First Day Bitters

Tonight began the introductory period to my additional survival job of Telesales and Fundraising. In a word it was awful. I haven't had to resort to telesales since sophomore year of college. Even then it wasn't as bad as this. I had somehow blocked out just how sucky it is to call people in the middle of their family dinners to ask them if they'd like to buy theater tickets. Ugh! With every one's stocks plummeting to an all-time low and unemployment at an all-time high, it comes as little surprise that people are tightening their purse strings and refraining from renewing their theater subscriptions. At the same time - there's gotta be someone out there who can still afford to support the arts!

After about my 20th "No" or even more polite, "I wish that I could, but I just can't right now" of the night - I found it hard to suppress the horrible sinking feeling in my stomach. No one can afford this stuff any more! No one wants to subscribe - how will we fill these seats? How will art survive? How will I survive if all I can manage to rake in is a pitiful $8.75 an hour in this dark and depressing place???

Calm down - I told myself. Now is neither the time nor the place for a panic attack. Especially not in front of these embittered folks who are placing calls right beside you and having just as much luck snagging the next subscriber as you are.

From my fluorescent bulb-lit kiosk, my future looked pretty dim. It can't be as bad as this. Something has to turn around and right soon!!!

When 9pm rolled around I had never felt more relieved. The past three hours had seemed like an eternity, but I can't quit yet. I have to give it another chance on Friday. In the meantime - I'm kicking up my job search to eleven!