What kind of Day Job do you have?

[llama]

I do RF (Radio Frequency) design. Now I'm working with a company designing equipment for high end audio wireless links for such things as film sets, live sound, IEM and TV studios. I love it since it's very flexible in terms of working hrs, pays pretty good and I design cool stuff and I can fit all my composing/music related things around it....Derek

[ncc1701]

Jul 27, 2009, 9:00pm, suzdoyle wrote:Hey Kathleen;Greetings from a fellow Oregonian. I'm in Corvallis, not too far from your neck of the woods. I'll look you up next time I'm in your area. Warm regards,SuzMy condolences. (QUACK QUACK QUACK!!!)Actually, the OSU campus is beautiful - been there a couple of times for marching band competitions. Yes, come to the coast! We have cool stuff here.Kathleen

[ggalen]

I do 3D medical illustrations, and create interactive training exercises for physicians and surgeons to teach them how to implant medical devices in the heart.Back further, I headed up an advanced technology group at a large corporation.And much earlier, (before I returned to college and earned a specialized computer science degree)... I was a city firefighter for several years in Prescott, Arizona:

[kurtkreimier]

This is a really good and interesting thread. Didger, I hope your wife is doing well and getting better all the time.Since I am an older guy I've done quite a few different things over the years. Sold cars right out of college while working as a musician and then wound up in the telecommunications industry through a guitar player I worked with quite often. I worked in telecommunications for 18 years working for corporations, network carriers and internet service providers. I did it all - engineering, operations, marketing, sales, planning, carrier relations and start ups. Made some good money during those years. When the industry dried up in 2001 due to the bandwidth glut I taught music for a couple of years and then took a job at SeaWorld in Orlando doing show audio. I now run cameras, video fx and audio for the Shamu Shows. They still send me out to do audio at some of the other shows from time to time, but the vast majority of my time is spent at Shamu Stadium. I have to say that I really enjoy what I do. I work with some great people who are excellent at their craft and dedicated to putting on a quality show and we have a great time. Now if I could only sell more of my music, that would really be great!

[mojobone]

Rather than give an uninspiring litany of all the goofy, weird, dangerous or mind-numbingly tedious jobs I've endured, I think it'd be maybe more useful to discuss how I got here; the sort of thinking that led me here.The short version is that when I was in elementary school, we read a famous fable about a grasshopper and some ants. I was that kid that felt sorry for the ants. Sure, they had food to survive the winter, but what did they have to look forward to? Another year of drudgery and toil, followed by many more of the same and this time without even a grasshopper to fiddle and dance and entertain them, poor bastards. Long as their lives were, they must have seemed even longer. Maybe the grasshopper's life story didn't end well, but none of 'em do.The long version is pretty well spelled out in this terrific essay by Paul Graham, it's recommended reading for ants and grasshoppers alike:http://www.paulgraham.com/love.html

[heinsite]

i'm retired, was a dishwasher, then cook, then ran the place of 50 employees while in journalism school. then joined the county ranks, hating journalism and never went into it...was a hospital glorified dishwasher, went on to the social services welfare job, was a union negotiator for the social worker's union (liked arguing), joined management, where i was a glorified furniture mover, ended up running the the facilities dept of 150+, working with architects, lawyers, etc, was allot of fun. got out when i could, always wanted to write, and started at 52...but used some old work tapes from my late 20's/30s as some of the tunes you've heard. oh, also owned a small winery, then sold our share to idiot partners for more than they have ever made. was a grower of grapes, but sold the vineyard last year.bottom line, i've always started--uh, at the bottom, and rose to the top. that's part of the frustration of not (yet) selling a song. i have not known failure, but "enjoy" it somewhat, as it pisses me off and i work harder.again, sorry, too long an answer.the best,whPS--i am not surprised at how many "tech" folks we have hear one way or the other. it is easier for some of you to produce your own stuff, so being a computer geek (who i respect, as i do anyone who has talents where mine don't lie...) is a good thing in this business. but it's still about the song to me and the bottom line ideas.

[bigbluebarry]

I'm late to the party on this one... I'm a web developer during the day, have been for the last 10 years or so. Here's a fun fact for you. My reason for learning how to build web sites? The vocalist in one of my old bands wanted us to have one. He said "You know computers, make it happen!" So I taught myself the basics of HTML and started putting together a site for the band. A few years later, I had learned enough to turn it into a new career.My current job situation is kinda weird because I work for a publishing company in the Nashville area as well as I'm part of the web development office based in Richmond, VA. Originally when I started here, I was an employee of the web development office, but then after a year I was re-classified as a publishing company employee. Then this year they restructured things once again. Now I work for the web development office 70% of the time and for the publishing office the other 30%. It's not difficult at all to have multiple bosses at different locations. Not at all (insert sarcasm here). Then this morning I learned that our office may be relocating and if so... it's VERY likely that I'm going to get the option to work from home. Yeah, I'm not gonna like that at all. (more sarcasm) - Big Blue

[suzdoyle]

Jul 28, 2009, 1:07pm, kelysian wrote:Jul 27, 2009, 9:00pm, suzdoyle wrote:Hey Kathleen;Greetings from a fellow Oregonian. I'm in Corvallis, not too far from your neck of the woods. I'll look you up next time I'm in your area. Warm regards,SuzMy condolences. (QUACK QUACK QUACK!!!)Actually, the OSU campus is beautiful - been there a couple of times for marching band competitions. Yes, come to the coast! We have cool stuff here.KathleenBWAHAHAHA! Sounds like a duck fan to me. Actually, the sax player with whom I've done a couple albums graduated from U of O, so even though I live in Beaver country, I'm ambi-mascot-rous. Rah Rah!I'll PM you next time I'm headed up North. ,Suz

[ncc1701]

Jul 29, 2009, 12:53pm, suzdoyle wrote:BWAHAHAHA! Sounds like a duck fan to me. Actually, the sax player with whom I've done a couple albums graduated from U of O, so even though I live in Beaver country, I'm ambi-mascot-rous. Rah Rah!That wouldn't be Carl P., would it? I noticed him listed in the Musician's Junction part of the TAXI site.He and I played in the Oregon Marching Band and Basketball Band together, but I doubt he'd remember me.Kathleen

[anne]

"Am I the only blue collar person on these boards?" Heck no!! My husband and I are both blue collar; my current job is my first true white collar job that I've had. I'm really impressed by the widespread backgrounds and with all of our stories. I was feeling like my new job takes up so much of my time that I must be the only person not working a day job any more... this made me feel much more like I'm back at home!And, like TED says all the time, I just love this place!