Running away to join the circus...
Jul. 16th, 2004 01:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jbsegalSo, a couple of weeks ago, Cirque Du Soleil sent out a piece of email to all their "Cirque Club" members in Boston saying "Cirque's coming to town. We need locals to work for us. Come apply!"
Seeing as how I'm unemployed these days, have always liked circuses in general and Cirque in particular, and everyone else ALSO thought this sounded like something I should do, I figured why not.
Cirque's temps are handled by Adecco and they way they handle the hiring process strikes me as a "We have 3x as many applicants as we need, so we don't need to screen TOO hard" sort of process.
1st) One could either show up at their offices or go to Suffolk Downs (the race track where Cirque plants itself locally) to apply. I did the latter. It was almost entirely a "Fill out all this employment paperwork" thing - I9, Official Adecco application (previous employers and salary? A bit outside your normal range. Experience? Almost nothing appropriate to this.), etc. etc., along with a small bit of "these are the jobs we have available and a bit about Cirque. Choose your top 2."
2nd) A mandatory 'Orientation' was held, in 3 sessions, on this past Wednesday. It was almost entirely a weeding out of those who couldn't be bothered to show up. They handed out a xeroxed stack of papers with misc Cirque info, explained the papers, answered a few questions, and set up a "2nd" interview with everyone.
As I expected, one of the things they told us was a somewhat milder version of "Rule 1: Leave the talent alone." Also, "leave at the end of your shift," "wear black pants, socks, and shoes," and "call if you're going to be late or else". Oh, and "If you have a week of vacation already scheduled, don't even bother".
3rd) The interview process was 6 applicants and 1 or 2 recruiters at a round table in 20 minute blocks. I'd chosen VIP Tent as my 1st choice, so that was the table I went to. The other 5 were 3 16-20 year old girls and 2 45-55yo women. No one was asked more than 4 questions - mine were: Why do you want to work with Cirque; Describe yourself in 3 words; Describe an experience where you've worked with a team; Would you be willing to wear a costume at work.
We were all then sent on our way with a slip of paper saying to call tomorrow (today, that is) in a given hour.
I called today. I didn't get VIP Tent, but I did get Usher (my 2nd choice). Training is 4 hours next Friday afternoon/evening.
The pay is less than I have EVER made in my professional career. Ah well, it's more than zero and this is a fairly unique experience, and it's not like I have much better to do.
Amusingly, Cirque's being eited by the DNC too... they open July 25, close the 26-29th, reopen on the 30th and they've extended the run til Sep. 5. Yes, that's the weekend of Worldcon. Not sure what I'll say about my availability then yet. I know that I'm not going to be able to work during the Fetish Fair Fleamarket™.
Perqs include the possibility of winning a merchandise gift certificate, 4 normal or 2 VIP tickets, getting to watch the show from the sound booth, or getting to go up to the top of the Grand Chapiteau with the tech crew. We'll see if I can manage Employee-Of-The-Week class service. :)
I'm not going to join![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
customers_suck yet, but I expect I may be tempted.
So... at least I get to see the show which I wouldn't otherwise. :)
See some of you there, I expect. Maybe I'll even show you to your seat.
Seeing as how I'm unemployed these days, have always liked circuses in general and Cirque in particular, and everyone else ALSO thought this sounded like something I should do, I figured why not.
Cirque's temps are handled by Adecco and they way they handle the hiring process strikes me as a "We have 3x as many applicants as we need, so we don't need to screen TOO hard" sort of process.
1st) One could either show up at their offices or go to Suffolk Downs (the race track where Cirque plants itself locally) to apply. I did the latter. It was almost entirely a "Fill out all this employment paperwork" thing - I9, Official Adecco application (previous employers and salary? A bit outside your normal range. Experience? Almost nothing appropriate to this.), etc. etc., along with a small bit of "these are the jobs we have available and a bit about Cirque. Choose your top 2."
2nd) A mandatory 'Orientation' was held, in 3 sessions, on this past Wednesday. It was almost entirely a weeding out of those who couldn't be bothered to show up. They handed out a xeroxed stack of papers with misc Cirque info, explained the papers, answered a few questions, and set up a "2nd" interview with everyone.
As I expected, one of the things they told us was a somewhat milder version of "Rule 1: Leave the talent alone." Also, "leave at the end of your shift," "wear black pants, socks, and shoes," and "call if you're going to be late or else". Oh, and "If you have a week of vacation already scheduled, don't even bother".
3rd) The interview process was 6 applicants and 1 or 2 recruiters at a round table in 20 minute blocks. I'd chosen VIP Tent as my 1st choice, so that was the table I went to. The other 5 were 3 16-20 year old girls and 2 45-55yo women. No one was asked more than 4 questions - mine were: Why do you want to work with Cirque; Describe yourself in 3 words; Describe an experience where you've worked with a team; Would you be willing to wear a costume at work.
We were all then sent on our way with a slip of paper saying to call tomorrow (today, that is) in a given hour.
I called today. I didn't get VIP Tent, but I did get Usher (my 2nd choice). Training is 4 hours next Friday afternoon/evening.
The pay is less than I have EVER made in my professional career. Ah well, it's more than zero and this is a fairly unique experience, and it's not like I have much better to do.
Amusingly, Cirque's being eited by the DNC too... they open July 25, close the 26-29th, reopen on the 30th and they've extended the run til Sep. 5. Yes, that's the weekend of Worldcon. Not sure what I'll say about my availability then yet. I know that I'm not going to be able to work during the Fetish Fair Fleamarket™.
Perqs include the possibility of winning a merchandise gift certificate, 4 normal or 2 VIP tickets, getting to watch the show from the sound booth, or getting to go up to the top of the Grand Chapiteau with the tech crew. We'll see if I can manage Employee-Of-The-Week class service. :)
I'm not going to join
customers_suck yet, but I expect I may be tempted.So... at least I get to see the show which I wouldn't otherwise. :)
See some of you there, I expect. Maybe I'll even show you to your seat.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 10:10 am (UTC)have fun with it!
no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 10:12 am (UTC)The next time you hear about something like this, let me know, I might have applyed too.
The uniqueness is definately worth the small amount of money.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 11:37 am (UTC)In the mean time, www.cirquedusoleil.com and look for the "Cirque Club" signup...
It woulda been fun working with you again. :)
no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 10:13 am (UTC)eric and i decided sadly, that budgeting came before seeing varekai again, even though we LOVE the show.
(we do, however, already have 2nd row tix to see cirque2005 in quebec.)
i was going to ask who toby tyler was but then i asked google and now i know :)
no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 10:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 10:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 10:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 10:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 11:27 am (UTC)With my poor spelling/memory, I started using it misspelled as chesuli, then didn't bother to change it once I realized it should be cheysuli.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 10:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 10:34 am (UTC)Congrats and Have a blast!
no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 10:35 am (UTC)Sounds like a different experience; I once spent a summer working in a Yogurt shop while trying to pay off a car loan. Looking forward to seeing what you think of it.
CZ
no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 11:09 am (UTC)Have fun. I'm sure we'll hear all about it...
no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 11:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 12:10 pm (UTC)Life is about having Fun
Date: 2004-07-16 12:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 01:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 01:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 01:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-16 03:28 pm (UTC)Beyond that, it was also an interesting excercise in learning to deal with a completely different section of the world.
Worthwhile, in many respects.