Last Rant with MaryJane...

Saturday I recieved a call from the dance company manager informing me that, since she didn't send a schedule out this weekend, I was working at Place X in Irvine where I usually dance on Saturday nights. Okay. At 5 Brendon and I discovered my rear passenger tire was flat due to a nail. So Bren took me to X at 7pm and planned to pick me up at 11pm when we were done. The show ran long and I walked backstage at 11:15 to find my cell ringing. Previously mentioned dance owner/choreographer tyrant was calling. She said "you have to be at Place Y in Westwood, on stage at 11:45. You can't be late, and you all have to be good. Go, hurry, leave in your costumes and run". We promptly packed up as the place was a GOOD 45 minutes-1 hr away and there was already no way we could make it. It was pouring down rain. I asked the girls as I was packing if someone could take me home after as I didn't have a car. They said we'd figure it out there but we had to go. We jumped in the car and ran. Long story short, we were late, as you can imagine. Club owner reamed us out, Company Owner was pissed, eventually we got onstage at 1 something or other, rocked the house and finished. Club Owner was pleased enough. Company Manager happened to be dancing at a nearby club and she lived in OC like me, so I called to ask if she would mind giving me a ride home. She said no prob, could someone take me to close by hookah bar and she would pick me up. Sure. So that is what we did. She took me to my gate (one exit past hers on the freeway) and I got home 4am. I was exhausted but whatev. Sunday afternoon I get a call from Company Owner who is PISSED that I asked Company Manager for a ride home. "It is not her responsibility to take care of you, how thoughtless. You can't use her like that. So your tire was flat, it's your responsibility to get home. I know you weren't planning on going to Westwood, but that's part of being in the company. Company Manager was supposed to be at a party with her boyfriend. It was three o'clock in the morning and you put her in a bad position. She felt bad, what was she going to leave you up there? (apparently that would have been a better option) and then, you made her pick you up at Hookah Bar. How would you feel? Other people have lives too...ect. and then, Crista, have the class to offer her gas money" Okay, in my defense, when I got inside I was like "crap, I forgot to give her $ for gas, oh well, I will give it to her when I see her on Monday". She seriously went a total of like 5 miles out of her way. The Company Owner reemed me out a good twenty minutes or so. Brendon was sitting next to me and after a certain point he started saying "give me the phone, Crista, give me the phone, put her on hold, give me the phone" I didn't give it to him, I shut the conversation down with a "I understand what you are telling me. I'll be calling CM now. Goodbye" Brendon was so cute. He was like "I'm going to call her back. I can talk to her. Let me talk to her" I really appreciated his concern. But I knew it was my responsibility to take care of business. I called CM and told her "CO just called me and let me know that I was out of line to ask you for a ride home. It was never my intent to use you, I did not realize it was putting you out." She replied "oh, no, it's okay. I just don't want people to get in the habit of calling me for help and I should have asked that the girls drop you off at the club I was at (yah, they offered and she said for them to take me to hookah bar)." right okay. First of all, she lives in Orange County as opposed to LA, she was driving back anyone and she said "sure no problem" she didn't say "well, do you have any other options?". I was under the impression that we do what has to get done. I use my lunchbreak to pick up candles for the dancers, I always come with all my stuff, 10 minutes early and so I have lent glitter, pins, pens, lighters, undergarments, accessories, to whoever needed. No, I'm not a martyr...I'm a dancer and part of company. That is how it works. I have given rides...ect. That's how it is. Well, that's how I thought it was. I think that is my last straw. I wrote the following letter, I'm just praying and thinking before I send it:


Dear X, Y and Z,
I am writing to inform you of my two weeks notice before finishing my obligations to Dance Company. I am informing that my last date available for scheduling is Monday March 6, 2006. After that, I could fill in if there was a need on a case by case basis but I would not be part of the company. I cannot continue to be abused and mistreated in the way I have witnessed and recieved treatment in this company. I regard it as highly unprofessional when a company owner has to call and reprimand a dancer for asking a fellow dancer for a ride home.
I have read and understood the contract and will abide by the provisions set out. Thank you for the opportunities you have given. I wish you the best in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Crista Leopardi

That may be a little much. I should just give my notice. I want to write an advice letter, but, don't we all in these situations. It's sad really. I don't want to quit, but on the other hand, I want to use my time wisely...and keep my sanity. I am willing to work hard, but not for abuse. Enough is enough.