My good friend, Michael Guida, has an interesting idea for a podcast series, asking people what it’s like to do what they do. The countless loyal fans of my monthly column, routinely ask me (once a year if I’m lucky), “What’s it like to write a humor lifestyle column for a popular and trendy regional magazine?” It’s a lot of fun if you don’t mind criticism and ridicule… and that’s just from my family and friends.
I like to tell people that it’s a labor of love, which it is because it’s certainly not a labor of riches. I find writing my little article cathartic. It allows me to tap into my creative side which is a contrast to my day job as a commercial real estate agent where, at times, creativity is needed, but mostly it’s just a grind it out sales and numbers game. If I didn’t have these articles, I would be forced to take up scrap booking, hair styling or inappropriate origami to relieve myself of all those creative juices coursing through my veins.
That said, it got me thinking of what some other people do and what it must be like to possess or experience their unique profession, hobby or skill. This got me started along my path and, well, another amazing magazine piece.
My subjects were chosen based on my interest level and access to them. I would love to know what’s it like to be a two-time NBA MVP, but I don’t have Steph’s email address and the Warriors have repeatedly asked me to stop calling their offices. 
So, what’s it like to be …
The Mayor of Danville – Renee Morgan (current City Council Member and former Mayor): “The hours are long and the days off are few, but the honor to serve and advocate for the residents of Danville and maintain the character of our community are beyond measure. As an elected official it is important to be dedicated to the vision and integrity of our constituents. We truly live in a special place. After living in Danville for 30 years and raising my children here I plan to keep it this way.”
A United States Congressman – Representative Eric Swalwell (CA 15th District) “Being a Congressman is the most satisfying job I could’ve hoped for. I have the privilege of going to work every day on behalf of my neighbors, friends and family; I can channel my own and my family’s passion for public safety into my work with the Judiciary and Intelligence committees; and I can help our nation look ahead through my work with Future Forum, the group I founded to engage millennial Americans. The joy of the job and the opportunity to do good far outweighs any passing frustrations. It’s always a break-neck pace, but it’s a dream job.”
A Rock Star – David Victor (formerly of Boston): “Being on stage, performing classic hit rock songs for thousands of music lovers, and delivering the goods, is an exhilarating, transcendent feeling. Fans love the music, and it’s an honor to make it. It’s a real bummer when you have an “off” night, and you know it! There’s nothing like being there, for both performer and fan. Videos pale in comparison. Capturing the moment and making the magic is a “presence thing.” Traveling by plane or bus from city to city is as romantic as anything I’ve ever experienced (professionally speaking, of course!) Having a “Performer Pass,”and going anywhere you want in the venue without anyone in a yellow windbreaker giving you any grief, is totally rock n roll. It’s a tough way to make a living, but nothing I’ve ever experienced professionally is as rewarding.”
The Owner of a Comedy Club – Gayle Thomas of Tommy T’s: “It absolutely has to be one of the best jobs in the world to work in an environment where you provide laughter. I’ve heard it said that laughter is medicine for the soul so I guess I’m pretty much a doctor. Ok, maybe that’s going too far, but if I could write prescriptions for people to take a break from their daily grind to come sit down for two hours and forget their troubles while laughing, I’d hand those out like candy on Halloween.”
A Stand-up Comedian – Bryan Kellen (Nationally touring comedian): “It goes from being frightening, frustrating, embarrassing, humiliating, depressing, lonely and really hard to comforting, uncomplicated, glorifying, thrilling, effortless and energizing every damn night I’m on stage.”
A Song Writer – Paul Jefferson (Co-wrote That’s as Close as I’ll get to Loving You, a #1 hit for Aaron Tippin and You’re Not My God with Keith Urban). “It’s like playing the lottery where you must buy your ticket from the top of Mount Everest…but when you hear one of your songs on the car radio the first time you realize it was worth losing a few fingers.”
