After my two days at Wheaton College – talking at one point about the joys and challenges of entrepreneurship – I returned to the big city. Within two days I received two last minute cancelations. Not gigs that wouldn’t be happening (which would be bad), but rather folks who had confirmed their involvement in upcoming events were canceling. Both cancelations were for personal reasons and I totally understood – but they were also key roles. There’s nothing that could have changed the situation – I had to find subs. But wow, how do you fill in two key slots only a day or two before a big show? Would anyone be available? Who could I call? (Ghostbusters would not have been the right answer).
Well, I hopped on the phone and started calling. For everyone that I could reach, but couldn’t make the gig, I asked for referrals and recommendations. Going through my contacts list was even taking time I didn’t think I had. I now realize I need to build a short list with names and numbers and roles for moments like this. Well, I am indebted to a few people who made amazing referrals. Through their graciousness I was able to fill the roles needed, just in time, literally. Roller coaster ride done. Potential fire put out. Amazing.
Life happens. This isn’t stress. This is just what the job entails. Being a leader, building projects and bringing large scale productions to the stage, means handling many moving parts. Many of those moving parts are people, and people are important – dare I say more important than the actual work. Although through this particular situation there was a feeling of “I don’t know what’s going to happen” – it was more important for me to keep in the forefront of my mind that although work is a large part of life, it isn’t all of it. Personal things happen. It’s important to be there for the people, not just the work.
In the end everything went well. I even got to catch up with some old friends and meet some new ones.
Living to dance another day 🙂
