Ask Adam Savage: Job Interview Advice, Jamie's Flamethrower and More

[@tested]

What's YOUR best job interview advice? Thank you for the questions and support, Michael, Eliot, Andrew and Silver Defender! Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks: kzbin.info/door/iDJtJKMICpb9B1qf7qjEOAjoin

[@BillMulholland1]

Long time fan since the beginning. Thank you for what you do 🍻👍

[@Pyracantic]

My best advice would be exactly what spike from Cowboy Bebop said: Whatever happens happens! That's pertaining that you're obviously qualified for the position it just kind of really boils down to does the person interviewing you like you. Don't be something you're not or you'll live in the that position filling the shoes of something you're not. That's my best advice.

[@DETHMOKIL]

Keep it simple. the less you say, the less chances you have to mess up lol

[@myxanadu65]

Ask the interviewer questions, if the opportunity arises. "What's a typical day like here?" "What keeps you up at night?" This gets you more insight into the organization, and, it also changes the interview into more of a conversation. Then, don't be afraid to offer a few suggestions even if they might seem a little obvious to you. A good supervisor will appreciate the effort and remember you for it.

[@TomOConnor-BlobOpera]

I spend a lot of time these days interviewing people. One thing that makes me really concerned is when people badmouth their current employer. Sure, no employer is ever 100% perfect, 100% of the time, but using an interview as a platform for airing your dirty laundry is really bad form, and not an appropriate response to the question "Why are you looking for a new job" - or whatever.

[@Bigrignohio]

You need a big spinner wheel listing all your unfinished projects. Then you can do one day "worked on a random project today" videos!

[@chrismorris1304]

Yes!!! This is such a great idea🙌🏼

[@rcjbvermilion]

Unless the big spinner itself becomes another half finished project. :P

[@mathiasandersson8694]

Project Roulette 😄

[@seekandrestore4709]

He'll add that project to the list of other projects in the shop

[@razinhailsharp]

@@rcjbvermilion LMAO That sounds like how I operate

[@colemine7008]

As a mom, it made me smile to know the grown version of you still thinks about how mad your mom was going to be.

[@gordonkennygordon]

I laughed at Adam's comment on the destructive power of actors. My wife is a drama teacher and since this is public education in Utah there is barely any funding, so I wind up building a lot of set pieces and props in the garage. They're doing Beauty and the Beast, and I get texts from her every day: "They broke the Beast's castle," "They broke Belle's bed," "They broke Maurice's machine," "They broke the dark forest..." How does one break a whole forest?

[@donsmeltzer4083]

I’m more interested in how they broke Belle’s bed. Yes, I know, I have a dirty mind.

[@Survivorguidetv]

From Utah. Can verify

[@Galaktican1]

The fact that Jamie owns a working, Vietnam era flame thrower cracks me up. Leave it to Jamie to obtain the chemicals to even operate the damn thing.

[@xSeRosiSx]

Believe it or not, the chemicals aren't the problem when it comes to owning a Vietnam-era flamethrower. Not to mention the fact that Jamie *built* a Vietnam-era flamethrower, from scratch, it's all about the permits. I'm fairly certain the permit he obtained during the filming of that episode is limited in scope to *just* that episode and that the flamethrower had to be dismantled afterward.

[@Pyracantic]

I needed somebody in 1. High standing 2. Intellect 3. Whom Ive admired since childhood to tell me it's ok to be incomplete and ever curious. This video has affirmed that my anxiety and stress about unfinished projects can evaporate.

[@JosephDavies]

It's freeing to be given that permission.

