Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Journal.
When Profiling Isn't Harmful
For over 15 years I worked the doors in Melbourne, I have encountered enough things to last a life time of articles and stories, but today I want to speak about how profiling can save someone from harm.Consider this, you are a bouncer at a club that varies the clientele nightly, in a weekend you may have a gay night, a "Race" night, you may have a 28 and older night etc. These nights are niches in which specific communities can gather together and have fun and act like tools in the comfort of whatever they are. Sometimes it is a great idea, others... not so great."Race" nights normally are not called this, its more a term we use in the industry and to be honest we know it will be a night of issues. Generally you hear "African Night" or "Croatian Night" etc. Here comes where profiling saves you from harm. I will explain from a personal story. In my early days of drunk babysitting, I was asked to assist in an African night, and I loved it, the vibe was great, girls gorgeous, dudes good fun. The night went on with a few squabbles and drunks going about their rants, till I made a mistake, let two whites dudes inside—not considering any harm, they were well dressed, well mannered and just starting their night type of drunk. It was not ten minutes in I hear the call to a huge fight, I run in, meeting my brothers in arms to a scene of several people beating the living hell out of these two white guys. We pulled them out, they refused medical attention and we ended up shutting the night down early due to that incident killing the vibe.Now some may hear this story and say, "Those Africans obviously racist." and that could be a case for possible individual feelings but not the reality. See the white guys went in and were greeted well, even offered drinks which they accept. While at the bar, the two white guys said and I am quoting the bartender here, "Even here we are superior," which obviously more than one person took offense too. From that day I decided I would be a professional bigot on the doors. This was not the only case of this sort of thing happening and generally comes from inexperience. I didn't consider race or religion or culture when I dealt with people, I only assumed their attitude, intoxication level, and or dress. Now that has changed.I got called a bigot often, and I took it happily cause I knew that whoever I refused based on profiling would not likely be waking up in hospital or worse the next day. I refused gay guys and Middle Eastern guys into redneck bars, I refused Greek guys into Turkish nights etc. It sounds wrong, and it is and hated doing it, but it kept people safer. Does this mean I always did this? No, you have to consider other factors. Now if someone who "isn't of the crowd" comes up with those who are, good chance that person will be safe.I was probably most selective at LGBT events than anything. I was not about to allow a group of straight guys go into a gay night or even Hen's nights. Trust me on this it can cause issues, damn the things I've seen. Now again, this is not some golden rule, I did on occasion let straight guys into gay nights, why? Some guys literally would go to those nights for safety reasons, or some would be discovering their own sexuality and I cannot be the guy to deny them that. In the end it is case by case but profiling can literally save your life if done for the right reasons—agree or not; I sleep well at night knowing I helped others avoid very dangerous situations.
By Shamus Roan8 years ago in Journal
How to Earn a Million
You are working that nine to five job somewhere mediocre, putting hours into making someone else rich. All you are rewarded with is just about enough money to keep the lights on and food on the table. Your boss, however, he is taking expensive holidays, dining out five days a week, showing off the latest phone, and driving around in his flashy car.
By No One’s Daughter8 years ago in Journal
How To Start a Business for Those on SSI
I have an idea for a turnkey website designed to help people start a business rapidly. It would help people on SSI and SSDI make money to get off those systems and live freely. It would be a massive collection of links to Nolo press as well as city websites everywhere in the United States for every major city. It would be functioning as part social network, part database. The website would help a business owner write a business plan using business plan template software. We would make every Nolo press paper or paperless contract available on the site. SSI could use this to promote the PASS Plan that gets people to plan ahead financial self-sufficiency.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Journal
Enough
I was taught young to take pride in my work, work with integrity, and be dependable and reliable. I'm an 80s baby and this was even a course in high school. They called it a business class and taught me how to speak, how to dress, how to have a good work ethic; they taught me that this is how you build security and grow in a company. Unsure if it is a grand scheme, but they conditioned me to believe that was it—no options. I stepped into the world believing I had to work for a company.
By Kristen Bryant8 years ago in Journal
The Year that Kohl's Saved Christmas
2017 was a bit of a rocky year and the turbulence hit a frenzied level when I lost my job at the beginning of May. What followed was five months of struggle—collecting unemployment, a small part-time “consulting” type gig that was inconsistent at best and the fear that at age 53, my best years as a marketing professional were behind me.
By Jonathan Pullano8 years ago in Journal
Risking It All to Thrive as a Financially Successful Creative Artist
The subtitle above is deliberately phrased: “Risking It All To Thrive As A Financially Successful Creative Artist.” Am I implying that sacrifice is necessary to earn a greater than full-time income through your art?
By Joel Eisenberg8 years ago in Journal
How to Write a Job Interview Thank You Email
I’d like to talk about how to write a job interview thank you email, but first I’d like to mention some excellent advice a friend of mine once gave me: “Go on every job interview you can,” he said. “It’s an experience you can’t pay for.” He was absolutely right. You can pay someone to drive your car to Seattle or toss you out of an airplane or bury you up to your neck in sand, but you can’t pay someone to interview you—you can, of course, and your friends probably need the money, but what good would it do? As all job seekers know, the interview, phone or, even better, face to face, is like knocking at the gates of Oz. It’s all about exhilaration and terror and trying to stay at the absolute top of your game for at least an hour.
By David Porter8 years ago in Journal
Professionalism in Theatre: For the Youngsters
THANK YOU. Get that in your brain right now. Thank you, thank you, thank you. "Thank you" can mean you are actually thankful. "Thank you" can be said sarcastically after your director makes you re-run a scene or a set change over and over and over and you are TOTALLY FED UP WITH THAT DIRECTOR. "Thank you" can be the most professional manner of responding to a note or a suggestion from your director. "Thank you" can be the appropriate reaction to a positive note you get from a director. Okay, okay, by now I've probably tired you of the "thank you." But it REALLY is important. This post is dedicated to being more professional in the theatre world by what you say, do and think.
By Kevin Rothlisberger8 years ago in Journal
