I have 49 first cousins. We don't even try to count the second cousins, so maybe.
Where do you live and what do/did you do for a living?
- Thread starter Seattle
- Start date
Seattle
Valued Senior Member
There was a joke I used to hear among dive (scuba) store owners that probably applies to musicians as well (I play guitar but only at home) and that is "How to you make a million is the dive store industry?"..."Start with 2 million".
Alternately--for musicians, not divers--downsize and try to perform mostly in Continental Europe and Asia. By downsizing, I mean: do not lug around a shit-ton of gear, and try to pare down your ensemble to the smallest number practicable--ideally, one person. And Europe and Asia have people and governments who actually appreciate the arts--even really weird shit. I can play in front of 15 people and walk away with the same chunk of change I might have gotten for playing before two thousand.
That said, I live out in the sticks, somewhere in New England (presently, I've lived in far too many places to name). Workwise... presently, not a whole lot, but mostly as a musician and designer/builder of "boutique" musical electronics. In the past, I've done everything from coffee roasting to stone masonry to educating dogs to proofreading/fact-checking/editing and the like. I was even a professional student at one time.
Seattle
Valued Senior Member
Boutique stomp boxes or amps or what?
I hear of people going to Qatar for a one or two day performance with a 3 or 4 piece (rock) band. The money is good for the actual performance and the hotel and airfare is good but I suspect you would grow old fast if you did that non-stop (meaning the long air flights). Interesting though.
Mostly stomp boxes, analog synths, modules and the like. And, as I'm not much of a guitarist (I play mostly keys--organs, harmoniums, and piano primarily, reeds, and some percussion), I design mostly weirder stuff--like analog synths (to be played by guitar or any tonal instrument), envelope filters, various wave-shaping and modulation type stuff. Problem is, not being much of a guitarist, it's often really hard for me to grasp why, say, this distortion is so much preferable to that one. Right now I'm working son something along the lines of the Lovetone Meatball <<<, but with slightly more craziness, and in a much smaller package (I'm all about that). I'm also working on a ring modulator that is more musically useful than most, i.e., less of just a crazy sound effect.
Yeah, I try to go for at least a month in order to buffer the disruptiveness (lots of llloong flights aren't wonderful for epileptics). Though if I can't bring my dog--often I can, as she is kinda/sorta a service dog--I can't bear to be away much longer.
Incidentally, and kinda tangential to the thread, but... ring modulators. I don't know how if you've much care for them, or used them, but with some variation on the traditional models (diode ring, transformer based, OTAs, inconsequential here), can be made to be quite musical by tweaking the carrier frequency and moving the modulated frequencies to the background (a simple dry/wet knob is good, but one can do a whole lot more). For some reason, most of the ones on the market don't bother with any of this. But by tracking the fundamental frequency, and having the carrier frequency follow at a fixed or variable harmonic interval (with some lag or delay), you can coax some really nice sounds out of them--gamelan-esque, or even something not unlike Wagner's Prelude to Das Rheingold. Yeah, this is kind of a digression, I guess.
Seattle
Valued Senior Member
I have an amp (Boss Katana) that has most of Bosses pedals built in. That particular ring modulator isn't musical at all.
I don't really use a lot of effects other than the more standard ones (delay, reverb, compressor, drive, etc. I've played around with the rest but it seems the best use for many of them would be for someone trying to match some 70's or 80's band's sound or just for fun.
exchemist
Valued Senior Member
London, retired early as my wife had cancer and I have a teenage son to bring up.
After university, I trained as a patent agent but gave it up and joined the lubricants division of Shell, in which I pursued a mostly interesting career for about 35 years: some chemistry, some engineering, some marketing, some manufacturing and supply.
Nobody knows why this distortion is preferable to that distortion. I was laughing last week at the milk crate full of various distortion pedals I have collected over the years. No two sound quite the same.
And I find myself relying more and more on the natural distortion of hot, overdriven tubes.
Seattle
Valued Senior Member
I think, to generalize, mild distortion is what I find most pleasing when I want distortion. I like all the names for it...overdrive, crunch, a thicker sound...
Tubes are nice but, depending on the amp, it's hard to get the "real" tube sound without blowing the roof off of the house. I had a Blues Jr. and ended up selling it after I bought a Katana.
neat thread. I missed it.
I'm living in the rural (if not buck-arsed wild) US and I'm now retired. The pay sucks but the hours are great!
I'm a former Captain in the fire department (Truckie) and I've also been an investigator.
I've worked for the Aircraft parts manufacturing industry in the past as well as Non-Point source in the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, now usually placed in the Department of Environmental Quality.
Until very recently, I raised and rehabilitated wolves.
Nowadays I sit around reading or attempting to learn the Mountain Dulcimer, which is similar to mountain oysters, but with less testicle and more twang.
Oh, and I like to take time and play GTA-V with my grandkids.
Seattle
Valued Senior Member
Someone gave me a Charango that I attempt to play every now and then. It's basically tuned like a ukulele.
