heads down bottoms up: it's not always as good as it sounds...

heads down bottoms up

This new skin brings about a fresh new beginning, a change, reminding us the importance of looking at things from another perspective so that we may learn to understand and accept all that we see for not what they appear to be, but what they truly are.

Wednesday

it's not always as good as it sounds...

I'm not quite sure how i'm managing to muster up any energy to write this post after a long day at work yesterday; perhaps it's the mocha-burst i'm getting at the moment or maybe like a heroin addict, no matter how lifeless i am, i still need my fix of blogging to feel complete.

Yesterday was my first day working as a program seller at the open, and trust me, it's hardly as fun as it sounds. Firstly, i haven't worn a uniform for two years since graduating from high school and secondly, after quitting maccas, i have never had to listen or follow anyone's instructions at work. Yesterday, i had to do both.

Small talk

Work began under the nice morning sun, stacking and organising program booklets with a nice girl i was paired up with. She was the most conversable person there and we laughed and joke with one another as though we had know eachother for years. For a glimpse of a second with her, i was actually excited about spending the day there yelling enthusiastically selling programs. But my luck ran out an hour into my shift when i was told that i'm actually supposed to be at the stand inside the vodafone arena with another guy, Ryan. Great, i thought for a second - out of the sun into an airconditioned arena.

I met Ryan and the two of us sat down inside, again stacking booklets as the way-too-excited tennis fans start accumulating outside the gates that were due to open in an hour's time. I tried to make conversation with this young lad still completing his VCE, but all i got were hardly one sentence answers. I stopped talking for a few minutes and he made no attempt. Being my friendly self and realising i will be spending another four hours with this guy, i figure i'll try again.

Me: "So what subjects are you taking this year?"
Ryan: "Umm..ecomonics, p.e, methods, english, biology..."
Me: "cool, keeping your options open. You know what you wanna get into?"
Ryan: "Hoping to do physio"

Massive wave of relief swept through me, realising that we have a common interest to build our conversation over. Physio saved the day, i tell you. Conversation unravelled and he actually started talking.

Sales

I think i would make quite an excellent sales person if i really wanted to - if. I strolled slowly around the arena holding the programs high up in the air - sort of yelling - at least for the first two hours. With plenty of practice back in high school, i can project my voice quite loudly. Though not shouting at the top of my voice - simply because of the lack of enthusiasm - i realised i grasped the attention of many tennis fans, and before i know it, i was surrounded with customers, whilst lazy Ryan shouted occasionally, waiting for customers to come to him. That was until he realised i was making a lot more sales than him, and it was then that he decided to swap places with me so that he walks around selling while i straddle around our stand waiting. As the fans died down, we did too. A couple of hours into selling, however much enthusiasm we had to begin with dropped to nil. We both decided to wait for customers to come to us behind the stand rather than making the effort of walking around and yelling. We chatted and laughed and couldn't care less if we sold any programs - if people wanted to purchase a program booklet, they will come to us, i thought.

At one stage, our supervisor came around and told me off for leaning on the stand, looking unprofessional. We waited for her to go before Ryan and i bursted out laughing. Each time we spotted the event managers around the corner, we would somehow muster up the energy again to yell, walk, smile and actually do what we were supposed to do, but only until the managers disappeared around the other corner. With a sigh of relief, Ryan and i would return to our stand and wait again. By the end of the shift, i experienced dejavu, a compelling sense of familiarity smiliar to what i felt after my first shift working at Big W - i don't want to come back tomorrow. Fortunately, this time i don't need to type up a resignation letter after two weeks, 'cause it'll be over by then.

Thank goodness.

posted by sciurine @ 8:24 AM

2 Comments:

At 5:15 AM, Jingo said…

sounds like quite a job. Is the pay good?
At 10:38 PM, sciurine said…

Yeah, it's pretty tough. Hmm, cash isn't particularly overwhelming, but hopefully if i work enough, it'll cover my trip to brisbane in 10 days time ;)

Actually, may i add, work has improved somewhat the more i work, simply coz i tend to slack off a lot more. In fact, there will be a post about my life as a program seller in a few days time...