I'm sure many (most?) of you already know which one's among us were crazy enough to make music a career & profession. For those of you whose principal profession is not music, please share (with us) what you do to make your living.

I had read (somewhere) that a lot of people into music are strong in math, science and/or computers, and pursue professional careers like: doctor & lawyer. I think it would be interesting to find out what (other than music) careers members here are in (or were in if you're now retired). Thanks. - Scott

I am a live-in caregiver and also repair - build computers. I was a semi-pro musician (drummer, over 1/2 my income) untill Jan. of this year. Had to get out because of health problems, and am now really studing the keyboard instead of just "playing around" with it.

Hi Scott,

I always enjoy your broad-based "What's your...? kind of questions. (I've also listened with admiration to some of your work on the Tyros.)

I'm an old "hippie" drop-out type who never got into the professions. I did make a small living for a while playing keys in clubs, but didn't like working nights. So I decided a while back to completely divorce my musical aspirations from my "make a living" necessities.

Silly as it sounds, it frees me up to just pursue "art for art's sake," untainted by the pragmatics or politics of events.

I have a humble position as a Physical Therapy Tech at a major teaching hospital. While not lucrative, it's good, solid, and rewarding sevice work, dealing hands-on with the elderly, the sick, the injured, and the traumatized. The work is both interesting and rewarding. Every day is different, and I'm happy with it.

Hi Scott
Your threads are always of interest to a large cross-section of us. It shows your thirst for knowledge and communication skills. You would probably have become a Teacher in another life.
Strangely, I myself have always had a thirst for knowledge, and I mean thirst! If I start to watch a TV programme, I find it extremely difficult to turn it off, particularly if it is a documentary. I cannot bear to think that I missed something!
For that reason, perhaps, my career (now retired) was always along lines of communication (for the Astrologers amongst us, this is a strong trait of Taureans!)and I therefore did well at school in languages. It was inevitable that I went into Export and Marketing. For most of my career I was an Export Sales Manager in the Packaging Industry and was lucky enough to travel to most parts of the world. This for me was more a pleasure than work because I was able to meet people and cultures of many countries and in some cases even speak to them in their own language.

As for music, I began to play the piano from the age of 8 and music has been ,and still is, a very big part of my everyday sustenance,i.e. a food I cannot exist without.
Sorry for the overlong reply but when people are asked to talk about themselves,the ego is raised!
cheers

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Eddie from Rotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info

Thank you Scott for your interest.
I am in the radiobroadcasting business. For over 24 years working for the NOS: Dutch national broadcasting corporation and since 1996 for the KRO, more than 8 years already.
When I started the job I wanted to be a recording engineer for music: pogroups, orchestra's etc., and in the first 4 years I was an assistent and had a wonderfull time and saw a lot of artists.
But after that I didn't really want to become an engineer myself: I listened too much to the music and didn't really care how it sounded, so I specialised in documentaries and radioplays instead. I really enjoyed that - but never listen(ed) myself to the radio.
In the meantime I played in several formations with my collegues, so music has always been there in the background. I did some writing and arranging then.
In 1982 the NOS started the SVEM studio, where I could play the CMI Fairlight and make music, jingles and such.If you have clicked my alias already you have seen what the SVEM was and what we did.
In the beginning we worked hard and 6 days 10 hours was normal, sometimes 13 days in a row, same hours. We had a great time, but from 1986 the work diminished. More people started their own home MIDI-studio and were cheaper. So the studio closed in 1989/1990 and I went back to documentaries, but there are few made nowadays and radioplays are even history. Having more spare time on my hands I started a personal project where I had to programm a database (Foxprow) and made a website on TV-series.
The knowledge of computers, databases and radio gave me the opportunity to go work for the KRO in 1996, where I still work. I am now responsible for radiobroadcasting with the Dalet computersystem. I call myself a consultant in that area, because there is not really a name for what I do. I also teach newcomers to work with the system and advice on equipment for the radiomakers, mostly journalists.
5 years to go (if politics don't decide I have to remain working after 60) and then I can enjoy my pension. I am slowly picking up my music and as you know totally enjoy the Yamaha PSR3000. And when I am 60? Who knows, I might become a Pro too


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drdalet

[This message has been edited by drdalet (edited 10-30-2004).]

