalink

I have been in Miami all week, installing the lighting for a poolside fashion show. Being as it is out of town, I have been working with a crew made up of locals that we hired through a Miami based lighting company (save The Director, who came down with me to help me run things). There are a lot of differences between my crew and this crew, some of them very frustrating.

A lot of it, of course, is that most of the people that I work with in New York are people that I have known for a long time. We have a common vocabulary and experience working together; I knew that this would not be the case here. Indeed, I have gotten a lot of blank looks this week for the simple reason that Miami and New York are far enough apart that things are referred to with different words.

Another source of frustration (and I don't want to sound snobbish; it's just the truth) is that the base standards here are just not what they are in New York, in terms of neatness or consistency in work. And I knew that this was the case going in, but I hoped that with a little guidance they would do things my way. I am not saying that my way of doing things is the best way, mind you; but it's a pretty good way, and it works for me, so...

Sadly (and frustratingly) for me, most of the crew, when presented with the option of doing something the way they were instructed to or the easy way, they chose the easy way. Every time.

As far as I am concerned, it's not about the easy way. It's about making it look good and be right. I cannot tell you how many times I have uttered the phrase, 'I know this is going to be a pain in the ass, but I need it done like this...' My regular crew trusts me, and knows that I am not making it difficult for no reason. And I trust them not to take shortcuts for their own convenience. It was all very irritating. But it happened nonetheless, Gentle Readers, and is going off without a hitch as I type.

Next time, though. I think I will bring a few more of my own people, to help steer the work in the right direction...

Posted in Musings & Out of Town & Working
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1 Comments

By kelsi on May 16, 2008 8:29 AM

the design is, indeed, hot. and so is the party weasel.

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