Gotta do what you gotta do
I’m embarking on a new venture, mandated by circumstance and not design, and I’m sure it’s going to lead to plenty of great New Orleans stories one way or the other. Namely — I’m looking for a job.
“You already have one,” you say. And that I do — as owner of a four-year-old specialty food company. We were just coming into our own before Katrina, but then were put out of business for about ten months. I made do by selling BBQ from my trailer until the shop was functional again — and things have been going pretty well since we got back in operation in mid-May. However — this is the WORST time of the year for this kind of item (cheese) and, frankly, we’ve gotta augment the income a bit. Quite a bit, actually. Hence the job search.
If I know only two things in this world, they are how to cook and how to write the news. The city, these days, is neither short of restaurants nor begging for news to write — and neither situation is going to change in my lifetime. Given my food background, I have this week applied everywhere from Lucy’s Retired Surfer’s Bar to Margaritaville to the new Cochon (a Herbsaint outfit) to even Emeril’s (where I have a friend or two). But, to also cover the other side of the professional coin, I’ve dipped my hand back into a 30+ year career in broadcasting and journalism by applying at The Times-Picayune and the local outlets of Clear Channel Radio. So I could basically wind up anywhere. I’m viewing it as an adventure — since trying to see it any other way would be counter-productive.
I’ve had a few e-mails lately from people outside New Orleans, wondering how the local job market is and if it’s worth trying to make a move to take advantage of our need for workers. I’ve really not know how to answer them, since I’ve usually been pretty content to do my own thing within my own company. But now circumstances are forcing me to break out of this professional myopia. Whatever happens, it’ll mean stories to tell — and life ain’t worth a good goddamn if you don’t get that.
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As long as you have a story to tell and a good attitude - the world is yours!
I have a business on Magazine Street and if I did not have the “other job” I would be -out of business.
Good luck and look forward to hearing what interview experiences you have. I could write a book about mine.
Looking forward to reading about your experiences….as usual.
Best of luck.
Good luck on your job search. I have a long history in broadcasting with 20 years in radio and 10 years in television. I’m still employed at a Florida TV station and love working with the people there. I have sent my resumes to stations in New Orleans prior to Hurricane Katrina and if the salary was right (and/or my wife would get a job offer teaching fulltime at a community college) I would move to New Orleans in a heartbeat.
Please consider compiling your blogging here into some kind of book project/diary of your experience in NOLA. You’re a compelling and important voice coming out of AK, and it’s worth putting down in a more permanent, collected format. May you all receive every blessing you need to make your way to happier times.