What do you do for a living?

[Rare Bird]

I know it nosey but ah well.
I'll go first.

My last job was in the steel industy (Lubrication).Got made redundant around 4 years ago..Now i look after my disabled mate during the week who has cerebral Palsy.

[John]

I advise workers and managers how to work best with people who have learning disiabilities and may have complex behaviours this inolves training coaching observations as well as line managing I love my job I never know what quite to expect each day and get to make a practical difference to people but it can be also demanding

[Covenant]

I am a chartered building surveyor and until a year ago was a residential valuer. With the decline caused by the credit crunch I retrained (at considerable personal expense) as a commercial energy assessor. I moved to a sister company and lasted nine months before being made redundant in August although they retain my services if required. I am now self employed but the level of work poor is poor at the moment, despite having some good connections.

[Marco]

I'm a big daftee who runs and art and picture framing business and occasionally dabbles in the property market... :flasher:

Marco.

[Themis]

I'm a (complicated) software engineer. I'm a specialist in many domains and treat complex software situations including real-time processing, multi-threading, grid, heterogeneous communication protocols, development methodology, GUIs, system and database performance. I conceive original development tools for multi-platform, multi-database systems and master dozens of programming languages, techniques and methods.

Most managers avoid me, but my colleagues and people I manage directly like me a lot. I'm classified as "creative".

[Covenant]

I know it nosey but ah well.
I'll go first.

My last job was in the steel industy (Lubrication).Got made redundant around 4 years ago..Now i look after my disabled mate during the week who has cereberal Paulsey.

What you do Andre is a very valuable service and I take my hat off to you.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I was gonna post this exact thread just yesterday but didn't get round to it... How odd

I'm a photographer first
I am also a director of a small media company that will launch in January that specialises in web design graphic desing and photography - there are three of us - I'm obviously the photographer! (more on this when it launches)
I also work in a shop a couple of days a week that sells tv hifi and camera's - I do the hifi installs for them
I am also setting up a photography studio above the shop where I will be doing portraits
I do Photoshop lightroom training
I am currently setting up a photography forum - launching in the spring (not that that will be a "living"
I sometimes also buy and sell stuff on eBay
In the summer I help out my fiancée's father with his bouncy castle business (if I have time)

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Oh and I have also be known to offer paid advice to places looking to do in house photography

[Ian Walker]

I'm a big daftee who runs and art and picture framing business and occasionally dabbles in the property market... :flasher:

Marco.

I'm an even BIGGER Daftee who never went to school so ended up sweeping chimneys:)

[Rare Bird]

What you do Andre is a very valuable service and I take my hat off to you.

Thanks.. I enjoy looking after him, he can't move at all apart from his left arm so it's a bit tough lumping him about, showering him & taking him to the throne to do his buisness but you get used to it..All his bearings are intact, he has his own home & reasonably good quality life that the majority of disabled don't have, thats all that matters

[webby]

I'm a big daftee who runs and art and picture framing business and occasionally dabbles in the property market... :flasher:

Marco.
Hmmm, might have to talk to you about that Marco.

[Marco]

No worries, PM me and I'll give you my number :)

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

No worries, PM me and I'll give you my number :)

Marco.

Here it is 01978 666

:lol:

[webby]

No worries, PM me and I'll give you my number :)

Marco.

I'm unemployed at the moment. I was made redundant from my 20 year job this summer.

Marco, see this (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?p=81515#post81515) thread.

Cheers

[REM]

I spent most of my time after school/college doing all I could to avoid work at all costs (it was the '70s in Liverpool, you understand), eventually disaster struck, I got married, sensibleness set in, it's been downhill ever since. Trained as a psychie nurse and spent the next two decades plus some ministering to the hard of thinking, mostly as a charge nurse in a big old 'villa' style institution, state of the (Edwardian) art accommodation for societies' forgotten flotsam and jetsam. The job lasted a bloody sight longer than the marriage but all good things have to come to an end and when the place finally closed I'd had enough and have spent much of the last decade or so doing driving type work although that has dried up now, since the collapse of the economy. I suppose at my age, 55, it's unlikely that I'll get another job anytime soon but I least I've got all the time in the world for music and hi fi (there are always silver linings, you just need to know where to look).:)

Cheers

P.S., Andre, prog is not just a 4 letter word but work definitely is <pedant mode on> it's palsy, btw <pedant mode off>.

