Young Professionals: How Much Are We Worth?

In the midsts of an seemingly never ending economic recession,  we, twenty year olds need to accept the fact that the fight to get a good job opportunity is getting more and more competitive and brutal.

If you’ve graduated in the past year, specially in the art world or any freelance - like universe and you already have a steady job that you’re mildly happy with, that can pay your own apartment and basic expenses... Then you’ve officially climbed up to the top of my worst enemies. 

I now hate, admire and fear you.

If you’re more in the position I’m in, (flying from job to job, more often than not, the tasks at hand seem uninteresting at best and the pay rate is going from bad to non existent) Then this column will be a bit more identifiable, albeit possibly depressing.

Generationally, we need to understand that we need a lot of work experience, portfolio and CV to nail a good job that can cover the basic needs that probably are no longer being supplied by our caretakers.

True, we haven’t had the time to get the necessary experience, but we also aren’t teenagers anymore. 

We are at an age that is as important as it is frustrating. 

We’re old enough to look for what we need, but young enough not to get it anywhere in the near future.

“Be patient! You have to start somewhere!”
“Rome wasn’t built in a day!”

After all, accepting late gratification means not being a baby anymore. 

(That probably explains why I’m still a two year old in my head…)

Realising that we do need experience and we need to be thankful to anyone that is willing to give it to us, there is a moment in everyone’s unpaid career when you need to put your foot down and say: “Sorry, my work is worth something.”.

For me, it’s a terrifying thing to say out loud, let alone to my employer, mainly because every time I say it, a squeaky little voice inside me asks: “…Is it?”

I hate that fucking squirrel.

If you have a similar problem and an annoying rodent-like creature is asking uncomfortable questions about your capabilities, let me sum it up… (And yes, I do have the answer to this one.):

Yes, it is.

You studied, right?

You have a little piece of paper that states that you are qualified to do a certain job. Write, edit, paint, design, compose, photograph, act… Etc.

You have been validated by an accredited institution that says you’re capable of performing the tasks that are at hand.

That means that you or the next guy around the corner will not deliver the same results. Because you, in fact, do know better.

Even though all the experience you’ve had up until now has been in the safe confinements of a learning institution, it is experience never the less.

True, you might not be the best or an expert yet, and (most annoyingly) You might need to go other routes to get that pay check you’re so desperately needing to settle that debt, pay the rent or simply buy that big mac that always stares at you as you walk by it’s subway advertisement.

How can we fellow freelancers trust that, when we do have 5 years of experience on top of a educational certificate, we will get the jobs we want when every twenty something year old out there will do the same amount of work hours for free?

The artistic industry is basically fucking itself over.

Working for free, -Excluding those rare internships at amazing corporations that will benefit you even more than a payed job, which are quite difficult to encounter- Is plainly not fare.

You are dedicating your talent, time and effort to help create something that will benefit your boss, the company you’re working for and even the client.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advising anyone out there to EVER take an unpaid job. I myself have done a fistful of duties with no monetary rewards. But that’s when you must weigh the importance of the money you’ll receive to the importance of the job you’re doing, and which one will be more beneficial.

A lot of the times the very networking you’ll get out of an unpaid job will be ten times more valuable than the $50 you’ll get for babysitting the neighbour’s five year old.

What I’m talking about is the persistence of the same employer to take for granted the work that you are so heavily investing your time and creativity in.

Sometimes there’s just no cash. And in the art world there will always be a bunch of creative hopefuls who will come together and invest all their money into one project, hoping that what they’ll get in return will outweigh their investment. And many times, given the right team and material, it does!

I still think I’ll be accepting unpaid jobs even in my late thirties, just because there are so many exciting projects out there that simply don’t have enough cash to pay everyone right away.

What’s important is that the people who hire you are completely and 100% aware of the favour that you’re doing for them, willingly and with a smile on your overworked face. 

Just because you’re doing it now, doesn’t mean that that’s how the deal’s gonna be forever. 

Your work is worth something. 

Maybe you graduated one month ago and that worth is $30 per project. Trust me, soon it will be $50.

The bottom line, that I’ve recently have come to figure out is that every time you work for free and decide to give your work as a present, it’s your choice and no one else’s.

As the young professionals that we are we need to take a stand at some point to our employers, who have indeed been very kind at taking a chance with us and educating us further than our universities, academies or schools. But the ultimate thank you for that very education is saying: “I’ll now be receiving money for the service I’m providing, because you’ve turned me into a true professional. ”.

Very possibly that won't happen today or tomorrow. (If it does, as I previously stated, I will, unapologetically request that you don’t return to this website ever again. I’ll never be able to get the stench of inhuman success out of it).

Working in other areas will not only give you the money that you need but will broaden your patience and work ethic. It will get you used to having a boss, (You’ll probably have a horrible one… Nature just doesn’t get tired of making them.) 

Keeping to a time schedule and having responsibilities that may not interest you but you’ll have to attend to them the same way.

