Books and other stuff I feel like discussing
By education and experience - Accountant with a specialty in taxation. Formerly a CPA (license has lapsed). Masters degree in law of taxation from University of Denver. Now retired. Part time work during baseball season as receptionist & switchboard operator for the Colorado Rockies. This gig feeds my soul in ways I have trouble articulating. One daughter, and four grandchildren. I share the house with two cats; a big goof of a cat called Grinch (named as a joke for his easy going "whatever" disposition); and Lady, a shelter adoptee with a regal bearing and sweet little soprano voice. I would be very bereft if it ever becomes necessary to keep house without a cat.
Read/Post Comments (2)
Coors Field Nugget Three - Phone calls
The switchboard I answer in the evenings and on weekends is the administrative line for the team itself. There are two other lines for ticket purchases, planning parties, booking special areas of the stadium, and the like. Unfortunately, if you don't pay very much attention to broadcast coverage of the games, {the broadcasters repeat the service center numbers several times during each game} and you go to Google or dexknows to get the Rockies phone number, you end up talking to me.
That hasn't been much of a problem in earlier years, but we are selling well as the 2010 season unfolds, and I get LOTS of calls about buying a ticket, inquiring about availability, and wanting information on price ranges and so on. I simply don't have that information once the service center closes, which is during the first inning on game day.
So about every 5 or 20 minutes as the evening unfolds, I explain that the service center is closed, and will reopen at 9 am.
And of course, intermixed with those calls, are the goofy ones, the poignant ones, the exasperating ones, and the oddball conversations which sometimes enliven the evening and sometimes come close to leaving me speechless. Some examples:
An infielder who has worked his way through the minor league system beginning with the Rookie team in Casper, Wyoming is playing in his first major league game, after some injuries to starting players expanded the DL and opened a spot on the 25 man roster. Casper doesn't have a large inventory of short term rental housing, and many members of the rookie squad live with local families. His Rookie year host family calls to send a message of support and pleasure to the clubhouse. The kid gets his first major league hit a couple of nights later. I hope the Wyoming family was watching!
A caller explains to me that he is fully conversant with all the inns and outs of strength training for professional athletes, specifically baseball players, and he wants to be hired to work with our training camp in the Dominican Republic. I am momentarily stumped on how to forward his call, eventually take a message. I enjoy the light hearted game of "hot potato" which follows when several members of the baseball administration staff are in the lobby. No one wants to end up having to call the guy back.
A caller confides to me that he is going to propose to his girl friend at the game, and is concerned that the ring in his pocket will trip a metal detector as he enters the gate and ruin the surprise. I assure him that many many people arrive at the games wearing rings and all sorts of jewelry and no chaos ensues. He finally sounds like he is a little more relaxed, but he's still nervous. I wish him and his girl friend every happiness together, he thanks me and hangs up.
A caller inquires about trying out for the team. I connect him with with the hotline set up for that purpose, but he calls back to say that he has none of the items requested on the recorded message (probably a summary of previous athletic experience) but he is "completely qualified" to play and who can he speak with in person? At times like this, it's helpful to hide behing the semi-fib that I am the evening and weekend switchboard operator and the only information I have on the topic is the hotline number.
A man calls with a very convoluted story that his wife is at the game, needs money, has forgotten to bring cash or a credit card, but she does have a merchandise gift certificate and how can she exchange it for cash? I am basically clueless on this one. He claims he cannot meet her at the stadium and help out because he is at work. He eventually ends the conversation.
I'm confident that until the day I stop working for the Rockies, the infinite variety of calls will continue.
That hasn't been much of a problem in earlier years, but we are selling well as the 2010 season unfolds, and I get LOTS of calls about buying a ticket, inquiring about availability, and wanting information on price ranges and so on. I simply don't have that information once the service center closes, which is during the first inning on game day.
So about every 5 or 20 minutes as the evening unfolds, I explain that the service center is closed, and will reopen at 9 am.
And of course, intermixed with those calls, are the goofy ones, the poignant ones, the exasperating ones, and the oddball conversations which sometimes enliven the evening and sometimes come close to leaving me speechless. Some examples:
An infielder who has worked his way through the minor league system beginning with the Rookie team in Casper, Wyoming is playing in his first major league game, after some injuries to starting players expanded the DL and opened a spot on the 25 man roster. Casper doesn't have a large inventory of short term rental housing, and many members of the rookie squad live with local families. His Rookie year host family calls to send a message of support and pleasure to the clubhouse. The kid gets his first major league hit a couple of nights later. I hope the Wyoming family was watching!
A caller explains to me that he is fully conversant with all the inns and outs of strength training for professional athletes, specifically baseball players, and he wants to be hired to work with our training camp in the Dominican Republic. I am momentarily stumped on how to forward his call, eventually take a message. I enjoy the light hearted game of "hot potato" which follows when several members of the baseball administration staff are in the lobby. No one wants to end up having to call the guy back.
A caller confides to me that he is going to propose to his girl friend at the game, and is concerned that the ring in his pocket will trip a metal detector as he enters the gate and ruin the surprise. I assure him that many many people arrive at the games wearing rings and all sorts of jewelry and no chaos ensues. He finally sounds like he is a little more relaxed, but he's still nervous. I wish him and his girl friend every happiness together, he thanks me and hangs up.
A caller inquires about trying out for the team. I connect him with with the hotline set up for that purpose, but he calls back to say that he has none of the items requested on the recorded message (probably a summary of previous athletic experience) but he is "completely qualified" to play and who can he speak with in person? At times like this, it's helpful to hide behing the semi-fib that I am the evening and weekend switchboard operator and the only information I have on the topic is the hotline number.
A man calls with a very convoluted story that his wife is at the game, needs money, has forgotten to bring cash or a credit card, but she does have a merchandise gift certificate and how can she exchange it for cash? I am basically clueless on this one. He claims he cannot meet her at the stadium and help out because he is at work. He eventually ends the conversation.
I'm confident that until the day I stop working for the Rockies, the infinite variety of calls will continue.
Read/Post Comments (2)
Previous Entry :: Next Entry
Back to Top