[Jonboy]

I did a five year apprenticeship in mechanical engineering finally working in a toolroom but only earning £100 with a saturday morning, my father started up a company building and maintaining childrens play areas, he offered me a job and nearly doubled my wages for digging holes, that was 22 years ago, i am now the director of this small family run firm and work directly for local authorities under contract, very competitive at the moment but it just about pays the morgage, thats why i need a hobby like hifi to forget about the day job.:)

[Rare Bird]

P.S., Andre it's palsy

Ralph no good asking me about spelling i'm clearly shit..Spelt wrong or right you still understood what it ment so why worry?

;)

[Themis]

why worry ?
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

[Rare Bird]

Don't worry

Bob Marley

[Ali Tait]

Be happy-Bobby Ferrin (?) :)

I'm a site manager for an electrical company.We work on HV substations,mostly for Scottish Power and SSE.It's a small company,so I still put the overalls on and get my hands dirty every day!

[Marco]

P.S., Andre, prog is not just a 4 letter word but work definitely is <pedant mode on> it's palsy, btw <pedant mode off>.


Ralphy boy,

<Pedant mode on> What about the "cereberal" bit, too? It's 'cerebral'... <pedant mode off>.

If you're going to be pedantic, at least do it properly!! :lolsign:

;)

Marco.

[DSJR]

:youtheman: I'm humbled in such exalted company...

[trailer]

I'm a full time catwalk model for www.homehifi.co.uk

[Joe]

I'm a surgeon at a Scottish hospital.;)

[Beechwoods]

If I told you what I did you'd want to kill me. Luckily my contract of employment prevents me from discussing such things on 'social networking sites' anyway.

As you were people ;)

[StanleyB]

I'm a full time catwalk model for www.homehifi.co.uk
And thanks for the annual business:respect:.
I have already penned you in for my £299 creation in 2011;).

[Primalsea]

I work for a small company that trades in equipment for Oil Fields and Petrochemical companies. Quite interesting and I get to travel overseas a bit although it stops being fun when its 55 deg C and 100% humidity. Like taking a shower with your clothes on.

[Puffin]

I am currently signed off with stress.

[Themis]

:youtheman: I'm humbled in such exalted company...
Hey ! You're cheating ! :eyebrows:

[Spectral Morn]

In charge of all off world Dalek activities. Strategic planning for invasions..If I say anything else I will have to exterminate you all.....;):lol::lol::lol::lol:


Real world

I have been a college of FE Art teacher, Saturday Boy in a Hi-Fi shop-then full time sales assistant in the same shop. I have worked for a Cancer Charity as stock collector and van driver, sales assistant in an Art Shop, worked for Terry Hoolly in his Good vibrations record shop, was junior, senior sales man then assistant floor manager in the Brown goods department of an independent electrical shop. Manager of a specialist audio shop. Then given the boot very badly...sorry made redundant...yes I am still bitter over a year later...:steam:

Currently work on the Art of Sound Forum as a Mod (unpaid), Reviewer on AOS (Unpaid). General key-board warrior on the net (unpaid)...working on several novels (so far unpaid)...theres a pattern emerging here ummmmm...unpaid ! Oh yes and thanks to a very good friend I work for 7 and a half hours once a week in a S/H book shop....:gig: Paid..though not a lot.... However as the Government don't give a damn about people like me (No social benefit help-Dole stops after 6 Months and make working a few hours a week difficult would you believe :(:steam:) I am very glad of the P/T work and money.


There you go past to present. Future aspiration, a full time job, or one/or more of my Novels is accepted for publication.


Regards D S D L

[Marco]

I'm a surgeon at a Scottish hospital.

