An interview and a monkey

These two things are completely unrelated, but I did think that together they'd make a fun title for a post. :-)

First, I think I nailed my interview today. I met with Stephen, the Artistic Manager, and Erik, the Operations Manager, and felt like I hit it off with both of them, great considering how often they mentioned that the department worked very closely and needed to get along well. I came up with really great, specific examples for everything they asked me about from handling stress to communication to organization to follow-up (I used my foot as an example for that one!). When they told me and immediately reiterated that because this was a summer festival, the summers were crazy - usually 6 days/week, sometimes 12-14 hour days - I simply replied that anyone who knew anything about Ravinia should know that going in.

I think my best answer, though, was when they asked me about whether or not I had any experience with Visas - I think I totally wowed the Artistic manager. I told them I'd had to get one to go to Italy and he seemed happy - he said that having too much experience with Visas is bad because the paperwork requirements seem to change hourly. I agreed that it'd seemed that way, which made sense considering all of this Homeland Security stuff and also mentioned that I imagined it was getting even more difficult because the AFM just raised the support letter rates significantly, which seemed to impress the pants off of him...you know all of those e-mail newsletters you get but never have time to read? Just skim them - the AFM blurb I read was in a newsletter 2 days ago, and I'm thanking God I made a note of it so I'd remember to squeeze it in somehow.

Anyway, it sounds like if they want me back for a second interview to meet the rest of the Artistic Department I'll know by early next week. Keep your fingers cross for me!

Now, just so you don't all think I'm totally crazy, there really was a reason to mention the monkey in the title of this post. I didn't mention it yesterday because things have been so crazy, but there was a giant gorilla on the lawn of the house next door all weekend because of the neighbor's birthday...you know the kind they have at the car dealerships to get attention? It was blue, and had on these yellow overall shorts. Kristin and I went outside at 7am and there it was. Crazy...