BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?

Subject: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:10 AM

i read somewher that folk music is very popular with teachers/social workers so i wondered what jobs mudcatters have.ps i am a delivery driver.john

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Amergin
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:15 AM

I'm a professional computer geek....I answer the phone and try to solve other folks' computer problems....that is if I don't screw up them up worse....

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Peg
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:28 AM

Teach film studies at a local college

freelance film critic and writer

occasional aromatherapist and calligrapher

former/erstwhile artists' model

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Oversoul
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:38 AM

I jump to conclusions and get paid for not being clever or good-looking. Things are getting better! I love Turkish music, see?

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:38 AM

Now? Writer/jewellry designer/listener-healer

Past lives? Radio sales and collections, nurses' aid, emergency medical tech, storeclerk, artist's chief cook and bottle washer, advertising agency owner, promotional plastic junk salesperson (pens and things), assistant to director of development of a non-profit...all sorts of things with lots of good material for writing about!**BG**

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: GUEST,Anne
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:41 AM

I'm an editor of a catalog for public and school libraries. I was a librarian. Most of the folkies I know are social workers or psychologists or teachers.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:43 AM

For forty years I've done whatever seemed to be necessary to help keep Folk-Legacy Records afloat. Recorded people, edited tapes, done some of the graphics, written notes on the songs, packed records, answered mail, etc. Fortunately, I've always had someone else around to do the books. Until last year that was Lee Haggerty, now it's my younger son, Robin.

Sandy

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: GUEST,AOG
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:47 AM

Former sailor (military&merchant),hitch-hiker extrodinaire,printer, steel worker, set designer, construction carpenter. Currently woodworker, freelance writer, fiddler

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: CarolC
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:52 AM

Currently disabled and very slowly working toward a degree in Counseling (so I guess I fit your demographic).

Stuff I did before... wildlife rehabilitation worker, veterinary assistant, interpretive naturalist, zookeeper, backpacking outfitter sales person, weaver/textile artist, whitewater rafting sales person, and some other assorted stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Chip2447
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:52 AM

Then, a firefighter, a DJ, painter, computer geekazoid, switchboard operator.

Now, a full time dreamer at large, poet, wannabee novelist, struggling musician.

Soon to get back into the job market, "Would you like fries with that?"

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:59 AM

G'day John,

I started off adult life as a teacher - running residential Outdoor Education Centres, in various parts of NZ. Basically looking after 70+ kids (and their classroom teachers) for a week, and exposing them to "bushcraft" and the "environment".

While training (and since), I worked at all sorts of jobs - dustman, roadman, sewer worker, camera shop assistant, field biologist (forests, island and seabirds), pesticide/herbicide applicator, soldier (and anti-Vietnam protestor at the same time), folksinger, musterer, shearer, fencer (not of the foil variety), but mainly layabout.....;)

After quitting teaching 20 years back, and moving to Stewart Island, I became an Outdoor Education Consultant, writer/illustrator, eco/adventure tour guide (month long trips through NZ) and finally, like you, a professional driver....

This involved carting freight, people on bus tours and meeting planes at the local airfield, which led to..

Air Traffic Control (wet finger and windsock variety) - I met a few thousand flight's and "talked" pilots in under more-than-somewhat dubious flying conditions.

Since the company I worked for was somewhat versatile, I also did garage work, cooked in the take-aways and did a bit of work in the brewery (for some reason the boss wouldn't let me work there alone).....;)

Umm.... about that time I built a house.

In the meantime, I did a bit of acting in local shows, built a website about my home on Stewart Island. I was happy as a sandboy...;)

Abou six years ago "Fox the Boss" pulled out. I bought Billy the Bus from him. Now, I'm just a boring old bus driver - carting visitors round the 12 miles of road on Stewart Island, and telling yarns. It's a living (just)...;)

Anyway...

Looking through the above - I've spent a pretty boring 60 years on this planet. Might have to do something interesting next time round.

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: GUEST,Norton1
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 01:05 AM

I started playing music when I was a Cowboy - went back to school and am now a social worker - go figure.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 01:24 AM

billy, nice website, new zealand looks realy nice.forgive my ignorance, but whats a musterer?

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: DougR
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 01:27 AM

Semi-retired fundraising consult for non-profits. Before: CEO of symphony orchestras, development director for a professional theater company, owned an arts consultant business, owned a travel agency, worked at the National Endowment for the Arts.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 01:30 AM

I've been a classroom assistant, vicars' secretary, youth club worker, bus maintenance assistant, waitress, painter and decorator, cleaner, catering assistant, mediaeval wench (themed catering), military museum assistant, domsetic engineer, historical researcher, seamstress, library assistant, small business secretary, toymaker, proofreader, and childminder. Now I work for the Inland Revenue (IRS).