I thought you were a consultant, or maybe you're not the one I'm thinking of? ;)

Marco.

[The Grand Wazoo]

I'm in forestry - I used to manage forestry assets for a small procession of Dukes, Earls & Baronets (sometimes more than one at the same time) - no names, no pack drill. Getting trees established, maintained, turned into logs and sold were the main activities, but all sorts of other incidental stuff used to happen, like running 2 massive Christmas tree retail sites, leasing woodland to various people, buying land, all that sort of stuff - there's a large amount to forestry - it's a subject that covers a huge spectrum of activity.

After 14 years in that, I set sail in the worst kind of ship: a partnership. Independant consultancy to the power industry on the subject of growing wood (& other stuff) asap, chewing it up into tiny little pieces & firing it into a 1 million horsepower boiler. This involved everything from experimental work to managing a team of guys doing the processing, to high level meetings with Govt. policy-makers. A boardroom battle or two over principles (I had them & some of my colleagues didn't) meant that I parted company with the business that I founded.

Now, I'm working on setting up & running a long term project which will see millions of trees planted to make up for some of the forestry that we lost centuries ago because of agriculture, housing and industry (not to mention the little matter of building a Navy that dominated the entire planet for a bit).

[Joe]

I thought you were a consultant, or maybe you're not the one I'm thinking of? ;)

Marco.

Consultant surgeon.

[Barry]

If I told you what I did you'd want to kill me. Luckily my contract of employment prevents me from discussing such things on 'social networking sites' anyway.

As you were people ;)

Sounds like you might be a 'G man' Nick. Don't worry, The Official Secrets Act warns me that I must not talk about what I did either.

Regards

[alb]

I'm self employed doing property maintenance, when i can find the work, that is.
Like many other people, i'm struggling at the moment.
Might have to re-invent myself as a picture framer or something.

[Marco]

Consultant surgeon.

A consultant of nonsense, more like! :lol:

Marco.

P.S Al, I thought you made a fortune from your secondary profession as a gigolo for ladies in the Cheshire set 'of a certain age'? :eyebrows:

[alb]

a gigolo for ladies in the Cheshire set 'of a certain age

Now there's an idea!

[alfie2902]

I'm jones the steam! :) http://www.buddy-icons.info/img/smile/1671.gif (http://www.buddy-icons.info/aim-smiles/Train_Smiley.html)

[Jeremy Marchant]

What you do Andre is a very valuable service and I take my hat off to you.
Seconded

[Jeremy Marchant]

I am a business coach/counsellor and trainer working with emotional intelligence issues in the workplace.
I work in two areas: small businesses of 1-20 people and the NHS.

Modesty does not prevent me from giving my work website: www.emotionalintelligenceatwork.com

I am also a composer, editor and arranger - most recently of Havergal Brian's vast Gothic symphony but, in the past, of Philip Glass's Songs from liquid days (www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2432&State_3041=2&workId_3041=12818).

[Barry]

Came into this thread partway through and hadn't read the initial postings.

I too, would like to join with Covenant and Jeremy in expressing my admiration of Andre, for the help he gives to his friend . Well done!

Regards

[Rare Bird]

Came into this thread partway through and hadn't read the initial postings.

I too, would like to join with Covenant and Jeremy in expressing my admiration of Andre, for the help he gives to his friend . Well done!

Regards

Thanks you two

[hifinutt]

i`m a district nurse wading through some peoples houses sometimes ankledeep in garbage !!! [rarely] using maggots to eat away dead flesh and necrosis in wounds and looking after many folks in various stages of dying [ a lot!! as eldely area ] !!!

great fun !!

