Best Seat at the Walker

I have been an intern in the Performing Arts department at the Walker since the beginning of July this year. In this time I havehad the chance to see some wonderful performances, meet artists, attend Walker parties, and learn more about where I belong in the arts and cultural world. But I think my favorite part of being here is where I get to sit. My desk (which I share with a fellow intern) is placed in a spot where you have to pass if you need to get to certain departments in a quick fashion. I say quick because I would say at least 75% of the people who pass my desk are cruising by at full speed darting around the corner off to who knows where. I, being the number one fan of people watching, love every minute of it.

I get to see interns running by with what I am sure are very important documents in hand (I am one of them), department heads flying by to their next presentation or meeting, colleagues doing the walk and talk very much like “The West Wing”, and at least twice a day people just barely crashing into one another as they pass like two ships in the night orin this case liketwo race cars. I have becomeused to this frantic movement and now find myself transfixed by my computer screen staring at Excel spreadsheets or shooting off an email not even noticing the passers by. Every once and a while some one will stop at my desk to chat (or perhaps take a breath) but for the most part it is go, go, go around this hip and fast paced office.Sitting in this spot one might only think folks around here have somewhere they need to be and they need to get there fast! I have come to realize that although I certainly do not know everyone around here I do know that these people are dedicated to and driven by their work and I feel like such a lucky duck that I get to see them in action every Thursday and Friday.