Ft3, have you thought about going into "industrial design"?

Maybe it's close enough to photography and sculpture that you would feel comfortable,
but still be going into a new field with potential for good $.

I worked with two men that were industrial design specialists at a major manufacturer.
They helped me with three design projects for my own clients,
and I was amazed at their creativity and technical skills.
When they finished, the products were so "right" and "clean",
my clients signed off on them within just a few minutes of my "reveals".

I know these two fellows made good $ from their homes, cars, etc.
And even more importantly, they enjoyed going to work each day.

Build boats, little boats with extravagant price tags for wealthy people. Boats for people too busy making money to use it, but want the bragging rights that come with a high priced boat, and since they aren't going to use it why go to the trouble of storing a big boat.

Bruce is spot on.

Have you taken a career test lately? If not, it might help. Contact your local junior college. Most of them do career counseling for no or low cost.

I'd love to do that sort of thing, not sure how I could get into that field w/o an ID degree. I know I'd be great at it though.

It's a deceptively small market and w/o creating a highly desirable brand no one would want to pay the premium price, and puts me back in the spot I am in now, namely I would have to market myself and I haven't got the cash or time or chops to do that. The appeal of a regualr job is not having to do all the cold calling/marketing. Another problem with that line of work is that like woodworking and photography an awful lot of the people with the money and interest fancy themselves as weekend hobbyists who want to get their hands dirty.

see above


Funny, I took a career test right after graduating and of the top ten careers they outlined for me, I had already done 9 of them. The only thing I hadn't done was be a detective.

It was really uncanny. I wonder if my aptitudes would have changed since then.

[/Coaxing mode: intense]

Famous last words ?
One is regret, the second is optimistic confidence.

Any degree is primarily a credentialing "union card".
It just gets your foot in the door.
So an AA from your local community college is an easy first step,
especially if some of your photography income can be maintained for a couple of yrs.

[/Coaxing mode: off]

I just took one of those free career tests. It was very long and detailed, and required signing up for a lot of spam mail and then discarding offers for stuff I don't want or need.

Anyway, when all was said and done ... it told me that I wouldn't be suited to my current profession because I'm insufficiently sensitive to the plight of the homeless and don't care about other people, but that I might consider becoming a professional athlete.

(I also scored high for tech jobs like computer programmer or highly skilled jobs like doctor).

I still think boats.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to do boats. I'd like a marketing/sales department is all.

Find a partner to handle the S&M?

(pun very much intended)

I find myself in a similar position to you. I feel stagnant and want am trying to evaluate whether a career change is wise or not (metalworking or aircraft maintenance -- something that engages both my head and hands, anyway).

I'm also kicking around starting my own business. To do that I need to start finishing things and getting them out the door ("Real artists ship" - Steve Jobs). My inability to do so is not procrastination from perfection. I'm afraid it's procrastination from disinterest.

Well if you want to be all practical and shit, boats are out. But I still think it would be a good profession for you, Starving Boat Builder has such Je ne sais quoi.

Hmmm... there really are people who love that S&M shit... I wonder if you could hire someone on commission with broad enough contacts? I'd hate to see you not creating.

Well, then, it's elementary, dear Footson. :p:

.

I never worked out what to be, so I had children....