I'm writing this post from my perch at cash...very surepticiously I might add. God, I love my iPod. It's been a bit of a hard week. The financial reality of working a day less a week at the 'other' job has shown itself, and I think this added stress has caused me some physiological stress as well...or perhaps amplified it. My foot is so sore everyday that the constant pain is starting to chip away at my patience with the little things. I end up standing in one place at cash for 8 hours and my foot is so angry with me at the end of it that it takes me a day just to kiss and make up with it! Fielding comments from total strangers about " that bump on your eye" is favorite pastime too...(please detect a note of irony!)My internal response is always "who the hell raised you?!" Seriously, who in their right mind thinks that asking about a disfiguring lump on eyelid, in front of others (say, like a line-up of customers at cash) is helpful, or even thoughtful? ANY mention of it really hurts my feelings, as well-meaning as the asker may be, unless it's Mike...and he just asks how it feels today, tells me it's not very noticable and that I'm beautiful...which always calms me down. He's good like that :) He's good, period. March Break this week has crammed the store full of stressed out parents looking for activities to placate their kids...and because everyones watching their pennies (supposedly...personally I don't think blowing 200 bucks on scrapbooking paper for your 6 year old constitutes 'watching'...regardless of your income bracket) they act like you're trying to rip them off at cash. I understand that everyone wants a discount, I'm right there with you, but don't yell at the cashier because we won't give you a discount on your discount. Nice try. Speaking of trying, I suppose I should at least be happy that customers in general are trying anything. Particularly evident on a busy week like this is the fact that so few people are actually trying, learning or experimenting anymore. It's like 'due diligence' is an extinct concept. Of course this is a generalization, bit I'm dismayed at how many people ask me for a.) step by step product usage (the "so, how do I actually use this?" line of questioning, which, generally, I'm fine with) b.) the "I'm not sure what it is but it looks like this..."question, or ( most alarmingly) c.) "do you have any ideas on ...?"
Do I have any ideas? Really? REALLY? Why don't people have the initiative to learn things for themselves anymore? My god, we have internet now...researching and learning is FUN. They say " I really don't have time to figure this stuff out." I say: " between my two jobs and voluntary position in a dance troupe that rehearses twice a week, I work an 80 hour work week. I have time." 90% of my abilities in metal clay are self-taught, learned from the net, a few workshops , or, (wait for it) books. Any skill that I have in dance was acquired through classes, practice and self-directed study. My husband went to school for illustration for 3 years...do you think that was the end of his learning about his work/craft? Of course not, he's constantly learning new techniques, processes, or researching a favorite artist's means to project completion.
Almost everyday that I work at the store, I get a stream of questions that tend to unfold in this manner: A customer approaches me about canvas: Them: what kind of paint do you use on this?" Me: "acrylic or oil" Them: "oh, what are those? You mean I can't use my kid's poster paint?" Me: "Nope, poster paint won't really adhere all that well, but these paints here are made for this kind of surface and are way more fun to use" *points to vast assortment of pretty paint* Them "Oh, ok. Just one more thing, how do I actually paint...?..."
*sigh* Now, I recognize that my job as a sales associate is to help people, but who gets to draw the line between help and teaching? Help is one thing; "here is the paint you need" or " here is a book that you could learn from." Asking "How do I paint?" is like me going to a car dealership, energetically purchasing a new car and then innocently asking "So, how do I drive this thing, anyhow?" I make a lot less as a sales associate than I would if I were an art teacher (about 1/3rd of what I'd make as a teacher, as I have learned from previous experience) so really, aren't I being paid to just help customers? Just help. All friendly like. I feel like customers should recognize that we are there as friendly, knowledgable help, not as a private tutor. Or as a private designer. If you want my ideas, pay me for them. I work hard and spend a lot of time filling my big, juicy, geeky brain with helpful knowledge and experience. I feel that it is through this process that one creates a meaningful life. I don't ask anyone to teach me anything that I haven't invested myself in, because I believe that there has to be an energetic exchange between the receiver of knowledge and the giver/teacher. Yes, I'm aware I get paid to help others, and that is the exchange. But my contract states that I am there to help, not to teach, and I'm sorely tired of the boundary being smeared by everyone, like so much crappy poster paint on canvas.