It had to be ~ 1991, there was no work for anyone. I had taken three identical group homes by being low.
I had one ready for finish, showed up late and without thinking about it walked into the center of the space, huge grinder in one hand huge coffee in the other. I stood there and enjoyed breakfast with the quiet commotion around me.
Not more than four minutes passed and the GC, Norman, was at my side. The time when Norm had a good rep was in the 1950's. He was probably less senile then too. I did not look down or at him, he starts talking: 'you know _dan, I would have liked to use my regular painter, Lou, but Lou was $4300., this guy was $2300. What could I do'.
I continued saying nothing, not looking down or at him, having my grinder. I looked around and there were a lot of painters there.
Norm walks away and not more than four minutes later the painting contractor was at my side. The guy looked like he could have been Norm's younger brother. He starts talking saying "You know I would have liked to get $4300. for this job but Norm says his regular guy will do it for $2300. What could I do." "Look at these guys, my son is here, they clean and prep the wood, they put on the right number of coats, good quality paint, I have everything on these guys, workman's comp, medical." "These guys have been with me a long time, I trained them, I have to keep them busy".
The painter I looked at but said nothing (must have been too early in the day for me). I looked around, he had good guys.
If there's a point to this, it escapes me. It's usually a funny story.