That may not give you the portfolio you’re looking for, but it does make you a lot more viable to the bosses you actually do want to work for some day. (I do set and costume design and I’m currently working as a P.A for a philosopher, so let’s hope to GOD this is true).

In any case, we have to trow ourselves to the professional world. 

This will be as intense as it is terrifying. 

It's difficult not to feel inadequate, awkward and weird -as I usually do in most situations-.

What's important is to just throw yourself to the deep end and see how one step leads to the next one. 

And if your first jobs aren't as satisfying as you thought they would be in high school, the capability of paying for a good drink at the end of the day, at the bar around the corner, to perk up an otherwise un-stimulating day, probably will be.

At least for me, that's always a good place to start.

YOLO: Acronym For A Depressed Generation?

Just in case  you’ve been living under a rock for the past two years, I’ll give a bit of necessary context.

YOLO (Acronym for You Only Live Once) Was first presented in the lyrics of a 2012 song by Drake Feat. Lil’ Wane called “The Motto”.

Having not heard the song until writing this column I tried to pay close attention to the lyrics, see if there was any material worth mentioning.

To my own disappointment the lyrics talk about what most Drake Feat Lil’ Wane songs would talk about.

I apologise to any fans of the mentioned artists in advance, but personally I’ve never warmed up to any song that compulsively talks about an overflowed life of money and pussy. (The fact that I’m poor and gay might have something to do with this aversion…).

“Whatevs, it’s just a song, right?”

“You know we’re only messing around when we do use it, right?

There’s a great saying in spanish,  -Doesn’t translate as cool as it sounds-:

“In between jokes, the truth comes out”.

“Tell Uncle Luke I’m out in Miami tooClubbing hard,  fuckin’ women ain’t much to do”

“Now she want a photo,  

You already know though, 

 You only live once ‒ that’s the motto nigga YOLO”

Deep, right?

Apparently something in there, -in between the lines of having piles of cash and fucking a lot of bitches- Was something that rang… Not only to the fans of the artists during the fleeting lifespan of a hip -top ten- song, but to an entire generation.

Two years later, after the song is no longer played in clubs, bars, stores or radio, people who’ve never even heard the song or know anything about the proceedings of the famous acronym have been using this young word for any spontaneous action they now take.

Where could this phenomenon come from?

Could it be that the songwriters hit the jackpot with a simple word no one had ever used before? Or is there more to it?

The impulse to do irresponsible or illogical actions has always existed. Though now there’s a word to justify them.

Just look at the thousands of hashtags that come up daily in twitter using the word.

The meaning behind YOLO states that there is nothing after our lives. It states that life is fleeting, and therefor meaningless, to a certain extent.

For years the human race has educated itself by stating that for any good action there will be a reward, and for any crime or transgression there will be punishment. 

From being grounded a week because we didn’t do our homework, to spending an eternity in burning flames due to a sinful life, to re-incarnating as the lowest form of life, because of bad karma -depending which temple you pray in-.

If YOLO says that there’s only one life and there’s nothing at the end of the tunnel, no wonder an entire generation is seeking experiences that are as impulsive, spontaneous and self-pleasurable, but also irresponsible, unhealthy or even dangerous.

I’m no expert but I’m willing to bet there are very few 17 year olds out there who are saying “Today I’m vowing to myself that I’ll never have unprotected, anonymous sex, intoxicate myself with any illegal drug or drunk drive in my life! YOLO, man!”

It’s more of a: “Go home with that stranger!”  “Let’s have another shot!”  “Whatever, I’m OK to drive!”  “Sure I’ll try that pill with my drink!”… Why?

“YOLO, YOLO, YOLO!”

Jeez… I’m I the only one who’s a bit worried?

As if being that age isn’t scary and intense enough.

The YOLO is being taken to an extreme and being used as a philosophy of living.

Are we maybe ignoring how shitty this generation of 15 to 20 year olds has had it?

These are kids who grew up in the middle of a seemingly never ending war, constant terrorist attacks and threats and worrying economic crisis. They basically grew up hearing that having the jobs and opportunities their parents had is going to be tough, if not kind of impossible.

Is this maybe a way for demonstrating an inherent depression these kids have been dragging for years?

It’s not the first time the concept has been presented. 

In 1855 Johann Straus II composed one of his most famous waltzes, entitled: “Man Lebt Nur Einmal!” (You Only Live Once!).

One of the best Strokes tracks was entitled with the same name in 2006. (Below is the video, just cuz it's such a fucking great song...)

The fear of wasting one’s life, not seizing opportunities has always existed, however, what’s happening with this acronym is that reckless and irresponsible decisions are now not only being justified but applauded. 

While some people agree with me on all of this, others have told me I’m acting a bit like an over-protective parent of a generation I can have no claim of.

Whatever, the issue has been in my brain for a few weeks now… And I have a blog, so I’m gonna write about it… Because I can, OK? 

YOL… Oh, fuck it.

Texting: The New "Dressing Up"?

It had to happen...

As most twenty something guys with a smart phone in their hands, I've fallen pray to the latest urban siren call: Tinder.

