The Kukowski Chronicle

What's Joe doing now?

A look back to 2017 and BIG things coming in 2018!

Written By: Joe - Jan• 01•18

A look back.

Despite the issues of this last year, it was a good year for me.

After staying at my brothers for 6 months (Thank you for putting up with me, Jerome), I moved back into the room I lived in for a few months before I went on the road. All my stuff was still there (Thank you, Cindy).

About this same time I started working at Rhino Staging Northwest as a stage hand. Between this and my part time at JCPenney I was able to make ends meet. The scheduling worked out for the most part. Slow times for JCPenney were busy times for Rhino.

The first job I did for Rhino was the setup of Cirque du Soleil Luzia. While there I ran into a bunch of people I had met on the road. Several of the usual followers, and a few of the cirque staff. That came in handy when I took my brother to see the show several weeks later. I was able to get us upgraded from last row of the cheep seats to the eight row back of the VIP seats. When Cirque left I was right there helping take it down, including dropping the Big Top.

Over the summer I helped load in and load out a bunch of concerts. Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, One Republic, Metallica, Coldplay and many others. I even got to work the show call for REO and Styx. I also worked the Sounders FC and Seahawks games. Although I was only needed for the opening and left shortly after so I never saw a game.

I also worked several corporate gigs. A couple of them were at the Chihuly glass garden at the Seattle Center, and the big one for a Fred Hutchinson fund raiser. My last job of the year was for Resolution, a rave held at Century link field.

And a look forward.

2018 promises to be a big one for me. The first month is going to be basically the same. I will be working the in and out for the Amazon holiday party. I will also be working to transfer Kurios gear from trucks to a plane so it can be flown over to Tokyo.

This is were things get interesting.

A couple of weeks ago, I sent in my resume for the swing tech position with Kurios. Much to my surprise I did not get the usual “Thank you but no thank you” response. Instead I got an email from a friend I met during my time with Amaluna. He is now the Head Carpenter for Kurios and wanted to setup a phone interview. I had the interview on the 19th and got an answer on the 23rd.

I got an early Christmas present! I am going to Tokyo!

I have signed a contract with Cirque Du Soleil Kurios for the position of Swing Tech. I do not know when I will be going, it depends on how fast Cirque HQ and the Japanese government can get the paperwork done. Probably in February.

To say I am excited is an understatement. I am also nervous. Although I have traveled to other contraries, there is a big difference between Europe and Japan. Fortunately, I will be among some 200 coworkers and friend, most in the same situation. I also don’t want to let down those who pushed for me to be hired.

I will just have to do my best and that will have to be good enough.

I hope everyone has a safe and fun 2018, and I will end this with a quote from Carrie Fisher:

“Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow”

 

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