I am starting to expect that campus visits will be either hot or cold, given my third trip into the final candidacy phase of the job search. My first visit was cold and calculating, with a hint of quiet desperation hidden within. My second visit was akin to a courtship more than anything else. This third visit felt more like a lukewarm reception than anything else. Borosburgh State invited me to their campus to see if we could possibly gel, since I want a job and they have a position related to what I do available. However, the way the whole affair transpired made it feel like neither of us was interested in the other. Honestly, I am not too thrilled with the place, but I am getting ahead of myself.

I knew things would be strange from the start, when my visit was split into two days. Day one would begin at 3:30 in the afternoon. Why they would handle the visit this way is beyond me, but whatever. D. W. Reed wanted to start my visit with the job talk, but at least it was for half a day. I don’t know if I managed my day any better, since I drove 7 hours to give a talk shortly after I arrived. Granted, I arrived early, and the chair of the search committee gave me a tour of their building.

I will say that their workspace is nice and modern. It is definitely an upgrade from the studio (or lack thereof) at Remus. The equipment was in decent shape, and the students working looked invested. It almost reminded me of the crew I worked with at the scummy pebble when I was an undergrad. I don’t know how we managed to produce all those shows without an advisor giving us some form of guidance.

The demo went off without a hitch, and the students did ask some intriguing questions. I shouldn’t expect anything less from a room full of ringers who have some ambition. I mean, the class was a 400-level course. Afterward, I was whisked away to dinner with several of the department’s faculty. The people I met were nice enough, but didn’t get too invested as they were tired from a full day of whatever professors do at Borosburgh.

The next day, I met the department chair and associate dean. They did not give me much detail about anything. I know I could have asked questions, but I was observing more than anything. The idea of the campus visit is that it is like a first date. Everybody is on their best behavior, and nobody wants to risk anything that could be embarrassing. The associate dean reminded me of Duke Phillips from The Critic, except without the temper. The department chair reminded me of every high school theater teacher who teaches in a working-class suburb.

The visit felt sparse and rushed at the same time. I don’t know if that is entirely possible, but that is the best way that I can describe it. There would be tight meetings bunched together and then there would be huge swaths of time with nothing to do. This entire ordeal could be done in one day, but was stretched over two for no reason. Overall, I would give the visit a C. There is a lot of potential at Borosburgh, especially with the students. However, the faculty feel a little distant. I don’t need to be chummy with them right away, but they could at least feign enthusiasm a little bit better.