8/30/03 Water Taxi Perk; Saying the First Line on Circle Line and in Real Life:

New York Water Taxi. They stop right near my apartment at Battery Park City's North Cove. It's a 5 minute walk from my lobby. They then go up the Hudson, stopping at Chelsea Piers, and then, right next to my place of work: Circle Line. So, compared to my usual commute via subway to Times Square and then unreliable traffic-laden crosstown M42 bus to 12th avenue, it is quite a pleasure. But... unlike my unlimited monthly metrocard... the Water Taxi costs $8 one way.... except..... I'm a tour guide on Circle Line, and my company, and Water Taxi have a deal: We tell our customers about the Water Taxi, and they give a $2 discount to anyone bearing a Circle Line ticket stub, bound from our pier to "Ground Zero." Being that I am the linchpin of this arrangement, it behooves Water Taxi to keep me... well... impressed with their services. And to that end, they allow me to ride for free. It's fair, in a way, because if they keep my happy and encouraging of their services to my audience, I am bound to send them far more business than my measly personal $8. And so, I either wear my uniform, or flash my Circle Line I.D., and my elegant waterborne commute is on the house. What a perk!

Leaving the North Cove.

A couple on the upper deck.

One of the employees of Water Taxi, who I am trying to get in my shot of the city, and he's trying to get out of my way.

Circle Line passes on the right.

The Empire State Building in the distance as we stop at Chelsea Piers (about 23rd street).

The end of this pier is a restaurant. I should try it some time.

Approaching Circle Line at 43rd street.

Usually I can't use Water Taxi because they don't run early enough for me to get to work in time. But today I had a late day, and it worked out perfectly. And it's fun to arrive on the pier and see Circle Line in full swing, knowing that my soon-to-be audience is buying tickets and lining up.

The guy in the white shirt in the middle of the above photo is the guy that hired me: Chris Calhoun. I can't tell if he likes me or not. He's got a very even disposition. He is officially in charge of pier operations, and so he's out front, observing that operation.

And finally, right before I begin my tour.... I took this photo of the passengers, sitting and waiting for something, anything, to happen. I usually say nothing until we're just about ready to leave, so they're good and bored by the time I begin, and thankful for some sort of stimulation. Hey... anything helps. I can already tell that no matter how comfortable I get giving these tours... the 10 seconds before I begin will always give me butterflies. Always. For those 10 seconds, it's like my first day every day. Perhaps it's my natural shyness coming back at me. Perhaps its a normal feeling any performer with blood running through their veins gets when they actually care about their performance. Who knows. But I know it's with me to stay. And it's the same feeling I get if I see a girl in a public place that I want to talk to. It stops me pretty much every time. And I should learn a thing or two from Circle Line... because even though it's hard to start.... the minute I get through the first sentence or two... I'm totally "in." Brian has told me that he feels the same way about girls.... he has told me "the hardest part is saying hello. If she comes up to me and simply says 'hi,' I can totally take it from there, no problem." But when she doesn't, often nothing happens because making that first step, saying the first line... is too scary. And I seem to have the same fear of making the first move, and I am surprised to find this same fear cropping up on the boat. But, I suppose it exposes the reality that giving a tour is as much of a performance as trying to meet someone. At least, at the very beginning. But I'm also slowly learning that once you get past that first line... the hard part is over. Here's the problem: When I'm on a boat with a couple hundred people starting at me, waiting for me to begin (in this case as I take their photo instead), I have nowhere to run... so I suck it up and make it happen. But in my personal life, I'm not stuck. I can exercise the flight half of my natural fight-or-flight instinct, and choose the less stressful path (not saying the first line) rather than fight off that overwhelming and usually paralyzing feeling. Maybe I should wear my uniform all day every day.... or.... maybe I should go back to the drawing board.