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GM's Thread About Everything/GM's Thread About Nothing (5 Viewers)

El Floppo said:
a second person in a week has been let go at my office just now... and he was one of the other architects (there's only 3... now 2.. of us). we're "boutique", so only about a dozen staff... 2 people is a lot. plus, the other architect has been here longer than me... and is cheaper. 

####.

I just negotiated to work from home 1 afternoon a week so i can pick up my kids from school- since the wife is going back to work (not permanent position- full-time consulting... and not for much money). the office manager didn't say a peep about any of this. but I obviously need to talk to her again.

I'm ####ting bricks right now.
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Could your firm even do the work you have with only one architect?

 
El Floppo said:
a second person in a week has been let go at my office just now... and he was one of the other architects (there's only 3... now 2.. of us). we're "boutique", so only about a dozen staff... 2 people is a lot. plus, the other architect has been here longer than me... and is cheaper. 

####.

I just negotiated to work from home 1 afternoon a week so i can pick up my kids from school- since the wife is going back to work (not permanent position- full-time consulting... and not for much money). the office manager didn't say a peep about any of this. but I obviously need to talk to her again.

I'm ####ting bricks right now.
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Good luck Floppo

 
shuke said:
What are you nervous about?  They let go of the other guy, not you.  Would your business survive with 1 architect?
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RedmondLonghorn said:
Could your firm even do the work you have with only one architect?
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the architecture business sucks. first industry to get hit by recessions or slowdowns- before anybody is even aware there's a slowdown/recession. I've done this dance before... so I'm sweating it.

but I'm sweating it especially because I'm not seeing the new projects rolling in. I've got a few things keeping me "busy" (which also means I have time to #### around in the FFA, so not that busy), but these are going to dry up soon in terms of billable hours... another month or two maybe. after that- yeah, the business will survive with 1 architect... or none. it's primarily an interior design business, so those projects are turning up a bit. 

####. this has been a good gig... and hopefully something turns up... but it's time to update the resume and portfolio and hit up some old contacts.

 
El Floppo said:
the architecture business sucks. first industry to get hit by recessions or slowdowns- before anybody is even aware there's a slowdown/recession. I've done this dance before... so I'm sweating it.

but I'm sweating it especially because I'm not seeing the new projects rolling in. I've got a few things keeping me "busy" (which also means I have time to #### around in the FFA, so not that busy), but these are going to dry up soon in terms of billable hours... another month or two maybe. after that- yeah, the business will survive with 1 architect... or none. it's primarily an interior design business, so those projects are turning up a bit. 

####. this has been a good gig... and hopefully something turns up... but it's time to update the resume and portfolio and hit up some old contacts.
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:(

 
El Floppo said:
the architecture business sucks. first industry to get hit by recessions or slowdowns- before anybody is even aware there's a slowdown/recession. I've done this dance before... so I'm sweating it.

but I'm sweating it especially because I'm not seeing the new projects rolling in. I've got a few things keeping me "busy" (which also means I have time to #### around in the FFA, so not that busy), but these are going to dry up soon in terms of billable hours... another month or two maybe. after that- yeah, the business will survive with 1 architect... or none. it's primarily an interior design business, so those projects are turning up a bit. 

####. this has been a good gig... and hopefully something turns up... but it's time to update the resume and portfolio and hit up some old contacts.
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I'm a ways down the pipeline from your ilk (& am solely commercial), but I don't like hearing this at all - either for you personally, or the industry as a whole. If the design side runs out of work, so does everyone else. Good luck.

 
El Floppo said:
the architecture business sucks. first industry to get hit by recessions or slowdowns- before anybody is even aware there's a slowdown/recession. I've done this dance before... so I'm sweating it.

but I'm sweating it especially because I'm not seeing the new projects rolling in. I've got a few things keeping me "busy" (which also means I have time to #### around in the FFA, so not that busy), but these are going to dry up soon in terms of billable hours... another month or two maybe. after that- yeah, the business will survive with 1 architect... or none. it's primarily an interior design business, so those projects are turning up a bit. 

