Adaptability

It is early Sunday morning, and I had completely forgotten it was Easter. I have only got a couple of hours to pull myself together and be at the theater to set up the Bill Bowers’ show. I scouted the theater a couple of days back and at least saw the configuration of the stage from the last show, so the lighting shouldn’t be too bad. There are less lighting instruments and circuitry to do a completely full set up, so today will be a challenge on adaptability. The number one rule of theater on the road is adaptability. You must maintain the integrity of the original concept using the tools you have at your disposal. This show was designed to be put together in a day in any space; after all it’s about supporting the performers. I had found the old files of my notes from my original design 5 years ago and have been reviewing them. Wow they were so thorough; I forget what a talented guy I used to be in this area of expertise. My notes were so precise that it all flashed back exactly how the lights must be hung and focused. The elements of the show instantly popped into my head and it was like I had never stepped away from it. Now my excitement is beginning to grow to be back in this environment. I am a bit nervous because it has been 5 years since I’ve worked on a show and I’m not sure of my technical support backup to help me work through issues I may encounter. But life in the theater is about adaptability. Theater as, most forms of art, is a fluid movement in time. You may have an idea or a concept in the beginning, but end up some place completely different than what you intended. It’s the same with phototherapy and I rarely end up with exactly what I envisioned in the beginning. The process itself needs to be an evolution. If you are not open to follow where it will eventually lead and are ridged in the structure of the way you think and process, you will have great difficulty in this world. I am also a supervisor at UPS in the evenings and these tools have been essential for my survival in this corporate business model as well. My supervisors at UPS marvel at how I solve issues from such unconventional approaches. Though the company is very ridged in its procedures and policies and because it’s so massive, they have given me wiggle room to creatively solve issues and make it my own. Because everything was so clunky and awkward, it drove me crazy at first going into such an environment. When I began to make it my own, the job actually become fun and I was able to simplify and find new solutions. It’s the way with life.

I feel like I have always been adaptable especially in relationships. It always kills me when I see so many people out there complaining about they can’t find anyone to date or have a hard time with relationships. Then I start to ask them what they’re looking for. Well basically they are looking for the porn star guy that has the abs and chiseled face and piercing eyes. First of all, it’s an illusion that the commercial world wants us to by into. Perhaps there are only about 5 percent of the population will fit that model. So they go for years and years dreaming about a fantasy Prince Charming that will never appear passing up scores of truly remarkable people who are smart, witty, charming, intelligent,and sexy. I see years go by and they are still lonely and then the bitterness settles in and they become bitchy and spiteful. It amazes me how so many people can go through life without connecting to their passion. I am not saying everyone needs to be in a relationship; some of us are just meant to be alone. Adaptability has always worked for me. It is has taken me to some of the most unlikely of places and I have often never ended up where I intended, but at least I made the leap and gave it a chance. My life is always up for a new surprise. So I think for today, though I have a bit of an apprehensive feeling in my gut, I am excited to be on another journey of adaptability. After all the show must go on, either with you or without you. It’s a hell of a lot fun er if you are willing to see where it will take you.

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