I hit the pavement like a trifling hoe the other day and let me tell you kids, it is hard out here for a pimp. I hopped a train to 8th ave and splurged on a bagel, yeah I don't have a lot of money but damn it I needed carbs and that new "Brooklyn Bagels" spot is amazing. I spent some more money I didn't have on printing out an updated resume and started my quest.
The mission, to hit every restaurant I came across until I was either out of resumes or out of gas. I had 20 resumes printed and my give em' hell attitude ready. First stop Ruby Tuesday's. I wanted to text my friend Chris and tell him I was applying at the NY location of his old rent winner...but SOMEONE still hasn't text me his number.
Next stop red lobster, I couldn't apply there though because they were only taking apps of people who have had 2 yrs or more of experience....really Red Lobster...really? You are Red Lobster, you are one half of surf and turf some how I don't think your job is "must have 2 yrs experience" hard.
Bubba Gump does open interviews but they stopped early that day so I bookmarked it for tomorrow. Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock cafe, two places I haven't been in before both took my resume and smiled and responded "we will be in touch in a week or two if we need you."
I stopped in a comedy club called "Caroline's" and the manager asked me "do you have any bar-tending experience?" "I have basic certification." He asked again "do you have any experience?" I should have taken his hint and lied but I didn't realize what was happening till it was too late, I got a polite handshake and a "come back with more experience."
The next 6 hours after this is a blur of snotty bar and grills with delusions of eloquence and run down diners no one has or ever will know the name of. I went from time square, ended up on the East side some how and ended my quest in the village. I hit up over 20 restaurants and handed out 10 resumes, 10 applications all with the same "we will call you" or "not hiring" response.
At this point I'm tired...I'm discouraged...and I'm starving. Time to meet Lindsay in Brooklyn for Matchless veggie burger and fries. Hanging out with Lindsay is always a good time and I was able to go back to my place with lifted spirits but dead tired. I than proceed to transfer to my train WAY too early and take an hour and a half to get back to my neighborhood.
I laid in bed and thought about the spectacular failure this day seemed to be. I thought about what it would look like if I had to go back to Illinois this quickly and than I passed the hell out mid thought because I was indeed that tired.
Today I had high hopes even though the day before was stunningly bad. My days seem to be consistently starting with positivity regardless of the previous days events. I head out to Bubba Gump's again keeping a close watch on my phone because I was supposed to have a phone interview for a writing job at some point today.
I wait for a manager for almost an hour, get through half of Forest Gump with no sound playing on the TV in the waiting area. The manager talks to me for 3 minutes making sure I filled out the app correctly than tells me I will get a call tomorrow or the next day if they need anyone...really guy? an hour in your bullshit shrimp swiller and that is all you got for me?
I stop in a few other places I missed around time square getting the same kind of reactions I got yesterday. At this point I am really losing hope. I sit and I people watch in time square for a while, getting up to walk around now and again just hoping for a miracle, for something to jump out at me, hoping for a call or a sign or something.
Than it happened. I sat down at a table to smoke a cigarette and up walks a clown named peter who asks if he can sit with me. Peter dresses up like a clown a couple times a week and has people tip him for pictures with him. Peter is a funny old man who apparently has a lot of wisdom and even more time on his hands.
Peter tells me "you should ask those people handing out the fliers where to apply you know they make 8 dollars an hour doing that." No...no I didn't know that Peter thank you, it is time for me to start asking flyer peddlers for applications. Peter than hands me a dollar he got from someone taking his picture and says "hey what goes around comes around."
I shit you not this is real life...
I ask two different flyer guys where to go. The comedy flyer guy gives me a name and a number, I call the number ask for the name and the name gives me an address and tells me "tell em' you talked to me already and be there around 1 on monday for an interview." Than I go to the sight seeing bus stop and they tell me to come back between 9 and 5 on monday and go to the third floor.
I now have two appointments on monday for possible income. I also came across an street team job (basically the same thing as flyer peddling) on craigslist, now I have another number to call on monday.
I also found out you can sell plasma twice a week so tomorrow is blood selling day...I ended this day feeling like I wasn't going anywhere and I was destined for illinois again (at least for a few months till I have the money to come back). I walk into the door to my apt and the family I live with is celebrating a birthday. They feed me like a king and take my laundry to the dryer in the basement for me.
I suddenly feel like I might be able to make this work if I can just squeeze another week or two out of this apartment, which, with the blood selling I might be able to do. I don't know why but tonight is ending with optimism. The hardest part will just be waiting for Monday.
This blog post is dedicated to Peter The Clown.
"It's only money son."
-Peter The Clown
...thank you kind sir...thank you.
KH-
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