[@PENFOLD5]

OMG! It’s *So* true about actors being absolutely brutal to props and sets! There’s truly a nugget of truth to the term ‘chewing on the scenery’

[@Sumguyinavan_]

Its a different experience to watch theater when you've been in it (and I'm sure movies as well) to wonder how they did that effect, what went into those acting choices. My first time seeing a stage show I wasn't performing in was Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and trying to figure out how they did their transformation costume change was the highlight of the show for me

[@JeanPierreLaForest]

Loved that quote about everyone everyone leaving a to-do list behind! In my time as an agile product owner, one lesson I had learned is that prioritization is as much what you choose to do as it is what you intentionally choose not to do. And that I find liberating. There are some projects that I intentionally put aside half-way through. Either I need more time to let inspiration come to me, or there's something more important that demands my attention, or maybe I realized that completing that project wouldn't "spark joy" (to borrow from Marie Kondo). But once that decision becomes intentional, I can move it from my to-do list back to my backlog of projects I may or may not do in the future. And then it no longer gnaws at me, and I feel liberated from that sense of "obligation". By choosing not to complete this project, I essentially choose to complete something else instead, and that makes me happy.

[@WilliamBlakers]

I might have my to-do list nailed to the inside lid of my coffin.

[@UncleManuel]

The one thing greater than Adam's undepletable chest of awesome stories is his infectious enthusiasm. His thoughs may be SQUIRRELL!!! like all the time but he can draw you into the moment. And give you invalueable life advices at the same time. This KZbin channel is just perfect for Adam! 😎👍

[@taurincochran3398]

The way you plainly explain things, and answer questions in layman's terms, or just simply explain an idea or process to your audience is amazing. I am 43 years old, and I would give anything to spend a week at your knee, sir.

[@AboutThings_byTarif]

Adam, I'm constantly inspired by how generous you are with your knowledge, experience, and insights. And more importantly your generosity with your emotions, feelings, and empathy. It's rare and refreshing to see. Our world is a better place because you're in it.

[@aresaurelian]

This is gold for young model makes, traditional physical ones as well as 3D graphics model designers. Thank you @Adam Savage's Tested .

[@TinkDifferent]

Thank you for saying not to go to hard on yourself when not finishing projects. I have the same thing and I have made peace with it as a “the journey is more important than the destination”. But my husband has trouble understanding.

[@LunaRayToo]

From time to time, us makers need to look at our unfinished projects. If one jumps up for attention and you can make progress take it out of storage and work on it. Also NOTES! Once a month I like to look at things. See what I can get going again, ordering parts or tools for. I do this once a month. Helps me keep things going.

[@JasonWelch]

A lot of this applies I think the programming interviews. They often ask about challenges you've faced and how you've solved them. The issue I run into is that, I never really think problems I've solved are good enough to mention, even if other coworkers gave me props for stuff, I'm always thinking "yeah, but there are many people out there solving much more difficult problems than me". Also, I tend to stick to a single large project, but I often jump between tasks all the time depending on what I feel motivated to work on that day. Having a day job + a family often leaves me feeling exhausted, so I focus on what would be fun to do that day with the limited time I have. How did you Adam go about working on projects when your kids were little and you had a regular full time job?

[@mwhyte1979]

And I was thinking that my mom was going to be so pissed at me standing in front of Jamie's flamethrower. And that Adam is why I so loved your show.

[@vincerussell6239]

Such a genuinely nice guy. Love his theatre advice, took me right back. Good insight.

[@sledgesworld]

Good Morning Mr. Savage. Shout out From Geff, love the show. Worked as a Paramedic on the Harry Potter films and a few Bonds + TV work. Always on the side of the Medical Units on Set.

[@ancient_apteryx]

The destructive power of actors may be matched by that of children of a certain age. I helped design and build exhibits for an interactive science museum many years ago, and hoo boy! "How did they make the handle bend _that_ way?"

[@cristiaolson7327]

Makers are creative people, and unless you're working on commissioned project, you're probably making something because the idea of it excited you. Sometimes that excitement fades or is overtaken by other ideas, or maybe life stuff happens and things get shelved. I don't know one single highly creative individual who *doesn't* have a bunch of unfinished projects bumming around their house/craft room/garage/etc. Sometimes we come back to old projects and finish them, sometimes they get cannibalized into new projects, and sometimes they just sit incomplete forever. You just have to remember that every project, complete or not, is still a part of the ongoing learning process in Making, and every project is a chance to practice skills, so even incomplete works teach us a little more.

