Why did I work at CP?
I thought it may help some people who may be interested in working at CP to know some of the reasons we work/worked there. It may offer some insight to some and a reality check to others who may think that it is easy $$. I only worked during bonus/Halloweekends. I make almost THREE times an hour at my "real" job. Actually working at CP may have cost me $, on Sundays at my real job I make time & 1/2 (which is actually 4x what CP pays an hour) and due to a 6 hour round trip, my truck is a gas cow, and if it wasnt for the employee cafe I prob would have spent alot more on my food. I HATED being away from the things in my life I hold dear, I missed my kids terribly as well as my horse and the privacy of my house and own bathroom (I lived at Commons)
Seeing all my CP buds ride was bittersweet for me. I was jealous of them riding but for them to always say hi to me, hug me, and for me to acknowledge them some how, get them to smile and see them having a good time was worth it for me.
I KNEW as jealous as I was of them riding, THEY were just as jealous of ME being part of the Raptor crew. I loved seeing the 1st ride kid, being petrafied when I checked their seat belt, me assuring them my daughter LOVES Raptor and promising them they would too, to see that same kids face when they returned to the station was always worth it to me. Walking around CP in the early morning, one of my favorite benefits, quiet, clean, no crowds. Being part of the CP family I made several new friends (even though I had tons before I even worked there) There was something rather special to me to beable to meet one of my favorite PR people for pancakes in the employee cafe and just sit and talk about....CP
(at my real job dont you dare discuss THAT place while eating!) The long hours are killer, certain positions are horrid (crowd control comes to mind for me) sweeping queues is bad, but for every 1 bad thing there were 2 good things for me. Being alone with my friends on the midway closing night, just talking to your friends, the parties at Bayside and Louies too had a way of erasing the whole day. I am sorry I rambled here, but let me say this one last thing:
When someone asks me where I work and what I do,
NO one ever says "wow-thats cool!!" then asks a million questions. BUT-tell them you're a ride operator for Raptor at Cedar Point and that is EXACTLY what you hear, I am PROUD of that!
I swore last year I would never return to CP as an employee, but my employee agreement was mailed back to me several weeks ago, a framed copy of it with "Raptor ride host" highlighted, proudly sits on my desk at my real job. I will probably be asking myself "what the heck am I doing" every time I make that long boring drive to work at the Point but every morning at 9am, during every test ride, every time a rider thanks me, smiles at me,
every time someone stops me on the midway to ask me a question I know EXACTLY why I do what I do.
I do it totally because I love Cedar Point and there are very few places you can love and actually work at too! I have a "real" job-CP is my "fun" job!
(Normally I only ramble like this after a night at Louies) :)
Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
2001 Raptor Crew
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If I cant ride it, rope it, pull a trailer behind it then I dont want it---cowgirl up!! *** This post was edited by LuvRaptor on 4/25/2001. ***
Seeing all my CP buds ride was bittersweet for me. I was jealous of them riding but for them to always say hi to me, hug me, and for me to acknowledge them some how, get them to smile and see them having a good time was worth it for me.
I KNEW as jealous as I was of them riding, THEY were just as jealous of ME being part of the Raptor crew. I loved seeing the 1st ride kid, being petrafied when I checked their seat belt, me assuring them my daughter LOVES Raptor and promising them they would too, to see that same kids face when they returned to the station was always worth it to me. Walking around CP in the early morning, one of my favorite benefits, quiet, clean, no crowds. Being part of the CP family I made several new friends (even though I had tons before I even worked there) There was something rather special to me to beable to meet one of my favorite PR people for pancakes in the employee cafe and just sit and talk about....CP
(at my real job dont you dare discuss THAT place while eating!) The long hours are killer, certain positions are horrid (crowd control comes to mind for me) sweeping queues is bad, but for every 1 bad thing there were 2 good things for me. Being alone with my friends on the midway closing night, just talking to your friends, the parties at Bayside and Louies too had a way of erasing the whole day. I am sorry I rambled here, but let me say this one last thing:
When someone asks me where I work and what I do,
NO one ever says "wow-thats cool!!" then asks a million questions. BUT-tell them you're a ride operator for Raptor at Cedar Point and that is EXACTLY what you hear, I am PROUD of that!