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

Teaching and research. -- José.

Now retired,I was employed as a mechanical engineer for 40 years working in various branches of the engineering industry in Britain,Canada And New Zealand. Coming from a musical family I was into music as a sideline at an early age. Learned to play a ukelele at 11 years old and performed in backyard concerts for kids. My first pay envelope contained the handsome sum of 96 cents in British currency. At age 15,I learned to play drums and progressed from small groups to large dance bands in the 50s doing weekend gigs only. In 1980 I had the honor of playing a gig with Art Van Damme the accordion jazz man when he was touring New Zealand. Discovered the new keyboards 8 years ago and now I play for senior citizens groups in Calgary.

OK - that does it! Seeing that in print makes my blood boil. I've been living that roi=utine for TOO long now, and ity must stop ! Dammit - I want a holidy off, and I want it now !!!!! Grrrrrrrr....



OK, I'm calm now. Seriously - I intend to re-structure my work load. This 6 night schedule is making me nuts. I need to get off stage a bit. I need to connect with some of my other talents, and explore some new possibilities. Cripes ..... I've been singing for my supper since I was in High School. I need some down time, and SOON.

That does it ! I'm taking a break and going to Miami to see my son's new place.

When I fill out applications and forms, my position is that of a school teacher. I have been teaching 8th grade language arts for 32 years; this is my last year. But, concurrently I am also the organist/music director, choir director and all-around PITA (pain in the ass)at my parish, also for the last 32 years. How much longer I'll be there is anyone's guess.

My music career started at 8, when my school offered acordion lessons. I did that for about 6 years, until I could convince my dad that I wanted to play the organ. At. age 15, my grandmother talked her parish organist into taking me under his wing (as I was attending high school there). I and another student learned the church ropes for about a year or so. The other boy graduated, leaving me to do the very early services and fill in whenever the organist 'needed' me. One day in the spring of my junior year, the guy had an argument with the pastor and just up and quit. I was offered the job (at a greatly lesser salary + stipends) and stayed there until I went off to college 18 months later. I swore I'd never do that again, but in 1972, while still looking for a teaching position, I decided to take a 'part time' at the church we were attending. Now, 32 1/2 yrs. later I've out-lasted 6 pastors and am working on the 7th.

As a 'rock star' (yeah, sure!) I started at 14 with a 4-piece group we called the Four Dimensions. The rhythm guitarist could never play in tune and the lead guitarist, although good, was the furthest thing from rock star material. A few years later there were those put-together groups that played for a while, but never went anywhere. At 17, I was asked to come and practice with some local guys who wanted to 'make it big'. I went to the first practice and was blown away by all the Vox equipment in the basement. I played my Farfisa thru a Super Beatle and have never felt the same emotion since (well almost). They said they were going downtown to play some bars - oh, oh I was 17 and as straight as they came - so I backed out. 15 months later I heard a new version of 'House of the Rising Sun' by an up&coming local group, Frigid Pink - oh, well. At 23 I hooked up with my old drummer and formed a trio, Music Express, and played one-nighters locally almost every weekend for 15 years. The band broke up and I wandered around for a few, then hooked up with my present partner to form Token. This Christmas will most likely be our last together. My immenent retirement(s) and my friend's personal turmoil are urging me move on to solo work (as One2Many ?? - help me here).

Sorry for the length of this post, but you asked for it, Scott.

Good for you, UD... BTW, what are those 'other talents'?

With all the fantastic people giving some funny summaries of their job and lack thereof, I'm nearly embarrassed to say that I have been employed by the Norwegian Air Force for 22 years. I have been flying fighter aircraft for 11 years, and following a staff tour I,m now flying search and rescue helicopters for the same company, as I have been the last 5 years.
Music is my BIG interest, and I always say I can teach a monkey to fly, but to become a desent musician takes a lifetime. (I was an instructor pilot in Texas for five of my fighter years.)

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Roy-Andrè

Hey Scott,

Sys Admin for the University of Minnesota Libraries. I focus on Microsoft products but also provide backup support for Novell. I dabble in web-related stuff along with programming in Perl, ASP, and VB.

How 'bout you? Has music been your only career choice?

-mike

I've had a variety of "careers". From mining, to heavy equipment, to explosives.

I am now an AutoCAD tech, mapping & gis in addition to graphic art.