[Mick Parry]

I spent most of my time after school/college doing all I could to avoid work at all costs (it was the '70s in Liverpool, you understand), eventually disaster struck, I got married, sensibleness set in, it's been downhill ever since. Trained as a psychie nurse and spent the next two decades plus some ministering to the hard of thinking, mostly as a charge nurse in a big old 'villa' style institution, state of the (Edwardian) art accommodation for societies' forgotten flotsam and jetsam. The job lasted a bloody sight longer than the marriage but all good things have to come to an end and when the place finally closed I'd had enough and have spent much of the last decade or so doing driving type work although that has dried up now, since the collapse of the economy. I suppose at my age, 55, it's unlikely that I'll get another job anytime soon but I least I've got all the time in the world for music and hi fi (there are always silver linings, you just need to know where to look).:)

Cheers

P.S., Andre, prog is not just a 4 letter word but work definitely is <pedant mode on> it's palsy, btw <pedant mode off>.

REM

Being over 55 is not a disadvantage, in fact it is a definate advantage.

I left the Post Office in 2004 as a Puchasing Manager aged 55. My only regret is for not doing earlier. I have done short term work, ever since, where they pay well over the odds to gain your experience but they can, in turn, let you go at short notice.

I returned from a spell in Spain on June 30th this year and because my wife wanted to work for another year, decided to re enter the job market.

I contacted two agencies, who fixed me up with two interviews within a fortnight and I was offered two jobs. I also had a third prospective employer pestering me for a couple of weeks.

The demand for older more experienced workers is there, so capitalise on it and you can will prosper.

Regards and best wishes

Mick

[REM]

Mick,

Many thanks for your kind words and encouragement, however I should point out as I sink ever deeper into middle age the more I am enjoying reverting to type as it were and find idleness is its own reward, being able to do as I want when I want is indeed very fulfilling.
In many ways I have been extremely fortunate and have expanded my hi-fi out of all proportion this year and now have the time to sit on my exponentially expanding arse and actually listen to the bloody thing instead of coming in from work too knackered and wound up to be bothered. Remember the old saying, 'you never see a grave stone with "I wish I'd spent more time at the office" engraved on it.'
Please don't fret that I may just be yet another drain on the state as my meager but faintly adequate pension allows me a small degree of independence and indeed I contribute to the national wealth through the bloody income tax system, so you need not fear that your hard earned taxes are being wasted on me or my dalliances.

Regards

[Mick Parry]

Ralph

If you want to retire and if you can afford to retire then go ahead and do it.

I must admit, I have had a complete change of heart over the last twelve months, work is no longer what it is all about. I have a contract until next May and then I am calling it quits.

I have a 6 week trip around India lined up plus a few cruises with P&O and I have a shack in Spain where I intend to spend more time.

Good luck to you.

Regards

Mick

[Marco]

Hi Mick,


I must admit, I have had a complete change of heart over the last twelve months, work is no longer what it is all about. I have a contract until next May and then I am calling it quits.


I completely agree. I'm a firm believer in the principle of 'work-life balance'.

It's the sensible thing to do, old chap. Spend time instead in the company of your loved ones, and enjoy life. One never knows how much time is left before shuffling off this mortal coil...

Marco (semi-retired and mortgage-free at 44, but worked bloody hard to get there!)

[Ian Walker]

Marco (semi-retired and mortgage-free at 44)

What you want is a set of rods and a brush mate i'll show you what work is....lazy swine:lol:

Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-ee!
A sweep is as lucky, as lucky can be
Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-oo!
Good luck will rub off when I shakes 'ands with you

Or blow me a kiss and that's lucky too

[Marco]

What you want is a set of rods and a brush mate...


Will you shove it shomewhere warm and damp if I shnortle your shnitzel?

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7396/hahaha024.gif (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/hahaha024.gif/)

Marco.

[anthonyTD]

hi all,
well, most of you already know what i do for a living now, which is,,, make and design bespoke audio equipment and service/repair all things valve related,[except televisions] my dad was a service engineer from the 1950's on so i was brought up with electronics, however i was very interested in all things mechanical from a young age and was involved with cars and racing for many years, however i had to give all that up to concentrate on my career, i do miss it sometimes, mostly i think i miss the comradeship and adventures i had while involved in that mad world!
nowadays you lot can call me "the dream maker":lol:
ohh,,, and i try not to take myself too seriously.
A...

