[BC] forget the brain dead engineers what about the DJ's?

[RichardBJohnson at comcast.net]

When I worked for Paul Gregg in Sacramento, I sometimes would go to Reno and spend some time (maybe too much) at Harrah's Club and Harolds. Harolds would provide free breakfast to those who survived the early morning hours. I sat at the counter in the breakfast nook when a very well known performer that many "love to hate" sat down beside me.

We chatted about ordinary things like the hot weather. The conversation drifted off to union shops and I told the entertainer that I once worked for WJZ-TV in Baltimore, by first union job --actually also my last. This brought up the entertainer's start in New Jersey at some "dives" and low-life clubs. It was an interesting conversation. He just treated me like an "ordinary person," probably because I treated him much the same.

I have found throughout my three careers that one can completely derail some egotist, by assuming they mean well and going with the flow. Just expect that they really mean well. The next thing you know, you're invited onto their boat with more famous (but lonely) people.

Many famous people want to be liked, and they appreciate being liked in spite of, rather than because of, their entertainment career.

Cheers,
Richard B. Johnson
Book: http://www.AbominableFirebug.com/

----- Original Message -----
From: "Al Stewart" <stewarta at westcreston.ca>

There are oversized egos in every job. No single occupation has a 
monopoly on that ... although the ego boost of the entertainment side 
does push some performers over the edge. I've known a few. But I have 
also known some great ones. I'm not an engineer but I have had to do 
some repairs of audio equipment etc for "licensed" individuals who 
couldn't operate simple test equipment or solder a connection. So 
dumb comes in all flavors also.

Al