Photographed by Steffie Wong. Used with permission.
Most people see a 5:00am shift at a busy Vancouver cafe and see it as a "grind". As an aspiring producer, I see it as an opportunity for production management. Whether I am navigating a morning rush or a high-stakes film set, the requirement is the same: graceful coordination under pressure.
Crisis Management and "The Rush"
On a film set, things rarely go exactly as planned. You might lose a location, a piece of gear might go missing, or a schedule might shift by four hours in an instant. Managing a line of customers with complex orders is similar to managing a crew's needs during a technical delay. Both require "fire-drill" thinking - staying calm, prioritizing tasks, and communicating clearly to keep the momentum going.
At BCIT, I am learning the formal structures of business management, but the cafe is where I practice the daily logistics of keeping a team moving. I applied that same mindset to my work as a Producer's Assistant, managing the administrative "engine" behind the camera to ensure the producers can stay focused on the strategic decisions and creative execution that drives the project forward.
I can absolutely believe that a cafe is a great training ground for grace under pressure. I have often marvelled at the poise and equanimity of cafe staff as they deal with harried customers. Thanks for this insight.
I really like the comparison between a busy cafe shift and production management. It makes a lot of sense because both seem to require staying calm, thinking quickly, and keeping things moving even when there is pressure. It also shows how everyday work experience can build skills that transfer into a creative career.