I run the OPENAIR Circus. From the end of June through the beginning of August, I essentially have the backseat and back end (trunk?... no, that's not the right term for a hatchback, right?) of my car taken over by equipment for the Circus and spend somewhere between 12 and 26 hours on the program, between being at the field for 3 hours a day 3 days a week, not counting setup and take-down (which each takes around 20-30 minutes on a good day) and stilting workshops or stilt making workshops or some other activity on the weekend, as well as the administrative work of sending out emails, coordinating with teachers and other volunteers, and just odds and ends (such as switching what equipment is in my car between one day and the next).
I do all this as a volunteer, giving back to the community that has given me so much in my life. I do it because of the joy it brings others.
So, to the parent that complains that a particular class isn't going to perform because they haven't learned the most elemental of the skill they were set to learn because the children "only getting three classes instead of five - through no fault of [their] own" and is disgruntled enough to complain about how she has to tell her son he doesn't get to perform... I want to say this:
- I know we often joke at the OPENAIR Circus about my having control over the weather... I don't actually make it rain though... and as evidence from the first Thursday where I was at the field making the decision to call of classes rather than having listened to everybody earlier in the day and calling them off sooner, I really do try to ensure that we only cancel when we absolutely must.
- I work a full-time job and do this on top of that job. I know it may seem like I work part-time or full time for the OPENAIR Circus or that we have any paid staff beyond the teachers, who themselves are only paid for the time they're actually at the field and even then are not paid a rate I would expect to pay them for gigs outside the summer program.
- Not only do I volunteer my time, but I expend 6 days of work-vacation for what is really just about 1, maybe 2 days, overall, of actual relaxation. My colleagues who don't pay close attention expect that my week off is similar to their vacations and so expect it to be rejuvenating instead of what it truly is which is physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing.
- I'm sorry you feel like 3 hours of instruction wasn't worth the $20 you spent.
- I'm sorry that you feel that your son should be in a performance that is open to the public even if he didn't learn a skill to perform.
- You are one of the reasons that I, year after year, question my sanity for doing this volunteering.
"I can certainly appreciate your frustration. It certainly is never optimal to have 2 of 5 classes rained out. The report I got from the teacher is that just about none of the students had learned the basic element of completing a yo-down plus yo-up. If [the child in question] can yo-down and yo-up, we would welcome him to be part of a filler in between acts if he's interested. If so, just let me know.
Understanding that this has not been what you were hoping for from our program, I've removed you from the email list.
Sincerely,
Peter"
ok, end rant, moving on with my day