Age 10 - crating tomatoes for shipment
12- 14 - removing nails from planks on building site (safety), reclaiming and straightening them (on a cement block, with a hammer - lost a few of my own, those two summers)
14-15 - assistant night cleaner in bowling alley
17-18 - goose herding (they can be mean buggers!)
19-37 (with time out to get certificates) medical technician; instructor; student counsellor
38-47 - writing, pottery, general craft, vegetable/berry/herb growing at local nursery (best job, ever)
46-52 - freelance web graphic design for small business
50-58 - pottery instruction for special needs kids, teaching adults ESL
59-61 - time out
62-present - wood carving, sign-making, writing, editing for small publishing co.
Lived in - Toronto, Limerick, Kingsville, Budapest, Vancouver, Willowdale, Los Angeles, Creemore and Williamsford (present) - the last three in chronological order.
12- 14 - removing nails from planks on building site (safety), reclaiming and straightening them (on a cement block, with a hammer - lost a few of my own, those two summers)
14-15 - assistant night cleaner in bowling alley
17-18 - goose herding (they can be mean buggers!)
19-37 (with time out to get certificates) medical technician; instructor; student counsellor
38-47 - writing, pottery, general craft, vegetable/berry/herb growing at local nursery (best job, ever)
46-52 - freelance web graphic design for small business
50-58 - pottery instruction for special needs kids, teaching adults ESL
59-61 - time out
62-present - wood carving, sign-making, writing, editing for small publishing co.
Lived in - Toronto, Limerick, Kingsville, Budapest, Vancouver, Willowdale, Los Angeles, Creemore and Williamsford (present) - the last three in chronological order.
how does it sound?
I'm fond of the Mountain Dulcimer. It's so versatile, being able to pick like a banjo, bow like a fiddle or strum like a guitar. Plus, you can play it with drone strings that give a background like bagpipes.
"Scotland the Brave" sounds so awesome on this! LOL
I rather like using this to learn Scottish and Irish Folk Tunes for the wife. She makes me awesome food in return... or to keep me quiet. I'm not sure which...
LFMAO
You've lead an awesome life, it seems!
Age
9... started playing music: Clarinet (Picked up Bass Clarinet at 12, Contra Bass at 14, some percussion at 12-18)
10... learning about the opposite sex and playing music (for free), volunteered at a gym
12... first paying gig washing dishes at a bar, also worked at the base gym handing out equipment
13... school work program working in the cast room of the orthopaedic ward of the hospital, hired as a technician, left at 14
14... teachers aid (K-4)
15... teachers aid (K-4), quit when I moved, Hired Domino's pizza (making, not delivering)
16... signed up for US Military delayed entry program one day before 16th b-day
15- 17... Domino's pizza, quit when I moved, then worked as a part-time employee in a warehouse 60hrs week (still in high school)
then:
joined US military as a firefighter, 1st Gulf War, helped build three volunteer fire departments, two of which are now professional departments, worked as a subcontractor for NASA from 1992-1996 while still in the military (DDMS - NASA), also investigator mostly overseas, break in service for two years when I worked in Aircraft parts manufacturing (receiving/shipping clerk, Anodize and Alodine processing, Chemical milling, then Engineering), recalled back to active duty, 9-11, separation from service, Soil and Water conservation commission (secretary, database developer), Museum Curator (1 year), retirement
it may be easier to list the countries I haven't lived in considering I was an Army Brat and served in the military too... LOL. I've seen every US state and lived in more than half of them. Plus, I've travelled extensively all over the world, usually for business and the US Military or Government. the only places I've not been but want to visit are Antarctica and Australia. as for AUS... mostly I really want to see Steve-O's zoo, tbh, but I'm curious about the aboriginals and the outback too.
I usually don't like cities, but Toronto wasn't bad. I loved Quebec and wouldn't minds staying around Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. I also liked British Columbia when I lived in WA state (I moved to WA about 30 days before St. Helens popped - lived on North Ft. Lewis)
I was in Montana that day. We were told that the police were stopping traffic in Missoula because the visibility was so poor.
I live north of the Medicine Line.
Seattle
Valued Senior Member
I lived in Spokane for a couple of years and then went to grad school in Arizona. I came back to Spokane for spring break to visit friends and flew over Mt. St. Helens just days before it went off. I was in Spokane when it went off (Spokane was hard hit due to the wind direction) and my spring break was spent (first week) with no driving allowed and the second week it still looked like a snow storm had hit the area.
The Charago sounds pretty cool. It has nylon strings, 5 sets on pairs so 10 strings.
Xelasnave.1947
Valued Senior Member
O K going cabin crazy but reading here has helped with my recovery.
So thinking out aloud on the basis the only person who will read this is me and to review my life and it's twists and turns.
I started life very young but I did not let that hold me back.