[Ian Walker]

Ah can i still call you Glenda in private:lol:

[anthonyTD]

Ah can i still call you Glenda in private:lol:

course you can malcolm!!!:lol::lolsign:
A...

[Ian Walker]

Will you shove it shomewhere warm and damp if I shnortle your shnitzel?

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7396/hahaha024.gif (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/hahaha024.gif/)

Marco.
I'll do better than that daftee, i'll shove you right up the filthiest flue i can find like they did with little boys in the good old days:eek:

Jim(chimney).

[aquapiranha]

Have to be a bloody big chimney mind....

;-)

[Ian Walker]

Have to be a bloody big chimney mind....

;-)

Tell you what Steve next time we come to visit, me and you can shove him up yours:lol:

[Marco]

I'll do better than that daftee, i'll shove you right up the filthiest flue i can find...


Oh yesh pleashe, daddee! I lurves filthy flues... Or was that filthy floosies? :scratch:

:bum: http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/6388/smileysex016.gif (http://img4.imageshack.us/i/smileysex016.gif/)

Marco.

[Steve Toy]

I drive my own taxi, a saloon car licensed as a Hackney Carriage for a small firm in my local town.

I'm also chairman of the taxi association for the district in which I'm licensed.

I graduated in Humanities with French having also spent a year in France working as a language assistant in a French school in the Limousin region. I'm a qualified teacher of French and taught the language in a girls' comprehensive in East Anglia for one year. I also taught English as a foreign language in Slovakia the year before I qualified to teach in UK state schools.

I also lived and worked on a holiday park near Montpellier and near to where Dimitri lives where I ran the on-site information office.

[Ian Walker]

I ran a taxi buisiness for 15 years,now that is what you call hard work i shudder at the thought of ever driving a cab again...i take my hat off to you Steve.

[Themis]

I also lived and worked on a holiday park near Montpellier and near to where Dimitri lives where I ran the on-site information office.
Life is a series of coincidences... ;) Which park ?

[Steve Toy]

Le Lac des Cauchmars/Moustiques.

[Themis]

Le lac des rêves ? C'est ça ?

[Marc B]

Work in a Cat. B nick,

under staffed , over populated and probably quite an explosive environment but it's a laugh and I wouldn't leave unless I find a DJ job in a lap dancer bar or won the lotto :)

[Steve Toy]

Oui. J'y travaillais la saison entière en 1992.
Et toi, t'habite où exactement? Par message privé si tu préfères.

[Themis]

Oui. J'y travaillais la saison entiere en 1992.
:eyebrows:
(sorrry, I wrote in French by mistake...)

[Primalsea]

I am a business coach/counsellor and trainer working with emotional intelligence issues in the workplace.
I work in two areas: small businesses of 1-20 people and the NHS.

Modesty does not prevent me from giving my work website: www.emotionalintelligenceatwork.com


I know a guy who works for one of our suppliers. He told me the other day that his boss made him go on an Emotional Intelligence course.

"What's Emotional Intelligence"? I asked.

"It's when you learn how to be sympathetic to idiots". was the reply.

"Did it work then" was mine....................

[Steve Toy]

S'ok, Marco occasionally throws in the occasional line in Italian.

[Primalsea]

Oui. J'y travaillais la saison entière en 1992.
Et toi, t'habite où exactement? Par message privé si tu préfères.

Mange tout!!

Lubberly jubberly.

[Marco]

S'ok, Marco occasionally throws in the occasional line in Italian.


Yesh, and I can do it in French, too (or a little in German)! ;)

Marco.

[Marco]

Oui. J'y travaillais la saison entière en 1992.
Et toi, t'habite où exactement? Par message privé si tu préfères.


Translated as:

"Yes. I worked there for the entire (holiday) season in 1992".

"And you, where exactly do you live? By PM if you prefer."

And no, I didn't use an on-line translator ;)

Salut, mes amis! :cool:

Marco.

[Themis]

:cool: Cheers Marco !

(pity it's so far, I could have organized something...)