####. this has been a good gig... and hopefully something turns up... but it's time to update the resume and portfolio and hit up some old contacts.
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This BLOWS.  Blows.  I'm basically doing this dance as well(although not as an architect, but as a desinger/animator), but from 4 months in front of you.

Absolutely get the hell out in front of it.  I pretty much got Pearl Harbored at my last gig.  Pay was great.  Design team was very solid.  Sales/dev team....not so great, it turns out.  Funding pulled "out of the blue" and immediate layoffs came next, with almost no perceivable warning since most of the cause for investors pulling out happened prior to me being hired.   Now I'm staring down the barrel of month #5 without steady work, and month #3 of zero freelance to boot.   An extra month or two of "getting a bad feeling about this" would have been a large help in my case.   If you are "getting a bad feeling about this" my advice is absolutely listen to your instincts and be proactive. As you said, hit up your network at the very least.

Arch. industry operate in generally in the same way mine does?  Pretty good compensation/benefits overall, but volatile as HELL?  Just curious.  Mine works like that.  Even gigs that aren't contract based feel like it.  Sword of Damocles is seemingly always dangling, even at successful studios, and makes me feel like I'm too old for this #### anymore.  About ready to start driving a garbage truck.

ETA:  Sooooo......didn't mean to make that post a "Look at me!!!!" thing.  Just commiserating and it snowballed.  Hang in there, man.

 
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Not to change the subject but my niece and her husband (and kid) are moving this weekend.  This is like the 4th or 5th time I've helped her move in the last 10 years.  I didn't find out until yesterday that she is going to need help.  Her husband has to work all day Saturday AND her father (my brother) is coming back from Hawaii in the AM so I'm pretty sure he won't be there.

If my son and I don't help she'll be screwed.   Buncha horse ####.

 
day off today. got caught up watching "Escaping Polygamy".  at first because the three girls who are the main "characters" are pretty cute but then because the sheer insanity of these people's lifestyle sucked me in.

there's a crazy religious sect that runs an entire state in the Union and nobody bats an eye.

fascinating stuff

 
Mrs. SLB's surgery center is closing in two weeks so she has been interviewing for a new part time job.  The place she wanted to go, about 5 miles from the house, only had full time positions.  Then she interviewed at her second choice.  She calls me disappointed, no job offer.

But wait, there's more!

Mrs. SLB:  Good news! Listen to this VM from the boss at my second choice.

Me:  Listening, "Hot, dirty, naked nurse boss voice (I'm assuming):  Hi Mrs. SLB!  You left and I didn't even offer you the job!  I can't believe I did that!  Please know, I want you to work here!  Please call me and let me know your situation, I know you have other options.  Thanks, I'm going to go play with myself now!

Mrs. SLB: So what should I do?

Me: Call her back and ask her for more details on compensation, PTO, etc.  No need to make demands, just leave it open.

Mrs. SLB:  Okay

The next day....

Mrs. SLB:  Well, I got the job!

Me: Cool!  Congratulations!  How much more did they offer you?

Mrs. SLB: :oldunsure:

Me: :mellow:

Mrs. SLB: I was nervous, I really wanted this job, so I just took it and asked about compensation later.  But I got a 3% increase! 

Me: :wall:

It could have been a 15-20% increase, easily.  I'm never going to be able to retire with this kind of career management. So stupid.

 
Sconch said:
Not to change the subject but my niece and her husband (and kid) are moving this weekend.  This is like the 4th or 5th time I've helped her move in the last 10 years.  I didn't find out until yesterday that she is going to need help.  Her husband has to work all day Saturday AND her father (my brother) is coming back from Hawaii in the AM so I'm pretty sure he won't be there.

If my son and I don't help she'll be screwed.   Buncha horse ####.
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This is one of the (many) weird psychological things with me: If I know someone's moving, I'll help in any way I can no questions asked. But, if they ask me to help, I get kinda pissed off. :loco:  

 
5-ish Finkle said:
This BLOWS.  Blows.  I'm basically doing this dance as well(although not as an architect, but as a desinger/animator), but from 4 months in front of you.

