Security tug of war...

As you know, I got home a little after 8am on Saturday morning after a 15 hour split shift... I had just collapsed into a coma when the phone rang... (it was 9:30) and Megan from scheduling asked me if I was available to work in Tempe later that night. I'm already working two gigs later today but what is this one? We really need you to do this, it's a new client and I'll find someone else to cover your other gigs tonight. It's from 7pm til 2am...(which is less hours but not having to go another 15 hour shift was pretty appealing). Sure, I'll do the Tempe gig if you can find people to cover the overnight and wedding in Chandler. Now how about some sleep? Thanks and sorry for waking you up... Back into a coma within minutes and then the phone rang... (it was 11:00). Sam from my company on the phone... Jim you need to pick up an IDV machine (Identification Verifying) for the gig in Tempe later. Can you drop it off at the Ostrich festival and I'll pick it up on my way to Tempe? Sure. There are only three of you for this, so I need you to be the lead... (congratulations on your promotion). OK, Sam. Now how about some sleep? You're the best, Jim. Once again I slip into sweet unconsciousness and then the phone rang... (AAARRRGGGHH! it was 12:00). This time it was Bob the night scheduler. Hey, Jim you're all set for tonight right? No. I've been switched out. Call Megan and she'll explain. No one tells me anything! Sorry, Bob. Call Megan. Now how about some sleep? By this time of course you realize that any actual rest is out of the question so I tossed and turned til about 2 pm, showered and donned the purple and khaki and drove over to the festival to pick up my machine and go to my gig. When I did the overnights I parked right next to the command trailer, but today I had to park in the vendor lot all the way on the other side of the park and hoof it to command... I got my IDV (its a fancier credit card machine that scans the barcodes on licenses and tells you if they are OK to drink) and then I hoofed it back to the car and drove to Tempe...

I found a parking spot in a lot for 5 bucks... (they were open until late) and went to the corner of Mill St and 5th... (that was where the meet was, no building or location other than that). Using my managerial skills I called the contact person and he told me the gig was on the roof above the bank right next to me... (a private party to launch the flagship store of a guy selling hip hop t-shirts and clothing to the x-games and hip hop crowd). The other two guys showed up and I handed the IDV to one of them...(I wasn't going to check IDs, I was the lead. I'm going where the action is). One guy downstairs to card everyone and two guys upstairs to roam and keep the peace. The rooftop area was gorgeous with a huge fire pit and heaters and bar area and VIP lounge and DJ stations. The music was loud, the crowd was loud, but there were no problems... (a LOT of Grey Goose was being consumed). Around midnight I cleared out the front of the fire pit for the fashion show runway and several models (male and female) strutted out sporting the clothing line. Pictures and videos galore, music still pumping and people everywhere... Around 2 am the building manager told the DJ's that Tempe's finest were looking to shut it down and the last song played about 2:15am. My roaming partner and I then herded the crowd out... "Let's go everyone...you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here" (flashback sequence-I sure heard that said to ME enough back in the day). We got the last of them out by 2:30am... (very drunk but very cooperative--must have been my imposing presence--lol). I helped the promoter and building manager sweep all the rooms for stragglers and the unconscious and escorted him to his vehicle and called Bob the night guy at 3am to end our shift... It was then that the other two guys informed me that they took the light rail to this gig...(and the last train ends at 2:15am). So I got a tour of North Central Phoenix because I drove them both home... (good deed equals good karma). By the time I got home it was 4:30am and I had to be in Surprise Arizona to host a baseball game by 12:30... (I guess I'll sleep next week).