Now this is more like it...

I knew I wasn't cut out to do the same old, same old every day... (although I HAVE been doing it most of my life). I have finally re-established my connections at the security company and had a diverse week of "gigs". My buddy Mike is back from a 4 month hiatus (he does construction and was at a job site in Yuma) so I will probably get better assignments when he's working. I have another "fan" also who grabs me up and makes me a lead guy at these events... (supervise the people actually doing the work!). More responsibility, no more pay! (insert all of your names here because I know it's happened to ALL of us). But the places I am put for the events is sweet! I already explained what I did at the lecture for the religious leader (practically nothing!) so we'll finish the week off with an eclectic bunch of events...

Thursday I drove out to ASU Polytechnic's campus (in Mesa off the 202--lot closer than most of my gigs). After circling around I finally found the "command post"... (a pickup in the middle of a dirt parking lot). My lead guy was the same from the lecture event so he tells me he has a special assignment for me. I am running the stage area and have 12 people "working" for me... It's a outdoor concert, open only to ASU students featuring two bands (7 Car Pile-up and Authority Zero). So I position my crew and put on my noise reduction headphones (those things saved my ears big time--just like the NASCAR headphones) and start patrolling the grounds. It was pretty chilly so the "crowd" wasn't really one... (more came to see Authority Zero). For the second band, they allowed a "mosh pit" (for those unfamiliar, the pit is where fans run at each other colliding and elbowing and pushing each other to the beat of the music). My job was to make sure it was "friendly" bashing and didn't escalate into fighting...(hard to tell, but everyone behaved). No rushing of the stage, no fights, no ejections and I have to admit, Authority Zero was pretty damn good...(at the sound level with the headphones on!). If your into metal you should check them out. The gig went without incident and my ears remained working.

So then the lead guy says he wants me to head a detail for security at the ASU football game on Saturday (it's a brand new detail for the company and they're giving it to me...no pressure!). I ask him why he keeps making me a lead and he says because I haven't f%$^ed one up yet...(made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside). So Saturday I show up at ASU and all the head honchos are there and grilling me about this assignment and how important it is and how I need to make sure it goes right. Our detail is guarding the visitors locker room and the tunnel they use to get on and off the field. There are some areas open to fans so when the team is ready to take the field we get the fans out and shut down the area until the team gets on or off. We did such a good job that this is now my job for the rest of the season and hopefully next season too. Next week USC comes to town and then there's a bowl game on New Year's Eve. I have to find that pile of poop I keep stepping in and take some home...(can't believe the luck I have sometimes).

After the game I headed back to the Jeep, climbed in the back and changed into a white shirt and black pants and walked over to Gammage Auditorium to usher at the Phantom of the Opera. They put me at the door scanning tickets and greeting patrons and telling them which door they needed to go to. Once the play started I sat in the lobby and listened to the music piping through the speakers (Phantom is my favorite play and the music was great). That was all I had to do pretty much until the end where we made sure everone was out, barred the doors and walked out. Another plum assignment. Home at 11:30 and sleep. All in all, a much better week than I've had in a while. Happy Halloween to all and I'll "talk" to you soon...