I swore last year I would never return to CP as an employee, but my employee agreement was mailed back to me several weeks ago, a framed copy of it with "Raptor ride host" highlighted, proudly sits on my desk at my real job. I will probably be asking myself "what the heck am I doing" every time I make that long boring drive to work at the Point but every morning at 9am, during every test ride, every time a rider thanks me, smiles at me,
every time someone stops me on the midway to ask me a question I know EXACTLY why I do what I do.
I do it totally because I love Cedar Point and there are very few places you can love and actually work at too! I have a "real" job-CP is my "fun" job!
(Normally I only ramble like this after a night at Louies) :)
Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
2001 Raptor Crew
-------------
If I cant ride it, rope it, pull a trailer behind it then I dont want it---cowgirl up!! *** This post was edited by LuvRaptor on 4/25/2001. ***
I totally agree with you. For me the best part of CP was sitting down at the bar after a 17 hr day and having the bartender get you a labats blue and lighting up a smoke. Then all the servers do their tickets for the day. But the best part by far was getting home and counting out my $300 in tips for the day.
Which of course you reported all on your 2000 taxxes right?
Another nick, another hotmail.. someone shoot me...
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MF 2000 - 269 laps
MF 2001 - ??????? *** This post was edited by Red Garter Rob on 4/24/2001. ***
Another nick, another hotmail.. someone shoot me...
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MF 2000 - 269 laps
MF 2001 - ??????? *** This post was edited by Red Garter Rob on 4/24/2001. ***
Of course in fact because I only got paid $2.13 an hour and had to claim my tips which were taxed I only made $40 in wages for the whole summer. In fact most paychecks didn’t even cover my $16 room.
I love working at CP because of all the little kids faces when they come back from the ride they were first hesitant about...an example...ever seen Dans face after he has ridden Magnum? :)
I always thought it was so relaxing just to sit down in my car at the end of the day. It would take all my energy to get out and walk to my apartment after work. :) But that was the greatest, getting to sit down.
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--Meg
Zone 5/6 Forever!!
http://www.angelfire.com/oh4/baseto61/
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/cppride/
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--Meg
Zone 5/6 Forever!!
http://www.angelfire.com/oh4/baseto61/
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/cppride/
I am planning to visit Cedar Point in a few short weeks. I also am the proud owner of two little faces that will be wrought with total fear (three faces if you count mine) as you guys strap them in. It is with sincerest hopes that they return to you smiling and with nothing extra in their pants!
I enjoy how much you enjoy your "fun job" and you have brought a smile to my face today! I hope that there is a reassuring face on that platform when me and my boys board! I will tell you now I am scared to death! We are shaking in our shoes,,but we can't wait!
Thanks again for reminding me that there are other people out there that actually enjoy bringing joy to others! I forget that sometimes!
The world needs more people with amusment parks in their hearts!
-Just a mom ready to pee her pants just thinking about riding the raptor...not to mention the other dozen death defying coasters!
I enjoy how much you enjoy your "fun job" and you have brought a smile to my face today! I hope that there is a reassuring face on that platform when me and my boys board! I will tell you now I am scared to death! We are shaking in our shoes,,but we can't wait!
Thanks again for reminding me that there are other people out there that actually enjoy bringing joy to others! I forget that sometimes!
The world needs more people with amusment parks in their hearts!
-Just a mom ready to pee her pants just thinking about riding the raptor...not to mention the other dozen death defying coasters!
I am a Mom too-LOVE Raptor ADORE CP-and REFUSE to grow up!!
unfortunitely for me I love them both more than both my kids-you will LOVE it!!
hope to see you there!!!
Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
2001 Raptor Crew
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If I cant ride it, rope it, pull a trailer behind it then I dont want it!! Cowgirl up!!
unfortunitely for me I love them both more than both my kids-you will LOVE it!!
hope to see you there!!!
Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
2001 Raptor Crew
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If I cant ride it, rope it, pull a trailer behind it then I dont want it!! Cowgirl up!!
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