Blog-TOWER OF BABEL

I did not attend the 2008 flight attendant convention this year for personal reasons. I did feel a sense of loss, being left behind in an empty room, listless yet restless and my stomach started growling at 10 pm EST, when you all were surrounding the shrimp table and ogling the Cannoli and the latest ice sculpture.

Let's talk about networking. Do you know that networking is sort of a short stab at a mini job interview? Yup, it is. So, while at the flight attendant convention, when you want to scope in on a certain person, do not have your mouth full of bagels, do not be drunk or appear to be drunk, and  please , do not tap them on the shoulder -- LIKE THEY ARE THE TIN MAN.

I have seen people network with deal breakers. Deal breakers are red flags: that the person is networking you is needing some help. Here some tips: Do not talk over them, leave the palazzo pants at home, no sneakers or flip flops, digging thru your handbag, leisure suits, tight clothes, ripped stockings, shoes so high -- you cannot walk in them, use words like HUH. AWESOME, WHATEVER, SOMTHIN SOMETHIN, FOGETT ABOUT IT. Do not scratch or twirl your hair.  But instead: Be polite, direct, and not overbearing.

Do not treat the other person like they are god, have some self esteem. AND PLEASE, do not say you are the best. There is always a faster rat out there, you just have not met them yet.

If you are freelance and you are trying to get a trio out of companies A, B, and C, this is what you do not do:

1.     (I was a scheduler for 6 months), do not call at the crack of business dawn on Monday morning. Dispatchers and schedulers are groggy from only having 2 days to do everything in their personal and private lives. Monday is not a great day to call. Tuesday, after lunch around 2 pm would be great.

2.     Do not demand a trip! Do not tell them you are overextended on your American Express bill or that you cannot afford teeth. It is off putting. Being broke is a private matter between you and the repo man. If you do not own the plane, we all know, yes.... you are broke most likely.

3.     Thursday is a great day to call, to put a bug in their ear as this will give them your availability for the weekend. Lots of charter gets closed and signed by 230 pm on Friday.

4.     Keep your cell on and try not to go scuba diving, floatation tanks are out, taking that long drive down a country road with no cell tower, horseback riding, being at happy hour with free tequila shots with your cell in a bowl of nachos, or not picking up the call because you are on the other line to the psychic network. Believe me, I have done all these.

5.     Having your own website with flashing neon, and fly songs, with a photo in some bridesmaid dress is a bit over the top. It is all a matter of taste or lack thereof.

6.     Try to maintain a relationship with these people; they answer the phone all day long. Remembering what college their kids go to may help. Talking gossip, divorce, pestilence and who is in and who is out is no good.

That is all I have today.

The economy is on a scale from 1-10, a mere 3. I was thinking of the companies that own private jets and their success would be based on what they are selling. Banking in down, drug companies are down, insurance down. Real estate development in down, and IPOs well, that is few and far between. The price of jet fuel is $6 to $10 a gallon. This has not affected me yet, I work for a great family who in shipping of oil, dry goods, grain, etc. But my heart really goes out to the freelancers, things have dried up. You may think "oh, these people own a corporate jet they are rich enough to always fly at the drop of a hat". Not true. Many of these companies using smaller jets like Bombardier Learjet, Hawker and Beechcraft airplanes, or they are sending them out on commercial airlines. So what are you going to do to put bread on the table, get a second job? Do catering, bartend, substitute teaches if you have a degree? In this business, you have to be resourceful, especially if you are freelance. I really feel for you all.