Did I fail to mention that Hollywood is a lonely place? You wouldn't think that with over 9 million people but alas it is true. Most native Los Angelenos are native to some place else and West Coast mentality runs completely different than East Coast. A smile and a wink may get you a card and a handshake but you will be hard pressed to receive a return call from the number that is "no longer in service." ["Hey was that voicemail? It sounded awfully like a human being."]. Truth be told, LA is a lonely place. That is why your bullshit-a-meter must be finely-tuned and well-oiled. And you must be confident in at least one thing--yourself.
ON THE JOB
A) First, if you are in the entertainment industry, 9 times out of 10 your closest friends will literally be the ones sitting in the cubicle (or card table) next to you. Since you will be working your ass off, you probably will only get to know about 3 things about that person:1) First Name
2) Last Name (for email purposes)
3) How much his/her off-pitch squeal of a laugh gets on your nerves.
Since you have been around this person anywhere from 10-16 hours a day (blissfully less if you have to make a run), the last thing you want to do is spend your off-time hanging out with them. ("Uh, I just spent a good 3/4th of my time in your company; I don't want to waste an hour more of it hearing about your on-again/off-again ex-boyfriend/girlfriend/F.B.")
B) There are some people that you will find who are cool on the job. They are kick-back, real easy-going folk. They work the same job (or near same capacity) as you and are hungry just like you. Beware! Possible brown-noser in the midst! Red alert! Red alert! If they seem toooo easy and tooo eager to make your acquaintance, chances are they are looking to sniff out the competition, observe your style, and then adopt it as their own. They make friends with everybody--never know who will give them a leg up you know--but as soon as they elevate in status, they stare blankly at you if you call them by name. ("Uh, do I know you from Starbucks?")
C) Then there are the execs, the higher ups that may suddenly become friendly. They may announce that there is an "informal get-together" at a bar across the street to "unwind" and will proceed to invite everyone over--including the little people. [This probably stems from a rare generous mood like a great swag gift (HD flat screen plasma TV) or an all-expenses-paid-by-the-show trip they are about to embark on.] Sure you can go, see what happens. Everyone will be all smiles, all liquored up, and all making sweet promises. ["Everyone out at 1 PM tomorrow for all your hard work and great ratings. Yea!"] Of course when the buzz wears off you will get that blank stare the next day. ("Uh, do you work here? And if you do why are you leaving so soon? It's only 1 o'clock!!")
D) Now not all of the people at work are complete assholes. You can make some "true" friends at work, a "Few Good Amigos" to kick it with after hours. [Those who form an opinion on things other than entertainment and are from a similar neighborhood as you will be more likely to keep it real.] You'll probably shoot the breeze, hit up a happy hour special, or meet up for a game. You can even go to a movie or two together. But if the calls become infrequent, if your conversations only seem to center around work and the latest office gossip, or everyone suddenly becomes busy with L.O.W (Life-Outside-Work), then let it go and know that it is just the name of the game in Hollywood. Hang Tough.
More to come...
