Friday, April 27, 2012

I came I saw I fumbled

1st off I need to start off today's offerings with a link to Waffles blog.  My nipple appears to have won a competition of some sort and for that I am proud.
Now, while he has not actually posted my nipple (I have given my blessing) you can still read his post.  So, if you're looking for soft-core aging balding male nipple porn you are out of luck.

Now that the important matter of my nipple is out of the way - I'll continue.

Skip to the bottom for the TLDR version

As anyone who read my last entry is aware - Today was a big day for me.
So it's just fitting that it started out pretty piss poor.  I had debated on a few things to start my day.  I contemplated calling of from my retail job so that I could sleep in and feel well rested.  Then head to class to get some last minute instruction in before heading over to the casino for my audition.
I also thought about telling work that I had a doctors appointment so that I could leave early and head to class.
However, I ended up just going to work and putting in my full shift.

Before the store even opened I had a manager come into the office and drop a deuce on me and add extra work to my load.  Something that he was informed about on Tuesday and had to be completed by Thursday at the latest was brought to my attention on Friday and of course this is important and needed to be completed by noon because he had promised someone else that it would be done by then.  Excellent, so all the work that I'm supposed to be doing now gets pushed off to begin the day and this is ultimately what ended up causing me to work my full scheduled shift.

Then to top it off I also had a visitor in the store and that pretty much forced me to abandon any idea of slacking off.  I wanted a nice relaxing day where I had no stress and didn't have to do any thinking or reasoning. I wanted to remain a blank slate just thinking about my audition - The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Cockroaches I guess.

Making a long story longer - I worked - I drove home to shit, shower and shave - then I drove to the casino.

I arrived fashionably early like I always do. Talked to one pit boss who sent me to see someone else.  The 2nd person I talked to called the guy that I was supposed to talk to and I stood around and made small talk.  I was informed that while they are looking for Craps dealers they always want you to know more and deal more and yada yada yoda!  I said I understood all of that and was willing to do whatever it took to get my foot in the door.

Eventually I get the Pit Boss who knew I'd be coming and he talked to me for a few, asking me what I was here for and the like.  I told him craps and he looked around at an empty table and I informed him that I'd be willing to come back later. He said "we might not have a game then" and I told him that I'm willing to keep coming back until they have one - I'm in no rush.
So, he calls up to security and explains that he has an Audition for Craps with no game going so he was going to "borrow" a stack of Red and Grey and once he was done he would replace them all.
He then took his jacked off, got his chips and we were on our way.
I asked him for any bets and he threw me a horn.  I booked it as I passed the dice (clumsily as hell by the way).  He threw them and we established a point, his bet was a loser.
I pull the dice up and ask if he'd like the hard ways and he throws up $5 for the hard-ways high on the 8.  I book it and then he adds "make em hoping" so I book that as well.  While moving the dice to him he throws out $6 and says "two way eleven" which I book as well without touching the chips.
Just as he grabs the dice two players walk up to the table.  He throws the dice and it lands on a hard six.
He announces that he's done and to give the money back because we have live players and comments "Man, and I hit that hard six too." So much for having to use my noggin - SAVED!!!

One of the new guys buys in for $40 or $60 or some small amount and the other guy doesn't.  He stands over by a base dealer and I inform him that he needs to have a pass line bet in order for me to pass the dice to him - so he puts 5 on the table.  The other guy comes over to stand right beside me and I ask him if he wants any action. He informs me that he's never played, just turned 22 and wants to watch because he's doesn't know how to play.  I tell him (as I'm passing the dice to his buddy and stumbling a little) "That's good because I've never dealt before and I'm here to learn as well" which prompted a chuckle.
His buddy tossed the dice, I grabbed them and asked if he wanted some hard-ways - he throws one which I book and then adds two more.  I book them as passing the dice and he tosses an unimportant number.
I bring the dice back and set up his Hard-Way bets and his friend asks me if they lost.  I explain that they stay up until they hit or the nasty number rolls.  Hit easy they come down and hit hard his buddy gets paid.  Over the next couple of rolls he kept asking some questions and I answered them while keeping a good pace on the stick and calling out the numbers.  Hit a winner on a roll and then hit a 7 during a come out (also a winner) and I called everything correctly thankfully.   After a few I was tapped out and stood off to the side waiting for whatever was next.