[Mick Parry]

Chaps

Q/ What do you call a man who can speak three languages
A/ Tri lingual

Q/ What do you call a man who can speak two languages
A/ Bi lingual


Q/ What do you call a man who can speak one language
A/ English

Regards

Mick

[Themis]

lol

(you know a lot of French speak less than ONE language...)

[Alex_UK]

We English only need one language - if a foreigner doesn't understand we just talk louder and slower (and point more) until they do! ;)

[Marco]

Hehehe.... :eyebrows:

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

I drive my own taxi, a saloon car licensed as a Hackney Carriage for a small firm in my local town.



Steve how you make a living is beyond me, my wife dad has done the same for near on 30 years, working long silly cunt hours to make a living which is not too ace at the end of it considering time put in..

[Marco]

It's the 'extras' he offers his customers - don't ask! :eyebrows:

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

Ah right :eyebrows:

[Steve Toy]

Andre, the secret is to work for a small firm that doesn't charge too much for the radio and has a strict rota that ensures that supply does not exceed demand. The hours are thus rationed but the earnings remain the same as if you worked much longer.

I also go on call divert and work alone some nights, like now, although I'm not expecting the phone to ring tonight. In any case, I'll turn it off in about half an hour.

[REM]

Andre, the secret is to work for a small firm that doesn't charge too much for the radio and has a strict rota that ensures that supply does not exceed demand. The hours are thus rationed but the earnings remain the same as if you worked much longer.



You should be grateful that such working conditions are allowed to exist in your neck of the woods. For most of the last three decades the mini-cab industry here has been pretty much unregulated. This led to a situation where, a few years ago, there were more taxis on the streets of one small Lancashire ex-mill town than in the whole of the county of Cambridgeshire.
As you can imagine, standards were the lowest of the low and you certainly would not be able to make enough to afford to use new Insignia to ply your trade, you would indeed be lucky to make a profit driving an S-reg Proton. It wasn't until the inevitable collision involving an uninsured mini-cab resulted in the licensing authority (council) having its collective arse well and truly sued that anything changed, and a crackdown took place. Drivers were vetted, cars checked etc., however they only did it once and have not kept the checks up so things have gradually slipped back, I got a cab at the w/e that was an 11 year old MPV with no seat belts:steam:.

[Steve Toy]

My role as chair of the local association makes me instrumental in keeping the bottom on our trade both in terms of earning potential and standards.
We have a six year age limit on saloon cars (10 years for purpose-built cabs) a knowledge test, CRB and health checks and an annual vehicle check.
I am obviously glad our district is strictly regulated although I'm fighting one or two battles with the council over petty and opportunistic enforcement of legislation and conditions of licence in the most trivial of circumstances.

Trips to the magistrates court on appeal cases usually prove to be highly entertaining at the council's considerable expense both in terms of finance and morale. It's a shame they never learn, but still, as you say, we are amongst the lucky ones in the grand scheme of things.

[Ian Walker]

That knowlege test is the biggest load of bobbins i ever came across in my time,ok fair enough for a cab driver in London but not for christ sake a private hire driver out in the sticks...that cost us so many potential drivers it was unreal. I'm all for CRB and health checks but let the bloody firms/operators teach the new driver the job...aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh makes my blood boil just thinkin about it.

[Steve Toy]

Ian, it exists to stem the flow of new drivers. That's the whole point.....
If you want drivers you poach them.

In any case, a knowledge test in a rural area like here bears no resemblance to the A-to-Z-swallowing exercise in London. It is more about demonstrating local knowledge in terms of landmarks and facilities. It is actually designed to be fairly easy for those who have lived in the area for years and quite difficult to, er, outsiders.

The importance is not flooding the area with drivers who have poor local knowledge, have no knowledge of basic taxi law (i.e. not ripping punters off) and cannot communicate in the ENGLISH language.

