What do you do for a living? AKA, how do you finance your gear? :)

My warranty just expired ;)
I work in a little software house, doing what's needed from process analysis to development to sysadmin to coffee. We are actually serving as IT for a larger group of companies who like to avoid being billed. Settled in Northern Tuscany by chance, and like the place.
In a previous life I was in construction (there's a quite big heap of concrete in SW China I was involved in), and before was looking for natural gas here and there.
 
My warranty just expired ;)
I work in a little software house, doing what's needed from process analysis to development to sysadmin to coffee. We are actually serving as IT for a larger group of companies who like to avoid being billed. Settled in Northern Tuscany by chance, and like the place.
In a previous life I was in construction (there's a quite big heap of concrete in SW China I was involved in), and before was looking for natural gas here and there.

Ah... my heap of concrete wasn't quite so big, but did the same thing, more or less. Early 80s, excellent local cooking and cheeses; and Sancerre just down the road - pig heaven.

Hah! I just found one of the restaurants we used to eat in. It's now a pizzeria.
 
Full-Time Photographer and Part-Time Composer. Previously - Failed Rock Star > Layabout (Sorry - University Student) > Failed Rock Star > Social Worker > Failed Rock Star > Working Musician > Failed Rock Star > Recording Engineer > College Teacher (Music Technology and Recording Engineering) > Freelance Photographer.

When I finally realised that I wasn't the UK's answer to Bruce Springsteen I got down to the serious business of trying to make a living from the other thing I really enjoyed doing - Photography. Much to my surprise it has been successful and I intend to carry on doing it until I can't anymore. Which should be about 3:30PM this afternoon the way I feel this morning!!
 
I elaborated a little bit about myself in this post on another thread.

When I quit my day job to go back to being a full time student at film school, I had to plan for alternative income so I picked up a couple of night jobs which left me free to attend classes during the day. One of the night jobs I picked up was with a sex agency. This agency offered the services of a wide range of sex workers on its roster. I stuck with that job for about three months before the extreme lack of sleep got the better of me and I quit, but it was certainly one of the more interesting (and craziest) experiences of my life thus far...

I produced a 10 minute documentary about my experience in this job and I submitted it as my graduating production. It ended up with a nomination for that year's Best Student Documentary award sponsored by the State film commission. It didn't win the award but nevertheless it was great to be recognised with the nomination. I could post a youtube link if anyone wants to watch it.
 
James, you certainly were busy!! As long as the documentary meets this site's rules, by all means put up a link. James, I think since we don't have an "Other Systems" forum here that for now the best place would be to put it in the Coffee Bar area? Eventually, I'd like to have another forum but for now that seems to function as our catch all.
 
Perpetual student and layabout - at least for as long as I could be. Then it morphed into being a faculty member, so I still pretend I'm a student and layabout but have to work a lot harder. I have a bad case of GES rather than GAS (gear envy syndrome), so I cruise the web a lot drooling at camera porn, but only occasionally make a purchase. I try to stick with one camera at a time (otherwise I can never remember how to use them). It sucks getting old(er).
Michael
 
Michael - thank you - I love your self description. I think our daughter would do well to follow in your footsteps after she graduates from college this May...but I guess it will take more education for her to do so.

I try to stick with one camera at a time (otherwise I can never remember how to use them).
It's true, out of sight, out of mind for me.
 
It's actually a great life with a flexible schedule. But as we joke - you get to pick any 80 hours a week you want to work. But I know a lot of other folks do much the same.
 
James, you certainly were busy!! As long as the documentary meets this site's rules, by all means put up a link. James, I think since we don't have an "Other Systems" forum here that for now the best place would be to put it in the Coffee Bar area? Eventually, I'd like to have another forum but for now that seems to function as our catch all.

I believe it does meet the site's rules. There is absolutely no nudity at all, I didn't do any of that sort of thing nor was I interested in that aspect of it! There may be some minor 'language' (if I recall correctly, it was only one word used while I was conducting the interviews on the documentary but in my opinion it is not gratuitous and it is can be heard only once in an appropriate context under the circumstances.
 
James, I apologize for being so late in responding here to your movie. As you know, I found it extremely compelling and very well done.

When you first mentioned it, as you know, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Different countries, cultures and individuals have such a broad range of feelings and reactions to "the sex industry". I don't want to write a spoiler here, but I will say that I think you certainly deserved the recognition you received and more for this film. You handled the subject with candor, empathy, humor and with aplomb!

If anyone has ever seen a PG-13 movie, well they shouldn't be put off by anything in this film of yours and it's a lot more heartfelt than many commercial films, that's for sure. :bravo-009:
 
Thanks for the very kind words, BB! I want to clarify - any concerns you had when I mentioned 'sex industry' were probably the same concerns I would have too, particularly having had a very conservative upbringing. Still, what an eye-opening experience it was as an outsider.
 
I have been working since school days (only summer vacations) as a salesman and docker for a wholesale company. Then the last two years in high school I worked as a salesman in a door manufacturing company. Next two years I was quality control manager there and at the same time I made my first business for hand-made gifts (there are lost of talented people here in Bulgaria). Then in the third year of my university education I made my second business - it is for wholesale and retail of furniture hardware and fittings. It is my main source of money by now and it funds my camera equipment. Unfortunately things are not going well since the financial collapse in late 2008. I have that CAS too, but I learned to control mysefl - I haven't bought anything since last summer. Last year I started my third business - hand-drawn (using tablets) digital caricatures from photos. I can say it is absolute fun and pleasure to work with that team :) We have already made caricatures for Lufthansa, mobile operators and so on. I am very passionate about that new project and I hope some day it could buy me some new equipment.
 
intense, I am beginning to understand why you chose the Internet name you did!;) I commend you on your industrious and creative business sense and am very glad to have both your links in your signature line, as well. The caricature concept is a great one!:D
 
Back
Top