A Commercial Airline Pilot – Captain John Macholz of American Airlines: “Despite being completely sober, I never know what day of the week it is or what city I’m in. I also can’t make plans this month to attend an event next month. But seriously, I’m about to upgrade to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner – a 335 passenger international wide body twin engine jet airliner. This is my childhood dream come true. I love the view from my office and the ability to travel with my family. I am incredibly blessed.”
A Policeman/First Responder – Dave Peruzzaro, Captain with the San Mateo Police Dept: “Being a law enforcement first responder truly is a job like no other. You never know what the next call for service has in store for you. One moment you are on routine patrol and the next moment you could find yourself in a life changing event. You can’t un-see the tragedy you see or change the experiences you experience. While the job of a police officer and first responder is an emotional roller coaster, it’s an honorable, challenging and incredibly rewarding profession.”
A Livermore Valley Winery Tasting Room Pourer– Michele Milz of Darcy Kent: “Unpredictable, but always fun, and yet sometimes even a bit stressful.” Meeting people is where the fun comes in! Some of them are the most experienced wine drinkers; for others it may be their 21st birthday, looking for their first sip of alcohol (wink wink). Then of course, there’s everyone else in between: Bachelorette parties, 50th birthday celebrations, class reunions, and the out-of-towners visiting California wine country for the first time. The people you meet make the job easy and fun because the act of wine tasting is, in fact, fun! My favorite types of customers are the ones who ask questions and test my own knowledge of wine. Sometimes I even learn a thing or two about wine in the hour I spend with a customer.”
A Professional Auctioneer – Damon Casatico of Charity Benefit Auctions: “Being the center of attention and running a high-profile charity auction with dozens of high priced fundraising items is like conducting a symphony or being an air traffic controller with your hair on fire!”
A Football Coach – Aaron Becker of San Ramon Valley High School: “Being the Varsity Head Football Coach at SRVHS is a tremendous honor, not to mention a year-round job. Our program prides itself on developing young men of great character and whether it be during football season, winter weight lifting, or spring and summer training we are constantly working toward that end, not to mention winning football games! As a former “Wolf” myself (class of ’97), it’s very rewarding to see our young men move on to bigger and better things beyond high school and it’s still exhilarating to run on to the field every Friday night for a big game. Like any job being the head football coach at SRVHS has its ups and downs but the relationships formed and the memories created each and every season make it all worthwhile!”
A Portrait Photographer – Krista Keller (specializing in High School Senior Photos): “It’s hard work, but it feels great because I get the chance to make kids feel special and confident for a day. This most likely is the last time they will have professional photos taken until they get married.”
A Master Skydiver – Steve Caltagirone (over 1000 jumps): “For me, skydiving provides the perfect combination of two experiences that would otherwise stand in opposition of one another. On the one hand, jumping out of a plane offers true sensory overload mixed with a steroid-dose of good old-fashioned adrenaline! On the other hand, it offers a level of peace many skydivers struggle to describe in words. The pure endorphin rush of plummeting to the earth at speeds exceeding 120 m.p.h. speaks for itself. Within this adrenaline-fueled excitement, however, lies a layer of inner peace and tranquility that is almost spiritual in nature.”
A Magazine and Book Publisher – Eric Johnson, Alive Media and Books: “Being a publisher of books and a monthly magazine is like being the Wizard of Oz. I get to use what appear to many to be “magical” powers, taking authors’ and writers’ work and transforming it, then putting it into different formats—printed and digital books and magazines—that reach thousands of readers throughout the Bay Area (in the case of ALIVE Magazine) and the entire world (in the case of ALIVE Books). And… and I get to do all this while hiding behind a curtain so that no one really knows how we do it or who I am!”
It goes without saying that I have some incredibly interesting and talented friends. A logical question is what are they doing hanging out with me? This was an incredibly fun assignment and I look forward to a follow up piece. Take my word for it when I say, you won’t be disappointed if you take the time to ask your friends or family members, What’s it like to be… ? Great idea Michael Guida.
Leave a Reply