Yeah, I know it’s Labor Day and all, but this being Vegas, and me being desparate, I filled in the job application I picked up at one of the small casinos downtown, built a catwalk out of popsicle sticks so I could walk over the heads and pincers of the earwigs that have held me at bay on an uncomfortable wooden chair for the past few days, and took the application back to the casino. Talked to the pit boss, who told me how to find the shift boss, who took my application and without saying a word to me, started ambling off toward the dice pit.
He didn’t ask me any questions about my chequered job history. After looking over the second and third page of short-term dealing jobs, he sort of gave me a sidelong look, and I just said, “Yeah, I’ve been through the meatgrinder.” He sort of smiled and continued toward the pit. He didn’t ask me why I was applying for a dealing job when I had just finished school to become a massage therapist (I have my reasons, which involve a lengthy licensing process combined with being broke). He then talked to the pit boss who threw me on the game. Pit boss tried to put me at ease. “Relax, it’s a slow game,” says he, little realizing that I wasn’t the slightest bit nervous. See, I only get nervous when I have auditions scheduled in advance and have time to worry about how I’ll do. If you just throw me on the game, I don’t have time to get nervous, so I just deal the game.
The shift boss seemed to like what he saw, I guess, he’s one of those inscrutable sorts. He told me, “That’s all I can do for you right now. Tomorrow, I’ll talk to my boss.” I understood, this being Labor Day and all, and the casino manager probably having the day off.
So, anyway, I may or may not have a dealing job. Tips at this particular joint are not great, but it’s more money than I’m making now doing unreliable temp work, and besides, it will be a good way to get my game back into shape while I look for something better.
Hopefully, I will be able to find a better job soon so that I can get some money saved up to serve as a nest egg/cushion while I’m getting my real career off the ground…