by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Roger Dawson

Age: 37

Occupation: Project manager/Labour recruiter

Bio: This well-hung Plateau rascal had been working in the fascinating and endlessly lucrative new world of computers before jumping at the opportunity to become labour coordinator for EventLaborWorks last April. Having spent most of his life supporting himself by way of his awe-inspiring musical abilities, the 9-to-5 world has proven itself to be a relatively new and challenging adventure for this inspired go-getter. But rise to the challenge he has and now Roger is the man you want to see should you be hunting down a casual well-paying manual labour gig for yourself. He drives a sporty 1996 Mazda Protégé.

The kind of work he's got for you: "We put tents up mostly."

Are former Girl Guides and Boy Scouts cherished at EventLaborWorks for their tent-raising skills? Not especially. "These aren't tents with a pole in the middle that you go camping in, these are, like, sometimes the length of a football field. You know those huge tents they put up at the Paddock Club during the Grand Prix on Île Notre-Dame? Yeah, well, our crews put those up. We actually do a lot of racing events. Our office in Atlanta has arranged for our guys to do the full Nascar circuit this winter."

Why anyone would pay more for Roger's workers rather than simply go out and hire their own casual labourers: "Because our guys know how to do the job, and get it done more efficiently and quicker, ultimately saving our clients money. Hey, you go hire from Canada Manpower or something and you don't know who you're going to get or if they're capable of doing the work. As often as not you'd think these guys were pulled out of a police line-up. That never happens with us."

How often EventLaborWorks hires ex-cons: Roger says he has no idea because it's not something they ask people. "Probably a few, but that's cool so long as they do a decent job. Most of the guys [and girls] we hire don't work all the time for us. Most of them are in bands, or in film, or students who have a week free here, a week free there, and need some decent money."

The kind of money a first-rate tent-putter-upper makes: Between $12 and $20 an hour.

Do they get excited over at EventLaborWorks when Mexicans or Sri Lankans come applying for work because they can try to pay them less money? "No, they would only get paid less money if they were here illegally, and we can't and won't hire illegal workers. Sorry."

The aggregate level of education among his crew: "Man, I don't know. Some are in university, some are new grads, some probably finished high school, others not. It doesn't really matter for this kind of work."

How to bug him for a job: rdawson@eventlaborworks.com or 846-0093

Where you might find him boozin': Miami.

Musical preferences: The Stooges, Television, Tim Buckley.

Last book read: Miles, by Miles Davis

Words of wisdom: "Play nice with others."

Comments? dimwit@openface.ca