The Pit boss came back to me and was talking to one of the dealers who asked if he was going to put me on base and the Pit Boss said "no, no use." And then we started walking off.
This was where my dread set in.  I don't know if he didn't want me dealing base because I had done a pretty crappy job on stick or if it just wasn't worth it because there was only one player and it would be too easy.  Either way it ate at my brain only being able to do stick and not base.
He asked me if I could do 21 and I said yes, asked if I could pitch and I said yes so he pointed to a game and told me to tap out the dealer.

I came in and proceeded to fumble my way around a bit because they had a bet that was unfamiliar to me.  I had to have it explained to me and how it worked and what to do with the extra money, but after that I was good.  I finished out the shuffle, got to use the auto shuffler (another thing I had to be shown since I had only ever hand shuffled) and then deal half way through a new deck.
I made one counting error which was quickly caught and corrected. I got to do a few payouts, collect a tip for the crew and then I was tapped out.  I washed my hands and thanked everyone for humoring the new guy and went on my way.

Now I got to stand around and just watch the actual 21 dealer deal for a while because the Pit Boss was over paying attention to another game that was going on.  After probably 5 minutes or so he came back over and apologized but I told him everything was cool - I've got patience and his job comes before anything else.
He then took me to an empty table with the "interview" paperwork and told me that there were two ways to do this.
1 - He could ask me a bunch of questions that I answer and he writes everything down.  I told him that sounded like a pretty boring thing to do and probably the worse of the options.
2 - He could leave me with a pen and the questions and then just come back later after I filled out the paperwork.  I told him my writing hand was in good shape and asked for a pen.

So, I got to sit there and write my own answers to the questions while wondering what the hell just happened.  Did I do a shit job? Was it acceptable?  I have no info and I fully was expecting him to come back and tell me that I did a good job but I need some work - do a few more weeks of class and come back to try again.

However, what happened was the Casino Gaming Director came over and introduced himself while asking me a few questions.  I answered everything and felt things were good.  He asked me what I was looking to get out of this, what my plans were, what my availability is and all the standard stuff.  Then he said "lets go to HR and start your paperwork."

TLDR
I auditioned - I was good enough  - I'm now waiting for the background check to come back so that I can begin my new part time gig!

WOOT?
:)

grrouch out

54 comments:

  1. Congrats, my friend, that is just AWESOME. Way to go man!

    I just got back home, but next visit to Vegas you can be sure that I will head out to whatever out of the way locals casino you are working at and make sure I at least heckle you while you are dealing. I may even throw some money at you and play for a bit.

    Great to hear this, really. Well done, sir!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks.
      You can stop by the craps table on the way to the poker room and maybe play in a game with Missingflops!

      Delete
    2. That sounds great. Plus, as I recall, Mr. Flops indicated before he would be interesting in playing craps with you. So maybe we could both play craps and heckle you together.

      Delete
    3. While that sounds like the least fun of all the ideas -I'm still down with it.

      If the table sucks and I take all of your money I'll be happy I wasn't playing lol.

      If the table rocks and you guys rack the chips in then I'll be sad and depressed that I just made $7.50 in tips instead of $800 from the table.

      Positives and Negatives :)

      Delete
    4. Yeah, what's bad about that is you have to pool the tips too.

      But if I ever win $800 at a craps table your working, I'll definitely buy you a burger in a bra later.

      Delete
    5. This is why you and I can remain friends Rob!

      Delete
  2. Rob drop by the house and pick me up. I'll bring the rotten tomatoes.

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  3. Woo hoo! Congrats, grrouchie! My suggestion: earn money dealing craps, then use it to make a fortune by playing VBJ while counting virtual cards.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do not give out my plan sir.
      I was hoping to just kind of do it under the radar and in about 6 months start my professional VBJ tag team blog up with tbc.

      We'll give advice on everything from how to pick a good machine to how to properly bet size based on a theoretical card count based on a "I sure as shit hope I know the shuffle point so that I don't lose a grand on this next spin"

      Delete
  4. Great job considering how your day started. Good luck with things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks man.
      Life is a process of changes and I'm finally starting to add a few to my life.

      Delete
    2. Yeah, meant to say that too. Maybe being busy at work was a blessing, because your brain didn't grind on the audition all day long...

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    3. That is a good possibility ~Coach

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  5. Yeah! Great job, Grrouchie. I'm not a craps player, but I may have to come pretend I know what I'm doing if I make it to Vegas. (I'm currently considering a last minute solo trip for my birthday next month.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JT, part of grrouchie's job as a dealer will be to help out newbies. So he will gladly help you out with the betting.

