Pink Slips, Cotton Candy and .Commiserating

Just when things seem most sour during the downturn, a bit
of absurd frivolity can change one's perspective. Take
those Pink Slip parties. They've been occurring for quite a
few months now, but their holiday version took the meaning
to a new level. Upon arriving at the steps of Rebar on Wednesday,
December 20th, our names were checked off by glow-in-the-dark,
earring-clad Hired Gun employees. Knowledge Strategies'
Eileen Shulock sprinkled me with sparkly-dust, and I was
on my way! Resume.com's John Waller just handed his credit
card over to the bartender to buy drinks for the crowd for the next
half hour. After I escaped from the rush to the bar, I made my
way through and chatted with Karen Auerbach, who's now with Little,
Brown and Company and Netslaves.com's Steve Baldwin and Bill Lessard,
who created the Carousel of E-Failure for the party. There certainly
was a carousel of items to view - printouts of sites gone bad or
just plain gone; nik naks from companies now defunct, and stories and
challenges of worst job experiences. B2Bstreet.com Richard
Stephan was wearing an Urban Fetch T-shirt and pink feather boa for
Solidarity, and Rogers & Cowan Director Gwynne Beatty was meeting up with those recently let go. Beatrice.com's Ron Hogan introduced me to Emily Gertz, who was laid off (along with quite a few others) from Scient. Sendresume.com's Bonnie Halper was hanging out with more folks donning pink feather boas and glow-in-the-dark necklaces (a sign you are looking for work). New York Post Reporter Michelle Gotthelf, ABC News Producer Catherine Upin, Vault.com Reporter Hans Chen, German TV ZDF Bureau Chief Udo van Kampen and Columbia Journalism student Caryn Meyers were all trolling the scene too, in hopes of snagging a unique story. As I made my way back towards the entrance, I caught up with Jeremy Kagan (formerly ofEZCD.com) and Erica Schiff and Sam Chudnoff, formerly of Opus360/Freeagent. Marc Kolin was let go, too, but from the clothing store Structure. His friend Esther Willard had been let go from Scient. As I bundled up, met Sothebys.com's Liza Shevitz, who was curious about this whole event. Curiouser and curiouser, this industry gets!