I've been in over a dozen great bands, and have performed as a solo artist, for more years than I can remember.
I'm currently...and hopefully it will continue...playing kbs & guitar with "Consenting Adults". 5 piece. Some Classic R&R, R&B, and Top 40. I'm enjoying myself, and isn't that what it's all about?
------------------
...L



[This message has been edited by shboom (edited 11-01-2004).]

Most certainly is!


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Roy-Andrè

Why would you be "nearly embarrassed" by that? Would it be because you're part of the defense of a peace-loving nation whom all the civilized world admires and respects? BTW, I've done my homework, and the Norwegian folks response re standing up to the Nazis was second to none.

God bless ya'

Calm down Dave...
I own a small company and still work six days a week.
(bussiness administrations - taxwork - payrolls etc...)

My tasks ay work;
Accountant
Taxadvisor
Personel chief
System manager
Trouble shooter on all levels

But I do take a long holiday each year..

Fred

My first playing job was in an officrs club at Ladd AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska at age 11. I have had 9 weeks off from playing at least 4 nights a week since I started, and I'll be 59 soon. Music has been good to me...I put three kids through graduate school with no student loans and bought lots of nice toys, including over 300 stringed instruments.

I spent 30 years as a director of communications for an international electrical equipment manufacturer, and my contract let me do outside work. In 1995, my position was moved to Chicago, and I chose to stay in Lexington and develop my outside work into a full-time thing. Currently, I teach comunication research at a local college and run my communications consulting/production firm. We do video production, strategic planning, high-end graphic design, package design and channel management Our client include two bank holding companies,two credit unions, a manufacturer of medical and dental lighting, an Itallian manufacturer of staircases and some smaller manufacturers of retail hardware products.

I do marketing for the restaurant I play, but that's the only retail client we have.


Music helps the day work. We do lots of film scores for our clients and for independent producters.

I decided years ago to only do for a living what I would do for fun. After graduatung as an accountant, I worked two weeks and decided I hated it. I went back to playing and graduate school and have been having fun every since.


Russ

Sales slime in the high-tech networking arena for the past 12 years....specializing in Routers...

Accordionist for the past 25 years....If I could make the same (or even close) money I make with my real job doing something in the music industry I would in a heartbeat...maybe some day down the road...I envy those of you that can....

Tommy

Oh yeah - to the fighter pilot - I have been a private pilot for the past ten years or so and I consider myself an average pilot...those of you that can be instructors or even THINK about flying something like a fighter jet are my heros! I am still WAY behind a stinking V-35 Bonanza!

[This message has been edited by The Accordionist (edited 10-30-2004).]

In addition to doing 70 music jobs per year, I also do Web Design and programming on the side.

Oh yea, in my spare time, I build and run software systems for Wall Street firm Merrill Lynch's Investment Banking division. I commute 60 miles each way to Manhattan by train.

[This message has been edited by kbrkr (edited 10-30-2004).]

Hi Scott,
Mostly in industrial outside sales my entire career. Did an unsuccessful regional sales job with Suzuki, but the poor quality made me crazy. Ironically, music (as a hobby) robs too much time from (planning, forecasting, etc) my job. Corporate expects me to hit the numbers. Upon retirement I will get a studio and really have fun. Thanks for asking.
zuki

I have had several jobs over the past few years Currenlty I am an at home Dad! My wife gradutated from college with a Math and a Science degree (little lady got two degrees..so proud of her), so we have switched places and I'm finishing school. Prior to being an at home Dad I worked for one of the largest law firms in my state as a Clerk in the workers comp practice group. Prior to that I was a State employee. Music used to be my main source of income years ago, but times have changed. In my area I couldn't rely on that for sufficient income

Squeak

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 10-30-2004).]

My main occupation is programming video games for the Nintendo GBA & Gamecube, Sony PS2 and Microsoft XBox. Playing music is something I work at only on weekends at bars and parties. I just got home from playing a Halloween 60s party in Fillmore ( Ventura County ) a couple of hours ago.