It's amazing just how quickly and openly people, (Guys, girls, gays, heteros) are so willing to publish the fact that they are single and don't want to be anymore.

I remember the time when dating sites were still a bit of a taboo and being part of one was usually considered embarrassing.

Now, people in a bar are deliberately taking breaks from conversations to turn on their phone and see what eligible singles are in a two mile radius. Apparently cupid these days is not so worried about his arrows and more worried about having full 3G coverage.

It is what it is, I'm not here to judge.

Hell, I even have the damn app, and as much as I would love to pretend that I'm SO above those desperate little sites full of needy people, looking for attention and affection, I'm afraid all the evidence is now pointing to the contrary.

I'm probably quite needy. 

So needy.

The most needy.
(Damn...).

I've been texting with this guy for about two weeks, we've been on one date.

Let's call him... John Tinder Doe.

And the other day at a party with already more than a few vodkas down my throat, I got to thinking:

What impression could John Tinder Doe have of me?

What impression did I give out first time we texted? Then, what attitude did I project when he actually met me? And what kind of personality have I been sending off during this whole week of texting?

Is there even a difference?

Any self righteous person who at least claims to have a good grasp of who they are, would tell you that if you project something you’re not, whether this is consciously or otherwise, it’s nothing less than pathetic and disgraceful. But here’s what I’m trying to get at:

As the conscious and (May I say, neurotic) creatures that we are. People have always found ways of projecting who they want to be.

To send off the signal that we are the best version of ourselves. Weather that means having money, a witty personality, attractiveness, talent, fitness, blah blah blah.  

Is this necessarily a bad thing?

Sure, when taken to an extreme it can be incredibly detrimental, unproductive, pointless and annoying. But if we didn’t have these best versions of ourselves in our mind, would we strive to have better lives? Better friendships? Or to be better people in general?

We’ve all heard the “You’re already the best version of yourself” “Never change because society is telling you to” “The hell with what other people think!” You know, the kumba-fucking-ya speech.

But when you’re in your twenties and you’re basically beginning your life; Sexually, intimately, professionally… 

When does changing yourself stop being beneficial and becomes a liability?

In past decades, dressing up was a way of looking your best. You choose the colour that make your eyes pop, the haircut that chisels your features, the bra that makes your breasts look amazing and the jeans that make your ass lift like a teenage cheerleader.

All of these elements and tools help us project the best image of ourselves. Why do we do it? Maybe to feel good about ourselves, (Or at least thats what the Strong Independent Self-sufficient of your friends will say). But would we feel any better about looking good if it didn’t have the validation of others attached to it?

And what about texting?

In the last fifteen years, a new way of every day life communication has awoken.

Is this a tool that can help us edit who we are even further? And what point is there to it?

In a world where you can wait as much as you like for the perfect response, share any feeling with a yellow coloured emoticon and give someone the cold shoulder with a simple double tick icon, are we hiding who we are even more?

Some people say we are. That texting is not a way of getting to know a person at all. I agree to a certain extent. Nothing like a genuine reading of facial expressions, voice tone and body language to asses a person in the best way, but how much do we (or CAN we) edit ourselves in real life?

Regardless, it's my experience that all edits come to an inevitable end. There's only so much that we can hide from others. The parts that are most delicate, vulnerable, shameful, awkward. We can hide them as much as we'd like, but they're still gonna be there, and if you keep dating this person, sooner or later it's all gonna come out to the surface.

I think it's important to evaluate the amazing tool that we have with things like Tinder and Whatsapp, but if also to take a minute and remember that knowing a person is to show the real you. No emoticons, no perfectly formulated answers, no aloof hello's and take care's    :)    ;)   or whatever you choose to write.

Showing your face, with everything it has, bad, ugly and awkward, and going for a coffee or drinks with real interaction and closeness will be a lot more terrifying, uncomfortable and nerve wracking but... what human experience worth having isn't all of the above?

Welcome.

My dear reader:

First of all I would like to thank you for being here. I know how brave one must be to venture into new blogs online. There's so much stuff there, some good, some bad and some very, very ugly.

A little bit about myself. I'm a 24 year old gay guy, born and bread in Mexico City (In my opinion one of the most beautifully complicated, chaotic, contaminated and culturally fascinating and diverse cities in the world). Studied my BA in Filmmaking in London, England and now I'm back, living with my folks.

Side by side with my best friends, I'm surrounded by it all. 

The hookups, the hangovers (physical and emotional), the drugs, the sex, the heartache, the music, the looking for jobs, the not getting the jobs, the getting fired from jobs. All the good times and all the bad times.

I see, I think, I write.

It's not that much more complex than that.

Through this blog I will do my very best to share the pitfalls of the list above in the hopes of finding some fleeting wisdom here and there about the deliciously excruciating time that is to live in your twenties.

I'm a production and costume designer / editor / screenwriter / drama magnet.

I love music, films, theatre and any other art form and I love sharing and talking about anything I watch, listen to or encounter.

So... Without further ado.