FORUM HOME > TNM > Help
A Call For Help, Cripple Style

Snabbit888Posted on 10/22/04 at 16:25:39

I know this isn't the most ideal way to do it, but I really need some help, and I'm looking to the TNM community to see what suggestions they can offer

Here's the skinny.  I'm desperately looking to get my wrestling training completed.  I'd say I have about a month done, broken up over some time.  I can bump (my face bumps suck, but can be made better), I can bodyslam, DDT, suplex, basic chain wrestle, armdrag, etc.  Considering I have a severe deformity in my arms, I have been able to fully cope and do everything in the ring that I was taught and quite honestly, do it well.  My arm handicap does not hamper me at all in the ring.  However, my friend (an indy wrestler in Indiana) was training me, but with his college schedule, he no longer could do it consistently.  The catch was, since he was a friend of mine, he was training me for free.  However, that option is closed.

The good part of my handicap is that it provides me with a good gimmick built-in.  Like Zach Gowen, but the suspension of disbelief isn't challenged nearly as much.  And with my theatre, improv, and voice training, I'm 100% convinced I have the personality and gimmick to at least be passable on the indy scene.  Now the bad part of my handicap is that it's nearly impossible for me to find a good job.  I'm currently working as a janitor at a movie theatre, but the pay is little and the hours not that great.  Nobody wants to hire a guy with a disability to do a job if they can hire someone who is "normal."  So I have to live paycheck to paycheck to pay my bills (rent, car insurance, etc.)

So what I'm asking for is does anybody have any fundraising ideas?  Note that this isn't a request for people to send me money or anything like that.  But I'm seriously stumped.  I want to be able to follow my dreams; it's what you can do in this country, but if you have a handicap, sometimes you need a little help getting over society-imposed obstacles.  Can anybody lend me any sort of advice or assistance in this matter?  I would GREATLY appreciate it.  Thanks.
Critic of the DawnPosted on 10/22/04 at 17:26:55

The only thing that immediately comes to mind is to try talking to the manager of the theatre.  I'm assuming that your present job is part time.  Basically explain to your manager that you're having trouble getting by with the amount you're making, and ask him if there's a position for you with more regular hours or with better pay.  Explain that you know you can work just as hard despite your handicap, and point out the quality of your work thus far as an example.  You might be pleasantly surprised, and even if he says there isn't anything open, ask him to help you out by keeping you in mind when a position does open up.

A movie theatre near me employed someone with what appeared to be a degenerative neurological condition similar to what Steven Hawking had as a ticket taker.  He was a nice guy, and despite the fact that he needed an electric wheelchair and a pair of electric scissors to tear the tickets he managed to work well.  Seems to me that you could get pretty much any position in the theatre if you worked at it.  After all, your disability isn't nearly as bad as the guy who worked at the theatre near me.

That's what I'd do for starters, at least.  Other than that, get a college education if you haven't.  I'm having trouble finding good work myself, so it's not just you.

Eric "Critic of the Dawn"
Snabbit888Posted on 10/22/04 at 18:10:32

My job is technically full time, it just varies based on how busy the theatres were that week.  If it's a slow movie going week, our work is less because obviously, less to clean.

And I know other people are strugging to find work too because of the economy.  With me though, however, it's I have NEVER been able to find jobs unless I had friends already working there.  Not even shit jobs like McDonalds.  The only reason I have this job is because my roommate used to work there (this is his hometown).  Otherwise, I wouldn't have been hired.

I need to find one of those cartoon sacks with the big dollar sign on it on the side of the road.
americamamushiPosted on 10/22/04 at 19:16:40

I'd like to help but as you well know I have not wrestling problems of my own :)

I know some of the larger wrestlng schools help with relocation and finding you a job in the area, but those also tend to be rather expensive schools

I'll still let you know if any wrestling schools open up near me.