Difficult Question for me....
I describe myself as 'Artist&Sculptor',
Which covers a multitude. I specialise
in wood sculpture...especially Irish Bog
Wood...i.e. wood which has been burried in a bog for about 6000 yrs, but to earn a crust, I do commissioned pieces of Sculpted furniture. Music has always been my hobby & suplementary earner...about 200 gigs a year..helps pay for the gear..
As they say I used to have a 'Proper Job'..20 years with US Multinationals
but chucked that in 15 years ago..too much stress. Now have no money & no stress...I just Art & Fart around, play Music & live a contented life. I've been skewered, roasted, toasted, & generally rolled over in my life...more times..well too many times...so don't like The Ratrace and so don't participate in it anymore.
I have a nice home in the country (thanks to the proper job)..One good wife..4 kids(2 still at home) & 5 gran'kids..no credit cards, no Bank account..'cause I hate the parasites..& my ambition is to LIVE...until I die (the moment that is)

PS. I also like to express my thoughts in rhyme...(some call it Poetry)..I may even treat you to a few lines some day. Meanwhile ..wifey says I'm becoming addicted to these Forums...she knows I'm beyond the Booby Babes...(or so she thinks!!!) but she's probably right..I leave that to my 20 yr. old son who can enjoy same & has 'em plastered all over his wall...I just visit from time to time to admire his taste..no more !!

Keep Music Live & Alive

LeoD


------------------

PS...again,

I like the terminology, my status
...on the left.....
It means I'm just a kid at heart,
with lots of livin' yet,
And 'JUNIORS' they can be excused
when doin' of their best,
Like when I try to play that Riff
and make a bloody mess.

And when I really screw it up,
and it sounds all out of tune,
I'll say...I'm just a JUNIOR, now,
but I'll get better soon,
I'm watchin' all the older guys
and how they do their stuff,
'Cause some of them are really good
and they know it can be tough.

Yeh! they were juniors too, one time,
and tryin' just like me,
They know it's hard for little hands
to stretch from C to C
And so, they help you, when they can,
when things are gettin' tough,
Yeh! JUNIOR is the place for me
well...until I'm good enough,
......that is.

LeoD....
Artist-Sculptor-Musician-Poet, etc,etc.
" A man of many talents,
Of Master he is none,
But that is not the issue here,
Just all to do with havin'fun."

End of rantings....Leo Dunne

Ah.....we have a poet in our midst....Excellent prose LeoD !!

------------------
...L

Nigel, now that sounds like an interesting job - do you enjoy it? Is it more programming, or more playing? Are you on the graphics department? Video? Sound?

Personally, music is a large part of my income, but I also work for a video company. We produce a four part educational video series every month, and my job is to edit the scripts, record audio, soundtrack and narrations, and mix it down to video.

Chony

enjoyed reading your poem Leo.. Thanks!

As for what I do...
trained as an Experimental High Energy Physicist.
Now working in technical software industry.

Shiral

Yes I do enjoy it but it can be very demanding when schedules are tight. There is not much playing other than what is needed to test out features being programmed. So programming is pretty much all I do. The company I work for does quite a few conversions for different publishers from other platforms to the Sony PS2 so we are not so much creating anything new as much as getting existing code to work on a lesser games console. We are sort of a games software chop shop I guess. The last game I worked on was Metal Arms and I am now working on Full Spectrum Warrior both for the PS2 and originally created for the Xbox.

Sales exec in a big software company.
Music is a hobby.

Trident,

Is the software per chance for the "Trident Submarine Program" ? Just Curious !!

vc

------------------
Vern

In Greece?
lol
I think we own some internal combustion engine WW2 (or a tad later) relics.

I am supposed to be a doctor, but I work part time as a musician and part time as a translator, really.
(kidding, but not too much....)

Hi Scott.

Play arranger keyboard is a hobby to me.

I´m mechanical engineer and I worked during twenty years as a quality control manager in a German Factory (KolbenSchmidt) for engine pistons . Today I´ve a shirts industry (very small) and a small store that attend clients that want to do theirs shirts under- measure.

Cheers.
Armando

[This message has been edited by SD_FAN (edited 11-01-2004).]

While I'm trying to play music as much as I can, I'm mainly working as a software engineer doing applications for public safety.

Claude

I play music for a hobby.

I have been self employed for 34 yrs.
I used to have a full service electric store.
If it run on electricity we sold it & or repaired it.