[@NickHorvath]

On the topic of touching flown space hardware: at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, NY you can touch a flown space shuttle tire.

[@retromemories8522]

I'm realizing there are some projects I will never be "done" with, and I am learning to be okay with that. So I just pay more attention to the projects that I'm more passionate about at any given moment. Also nice mention of the Green Destiny!

[@Bargle5]

I build balsa model airplanes and I've learned over the years, if I'm not feeling enthusiastic about working on a plane, to just set it aside and leave it alone until I really want to work on it. If I try and force myself through, I do poor work that I'm usually not happy with. I'll often end up re-doing it and wishing I had just waited for my mood to be right.

[@JRufu]

I recall working a show once where we had these fake martinis for the cast to "drink" from, the glasses were plastic of course and inside was an cast epoxy or some such.. and every single night we had more broken glasses to take back and re-glue together... and yeah, I'm smiling thinking about it still..

[@DragonPrincessAoife]

Oh my god a Green Destiny replica!!! YES!

[@olekaarvaag9405]

10:48 "... and I was wearing a fully aluminised firesuit, of which I have three now." is such a flex.

[@EricBrokeIt]

"I recognize that as part of my process" is in my opinion an extremely important statement.

[@AriesArriesgado]

Same here, some techniques I am now applying. I learned it from other artist. That is why we must be open to all ideas and never compete. Learn from others and grow.

[@littlekong7685]

I heard an interesting take on the differences between building for screen vs stage from a few behind the scenes people. Everything on screen is fake, but it needs no imagination to see it as real. Everything on stage has to be real, but it needs a tremendous amount of imagination to see it as real. They talked of making fake leaves and only painting one half of them for screen because that was what was going on camera, but it looked exactly right and was stable for the 3-4 months they needed it for shooting. Or they build a single table leg and attach it to c-stands, or paint one half of a wall so they can paint the other half differently for another scene. On stage, you have low budgets, and get what you can get. Need a plant, buy or dig one up, yeah set design/prop master calls for roses, but tulips were available, actors make due. Props are 100% or actual items, they might not be exact, or as ornate as they want, but actors make due. The swords are wood or plastic and flop when swung or struck, but the actors make the audience believe they are real functional swords and let the audience experience tension when one is against an actors throat. An interesting take on the philosophy of stage and screen.

[@Ihearvoicez]

Adam have you ever considered doing a Charity Donation stream where you finish one of those unfinished projects on stream and have a donation system set up for viewers to contribute to while you tackle it?

[@flammablezeus]

I love the first question. I half-expected Adam to just say "oh you're a maker too!"

[@WoLpH]

I'm really curious about the Tested team. There are so many people involved, are you all working on Tested fulltime? What are your roles in the team? It would be really nice to get some insights on that :)

[@TyDie85]

This really does feel similar to song-writing. Sometimes you can write something in a day, but other times you'll spend over a year working on a song.

[@DLeeJ]

Adam, I'm a decent wood worker in that I've built things around the house that I love and anytime someone finds out I made it they say 'ooooh you should sell those'. My question is how would one go from building something as a necessity for their own use to building and selling the same thing to others. A simple shelf for example costs so much in materials that I can't imagine someone paying me for my time to own the same thing. If I spend $120 in materials and 10 hours in labor, I can't see selling that shelf for $300

[@StormDatIsApproaching]

You learn to make it look flashy and artsy enough to warrant the price, designer prices basically. Also, learn places where to get cheaper material, ways to cut as much time as possible without losing too much quality. It's all part of the process, it can be tedious and hard, and most people start it with a string of failures before hitting success. So keep that in mind

[@DLeeJ]

@@StormDatIsApproaching yeah man my home projects have failed before and I wouldn't want to sell that with my name on it. If I'm successful for myself I'm sure I could cut the time commitment down next time around but I still want the quality of work to be there

[@samueldeter9735]

731 woodworks has some good insight for ya!

[@JosephDavies]

@@DLeeJ I think when people say "You should sell those!" they really aren't thinking about all of the logistics, let alone whether it's something people would actually buy at the price-point you could offer it at. I know I've run into this a few times, and even catch myself thinking it too once in a while.

