The Lucy Ricardo School of Unemployment

Welcome to the Lucy Ricardo School of Unemployment.  You remember Lucy Ricardo don't you?  She was the lead character in I Love Lucy -- a classic 50's sitcom that I used to watch in black and white re-runs as a kid.

Lucy was always coming up with some ditsy scheme for making money or becoming famous.  Usually the scheme turned into a disaster and much slapstick & merriment ensued.  

Since becoming unemployed I feel like Lucy Ricardo sometimes as I brainstorm different ways to generate income to keep my family afloat.  Sure I'm doing strategic things too -- looking for consulting gigs, expanding my search to include teaching jobs at universities, but lately it's the crazy pursuits that are keeping me busy.  Here are some of the wacky/off-beat money-making projects I've done since losing my job last summer:

You Ought to Be in Pictures -- Part 1 -- Last September I read an article about how our city is seeing an increase in movie and television productions due to some attractive tax incentives.  I thought that I could jump on this gravy train.  So I contacted the local film office and submitted the Hen House to their location library.  I had to submit a photo portfolio of the house from all angles -- both inside and out.  The locations librarian sent me a note thanking me and commenting that it looked like a great house.  Now, I just need a Location Scout to come to the film office and say, "I'm looking for an Arts and Craft bungalow with nice gardens and a sweet homespun feel."  And voila --  The Hen House can be a star  -- while its inhabitants make some greenbacks.

You Ought to Be in Pictures -- Part 2 -- Later in the Fall,  someone told me about a casting call for extras for a movie.  That opportunity had already passed, but I took the time to submit Libby Doodle Doo and Little Zo Peep to the most respected casting agent in the region.  

I'll be honest, I did this with some trepidation.  I want the girls to have childhoods -- not careers.  But I rationalized that if they were only being extras in movies/TV, that we wouldn't have to come into contact with  that crazy stage mom world.       Quickly I started to think that this entire undertaking was a scam, to boot.

For their applications  I had to submit two photos of each girl and give their basics vital statistics --- age, hair color, height, weight, sizes, etc.  As I was submitting the online application, I kept getting pop up windows urging me to take my data entry to the next level -- for a modest monthly fee.  No thanks.  I'll just do the free Basic application.  

After I completed the online sign-up,  I started getting emails every week telling me how my daughters' profiles were not optimized and not search-able by national casting agents until I signed up for the Premium Service.  Talk about bait and switch.   I was about to pull both girls' profiles when I got my first call to have Little Zo Peep come for an audition for an ice cream commercial.  So maybe this is legit afterall.

The audition required Zo Peep to speak on camera. They want her to speak!!  Yikes!! If you've ever looked at my YouTube videos in which Miss Peep talks (Referral Day, 3 Little Christmas Trees), you know that she has a tiny little voice that I think only Horton the Elephant can hear (and maybe me because my ear is used to it).

Zo Peep did a great job at the audition -- not too nervous.  She spoke the lines like a champ -- honestly I was quite surprise how expressive -- yet natural-- she sounded.  Problem is -- no one could hear her but me.  The panel asked her to repeat the lines as loudly as she could -- and the second time she reached a volume that was barely audible.  Hey, it was an experience.

Just last week I got a call for both girls to audition for a TV ad for a hospital -- no speaking lines required.  YEAHHH!  When we went into the audition room the agency person commented on how beautiful the girls were.  One of the casting agents said they looked like angels from heaven (wasn't that nice).  Zo Peep answered their questions politely and without a hint of nervousness.  The Doodle was uncomfortable with the bright lights and the row of people sitting at the table and -atypical for her -- shy.  She did muster a really cute and really loud "Bye, Bye." at the end.  

We'll find out if they got a part this week or next.  If they do get any work, I'm planning to put the income into their college funds -- I haven't made any contributions to that since last summer.  Once I get a job, I'm planning to have them retire from acting.

Contest. Sure I Can Enter A Contest  -- The week before last I found out about a video contest sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and YouTube.  The purpose of the Big Bubblin Star contest was to create a short video of a parent and happy baby  interacting during a bubble bath.  Grand Prize is $10,000.  Wouldn't that be a nice addition to the college fund?  When I found out about the contest there were only 5 days left to submit the video.

So I got cracking.  For my submission, I rewrote the lyrics to some famous old time songs that are in the Public Domain (Take Me Out to the Ballgame, I’m Just Wild About Harry and Toot, Toot Tootsie Goodbye) and created lyrics having to do with bubble bath time. Then I put my video camera on a tripod, plopped Libby Doodle Doo into the kitchen sink filled with bubbles and hit RECORD.

To avoid any other copyright problems (a big no-no in the contest) – I sang these songs a cappella.   Trust me, this is not a pretty sight or a delight to the ears.    What I lack in vocal talent, I try to make up through volume and enthusiasm.  Here's the video:

I find out tomorrow if we made it to one of the top 9 semi-finalist.  The next phase of the contest is a public voting component.  If we make it that far, I'll be begging all of you and your friends and their friends to go and vote for us.

Lucy Ricardo would be so proud of me.

UPDATE -- My video did NOT make one of the top 9.  Maybe I wasn't telegenic enough, maybe Libby Doodle Doo didn't seem happy throughout (she did get a little PxxxxD when I tried to put bubbles on her chin and in her hair).  Whatever the reason -- sometimes you hit a home run; sometimes you strike out.  Lucy Ricardo always tried again and so will I.