Somewhere, in a state-funded university, The Conductor holds court in his office. He sits around a conference table with his 5 students. They admire him but they don’t know any better. He talks about how to program a concert, how to choose repertoire, etc. He uses words like “sophisticated” and “advanced.” His students nod.
At the end of the lesson he asks for questions. A student apologizes for being a little off topic but wonders if The Conductor or other students have any advice on how to handle the overwhelming cost of college. “You just do it,” he says wisely. He pauses for a few moments, thinking back to his own college days. “Have you thought about a part time job?” He had to work to pay tuition when he was in school. It was hard to balance studies with 10 hours of work a week, but he persisted somehow and was able to graduate without any debt. Having provided a satisfactory answer, he lightly chastises the student, telling them to stick to important topics from now on. After a brief talk about alto clarinets he decides to head out for the day.
Later that night The Conductor puts on a concert. The performers onstage outnumber the audience, who gradually shuffle out of the hall as the concert drags on. At the end he pats himself on the back for doing such a sophisticated job. He has a clear head. Despite the poor attendance he will not have to worry about paying for groceries or making rent. His mind drifts to tomorrow’s lesson, where he will lecture his students on the evils of socialism. He turns on the tv, binging a few hours of the dumbest shit ever made before contentedly nodding off.
