Working

[SteveDallas]

Yes, exactly, the ads in the comic books! I dunno... it was worth me reading at the time... of course that probably means I'd think it was pretty dumb now! As I recall (and I could be very wrong) I paid the company 35 sents a copy and sold them for the cover price of 55. I probably netted $10 a week. A real entrepeneur and/or salesman would have done much better.

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by glatt

You sold Grit? I always saw those ads and wondered about that. If I recall, the kids in those ads made tons of money. Was the magazine any good?

Our Grit guy was Monty. I loved that magazine!

[BrianR]

My first "real" job was pumping gas at Texaco. Followed by stints at 7-11, WaWa, Sunoco and some computer storage company whose name I forget.
Then came the Navy, Wayne Automation, various temp agencies (3 at once at one point), two security firms, both defunct now, several restaurants slinging hash, then back to the Navy again, retired from that and slung some more hash until I decided I was going nowhere and retrained as a truck driver. Six months at school paid for partly by making Quizno's sandwiches (as motivation to finish top in my class) and then Werner Enterprises as a solo OTR truck driver, which is the best and smartest move I've ever made. I've found more than a job, I have a career that will keep me gainfully employed forever as long as I don't lose my license or have too many accidents.

I can move anywhere and either keep my job or find a new one within a week.

I am going to test this no later than June 1. I have decided that barring complications, I will move to El Paso TX by then. Porbably sooner as my house renovations are nearly complete. One more door and one room to be drywalled is all that's left. I think I'll skip sanding the crappy floor and just throw a cheapo rug over it and nail it down.

Unemployment sucks not just because I had little money (never borrowed from folks or friends) but mostly because guys define themselves by their job and having none, I felt as though I were nothing. Losing Dagney as a partner doubled that pain but I recovered anyway. Now I have a new love (I hope to God that this one means what she says) and a future again.

Fingers crossed!

Brian

[glatt]

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

I probably netted $10 a week. A real entrepeneur and/or salesman would have done much better.

$10 a week! That's awesome money for a kid back then.

[Elspode]

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

Anyway. Umm 9-11 or so. Sold Grit. <snip> I have also been paid for my clarinet playing on rare occasions--maybe 3 or 4 times total.

I saw an ad for grit just last night...in the Mother Earth News.

I forgot to add that I, too, have been paid for my guitar work...and not just for stopping playing and leaving, either. In fact, in the past two weeks I have earned a total of $140.00, but I donated $20 to Lane's husband, who variously runs sound, helps haul stuff, and lets us practice in his house. I try to tip him from time to time as he's rather useful.

[SteveDallas]

Originally Posted by glatt

$10 a week! That's awesome money for a kid back then.

It sure would be--now that I think of it more it seems high. But even if I only made 15 a paper and only sold 30 a week (and I think it was more), that's still $4.50 and if I recall correctly I was getting $20 per month in allowance when I was in jr. high, so if that's accurate it was almost matching my allowance. (Mom got paid monthly, so we did too.)

[Griff]

Born and raised in farm country so it was a gradual transition from being baby sat in the hayfield to working in the hayfield and then working in other peoples hayfields for cash. Raised calves when I was a kid but it was for the family so I never saw a dime of that. Washed dishes at a boys camp when I was 16?. Apprenticed for an electrician. Worked 3rd shift at a transformer wrapping place when I was 20. Got an assoc. deg. Worked as an apprentice electrician at 21. Worked for one of Bruces competitors for about 6 years. Worked my way through school on crap jobs. Got a bachelors. Worked in a bike shop. Substitute taught. Stayed home with the kids and built a house. Surveyed. Went back to school. Taught boys on the spectrum for a couple years. Finished the Masters over the summer. Hope to finish off the certification next semester and then its back with the little guys despite a couple of Profs suggesting doctorate. I've been off work but only when I had other things that needed doing.

[lumberjim]

i was a dishwasher for 5 hours

then gas station attendant for a month

then 2 summers as a masonry laborer ( hell )

1 summer as a landscaping laborer ( almost hell )

bagger, then cashier at acme

1 summer and fall as a carpenter

edit: 2 weeks as a sheister selling speakers out of a van

furniture refinisher / delivery mule

waiter at Denny's while we saved $$ for TOUR

Denny's Manager (the worst hell ever)

car salesman

assistant new car manager/asst finance manager

new car manager/finance manager

internet sales department ( 1 man show from start to finish)

finance manager


i've made more every year i've worked except for when i went on tour for 3 months and was voluntarily unemployed. that was my favorite time.