[Joe]

In any case, a knowledge test in a rural area like here bears no resemblance to the A-to-Z-swallowing exercise in London. It is more about demonstrating local knowledge in terms of landmarks and facilities. It is actually designed to be fairly easy for those who have lived in the area for years and quite difficult to, er, outsiders..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOGAAlHzF4o

[aquapiranha]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOGAAlHzF4o

I absolutely loved LOG, and Psychoville of course! I used to have Mr. Jelly (it's Jelly! he's Jolly...) as my avatar


:lol:

[michaelhigh]

I've had, I figure, roughly 80 straight jobs in my adult life. Most recently, most noteably, I did a 5-year stint working at a nuclear pharmacy as a pharmacy tech preparing and delivering on-call nuclear medicine (stress tests, MRI, etc.) to doctors and hospitals throughout the midwestern US, according to protocols set forth by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. (Heavy, huh?)... I am a musician by trade, pro since age 12, brass background, bassist since 1975, played on first record that year. Been in every kind of musical group from symphony to punk rock and back. I played 1000+ gigs in the 90's alone, and released my first solo album in 1996. Did record store gigs for many years, also sold musical instruments and PA gear for quite awhile. Taught bass and brass as a sideline for what seemed like forever... Worked many years as a backline specialist for staging companies in the St. Louis, MO area for all the major concert venues in the area. Currently gigging with cover bands casually for the bread (I'm a ringer on the bass) and enjoying less job stress in general. Economy has yet to affect me (thank God). Thank God for the entertainment industry, as corrupt as it's become on the whole. :lol:

[Dave Hewitt]

Hi
I'm retired and loving it,plenty of time to do nothing.
Dave.

[Techno Commander]

I spent almost 20 years working in the entertainment industry. Primarily technical stage production involving lighing and lasers. Sound reproduction was a lesser skill, but I have managed to listen to an awful lot of good sound systems over the years.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/ANDYLASER/LASER/LASER06.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg116/sillystuff99/LASER/SSU6.jpg

However, I have spent the past 5 years working as an electronics/engineering projects technician working with GPS products and aviation / marine navigation equipment. This is my anechoic chamber that I designed and built last year.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg116/sillystuff99/electronics/AC5.jpg

[Alex_UK]

Hi
I'm retired and loving it,plenty of time to do nothing.
Dave.

The problem with retirement though is that you never get a day off, so I've heard!

[colinB]

Andy, that club scene looks very familiar. Its not a Return to the Source night is it?

[Barry]

The problem with retirement though is that you never get a day off, so I've heard!

:lolsign: When I had to work for a living the notional day of rest, Sunday, was spent doing even more work: that of mowing the lawn, doing the laundry, sharing in the dusting and cleaning - though I never washed the car on Sunday, that was a job for Saturday (if at all).

Surprisingly even though retired, since joining AoS I seem to be busier than ever: what with keeping up with the posts and writing contributions! ;)

Regards

[Techno Commander]

Andy, that club scene looks very familiar. Its not a Return to the Source night is it?

Afraid not. The top one is Global Gathering, the second is Sunny Side Up NYE 98 at Streatham ice arena. I have worked with RTTS though, as well as Coalesce, Wiggle, Eurobeat, Stay Up Forever and numerous other underground parties.

[colinB]

Ahh! Gloal gathering. It was the Harlequin hat hanging from the ceiling that jolted a memory.:)

[Batty]

I'm not allowed to say exactly what I do or for whom, but I do stuff to ensure that aeroplanes don't get shot down by bad men in other aeroplanes or indeed on the ground with anti aircraft stuff. I used to be in the army repairing missile systems, but that was quite a while ago. Oh, it involves electronics mostly. ;)

[StanleyB]

I'm not allowed to say exactly what I do or for whom, but I do stuff to ensure that aeroplanes don't get shot down by bad men in other aeroplanes or indeed on the ground with anti aircraft stuff. I used to be in the army repairing missile systems, but that was quite a while ago. Oh, it involves electronics mostly. ;)
My electronics teacher in the early 80's was an ex army guy who had been involved in the R&D of various secret electronics projects. He was often amazed that I could come up with better and cheaper solutions for some product designs and once suggested I join Ferranti or Marconi. But I was s large Rizla man then :eyebrows:, which would not have fitted in well with the job...