      Just to warn you, tho, the "come" bet is not what you think.

      Delete
    2. While I think it's cool that people are willing to stand at my table and donate a few or lose a few or whatever - I'm perfectly cool with meeting people away from the "job" as well.
      Plus, in all honesty, I never know what I'll be dealing from day to day since I'll just be an extra "on call" guy anyways. I could be dealing Pai Gow!

      The job will provide extra money towards bills but also allow me to let my hair down and hang out some, play some poker, etc. So that I can meet up with people and enjoy an evening when they come into town -
      Though no tracking hookers down with Rob any more since in his old age he's getting careless :)

      Delete
    3. No, no, no....I can ONLY track hookers with you. I need someone as young, spry and as a hip as you to keep on eye out for the coppers.

      Delete
    4. lol
      you met me, I feel that you should be aware I don't fit the spry and hip categories you put me in.

      Also, I have issues spotting a hooker, what makes you think I'm going to be able to pick up on undercover's spying on us as well?

      Delete
    5. All seriousness aside, I believe that background check will result in you getting some kind of license from the gaming commission, right? You need to be on your best behavior in order to stay out of trouble.

      Therefore, I suggest you not only avoid all hookers, but pretty much women in general just to play it safe. You should only talk to a woman when it is clearly in the line of your job as a dealer. "Yes, that's your money, miss." "Do you want to bet the hard ways?"--careful with that one. "The ladies room is over there." Anything beyond that could be misinterpreted and get you into trouble.

      Also, don't even look at a woman if you can help it. That shouldn't be too difficult, right? It's not like guys are ever going to notice a woman in a low cut top, or a short dress, or tight pants, right? Guys don't care about stuff like that.

      Delete
  6. Nice job sir! Congrats and best of luck :)

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  7. Holy shiat! mad skillz baby! congrats!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll be overthrowing the government next week at this pace :)

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  8. Well done and Congrats on the new job. Your day started like mine but yours ended much better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I forgot to get the massage and happy ending but it still had a good turnout lol!

      Delete
  9. Congrats!! Totally happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks!

      There is so much positiveness and support in the comments of this post that I feel like I need to write something a little more grrouchie-like :)


      It's all much appreciated!

      Delete
  10. SCORE!!! Yeah, he wasn't even wasting his time with the interview paperwork if he didn't like you. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Say, does that background check involve reading your blog for signs that you're going to try to overthrow the government?

    You should never talk to Very Josie when a background check is pending, lad. This I've learned the hard way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All communications have been cut off, thanks for the warning!

      Delete
  12. Congrats!!! I will be in town later this month. If you are dealing by then, I will definitely stop by.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure I'll announce AFTER my first gig, but let people know when i"m working other times.

      Hopefully I get some good blogging material out of it.

      Delete
  13. You used my line!!! I want royalties, I accept sexual favors

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  14. This saying is older than you.
    That's like me trying to claim the phrase "To the moon Alice"

    ReplyDelete
  15. Where does that come from, never heard it?

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  16. Gratz Groucho although your lame ass attempt at pretending your dealing interview went bad was weak sauce. I figured you would get in somewhere with all your hard work and dedication. Good luck with the new job.

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    Replies
    1. No attempt at anything - I just "walked" y'all through it as it had happened to me.

      Delete
    2. cmon this is not a sob story lead in? "I came I saw I fumbled "... hmm?

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    3. Honestly, I kind of thought that I was going to get told to practice more and come back in a few weeks.

      So, My title and words all led you down the same path that I thought it was heading - with a surprise (not happy) ending!

      Especially with the whole "not dealing base" portion of the audition.

      I"m a "glass mostly empty" person so I didn't have a lot of positive expectations after the Craps portion - However I'm happy it worked out and excited to start.

      Delete
    4. I agree with Waffles--words I never expected to type--your post title was intentionally misleading. But that's ok, I've been known to do that myself.

      Delete
  17. It's from the 50's, Carmel. The Honeymooners. One of the all time great tv shows. Jackie Gleason. Grrouchie must be a lot older than I thought, or he's spent a lot of time on Nick@Nite.

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  18. I watched a lot of Nick@Nite as a kid Rob - a lot.

    I loved Mr Ed - didn't care for My 3 Sons much though.

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  19. Woohoo. Congratulations on the new job. I know you have worked hard for this (or at least that's what you lead your readers to believe ;o) ) so you definitely deserve it. :o)

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