Thread: What do or did you do for a living

I've been making money playing music since I was in high school (I'm now 41). I'm another of those guys who seems to have spent most of his life studying. I often moved cities, so have often picked up odd jobs along the way to make ends meet until I start getting enough music work. I've been a delivery person, I've worked in retail, I've been a casino dealer, I've worked with a regional airline on the west coast (towing and maintaining airplanes, handling baggage & freight, working a forklift, etc), I've taught English as a second language, and many more.... A few years ago I went back to school and got a Masters degree in Library Studies, and in worked in that field, too, for a while. Now I have a decent part-time admin job in the music department of McGill University, where I basically help music students find work. It adds a lot more stability to my life, which is necessary now that I have two young kids (oldest is 3 and youngest is 7 months). I still play lots of music, although I don't obsess about it now that my focus has changed to straight razors.

Computer support for a university by day, medical device (mostly tools) researcher/designer by night. I also teach a lot of the custom woodworking and metal working classes at the university. So basically I get paid to play with computers, wood, and metal.

Well Jerry ... I did in fact steal a car once to take a lady to the hospital.
Since it was for a good cause I felt okay about it.
She had her hand crushed in something, never got the full story because she only spoke Spanish, and so from what I guessed at the time, that pain was causing her to go into premature labor.
I dropped the car off down the street from where I found it, and wiped my prints off.
That's what they do on the movies so..

Terrifying!!! I promised myself never to live a life of crime that day. It felt like I was going to the big house for sure.

Never been a pimp but I had a "sugar-mama" when I was 20!
There's a little pimp in all of us aye?

This is a good thread, and I've had a good life with more years planned. Just turned 70, I started work at 15 as a pool lifeguard, then while in college, as a pool manager, then ocean lifeguard, then framing carpenter's helper (crawling with a mouthful of nails and a 20oz. framing hammer in my hand). Graduated college and from there on you US based guys have paid my way...US Army, then 30 years as a federal employee, including 17 years in general management at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) before "retiring" from the government. Since then (and still) I consult to companies who work for VA and try to help VA get back to the better place it was in when I left in 2000. I've had a lot of adventures on that ride and met a lot of famous people (Bo Derek was my favorite).

I love getting to know you folks better!

I turn 54 in a couple weeks. I have worked almost every day since getting a paper route at the age of 10. Dishwasher, Reservist . . . then 16 years for a snack food manufacturer. Started as a candy maker (still know how to make better peanut brittle than most of the crap you see these days), switched to the peanut roaster, and finally parked my lazy ass on a forklift because it paid more than any other job in the place. When our baby was on the way, I decided it was time to get serious about a career, so I took a job with a chemical distribution company and got on the fast track . . . running a shift after six months, talk of a transfer out west to manage a warehouse in Alberta in year five, then . . . sign here please, we're downsizing. I'd never been fired before. Made a false start with an auto parts manufacturer before hooking into another chemical industry job. Small Canadian warehouse for a global corporation with interests in oil and gas, industrial plating, and printed circuit chemistry. I've been there 13 years and am more than happy to be a small cog in the big machine. I am not exactly overpaid, but not really overworked, either. I write my whisky reviews as a creative outlet, and there have been a couple side benefits as a result, which is nice.

Originally Posted by MikeT

Well Jerry ... I did in fact steal a car once to take a lady to the hospital.
Since it was for a good cause I felt okay about it.
She had her hand crushed in something, never got the full story because she only spoke Spanish, and so from what I guessed at the time, that pain was causing her to go into premature labor.
I dropped the car off down the street from where I found it, and wiped my prints off.
That's what they do on the movies so..

Terrifying!!! I promised myself never to live a life of crime that day. It felt like I was going to the big house for sure.

Never been a pimp but I had a "sugar-mama" when I was 20!
There's a little pimp in all of us aye?

Aw shucks, the big house ain't so bad. I spent plenty of time there when I was working. 3 squares a day, free healthcare, a roof over yer head, plenty of friends to pal around with, no stress no pressure, you can learn a trade. What more can you want?

har har.

Originally Posted by Gasman

I knew it.
Someone had to be a drug dealer. Now if the Pimp will chime in. And what about the car thief.

I did DJ at the local strip club while in College for a stint. Had to quit cause school all day, Hooking up dancers with drunks till 2am, then partying after hours till dawn did take its toll..
Think I enjoyed most of It, but for the life of me cannot recall much,,,,,
Just remember the joints slogan, “North Bay’s answer to the playboy club.” The Parkview Hotel! Boo ya..

58, I've got several years before retiring. I worked the last 20 years as the cost estimator for a major shelving manufacturer.

Before that I worked at a 5th wheel trailer manufacturer, assistant carpet layer, aerator and sheeter for a carton manufacturer and many, many years in restaurants.

Machinist. I did my first paying lathe job in my Dad's shop at age 12. I also farmed 1100 acres (wheat, oats, barley, and flax) for 34 years as a side line while doing the machining. I still run the machine shop my Dad started and rent my land out.

Round 14 or 15 started doing paper round for local weekly rag. At 15 or 16 got casual job in a shoe shop as a result of some work experience through school. At 17 started pushing trolleys at a shopping centre for a guys who had a contract for the couple major shops on site. At just before 19 ( bout 20 years precisely) started a traineeship for pest control. Did mainly residential work and within a year or so was a trainer. Once the opening came up moved to mainly commercial work. Have done mainly commercial since. Was 2 years of both with second employer and around 1 year mixed and 1 residential again before going back to commercial full time for the last 9 years now.