And I'm not even 40 yet!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 01:40 AM

Currently, a "home maker",and entertainer, but have been a pre school teacher, Motel Minder, caterer, seamstress,and hospital Ward Clerk (transcriber).

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 02:02 AM

I print t-shirts, mostly. Sometimes I drive around in a big van. For the last... 6 years, I guess. Before that, I was usually unemployed, or employed for very short periods of time. I don't really like to think of work as "what I do," though. It's just how I get the money to afford to do the things that I do. :)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 02:18 AM

LtS - I'm down on my knees and proposing.

Please come and marry/work with me, I need all your skills - especially the most recent IRS ones..;)

JiH - a "musterer" is a large scale shepherd - you muster (mother-up) a few thousand sheep (or cattle). It's basically an Aus/NZ term (I think) - you'll find about 30 songs if you check "muster" on DT.

Sandy, don't be so modest. Where is your link to Folk Legacy? You will never Proffitt without the blue clicky-links. All I can say about your last wasted 40 years is THANKS - ***VBG***

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: DaveJ
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 02:29 AM

My official job title is 'equipment tech. V'. I'm also a CHESS operator. CHESS stands for "Cornell High Energy Syncrotron Source". I'm also the CHESS chemical safety officer. The rest is detailsyawn

I live in Ithaca, NY which is "centrally isolated" in upstate NY. I love music and learning about its history. I sing---off key. I can't play a single musical instrument, but I do know how to play my CD player. I somehow have managed to collect about 1200 CD albums. Most of these albums are from people like the musicians on this forum, who love making music but have never dreamed of being on 'top 40 radio'. I also help produce folk concerts for "The Cornell Folk Song Club." Though I am not a musician, music still seems to define me more than any other single passion...except for family.

Oh, my wife is a social worker.

DaveJ

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: dr soul
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 02:55 AM

I'm the knowledge manager for a state (US) utility regulator. For 10 years before that I was a policy specialist for the same. I didn't get a real job until I was 36. Before that: student, logger, laborer at a sand and gravel yard, street person, dishwasher, cook (Mexican restaurant), environmental activist . . . First professional (paid) band at age 46. It's never too late for new challenges. Okay, never say "never". But it's not too late yet.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 03:18 AM

Changeboy on the "Prom" bad rock'n'roll singer shop assistant (Gents Outfitters) clerk blue eyed soul singer paint stripper degreaser moulding machine operator picker packer mediocre drummer in "beat group". I also hate the notion that only certain types of people like certain types of music.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Jim Hancock
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 06:35 AM

These days i make a living as a freelance sculptor / designer, plus publishing folk related material, performing and writing.

But I confess to spending some 20 years as a lecturer.

Your demographic isn't surprising really, most of the people of my age who were responsible for the U.K. folk boom in the sixties came from the student population, and in those days teaching was a popular route for students to take.

All the best

Jim

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Mooh
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 07:03 AM

Past: student, musician (country and dance band), labourer, painter, demolition guy, construction worker, forest ranger, musician (rock/folk/bluegrass/pop), store clerk, janitor, verger, occupational health and safety instructor, musician (celtic band), gardener, carpenter, musician ('70's rock band), union representative (negotiations etc), musician (Neil Young tribute band)...I forget what all else...

Present: school custodian (part-time), private music teacher (part-time), performing musician (celtic band, fiddle/mandolin and guitar duo, musical mercenary for hire)...

All this and I haven't grown up yet.

Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: John P
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 07:23 AM

I've been making some part of my income as a musician since I was 15 (blues, pop-rock, hard rock, prog rock, new age, medieval, traditional folk). The rest of the time, these days, I'm the general manager of Dusty Strings, a company in Seattle that builds hammered dulcimers and folk harps and operates an acoustic music store.

John

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Morticia
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 07:34 AM

Yep, social worker...although I have run a book shop, and several other sorts of shop,been an au pair, worked in a factory,waitress,hair-dresser,barkeeper, telephonist, receptionist and singer in several bands.I even sold vacuum cleaners for a while but hey, I was young and broke!

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Gary T
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 07:54 AM

Auto mechanic, then auto repair shop manager, and now, having opened my own one-man shop, both.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: GUEST,Butch
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 07:55 AM

Luthier (historic instruments), lecturer, historian (actually part time director of education at a museum). I can't stand the idea of only one job so I put together a package of jobs that fit me.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: kendall
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 08:10 AM

I'm retired from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, (Conservation officer) And, I now get to do whatever I want, pretty much where and when I want.

less frequently now, I do after dinner speaking, and, an occassional festival.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Whistleworks
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 10:53 AM

I play the whistles. Oh, and I read and interpret medical records for lawyers so that I can afford to nourish my WAD (whistle acquisition disorder). And before anyone asks me any medical/legal questions, you may first want to know my rates.

