Sunday, October 18, 2015

1770 photographer

I actually applied for a job...I have not held a job for 24 years!  I was surprised they actually selected me to test for this job.  When I got to the test site I found there were like 200 other applicants lined up for this test.

 I was up all night chasing out this bum that's been sleeping in our circuit breaker room.  Called the police and all.  

Jacked myself up with coffee.  Hoping to get a ride from my daughter to find her sound asleep... I just took the 19 Polk bus to the test site. 

About 200 applicants taking this test!  How many jobs are there for this position? 

About a third of the people lined up were "old" meaning mid-age and up.  There were some of the most finest local photographers.  Some familiar faces.  All without enough work to stay self employed and ready to trade it in for a straight conventional eight to five job.  Taking orders from a supervisor.  Putting up with workplace politics, gossip, snitching, etc.

It's the same with me.  I kind of fell out of the wedding photography biz.  Portrait business was never significant and I don't have a regular studio space.  I hardly get hired to photograph events or anything.  The t-shirt printing business have pretty much came to a standstill.  The graphics and illustration business was never significant.  Even selling artwork is tough.

Putting the kids through college and then having this lawsuit on me by my brother has drained my savings.  

While many of my friends are now retiring or already retired... Here I am looking for a job at 63.  How sad.   But nevertheless I need money to pay my bills and expenses.  And to deal with this lawsuit.  I will not have a place to live if I don't deal with it.

The test was tough.  A lot about how to handle over 100 year old nitrate based negatives.  About 20% of the test I WAG'd it... Wild Ass Guessed it.  I doubt if I will get this job.  

If I do get this job it won't be easy too.  If I get projects going I'll be burning the candle at both ends.