[@tombier9170]

Ok, crafts business 101! Let's just say you set your shop rate at $50/hr, so that shelf has $500 in labor plus $150 in materials. (You spent time and money getting those materials, adding 25% is not unreasonable at all.) So now you are trying to sell a shelf priced at $650. If that's the market value for a hand built piece then fine, if it's too high then you have to cut labor time. If you build jigs to get the shelf build time down to 4 hours now you can sell it for $350. The reason you have a shop rate of $50/HR is not so you make that much, it's to cover the 12 hours you spent building jigs to make the shelves affordable. One last thing, people moving from the hobby side to the business side tend to under price their work. Be proud of your work and set prices at market value.

[@melainewhite6409]

The likelihood that a project of mine will remain deferred is greatly increased when there is a very real potential that I'll end up with less rather than more of the functionality the project is meant to provide. I.e. something might well go amiss and I have less of a workaround than I did.

[@terrulian]

One of your best, Adam.

[@cuzuman]

Whenever I find something that moves me, I start and don't stop until I finish it. Then the hangover sets in. And it's hard for me to start a new one, that's until I find another one that moves me.

[@charlie9ine]

If you are making for yourself absolutely follow the advice and enjoy the process. If you are making a living a simple device is a daily planner. Design your own with objectives and a priority system that you refer to every day. I began my professional life with strict and severe deadlines imposed on me. I am now and have been for most of my career an artist. I carry those early habits with me and they pay dividends in a business that is dominated by unprofessional behaviour.

[@heathhays3205]

IT'S SO TRUE. Anything can be bombproof, it's a special spec you need to make something Actor Proof

[@chadwayne165]

Hey Adam, I'm a bit late for the show taping, (2 months) , I would like to know if the guy trying for the prop job got it or not, and as a truck driver that helps out with multiple companies that transports theater shows around the country from time to time, I would like to add apon your advice to the gentleman. Along with what the prop does, it's durability, and here's my part, if his show moves to other theaters around the country, the prop must be able to survive transit from show to show location. The unions that load-in and load-out the props are not always kind to the equipment we move around, and our hiway system is not the smoothest on equipment as well. Great show, till next time.

[@kenny-d]

I wish there were a platform of sorts to buy/sell/trade unfinished projects. A project I’ve lost interest in might be someone else’s dream project.

[@FRXable]

With regards to unfinished projects, the advantage of metal casting is the continuous need for materials. So at one point or another less interesting unfinished castings end up back in the crucible. That keeps the pile of unfinished projects from growing too much. It also taught me to keep the distinction between unfinished projects worth finishing and not worth finishing. I apply that same separation on non castings to keep the pile of unfinished projects in check. But I still have some unfinished projects from more then a decade ago.

[@shanejayell]

Oooh. I always wondered when they did 'flame thrower vs fire extinguisher' why they had Jamie build it, vs using the Vietnam era gasoline flamethrower that Jamie used way back in Pepper Spray Fireball....

[@kennethelwell8574]

As part of my job, from time to time, I’ll have to handle pieces of fine art in a private collection. Often these are pieces being loaned to a museum exhibition, and they get the actual “white glove treatment” from the museum, and the shipping crew, and yet we handed bare-handed.

[@CarboniteDreamer]

oh man that whole touching things from space im so envious lol im a huge astronut lol my son is as well. he's currently tracking all the stuff coming in from the new telescope.

[@KeritechElectronics]

That's James Webb Space Flamethrower, haha!

[@daviemaclean61]

S.A.B.L.E. - stuff acquired beyond life expectancy!

[@JasonWelch]

Thanks!

[@WilliamBlakers]

Ive handled meteorites, that counts as space flown, right ?