Bob Pegritz

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Paul G.
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 11:30 AM

During the week I handle regulatory compliance for a non-profit foundation that funds health care services for children in Florida, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. On the weekends I put in about 15,000 road miles per year making music. I'm also president of Friends of Florida Folk and chairperson of the local organizing committee for the 2002 North American Folk Alliance Conference (to be held here in Jacksonville next February -- y'all come!)

pg

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Sooz
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 11:49 AM

I'm a teacher to get enough money to finance the folk habit. ( Gigs, festivals, expensive instruments etc) I also clean, cook, garden, decorate, organise a folk club and festival plus the musical lives of my friends who can't remember whats going on for themselves. I'm not completely sane.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Bagpuss
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 11:50 AM

I put on my thinking cap and abley assisted by my friends (mice, woodpecker, toad and ragdoll) I fix things that people have lost and then leave them in the shop window so that the person that has lost it can come in and retrieve it.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Big Mick
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 11:51 AM

Wow.................let's see, beginning when I was a boy............paperboy, soda jerk, paint salesman, fry cook, singer trying to sound just like all the lead singers in Buffalo Springfield, member of Uncle Sam's finest squid unit in a place that was very green and I try to forget about, commercial hardhat diver, insurance salesman, warehouse worker, political activist which (to this point anyway) culminated in running Al Gore's campaign in Michigan, union activist and organizer, folk singer and Irish folksinger, amateur historian and linguist studying all things Irish, Community Activist on behalf of neighborhoods, homeless issues, environmental issues, United Way Volunteer, Arts Community Volunteer, trying to learn Uillean pipes at age 50 (I am too going to make it!!!), have jumped out of any number of perfectly good airplanes, penny whistler, bodhran player (that is NOT an oxymoron), friend of Sandy Paton's, friend of Rick Fieldings, friend of Dan Milner, friend of Catspaw (told you I would admit it to the world, Pat), friend of KT's, friend of Justapicker, friend of Kath Westra, friend of Katlaughing, friend of Willie O, friend of Tony Burns, friend of Little Neo, ..............and all the others.............and he who relentlessly pursues THE FAIR ONE over cyber hill and dale.........Want more?

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: GUEST,Karen
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 11:55 AM

In college I was a waitress, pharmacy delivery girl and lastly a ticker seller at Disneyland. Since college I've been working as a cartographer. I started there using ink, mylar, french curves and engineer scales. We "computerized" about 13 years ago. I am now a Senior GIS Specialist and create digital editions of our road guides...available on CD at a store near you! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: GUEST,Dancing Mom
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:34 PM

currently work as a Licensed Practical Nurse on a cardiovascular unit. Studying to be a Registered Nurse. Mom of four. Former jobs include preschool teacher/ van driver/cook, tech person for college theatre, waitress, tutor, library clerk.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Don Firth
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 12:42 PM

Started at the University of Washington majoring in English Literature with the idea of becoming a writer of brilliant, literary, best-selling novels, then fell in with a small gang of folk singers (Walt Robertson, Sandy Paton, Rae Creevey, and a couple of others) and began roaming the city armed with a guitar. I didn't leave the U. of W. entirely — I eventually changed my major to Music. Made a marginal but thoroughly enjoyable living singing here and there (some television, a batch of concerts, regular singing jobs in several coffeehouses, no records, dammit!) and teaching guitar (classic and folk).

When a lot of the coffeehouses started closing up or switching to Rock 'n' Roll and new guitar students wanted me to teach them to play R 'n' R, I packed it in and went to work at Boeing. Production Illustrator (like drafting). Boeing did its big lay-off in the early Seventies and I wound up working in broadcasting (radio announcer, newscaster, disk jockey at a classical music station). Fun job, but very unstable. Worked for eight years as a telephone operator. Fairly good pay, good bennies, but absolutely soul-killing — like being a galley-slave. Quit and went to work for the Bonneville Power Administration as a technical writer in their power conservation program. When the program changed, I quit and retired.

Still playing the guitar and singing — for fun, but I'll sing for money if it's offered. I'm doing a lot of writing these days.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 01:07 PM

Job title is "Archivist-Historian" for Ontario City Library. (California, not Canada.) I have taught at college level in what seems like a former life. Also moonlight as local history columnist for "a great metropolitan daily," as Clark & Jimmy used to say. Between those 1.5 jobs and music, that about fills up 24/7.

