While neary half my income is derived from music, the other half comes from freelance writing. I currently write for more than a dozen publications, both regionally and nationally. The subjects are usually outdoor related, fishing, boating, hunting, conservation, etc..

Prior to 1975, I spent 15 years working in the medical field as technical director of the Cardio-Pulomonary Divisions of The Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland Hospitals, and also taught cardio-pulomonary technology at Spokane Community College in Spokane, Washington for a couple years.

The best and worst aspects of my current professions is being self employed. As those of you who do this for a living well know, there is no such thing as retirement, no group health insurance programs where the employer pays half or more of the premium, and vacations and holidays are for other folks. Therefore, as an entertainer, you must be prepared to work until at least three days after you're dead. You must also be prepared to work every holiday, birthday, day, night, and above all, never, never get sick.

At the end of the job, when a dozen people come up to you and say "We really loved the music and hope you'll be back real soon" it makes it all worthwhile.

Cheers,

Gary