Alright so last Tuesday I got this bright idea to find some entertainment gigs on the side. Was kinda bored with the usual stuff and needed some extra cash, you know how it is. So I plopped down on my lumpy couch and grabbed my ancient laptop, screen covered in fingerprints like always. Started typing “part time entertainment jobs near me” into that big search bar everyone uses.
The First Try – Let’s See What’s Out There
At first it was all total garbage listings. Saw one ad screaming “BE A PARTY CLOWN! $500 PER HOUR!” Yeah right. Smelled like a scam a mile away. Clicked through a few more – magician’s assistant, something about balloon animals, another one wanted me to wear a giant squirrel costume downtown. Nope nope nope. My back ain’t built for that.
Hitting the Streets & Coffee Shops
Next morning I decided screens weren’t cutting it. Pulled on my decent jeans, not the ripped ones, and walked downtown. Checked the bulletin board at my regular greasy spoon diner:
- Local dive bar needed someone to check IDs Fridays. Looked alright, hours sucked.
- Movie theater sign was peeling off: “Projectionist Help Needed”. Sounds simple, but bet it’s dealing with grumpy people all night.
- Small music venue poster on a lamp post: “Bar Back & General Helper”. Messed around mixing drinks at home before, maybe?
Grabbed a burnt coffee and kept walking.
Talking to Actual Humans (The Hard Part)
Around lunch I spotted the manager at that music spot lugging speakers. Looked exhausted. I kinda shuffled over like “Uh, saw your poster?”. Guy barely looked up, grunted “Can you lift heavy stuff and not be an idiot Fridays and Saturdays? Starts at $15 plus tips.” Took his number scribbled on a crumpled receipt.
Later, swung by the theater. Lady at the counter eyed me warily when I asked about the projectionist job. “Mostly just hits play and makes sure folks ain’t sneaking in booze,” she shrugged. “Gotta stay awake past midnight though.” Gave me an actual application form I had to fill out with a chewed-up pen chained to the counter. Gross.
Also stopped at that dive bar. Owner sat me down with a watery beer. “Look,” he leaned in, beer breath strong, “Fridays get wild. Need someone who won’t cry if some drunk jerk yells at them. Can you handle that? Shifts 10pm to 3am, cash nightly.”
Trying Some of These Gigs Out
Friday came around fast. First shift at the music place. Holy cow. My arms were jelly by 10pm hauling ice and kegs. The “DJ guy” was a total diva, snapping fingers at me like a servant. BUT the vibe was cool. Met some interesting characters hanging backstage. Got handed a fistful of crumpled bills at closing – more than I expected honestly.
The movie theater? Different animal. Sitting alone in the booth felt weirdly peaceful. Mostly smooth sailing until the late horror show when some teens tried sneaking in fireball nips. Awkward confrontation ensued. Pay was steady but boring as watching paint dry most nights.
That dive bar gig? Never again. First Friday some guy got mad I wouldn’t serve him another tequila and called me names I won’t repeat. Boss just laughed it off like “Happens every week!” Cashed out at 3am feeling grimy.
What Actually Stuck
So outta all that chaos? Music venue was the keeper. Yeah, the DJ still acts like a king sometimes. Yeah, I smell like stale beer and sweat after every shift. But meeting bands, hearing new music first, that crowd energy… it’s pretty darn fun. Mike – that lazy dude who “manages” stuff – usually disappears after an hour playing games on his phone, so I run half the show myself now. Boss throws me extra cash for that sometimes.
Bottom line: Looking for “entertainment” jobs sounds way cooler than it usually is. Be ready to lift heavy stuff, deal with weird hours, and handle people at their messiest. Sometimes you find a place with a bit of real fun hidden under the chaos. Pays the bills and keeps things interesting.