CC

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: lady penelope
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 01:18 PM

I feel positively "under jobbed" ! I've done a couple of temp posts - holiday co-ordinator for the maintenaince dept. at the stock exchange, school lab. tech., receptionist at a now defunct "clap clinic", hotel bookings clerk, but I've been a Medical Laboratory Assistant ( dogs body for a clinical lab.) for nearly 16 years (AAAAAAAArgh!) . Although I am supposed to be starting a new job as a procurements clerk soon.

To my knowledge I have never been either a social worker or a teacher. Even accidentally.

Billy the Bus - sounds like a grreat place, what with nothing being more than 100m from the PUB! Yeah hey! Query, main town called Oban, do they make whisky there? Mmm ? Hint?

TTFN M'Lady P.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: NH Dave
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 01:42 PM

Semi retired now, I am retired from the Air Force and after working in technical sales and electronics repair, finally earned a degree in CIS, and began substituting in a local school.

Like most military, I've lived all over; England, Pacific Rim, and US, and done lots of things; Electronics Repair, Electronics Training, Airlift Management, and scads of support functions like SAfety Technician, Comptroller, and Logistics coordinator,which makes life very interesting now and gives me lots of background when I teach.

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 01:49 PM

Air Sea Rescue Controller at the Rescue Coordination Centre Halifax.. Canadian Coastguard Officer ex British and Canadian Merchant Navy. I also teach/lecture on this subject to a variety of groups. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Amos
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 02:15 PM

Geez, whodda MOTLEY Crew!!! No WONDER the Mudcat never makes any progress! :>)

I've spent the last 8 years doing system engineering for the DoD developing training simulations. Before that, I've worked both serially and parallel as a SW coder, technical and fiction writer, essayist, commercial diver, salvage operator (marine), hard-rock scrabbler, troubadour, Pastor, counsellor, deckhand, quartermaster, ship's captain, robotics technician, treasure hunter, ne'e'r-do-well, and before that I think I was stably employed as a pothead layabout but I forget....

A

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 02:17 PM

greenhouse worker, cone technologist (put the curl on top), nematology technician, medical lab assistant, forestry technican, diazo blueprint operator, park technician, park interpreter, carpenter's assistant, electrician, drywaller, draftsman, bookkeeper, receptionist, small business operator and best of all mom (managed to get laid a couple of times).

Oh yeah, I also brought CPFP to its knees when they tried to clear cut a local forest, but I had a lot of help with that one too.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Amos
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 03:10 PM

Geez, Metchosin!!! Until recently I thought getting laid was what all these other things were about!!!

A

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: JudeL
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 03:13 PM

Social workers & teachers - I don't like being stereotyped, I must change my job

- Residential Social Worker (Adults with Learning Disabilities), Moving & Handling Trainer, Union Rep., Mum of 3,

Jude

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Matt_R
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 03:33 PM

COLLEGE STUDENT!! Actually, I'm off for the summer and working as a copy editor for the school newspaper, The East Carolinian. I am known as "The Hatchet Man"...

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 03:37 PM

Well if we're gonna list everything**BG**: welder's helper (m'dad's); horse wrangler; concert mistress through high school; intake volunteer at Planned Parenthood; pharmacy clerk; caregiver; store manager; bartender; cocktail waittress; political activist which led me to March on Washington, as have many of you, I am sure; PR person for non-profit human rights org.; humane society volunteer (there's a surpise!); and Mets has prompted a long-forgotten reminder of my second SO, whom I assisted in his profession of house-painting and putting up sheetrock (Dusty work!).

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Amergin
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 04:01 PM

well i guess I can say the few other things I have been in my short life...deckhand, bucket factory floor person...machine operator, wire loom operator's helper (or whatever they call it)....an Oil Spill Response Technician...unemployed for long stretches of time....amateur poet....student....as I said before now I am a tech support specialist....I specialise in crashing the customers' computers....

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 04:13 PM

Up to a point Amos, after that you get tired and turn to gardening.*BG*

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Rebel135
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 04:17 PM

I started out as a child and I was overeducated at the University of Washington. I was in the US Army doing Order of Battle as an Analyst In the Ground Shop.(Im an expert on the military in North Korea in 1975.(What Are The Other Guys Doing. I became a fire claims adjustor for an insurance company. Then I went to work at a Bank and I counsel people and tell them not to Lease vehicles. I deal with a lot of help me, help me calls from people who have made poor choices in life.

There but for the Grace Of God go we. Lots of bad things happen to people, somebody has to help them.

Wes Prichard... Auburn, Washington State. Near Mt Rainier. A long climb but worth it to Point Sucess, 14,410 feet.

Subject: RE: BS: WHAT DO YOU DO ?
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 04:23 PM

well if I really wanted to push it kat, I could add some more stuff which was unpaid, that I did when we built our house.....uh.....painter, concrete finisher, plumber's assistant, carpet layer.....carpet layer? Hey Amos, is that better?