Absolutely get the hell out in front of it.  I pretty much got Pearl Harbored at my last gig.  Pay was great.  Design team was very solid.  Sales/dev team....not so great, it turns out.  Funding pulled "out of the blue" and immediate layoffs came next, with almost no perceivable warning since most of the cause for investors pulling out happened prior to me being hired.   Now I'm staring down the barrel of month #5 without steady work, and month #3 of zero freelance to boot.   An extra month or two of "getting a bad feeling about this" would have been a large help in my case.   If you are "getting a bad feeling about this" my advice is absolutely listen to your instincts and be proactive. As you said, hit up your network at the very least.

Arch. industry operate in generally in the same way mine does?  Pretty good compensation/benefits overall, but volatile as HELL?  Just curious.  Mine works like that.  Even gigs that aren't contract based feel like it.  Sword of Damocles is seemingly always dangling, even at successful studios, and makes me feel like I'm too old for this #### anymore.  About ready to start driving a garbage truck.

ETA:  Sooooo......didn't mean to make that post a "Look at me!!!!" thing.  Just commiserating and it snowballed.  Hang in there, man.
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thanks 5ish.

yeah- volatile as hell. for most companies/people, the new or redisgned home/headquarters whatever happens when life is fat. the second money gets the slightest bit tight, understandably, that is the first thing to go. people can make do in the old office/home/whatever rather than spend a ton of money on new. the worst was 2007 where the first meeting for a giant home renovation here in NYC (converting an old factory into a 17,000sf house!) was "wow-me... go crazy"... after a few months of that nosediving economy, it went from that to "how about we go with the easiest scheme rather than the ones where you wowed me" to "how about we just leave everything and put a fresh coat of paint on things" to... client got laid off (and of course, I did too). 

but no... compensation is absolute crap. AZ Ron's assistants make more than I do as a 20 year professional with 2 very fancy degrees from a fancy institution. when I was a kid and talking about how I was going to be an architect- every architect friend of my parents warned me that the pay was laughable. but I was a kid and self-indulgent, so the idea of pay didn't matter. 20 years, a wife and 2 kids later... it's more the laughing on the inside kind of thing.

hey- bunch of my archi-peers went into animation. if you need/want, I could reach out to them.

 
St. Louis Bob said:
Mrs. SLB's surgery center is closing in two weeks so she has been interviewing for a new part time job.  The place she wanted to go, about 5 miles from the house, only had full time positions.  Then she interviewed at her second choice.  She calls me disappointed, no job offer.

But wait, there's more!

Mrs. SLB:  Good news! Listen to this VM from the boss at my second choice.

Me:  Listening, "Hot, dirty, naked nurse boss voice (I'm assuming):  Hi Mrs. SLB!  You left and I didn't even offer you the job!  I can't believe I did that!  Please know, I want you to work here!  Please call me and let me know your situation, I know you have other options.  Thanks, I'm going to go play with myself now!

Mrs. SLB: So what should I do?

Me: Call her back and ask her for more details on compensation, PTO, etc.  No need to make demands, just leave it open.

Mrs. SLB:  Okay

The next day....

Mrs. SLB:  Well, I got the job!

Me: Cool!  Congratulations!  How much more did they offer you?

Mrs. SLB: :oldunsure:

Me: :mellow:

Mrs. SLB: I was nervous, I really wanted this job, so I just took it and asked about compensation later.  But I got a 3% increase! 

Me: :wall:

It could have been a 15-20% increase, easily.  I'm never going to be able to retire with this kind of career management. So stupid.
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I think you made part of that up.

 
El Floppo said:
thanks 5ish.

but no... compensation is absolute crap. AZ Ron's assistants make more than I do as a 20 year professional with 2 very fancy degrees from a fancy institution. when I was a kid and talking about how I was going to be an architect- every architect friend of my parents warned me that the pay was laughable. but I was a kid and self-indulgent, so the idea of pay didn't matter. 20 years, a wife and 2 kids later... it's more the laughing on the inside kind of thing.

hey- bunch of my archi-peers went into animation. if you need/want, I could reach out to them.
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Stinks about the pay, and it's kind of what I'm running into for gigs that aren't still related to software development(e.g. games) of late....they want my experience, but they want to pay me like a new college grad.  Plus, would like me to also be a software developer on top of being an artist.  Neat.

