School to Career - Radio City Music Hall - Supervisor: Facilities & Maintenance



	Radio City Music Hall can be a very busy place, especially when a show or concert is taking place that evening. Someone has to make sure that the needs of the performers are met and that all deliveries to the building wind up in the right hands. In addition, the equipment and furniture has to be set up correctly for special events such as parties or photo shoots. The Supervisor of Facilities and Maintenance handles all of these, and many other, details. For Eric Cordon, his current position is more than just a job, but a career in which he takes great pride. As he explains it, "Radio City Music Hall was built in 1932 and I am helping to maintain the look and quality of this historic landmark." Part of what Eric is referring to, is his responsibility for the maintenance and inventory of the building, which means that if any furniture, mirrors, curtains or lighting needs to be replaced or repaired it is his job to make sure it is taken care of. Always Ready "You have to always be on call and able to give up your nights and weekends and work if you are needed. You are usually required to stay during an event to watch and manage the project until it is done. Then you need to come in early the next morning to fix any repairs necessary," explains Eric, who is on call at all hours. The sheer magnitude of the Music Hall and the numerous repairs that are necessary in the course of a single week, give Eric little free time. Climbing Ladders Although Eric did not complete college, he went to Bronx community College for a couple of years and recommends college to learn as much as you can about your area of interest. He started out working in his family’s construction business and left when he saw a job opening in the Radio City Guest Relations Department. He landed his first job at the music hall as an usher, worked in the mailroom for a year, and then it was on to the Building Services Department. For Eric it was important to know how the building works, and that took a lot of on-the-job training. Climbing ladders for his job and in his career, led him to his current position, one that he helped to create. Now, Eric emphasizes the need to be well organized and to have patience to handle this type of job. "First and foremost, be patient, because it is a very fast paced environment, so patience is key. Also be prepared to work long hours because this job is very time consuming," says Eric, adding that what he personally enjoys most about his job is that everyday presents new challenges. "I like that it is spontaneous and it definitely keeps me interested. I don't know what I have in store for me when I walk into work each morning."