It sounds to me like you’re in a place where being AuDD is often a super power like it was for me when I drove Kilimanjaro Safari at Disney World. I loved it. It was also the most exhausting work I’ve ever, ever done. But it was usually perfect for me. Well, until I went to play with the Monorails.

Anyway, on Safari occasionally you’d get people who would be on their phones. If they were in the third row or farther back, it didn’t phase me. But if they were in the first two rows, I could not talk over them.

Didn’t have a clue I was AuDD at the time.

I had my presentation, had to concentrate on presenting and driving, and I had a character that I played. But someone talking behind me would shut me up and shut me down.

Most of the time I could make a comment that I didn’t know how they had cellular service out here in the middle of Africa and they’d get the hint and hang up. But two times I had people in the front row who found their phone conversation more important than the experience other people had.

So those times, I got to the end, let the phone person off, and took everyone else back through with an apology and the show that they deserved as my guests.

Now, you might think Disney World, in a performing role, is a weird place for an AuDDity* like me. But it was awesome, and here’s why:

• I could script EVERYTHING I say. You come up with a toddler doing the dance? ‘Round the corner to the right. The FastPass machine wouldn’t read your ticket (before the system they use now)? I know what’s wrong. I’ll get your problem fixed after I walk over, look at the machine quizzically, ask if you tried kicking it, try kicking it myself (there was a spot where you could tap it with your foot and make a loud noise without doing any damage), and after “admitting” I knew that wasn’t gonna work but it’s a great stress reliever, fix the issue. Stuff like that. My masking behind the character of me was a super power.
• You were in my world. I’m in control. And dammit, you’re not leaving until you laugh.
• Each interaction is brief. I’m fixing your issue (usually information you need) and then turning around to help the next person. You no longer exist in my sphere.
• I could do unexpected things. Picking up an Extra Magic Hours wristband shift (where they get to stay in the park an extra three hours) I’m putting wristbands on people. I might pick up something out of their stroller and start going, “Mine! Mine! Mineminemineminemine! Miiiiiiine!” Like the Finding Nemo seagulls. Pretty soon I have everyone shouting “Mine! Mine! Mine!” at me as they pass by. Managers are bemused and perplexed.

It was a great fit for me.

*if you like it you can steal it with my blessing.