First money making ventures...I grew vegetables and sold them to neighbours,
Mowed lawns with a motorless mower, collected horse hair and cow hair to sell to the Sadler, collected newspaper to sell to the butcher, collected beer bottles didand soft drink bottles for their "deposit", did water colour paintings and drawings and sold a fair few. Later abstract oils which was very profitable. I would send three paintings to local country shows (fairs) and cause they were judged without a name displayed would get first second and third. Five Bob for first, three Bob for second and two and six for third. (50 cents 30 cents and 25 cents).
I raised and bred small parrots which got me my first guitar and microscope.
At thirteen I lied about my age and had a job as copy boy at Sydney Morning Herald on Saturdays and school holidays, left school and washed bottles in a soft drink factory during the week and copy boy on Saturdays, started as an article law clerk went to uni at night, after I got married started buying the odd house and doing it up and reselling it, made very good money there...worked in a law office in the day, uni at night, and ran a very profitable cleaning contract before I went to the office. Small sponsorship for moto cross for some expenses for the last year I raced. Did race promotion rather well for two years after my day job and spent time in the Public service drafting (re writing Judges court orders etc) went into selling real estate as a commission sales man and ended up taking over and buying that business, added property management worked very hard had a breakdown and retired at 50 ...
Two marriages, three fortunes and now looking for the next fortune but not interested in another marriage.
Fun now, guitar, three string cigar Box guitar, micro scope, telescope and astro photography and boring folk to death in the supermarket.
Would I do it all again...no.
I should have stayed in school and become a teacher ...or a cowboy, or a pirate.
I now think I will take up brain surgery ...just outta home... nothing flash.
Alex
So thinking out aloud on the basis the only person who will read this is me and to review my life and it's twists and turns.
I started life very young but I did not let that hold me back.
First money making ventures...I grew vegetables and sold them to neighbours,
Mowed lawns with a motorless mower, collected horse hair and cow hair to sell to the Sadler, collected newspaper to sell to the butcher, collected beer bottles didand soft drink bottles for their "deposit", did water colour paintings and drawings and sold a fair few. Later abstract oils which was very profitable. I would send three paintings to local country shows (fairs) and cause they were judged without a name displayed would get first second and third. Five Bob for first, three Bob for second and two and six for third. (50 cents 30 cents and 25 cents).
I raised and bred small parrots which got me my first guitar and microscope.
At thirteen I lied about my age and had a job as copy boy at Sydney Morning Herald on Saturdays and school holidays, left school and washed bottles in a soft drink factory during the week and copy boy on Saturdays, started as an article law clerk went to uni at night, after I got married started buying the odd house and doing it up and reselling it, made very good money there...worked in a law office in the day, uni at night, and ran a very profitable cleaning contract before I went to the office. Small sponsorship for moto cross for some expenses for the last year I raced. Did race promotion rather well for two years after my day job and spent time in the Public service drafting (re writing Judges court orders etc) went into selling real estate as a commission sales man and ended up taking over and buying that business, added property management worked very hard had a breakdown and retired at 50 ...
Two marriages, three fortunes and now looking for the next fortune but not interested in another marriage.
Fun now, guitar, three string cigar Box guitar, micro scope, telescope and astro photography and boring folk to death in the supermarket.
Would I do it all again...no.
I should have stayed in school and become a teacher ...or a cowboy, or a pirate.
I now think I will take up brain surgery ...just outta home... nothing flash.
Alex
Curious layman
Registered Member
I live in Rhyl, north Wales. Work mainly in factories- cheese, car parts, dog food all sorts. Spent 5 years working in care home too. Currently unemployed thanks to coronavirus. I really can't see my situation improving any time soon.
Worried.
But what can you do?, just gotta grind through it.
Worried.
But what can you do?, just gotta grind through it.
Seattle
Valued Senior Member
We all started life young (couldn't resist making that comment).
Competitive brain surgery, lower costs, beat out the competition. Sounds like your next fortune.
Hows the weather? Good for star gazing/photography at the moment?
Xelasnave.1947
Valued Senior Member
We all started life young (couldn't resist making that comment).
Competitive brain surgery, lower costs, beat out the competition. Sounds like your next fortune.
Hows the weather? Good for star gazing/photography at the moment?
There were stars out last night but it was not good enough for imaging I was going to but it went crook... I may try a wide field say a couple of hours with just the DSLR and say 100 mm fl...and still get to sleep at my normal time say 11 or 12....staying up till 3 amm knocks me around so I plan sleeping the next day after those sessions.
I reckon life insurance would be the way to go at the moment..sounds crazy but it's a numbers game and I bet folk would be knocking on your door.
My trading game is going well another profit today..interestingly the market shows a solid up trend today..usually big swings in CBA but nice and smooth with little down sliding. Helped pass the time. With the rain I cant be bothered working on the observatory..which is slack.
Something unbelievable today a doctor rang me re my back/legs to see if I was ok etc..We had a nice chat and he said he would call again in six months...made me feel very special it's four or five years since my back operation.
Even if it's clear tonight I will pass any serious attempt...might try a static trippd approach to show folk they too can image the stars..I don't want to be tired tomorrow driving to town shopping, fighting for food etc.
Alex