Who among us hasn’t fudged a little in a job interview, left a few things off a resume? At such times anonymity comes in mighty handy. But what if you’re looking for work in Chicago and your employment record is public knowledge? What if you are, say, famous opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti? Everybody knows about Pavarotti being canned by the Lyric Opera in August for poor attendance. Specifically, Pavarotti had canceled 26 out of 41 Lyric performances since 1981, meaning he only showed up for work 46.6 percent of the time. With that kind of record, we wondered if anybody around here would hire him. So we called and asked. First we checked on Pavarotti’s prospects in the everyday workworld. We asked: Would you hire Pavarotti . . .
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Steve French, manager, Gino’s East: “No, I wouldn’t hire him with that kind of record. Are you kidding? If I hire a pizza-maker and he doesn’t show, we’re screwed.”
. . . as a dogcatcher?
Ron Paduch, manager, Jewel, 3630 N. Southport: “No, because he only shows up half the time.”
Andy Cirzan, senior talent buyer, JAM Productions: “Ummmmm . . . Hmm. Yes. The impact of him canceling a performance for us wouldn’t be near what it has been over the years for Lyric Opera. We would be looking almost certainly at a one-shot deal at the Rosemont Horizon. Certainly considerations would have to be put in the structure of the deal based on recouping the expenses that would be lost in lieu of a cancellation.”
Brad Altman, manager and director of marketing and promotions, Cubby Bear Lounge: “I’m sure we wouldn’t hire him. Too risky. Besides, he wouldn’t fit in our room, literally.”
