Hardwareman II

Dealing with the wonders of commercial scenic fabrication. Enjoy...

Dear Hardwareman,

I was just hired as a Project Manager for a commercial scene shop. Do you have any sage advice?

(Anonymous)


Dear Anon,

While Hardwareman himself is currently deep in meditation (he went into the bathroom with the Enco catalog), a group of disciples has put this list together for you:

1. If the customer says they don’t need it right away, they mean they don’t need it until tomorrow.

2. Your sales people don’t know what your company does.

3. Nobody will remember how they did it the last time.

4. The file contains nothing but fax cover sheets.

5. If they won’t tell you what time you can leave, don’t let them tell you what time to be there.

6. If the client says they think they have it, they don’t.

7. The job lead has a better way.

8. Don’t agree with the lead too quickly, they don’t really want to make the change. They want to convince you they know better.

9. If you can’t open the disk, assume it is blank.

10. Your sub doesn’t have the font.

11. You will care more about the project then the client.

12. The truck will be late, and when it arrives it won’t have bars, straps or pads.

13. Your annual review won’t happen until you remind them.

14. Seeing the client is better than phoning, phoning is better than email, email is better than a fax, faxing is better than nothing.

15. If you think getting the job you’re about to bid will close the shop, then you should say so.

16. If in doubt the client will be gone for the holiday – which is just fine since it is an overtime day for the local anyway.

17. There is no standard procedure.

18. You have to use the existing form.

19. McMaster-Carr can get it for you.

20. If in doubt, do it yourself.