[Iggy]

My first job: 16 years old (but I turned 17 in two weeks). It was at Papa John’s as one of the phone girls but after I turned 18 they made me a shift manager. I was there for 3 years all told.

Then when I worked at Krispy Kreme doughnuts (and gained 30 lbs while I was there that I never lost… doughnuts are evil!) 3rd shift as my second job to Papa John’s. The I worked both places for a year (I had been at PJs for 2 years when I started).

As I have only had three jobs I am currently at the third, the bank. I have been here for 2 ½ years. I quit both Krispy and PJs when I got the job at the bank since I got a $1.50 increase starting at the bank. So I have never been without a job since I was 16. I have obviously never been fired either.

[DanaC]

First job was a voluntary job at the local museum and art gallery, aged 15. First paid job was working in the Bolton Plastics Factory, deflashing the plastic moulds as they came out of the.....actually I don't know what they were, big hot asbestos gloves time. Some sort of burner, the moulds came out of the front bit hanging from hooks. Fucking hot. Oh and the gloves had holes in them. someone in management must have had a friend in health and safety, cause they always knew when an inspection was due; they'd start giving the bandsaw people safety goggles:P

Didn't like it there much, the manager had wandering hands.

I've had several short term telesales and telecanvassing jobs; bit of timeshare (uk based office);assistant in a small clothes shop (another manager with one eye on his female staff); buyer / silent partner in a small design house for about 6 years; adult literacy/ESOL tutor, Councillor/student.

Yes, in there have been spells of unemployment. There were aspects of it I liked at first. The novelty of not having to keep a timetable of any kind, the freedom to indulge in creative pursuits...the novelty wore off very fast, not having any money got really dull. Freedom accompanied by an income below the poverty line is distinctly unpleasant.

[footfootfoot]

LJ, you crack me up. How you lasted Five hours, I'll never guess. I only lasted three. It was in this restaurant in Glacier Nat. Park.

I can say with confidence I have had more moves/address changes and also jobs than anyone here at the cellar, though I bet LJ may come close. Here is what I can remember:

Worked for city parks dept assisting director of summer entertainment. Highlight: removing Logo from a Mayflower moving van and repainting it Blue with a sprayer and no respirator.

misc. carpentry/ handyman work
checker (tallied customer checks) at PJ Clarks in NYC (the Macy's location)
Checker and bartender at PJ Clarks (the 55th and third location)
roofing crew
picking raspberries - season
picking apples-three days wasn't fast enough
assistant to woodcutter (clearing brush, limbing, etc)
worked for a gentleman farmer doing odd jobs around farm
baker in a tiny bread factory which became mega giant Vermont Bread Company
baker in a showcase bakery
Baker in a croissant shop
dishwasher in restaurant (three hours)
Sold tools at Garret Wade (woodworker porn shop)
Pizza cook
Bike mechanic
Bike tour leader for a vermont based bike touring company
Baker at Harrington's smoke shop retail location
retail at a photo store/lab
custom printer at a photo lab
sales rep for Sucanat (about three weeks)
cabinet maker
back to Garrett Wade
custom black and white printer for Duggall Labs in NYC
Photo Assistant Freelance
1 year living in a Buddhist monastery (not actual employment, but a large piece of time)
Freelance photo assistant
Grip
Gaffer
Carpentry, rough and trim
Photographer (self employed, my own studio)
Teaching college photo
Back to carpentry

I'm sure I've forgotten a few things in between. The longest I've ever been employed by some one else is one day short of one year.

ADH... what were we talking about?

[Happy Monkey]

I've had the same programming job since graduating college 8.5 years ago...

boring old me...

[Griff]

Dish washing gigs are the best! I worked for a substantial old black woman from the deep south who was sorta hard to take with but there was this girl...


HM- how's your 401K looking though?

[Happy Monkey]

That's a plus, indeed.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by Elspode

I also delievered pizza for a few months. This place is neither fun nor interesting. Pizza delivery was at least fun, sometimes.

I remember your thread about your bout with pizza delivery. Definitely kept me interested! :p