As to the bolded: I am in no position to turn down an offer for help, so I'd be eternally grateful for any help you are willing to give in that regard.  When you say your peers "went into animation" what are we talking?  Like, pre-vis for architecture type stuff?  Or completely went away from the arch based work?  I've actually done 3D pre-vis work for exhibit houses, etc. at different points in my career(along with what I've done for games/etc).  You can PM me if you need some more background info, so we don't put everyone else here to sleep.

 
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Fat Drunk and Stupid said:
ETA: If you're over 30 and you're asking friends/family to help you move. #### right off.*

*No offense to the Sconch family
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No offense taken.  She's 33 but thanks to a stupid fing first marriage (to a dude in the army) when she was about 19 she's about 5-7  years behind where she should be.  I love her to death but crap like this gets old. 

 
just met with the "director of architecture" (ie: the other architect left... but also the guy who runs that side of things- but as an employee). he was out of the office for the official laying off, but made a point of apologizing to me because he had wanted to be here for it- both for the sake of the other architect and for me. 

told me that earlier in the week the office manager said because of lack of billing, one of us had to go- and he said they couldn't afford to lose me, so had to be the other guy (who is more junior than me). I thanked him, but also expressed my nervousness... he said that there's no way our side of things will get less than 2- that he would quit before it happened.

even if he's over-compensating to appease my fears, it's working- definitely feel less freaked out. also met with the boss, who's pulling me into some other #### that layed-off guy was working on... so more work for me at least... for the time being.

still going to update the portfolio and resume- already started looking, and there's some applicable stuff out there. just not sure I'd get the paycheck I am now, or the flexibility to make time for my kids.

 
El Floppo said:
just met with the "director of architecture" (ie: the other architect left... but also the guy who runs that side of things- but as an employee). he was out of the office for the official laying off, but made a point of apologizing to me because he had wanted to be here for it- both for the sake of the other architect and for me. 

told me that earlier in the week the office manager said because of lack of billing, one of us had to go- and he said they couldn't afford to lose me, so had to be the other guy (who is more junior than me). I thanked him, but also expressed my nervousness... he said that there's no way our side of things will get less than 2- that he would quit before it happened.

even if he's over-compensating to appease my fears, it's working- definitely feel less freaked out. also met with the boss, who's pulling me into some other #### that layed-off guy was working on... so more work for me at least... for the time being.

still going to update the portfolio and resume- already started looking, and there's some applicable stuff out there. just not sure I'd get the paycheck I am now, or the flexibility to make time for my kids.
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:thumbup:

 
St. Louis Bob said:
Mrs. SLB's surgery center is closing in two weeks so she has been interviewing for a new part time job.  The place she wanted to go, about 5 miles from the house, only had full time positions.  Then she interviewed at her second choice.  She calls me disappointed, no job offer.

But wait, there's more!

Mrs. SLB:  Good news! Listen to this VM from the boss at my second choice.

Me:  Listening, "Hot, dirty, naked nurse boss voice (I'm assuming):  Hi Mrs. SLB!  You left and I didn't even offer you the job!  I can't believe I did that!  Please know, I want you to work here!  Please call me and let me know your situation, I know you have other options.  Thanks, I'm going to go play with myself now!

Mrs. SLB: So what should I do?

Me: Call her back and ask her for more details on compensation, PTO, etc.  No need to make demands, just leave it open.

Mrs. SLB:  Okay

The next day....

Mrs. SLB:  Well, I got the job!

Me: Cool!  Congratulations!  How much more did they offer you?

Mrs. SLB: :oldunsure:

Me: :mellow:

Mrs. SLB: I was nervous, I really wanted this job, so I just took it and asked about compensation later.  But I got a 3% increase! 

Me: :wall:

It could have been a 15-20% increase, easily.  I'm never going to be able to retire with this kind of career management. So stupid.
Click to expand...
A certain female person I know has been helping a couple of ontripanoors open up a brand new restaurant since July.  She is now managing it.  But for the first month that she was busting her ### for them they didn't even have payroll set up.   They told her they would cut her a check (*cough*payhercash *cough*) and all she had to do was come up with a number.  They didn't even ask to see her math or whatever.

