Life Lessons from the Costume Shop (No Innappropriate Shop Talk)

When I first started out working in a collegiate costume shop, our manager had a few rules. One was "No Inappropriate Shop Talk". This meant no heated discussions about politics, religion, or what one does in the bed room. 

And really, the latter of the three you should never really discuss in public. It's no one's business but those involved. But the other two, religion and politics do have a time and place for discussion. Know when the time and place for certain topics are and only start a riveting conversation about them at that time. 

Talking about the cute thing your cat did during a budgeting meeting for your company is an example of the wrong time and place for the topic of your cat. Now, that same conversation would be a welcomed anecdote at the pet store check out or a cat lovers anonymous meeting. Everything has its time and place.