[@pawpawstew]

Ahhh... The "Hanging Chad" of unfinished projects. As a model maker, I have a weakness, and that is buying model kits on impulse. Recently, I've taken the bucket list approach to reducing my stash, which rivals that which you'd find in a mom-and-pop hobby shop. I prioritize the unbuilt subjects according to how badly I want to build the subject. Those low on the list get sold. Partially completed projects are brought to the forefront. I'll definitely die with a to-do list, but I'm culling and organizing my stash now (I'm almost 59), so my wife won't be burdened with liquidating it all. Plus, I still have plenty of projects to build until the inevitable shuffling off my mortal coil and joining the choir invisible.

[@tnt421]

I needed this. Thank you.

[@joermnyc]

I’ve had electronics projects (mainly guitar effects units) that got abandoned and I admit I’ve cannibalized some for parts for other projects that I actually finished. Sometimes it’s a “do I really need this?” Or it’s, “Oh wait, someone did a better version of this as a kit, or a pre-fab PCB and I just need parts and an enclosure that will fit everything… plus figure out the finish, any art work, and if I want some nice knobs on it and where to buy them.

[@JosephDavies]

Somewhat related to that, as a maker I'm finding it occasionally frustrating when I realize that due to so many great tools and platforms being available now a thing I was going to make has already been made (and far better than I could) and I don't have to. It's a wonderful problem to have, really. But it's still a moment of disappointment, and frequently involves weighing the cost in time and learning and whether I have enough of a personal perspective to make my own version or not.

[@Voirreydirector]

A funny durability story: I was in a pit orchestra for a revival of South Pacific, when the lead actress hit her elbow on the shower while singing the shampoo song and the whole thing crumpled into the orchestra pit! Beware little women with big voices!

[@theonlywoody2shoes]

I used to run “technical back of house” during trade show exhibitions, and agree that front of house (on stage/actors) have an uncanny ability to mess things up. I had one person who just had to point a remote control at a TV screen and deliver two lines. From the 30+ buttons on the remote that did nothing they managed to frequently find the only button that did work, the one that turned the TV off! Despite asking them to avoid the buttons on the top of the remote (power button was uppermost right) they kept hitting it 50% of the time during rehearsal. The initial solution was to remove the batteries, but they complained it made the remote feel too light, so the batteries were reinserted with a piece of electrical tape over one of the connections - problem solved; well my problem at least, the ability for actors to take direction and not mess up... one day maybe they could teach this at drama school?

[@MrMcGooGarage]

I just noticed my vise is a Adam vise! right on

[@seanconlin8712]

I just one question with regards to the your mom watching that episode of fire extinguisher and flamethrower...I heard you say she wasn't happy watching it...did you get the mom speech after...what were you thinking...

[@tylerkimble715]

So Great. Question,( "Were you scared of being incinerated with gelled flamible fueled and dying?" "Nah, I was afraid my mom would find out and yell at me..." )

[@cmdraftbrn]

need advice on finishing a project before starting a new one? if it's a personal project, one word carrot. i'be got a bunch of models to paint and i want to buy more models. so.... finish painting the previous models first, then get the new models as a reward to one's self. *5 months later* almost there 5 / 27 models to go. 7 are large terrain pieces.

[@Erynus]

I was an Extra, we are props too.

[@daleaustin3982]

As far as the lighting crew is concerned, you are a reflector.

[@spidersj12]

It just occurred to me many videos after Adam mentioned it in a previous video, about his ruler tattoo on his forearm... You know that saying, "rule of thumb"? Well Adam's got the "ruler of forearm" variant... I wonder if it's contagious? 🙃 On that sad day when Adam Savage is no longer with us, I wonder if Adam has a plan for his friends and colleagues to finish his unfinished projects?

[@WilliamBlakers]

I AM a half finished project.

[@lillian6023]

This will be useful for the future.

[@BurmaJ]

I did one play’s set design. For free. Never again. Theater actors are agents of chaos.

[@terryqueen3233]

This time I noticed for sure that be molded head that you have in the background you keep turning it. It will face the camera one time and will be turned 90° the next time that I noticed. As I don't read all the comments someone may have already mentioned it but my question is are you doing this to see who will notice or if anyone will notice? That's my question of the day who knows maybe you'll answer it. If you don't that's okay I'll still watch. Have a great day and stay safe and keep your powder dry! Do you know where the saying comes from and when it comes from, keep your powder dry?

