Corporate World vs Theatre Fun

Here is my response to Spike's question on Be My Muse:
How about something about your experiences going from fun theatre world to a taste of the corporate world?

And the reason I am choosing hers first is because of how this morning went. I am, once again, snowed in and cannot get to the office. Or actually, choose not to risk the dangers of getting there today. People in theatre are like postal workers. Get there no matter what the weather. The show must go on. And it can't go on unless all of us are there. I'm very lucky that this month I am not doing a show, esp. since my theatre is in the foothills and is really getting hit by ice and wind.

Brief explanation of my morning: I slipped on the snow-covered cement stairs at my apt building, falling backwards but sliding down the steps and wrenched something right below my neck.

Then in the car, only two blocks away from the house, did some sliding. I turned around and went straight home and notified the office that I wouldn't be coming in today. The picture is of my backyard. Oh, and the fire hydrant on my street is on it's side. No water is coming from it, though. Someone must have slid into it and knocked it over.

• Money. I'm not talking about pay. I mean the purpose of the company existing (I must mention that all the theatres I have worked for have been not-for-profits). There was a full office meeting with our deputy project manager. He asked people what our ultimate purpose is here. No one came up with the response he was looking for: "To make money." That would NEVER be the answer in the fine arts. And if it is, they're in trouble.
• Understudies. I've gone from "we can't do the show without you" to "you are easily replaceable with a temp." The office job is only lasting until next September. When I went to a friend for advice about whether or not to take the job, he had to point out to me that it's not like a run of a show. I didn't have to stay there until the end of the job. I could quit at any time and they would just find a temp to take my place. I hadn't even realized that my mind was in theatre-mode and I was thinking I would have to stay all the way through to next September.
• Applause. No one stands up and cheers for us after a day of work.
• Adrenaline. No adrenaline rush sitting at my desk.
• Peeing in a cup. Can you imagine what would happen to the arts if they did drug testing?
• Time. No one tells me how many more minutes I have until I have to be sitting at my desk.
• Muscle. Guys at the office offering to carrying heavy stuff for me (even if they are a lot older and probably would have more trouble with it). Sometimes that is my job at the theatre. And no one ever offers to help. So far I haven't found anything heavy enough at the office that I couldn't carry myself.
• Baked Goods. Ok, one thing is the same. People bring in food for treats for everyone, a lot of them homemade.