Should you do work that's outside of your scope?

A ridiculous reflection on my worst gig ever.

You’re a clown. How much do you cost?

My baby boy has a birthday. You come to the party. Make the kids laugh. It will be good.

Ah, George, I’m not that sort of clown. I don’t do that sort of thing.

What? You don’t think I have money. I have money. I’ll pay. How much?

Shit.

I was trapped. Saying no to George would be difficult. 

George was one of the cooks where I worked at the time. There, he earned minimum wage plus a share of the tips.

But George had all of the money he needed. He owned a big house. He drove a nice car. His job at the restaurant was for ‘professional connections’ and to show an income on paper. George had a bit of an ‘import’ business. He would bring in products from ‘home’, down south and sell them locally. He had a ‘delivery service’ of sorts. His products were the pride of his people. His products are and likely will remain, illegal here in Canada.

George had people who he paid to make certain he could conduct business safely and uninterrupted. As a small man who did not…