Boss vs. Leader
It made me think. I really dislike the term “boss.” I especially hate when people say things like “Whatever, you’re the boss.” I think this is because I find distinct differences between the words Boss and Leader.
For instance, a boss tells you what to do and walks away assuming you will get something done, and that’s the end of it. But a leader will ask you to do something, then make sure you know how to do it properly before walking away. Believe it or not, I have seen lighting crew bosses walk up to crew members and say, “You’re doing that wrong,” and then walk away, expecting the tech to seek out the correct way from someone else or screw something up even further by trying some new way he thinks may work. A leader will stop and show the tech an example of the right way to do the task.
I remember being a young tech and working in New York City at a shop that rented lights and audio gear. We had a boss who ran things like a drill sergeant. He constantly put his own people down and, quite frankly, many of the people working there actually feared this owner. He used people, and in the long run I think it cost him a lot of his business. Face it, touring companies get a lot of repeat business because their crew are well trained, well-liked professionals, and people want those dedicated technicians back year after year. So they go to the same trusted vendor again and again. This New York guy did not pay great, but I learned a lot. So when I got out of college, I spent three years working there and got my real education in the touring biz. Then I left, because people were willing to double my pay and treat me with respect at other companies. Instead of hearing a boss constantly say things like “I don’t know what to do with you bums,” I went to work for a leader who said things like, “We can do better at this, let’s try a new plan.”
I sometimes use the “shame” method to fix what I see is a problem. If I walk by a dimmer area and see cables slung everywhere in disarray, I sometimes just stop and stare. For several minutes. Until the dimmer guy can’t take it any more and says “What?” Then I will simply inform him that, in my 30 years of touring, I doubt I have ever seen such a total disrespect for someone’s work area. “Didn’t your mom ever show you how to make a bed or clean up your room?” Usually, that does the trick. I walk back an hour later, and it will look proper.
Other times, I will look at a horrible spaghetti-looking area of floor lights and just be astonished that someone would think it was acceptable to run cables in this manner. Then I will tear it all apart and start doing it the correct way. Sooner or later, someone will see the LD doing this and alert the lighting crew. They will immediately jump in and rectify the problem causing my OCD. And somehow, the cables always look nice after I set an example. Another case of a boss knowing how it should be done, while a leader shows his people how it’s done.
A Credit to the Crew
Last year, I was lighting a new band. One day the singer came over to me and said, “Man, I understand you load in at 9 a.m. with all this stuff. Yet when I walk in for lunch everyday, it’s all up in the air and your crew is kicking back, ready for the show.” I tell him it’s because I have a crack bunch of professionals who work together as a team, transforming the lighting crew into a well-oiled, fine-tuned machine. And it was true. My crew chief, Wayne Kwiatt, was amazing, and I had little to do with how the crew built the rig. Whenever something was hung wrong or didn’t work as expected during the show, Wayne never pointed fingers. It was always his fault in his eyes. He didn’t take credit for good days either. He said “thanks” when complimented on a good load-in, but always deflected the compliment to his crew. In my eyes, a boss would be quick to take credit. A leader, on the other hand, gives credit.
I think bosses generally use people. They throw tasks at employees, and if they can’t cover them, he figures those people are dispensable. He can get more off the street. Bosses like this make people fear for their job. I like to think I’m the opposite. Why not generate enthusiasm for a gig rather than bitch about it? Some venues are quite challenging to get your gear in and set up. We always recognize these places prior to arrival and, sure enough, the crew moaning will start a couple days before one even gets on site. I like to start these particular days off with my inevitable line, “I think this is gonna be the best day ever.” Rather than drive the crew like a slave owner, joke about the situation. Make light of a bad situation, and you will have a better day. Instead of swearing all day, develop a good work ethic in your people and have them laugh along with you. The day may still be long, but at least you’re laughing at it instead of fighting it.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Respect. I think everyone deserves it to start. But I see quite a few bosses who deserve little. And I honestly wonder how these people have gotten to the position they are in now. Although I often have to work with such people, I choose not to, when possible. I was recently asked to submit a design for some new mega artist and, of course, it would be rewarding financially. But the more I pondered the opportunity, the less I cared about the gig. The artist is impressive and will probably be huge in the near future. Unfortunately, the head of production is not well liked in our biz. I personally get along okay with this cat, but the list of folks that don’t is quite long. So I submitted a production design, because that’s my job. But my heart isn’t into it, because I could care less if I ever worked for this person again. Now if he was a leader instead of a boss…