15 yrs. ago I sold the business & now I'm semi retired, anyway
that's what it started out to be, but now is pretty much full time.
I started a small one man electric motor sales & service shop
at my home 5 miles from the closest town thinking I wouldn't
get to much business out in the country. (So much for that idea)

Oh well some day I will just close it up & do nothing but play MUSIC.
Denny

University professor in special education (34 years). Retirement coming soon---then music full-time. Play bass in a 4-piece jazz combo; guitar in a pop/oldies group; and now, more solo work on guitar/vocals with backing tracking tracks from arranger boards. By the way, the advice, help, suggestions, etc. offered on this forum have been invaluable for folks like me, who more or less backed into the keyboard market.

Hello All

Armando Ricardi (SD Fan) makes the best shirts I have seen and he plays nice songs too

I was manager of a German Industry for 18 years.
Since 1992 , my job is music , as teacher, music writer and live musician.

Chico

I work for a telecommunication company, supporting one of their network services and software packages. Seems like many musicians are in the computer field. A young man just started working with me as a co-worker, and I call him a techno-tweab. He has numerous computers at home; apple, pc, linux. Loves routers and firewalls,etc. Just found out that he plays guitar. My supervisor is highly technical and just purchased a Yamaha A1000. Very interesting. Left brain - right brain balancing.
On the weekend I do gardening, cut trees. Basically physical work. High tech (during the week) - low tech (on weekends).
Starkeeper

[This message has been edited by Starkeeper (edited 11-01-2004).]

I teach the 6th grade, as well as General Music to the rest of our school, which starts at Kindergarten and goes through the eighth grade.

I guess the only interesting thing about my story is that I'm only 20 years old. As long as I keep it a secret from my students, they'll never guess - they think I'm at least 30.

Getting to where I am now has been quite a journey and it's a strange story, to say the least. Sometimes I think about how my life has worked out so far, and I get the creepy feeling that God is setting me up for something.

And that's me.

Oh....I now get it your Dr.Eamer aren't you ??

After working for other music retailers for 18 yrs, I know have my own,independant music store .

Dan O'

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Ketron, Yamaha, Casio,Roland arranger keyboards.
http://www.keyboardcity.net

1-866-348-8876

Interesting Thread!

I worked in an office for about five years before I met my husband on the internet and moved to England to be with him. Now I've decided I can no longer handle the type of work I used to do and have gone back to school full-time.

Sooooo, at age 31 I'm deep into a psychology degree with hopes of becoming a clinical psychologist. It's more competitive than medicine over here, so if I don't get in I assume I'll become a counselor of some description.

Even though I'm ten years older than most of the other psych students, I'm really enjoying it!

Carrie

Carrie - Co-incidence, my daughter is 29 and has just gone back to Sussex University to take Phsycology after 10 years of office work and she loves it too.

Me? - I played, demonstrated and sold musical instruments until I was 32 years old and although I loved the life I was never there for my family as I worked most days and nights.

So - I went on a Government Adult re-training scheme to do a Computer Science course and became a Cobol Programmer and over the next 20 years had many computer related jobs.

Only trouble was that I often worked late in order to meet deadlines plus I still enjoyed playing in the evenings (and the extra money of course).

I was made redundant about 4 years ago when I was a VP in the English offices of BNY and I finally wised up - I was going to be the richest guy in the graveyard. I still play about 4 times a month but I now have a much less taxing day job and am making up for lost time .

I was fortunate to have had a lot of support from my wife and two daughters but I now regret being so selfish in the "early days"

Apologies for the rambling - KF



[This message has been edited by KFingers (edited 11-02-2004).]

2+ decades of Project/Design Engineer, currently managing a small Engineering firm & Part time real estate investor.

Deodorant tester
http://www.teleweb.net/georgeeiben/images/badjob.jpg

Common.....You mean theres something to do besides Playing Music?

Optometry... but now being semi-retired I have time for my birth-right profession - music

Like the old saying goes...

"If ya ain't Doin' what you LOVE...
You ain't Livin!...."

You mean "eating", right?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by travlin'easy:
[B]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.

Hi Gary,
If you were to rotate back the hands of time, are you still going to choose music and freelance writing as your full time career, or work full time in the medical field? From your past experiences, which incidence you encountered the most stressful when you were still working in the Cardio-Pulmonary Division? Did it demand long hours of work beyond regular working schedules?
From Jessie