[@CWEW]

No one shows unfinished product on youtube without the promise of finish.

[@3arendel]

I'm terrible at starting projects and even worse at finishing them

[@drzarron]

Speaking of unfinished projects, my wife Diana wants to know what happened to the dinosaur costume you were making?

[@JosephDavies]

Same. That was one of the best series this channel had done so far, and it's disappointing that it disappeared. I'm sure the folks at Tested are even more disappointed, if any of the assumptions are correct.

[@hw2508]

Unfinished projects are not a problem, unless they become a problem. If you are not able to finish any project, or if you never meet a dead line, you've got a problem and should work on techniques to prioritize you projects and then develop the endurance to finish them. Try to analyze why you don't finish so many projects. Do you lose interest, or is there need for better organization to keep going to the end?

[@comfortablynumb9342]

Sounds like actors are like the infantry, they can break anything 😂

[@blindleader42]

"Or any four year old" is what I was thinking.

[@comfortablynumb9342]

@@blindleader42 them too

[@Scoots1994]

You have to have at least 3 projects in process at any time or you can't move on when you get mentally stuck. Maybe if you get up to 100 you might have a problem.

[@paulaneary7877]

Adam, this is awesome. Great job interview advice. I do see that you have a ring on your finger, so I will just be secretly in love with you. You are awesome. Being a prop builder seems like it would be my dream job.

[@kingjames4886]

this episode could just as easily been called "job interview advice and adam's mom"

[@dbomber69]

Why do you not have a "One Day Builds" Playlist? Aren't they a big part of your channel? And you have no playlist for them? Seriously? You'd think that would be a major player since you do so many 1 day builds. 10 demerits to whoever curates your KZbin videos!

[@VeniVidiVid]

I never finish anyth

[@osvaldimar132]

Trabalhe em soluções locais

[@raulgzzlpz]

Hi Adam

[@spookerredmenace3950]

really> your only 10 years older then me lol wild!

[@ChristophBrinkmann]

I still remember idiots all over the Mythbusters forums after the Flamethrower vs Fire Extinguisher episode insisting how "MyThBuStErS gOt It WrOnG" and how if they'd just made the fire extinguisher more powerful then it could've stopped the flamethrower and/or how they should've kept on tweaking the one or the other until they got it to look like the viral video and it's just like.... you guys realize the original viral video was obviously fake, right?

[@nowacurmudgeon]

Number 1 To Do? TURN OFF THE MILL LIGHT!

[@charlie9ine]

Elliott I’m not sure the answer is specific to your situation. You’ve been offered a job so it’s less an interview than a meeting. Bring a notebook, confidence and an open mind. Listen carefully. Do not be afraid to ask questions. The only stupid questions are the ones that have already been answered. The people you are working for are expecting you to do your job so that they don’t have to think about your job and if they are good at their job they will be be clear what they expect. If they’re not then suffer through the experience and get everything you can out of it

[@BillMulholland1]

🍻👍

[@Kenkire]

Tell me you have ADHD without telling me.. LOL I also have ADHD and will die with unfinished projects.

[@timhouse8659]

if you start it finish itall the way out do not put it up you will not finish it if you do

[@seewise6383]

Let's talk "Lasers" now;)

[@melinda2877]

I’m fascinated by the idea of building the all-spark from the first Transformers movie. But I’m not sure if it’s possible to replicate it. Has anyone built a replica?

[@Riley_Mundt]

I know there have been several well made replicas released by or licenced through Hasbro. Only problem with those is they don't quite replicate how dramatic some of the valleys and crevices are on the CG model.

[@melinda2877]

@@Riley_Mundt I would love to make one with movable parts so it collapses like a puzzle cube. I’ll keep searching.

[@hondatuner5156]

Your friend is a foolish one methinks -toydarian watto

[@LR_Jenkins]

my strategy for unfinished projects is to give myself a limited space for them. that way, I can swap between projects, but there is a limit to how many I can let go undone. youtube channel zack freedman also has a few excellent videos on project management.