So she estimated how many hours she'd put in etc etc and comes up with an amount.   Let's just say it was $4000 for the sake of discussion.  I tell her "ask for $4500...you've been kicking ### for them.  The worst they can do is negotiate."

Of course she goes in and tells them $4000. 

 
Sconch said:
A certain female person I know has been helping a couple of ontripanoors open up a brand new restaurant since July.  She is now managing it.  But for the first month that she was busting her ### for them they didn't even have payroll set up.   They told her they would cut her a check (*cough*payhercash *cough*) and all she had to do was come up with a number.  They didn't even ask to see her math or whatever.

So she estimated how many hours she'd put in etc etc and comes up with an amount.   Let's just say it was $4000 for the sake of discussion.  I tell her "ask for $4500...you've been kicking ### for them.  The worst they can do is negotiate."

Of course she goes in and tells them $4000. 
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This is the thanks we get for letting them vote.

 
El Floppo said:
just met with the "director of architecture" (ie: the other architect left... but also the guy who runs that side of things- but as an employee). he was out of the office for the official laying off, but made a point of apologizing to me because he had wanted to be here for it- both for the sake of the other architect and for me. 

told me that earlier in the week the office manager said because of lack of billing, one of us had to go- and he said they couldn't afford to lose me, so had to be the other guy (who is more junior than me). I thanked him, but also expressed my nervousness... he said that there's no way our side of things will get less than 2- that he would quit before it happened.

even if he's over-compensating to appease my fears, it's working- definitely feel less freaked out. also met with the boss, who's pulling me into some other #### that layed-off guy was working on... so more work for me at least... for the time being.

still going to update the portfolio and resume- already started looking, and there's some applicable stuff out there. just not sure I'd get the paycheck I am now, or the flexibility to make time for my kids.
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Thanks a bunch for getting me all worried over nothing! Empathy is a finite resource. At least mine is.

 
Kafka said:
Please don't.  You've been acknowledged for being good at what you do...focus on that.  You deserve it.
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Disagree. I think you need to tell her because God forbid the situation changes. If it does and you didn't let her know, that could be...problematic.

I would certainly emphasize the good parts, but I still think informing her is a "better safe than sorry" thing, at a minimum.

 
RedmondLonghorn said:
Disagree. I think you need to tell her because God forbid the situation changes. If it does and you didn't let her know, that could be...problematic.

I would certainly emphasize the good parts, but I still think informing her is a "better safe than sorry" thing, at a minimum.
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I see that, but it's delicate with Mrs. Floppo going back into the work-force... I just hope it turns out well, b/c there's not a better guy in this "forum" than Floppo, IMHO...

 
*sees $60 pair of hard to acquire Jordan's for sale on facebook. 

*sees dozens of other posts by the same guy selling similarly hard to acquire Jordan's for the same price

*asks if the shoes are legit and where the guy is buying them

*flooded with responses from people telling me to #### off if i don't think they're legit

 i was 18 once and shopped at a flea market for knock off Hilfiger and Polo gear, too. no shame.  but am curious if legit selling $60 Jordan's that normally retail for $150 and gray market for three times that and, if legit, then i'll buy a couple pair.  at the same time not stupid enough to blindly trust some guy selling Foot Locker quantity shoes and gear out of his garage for far less than retail.

people are weird

 
mr. furley said:
*sees $60 pair of hard to acquire Jordan's for sale on facebook. 

*sees dozens of other posts by the same guy selling similarly hard to acquire Jordan's for the same price

*asks if the shoes are legit and where the guy is buying them

*flooded with responses from people telling me to #### off if i don't think they're legit

 i was 18 once and shopped at a flea market for knock off Hilfiger and Polo gear, too. no shame.  but am curious if legit selling $60 Jordan's that normally retail for $150 and gray market for three times that and, if legit, then i'll buy a couple pair.  at the same time not stupid enough to blindly trust some guy selling Foot Locker quantity shoes and gear out of his garage for far less than retail.

people are weird
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Interesting.

 
Heading to Philly (my first home) in early October.  2 days in New Hope (okay...Bucks County) and 2 in Rittenhouse Square.  Any food recommendations for Center City? Got the rest covered.  TIA

 
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