tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578728360904637566.post8097291917633961458..comments2024-01-11T03:09:43.960-08:00Comments on The Hills Are Burning: "You're Lucky You're Working."A.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06280771470428710391noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578728360904637566.post-3494621485257357712011-05-06T23:12:26.208-07:002011-05-06T23:12:26.208-07:00D - I'm sure it sucks even more when it's ...D - I'm sure it sucks even more when it's coming from your own local, especially when you think about how much you're paying in dues to those people to keep you from getting screwed. I'm not saying that luck has <i>nothing</i> to do with it, but I'd like to think it's more skill than anything else that's keeping us employed.<br /><br />JD - If I had heard statements like that, I probably would have replied with, "With the economy the way it is, maybe you shouldn't have been so ambitious with your project and instead realistically thought about what you can and cannot afford to do."<br /><br />Michael - There's no doubt that I feel thankful when I'm happily employed by a good company, especially after all the shit productions I've worked for and when I know a lot of people are hurting for work. It's when people imply that I'm somehow kept working because of dumb luck that gets on my nerves.<br /><br />But you're right. It's definitely important to make a distinction between the two.A.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06280771470428710391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578728360904637566.post-56469685132607632452011-05-06T10:11:15.449-07:002011-05-06T10:11:15.449-07:00I too have heard this phrase for most of my career...I too have heard this phrase for most of my career. It used to bother me, but at a certain point I started looking at it from a different angle. "Lucky" can mean dumb luck -- and that context, "you're lucky to be working" can be an envious, vaguely hostile, and mildly insulting comment -- or it can mean "fortunate." Having been out of work so often over the years -- and thus forced to take too many miserable jobs with cheap-ass companies who neither appreciated nor properly compensated the skills of the crew -- I do feel fortunate when working a good job for a good company, with good people.<br /><br />And in that context, yeah, I'm lucky to be working...Michael Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02569781786039595929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578728360904637566.post-1469551028149013692011-05-05T15:17:14.169-07:002011-05-05T15:17:14.169-07:00I agree with you. I hate that sort of stance that...I agree with you. I hate that sort of stance that (above the line) production takes. Statements like, "With the economy the way it is, we can't pay..." or "I could hire someone for less than what you are asking, but...".<br /><br />It's skill, not luck. On a set, it's lucky that the cheaper less skilled crew-person didn't get someone hurt due to their lack of experience.JDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578728360904637566.post-44284607817057760352011-05-05T11:03:17.328-07:002011-05-05T11:03:17.328-07:00great post. I have always hated this saying. A whi...great post. I have always hated this saying. A while back, one of the officials at our local made the mistake of saying this to one of our members who called with a complaint about something. It's been a going punchline since. I'm with you. I'm working because I bust my ass and I deliver. Luck has little or nothing to do with it.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08466991423411721535noreply@blogger.com