[Techno Commander]

But I was s large Rizla man then :eyebrows:, which would not have fitted in well with the job...

Some companies are so narrow minded. :)

[shane]

5 years in a hifi shop. Went bust.
6 months as a garage mechanic. Too cold and dirty.
4 years with Heybrook. Laid off.
18 months in another hifi shop. Went bust (again).
18 months mending tellys on toshiba production line. Crap place.
17 years as a semiconductor process engineer. Good job. Made redundant.
3 years as self-empl;oyed mortgage advisor. Credit crunch hit.
Last 2 years as technical support adviser for fruit-themed mobile phone company.

[Rare Bird]

4 years with Heybrook. Laid off.



Do you still own a 'TT2' Shane?

[shane]

Yes, but not currently in use. It's been diplsced by a home-made slate concoction with a Dual 701 DD motor, but I'd never part with my TT2

[Rare Bird]

Yes, but not currently in use. It's been diplsced by a home-made slate concoction with a Dual 701 DD motor, but I'd never part with my TT2

Is it the alloy cast or welded box section?..The former i thought the best..Great looking deck, i rebuilt one some time back with new position DC motor, i dunno if you remember

[shane]

Mine's the cast alloy version. It's getting on for 25 years since I last heard a steel chassis version so I can't comment on the difference in sound any more but I remember it wasn't clear-cut, and Peter Comeau surprised me a couple of years ago by saying he always preferred the steel one. That pleased me since I designed the steel chassis and he designed the alloy one! One of these days I need to try and have a listen to them side by side.
I think the thing I was most pleased with was the suspension mounting system with the through-bolts that could be adjusted from above. Made it dead simple to build, even simpler to set up, and once it was set up it stayed that way and didn't need "tuning" every few weeks. Mine hasn't been tweaked for 20 years and still bounces perfectly.

[slate]

I'm a software engineer at Ericsson. Unlike Themis, I cannot be classified as "creative"; but some project managers looks tired when I approach them.... it often means extra work for them as I have probably found:
- functionality issues
- broken backward compatibility
- or that "cut corner" that project "forgot" to tell us about

Through the years it have given me the chance to travel around the world; in the late 90's my travel activity repeatedly sent me to the likes of Guildford, Dublin, Bracknell and Birmingham; it could have been more exotic.

Anyway I should start to write in past tense as Ericsson is shutting down this site moving the development to China and India.... so from the newyear I am officially unemployed; time to dust off the old resume.

More information can be found here http://dk.linkedin.com/pub/jan-mortensen/0/a37/4b

[Techno Commander]

- or that "cut corner" that project "forgot" to tell us about

We like to call them "undocumented features" :)

Good luck with job hunting.

[Jason P]

Well, for my sins I've spent the best part of 20 years working in or around the periphery of TV and film production. As Hunter S Thompson said:

The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason.

but for the most part, having eschewed the traditional route of working in London, I've had a pretty good time. I now mostly edit documentary programmes; a wierd life involving long hours spent in a darkened room going over and over footage to whittle it down to a watchable programme. Every so often I direct shoots, often self-shooting programmes too - though this is usually for corporate clients. It's still a job I enjoy, but it's a young persons game and as budgets dwindle, companies are less willing to pay for my experience thinking instead that a young blade who can push all the right buttons will produce the goods for half the price. So I don't know if I'll be doing this in 10 years time - we will see...

J

[michaelhigh]

:lolsign: When I had to work for a living the notional day of rest, Sunday, was spent doing even more work: that of mowing the lawn, doing the laundry, sharing in the dusting and cleaning - though I never washed the car on Sunday, that was a job for Saturday (if at all).

Surprisingly even though retired, since joining AoS I seem to be busier than ever: what with keeping up with the posts and writing contributions! ;)

Regards

Nearing 3000 posts, now that's a real job! (hehe)...:lol:

[michaelhigh]

My electronics teacher in the early 80's was an ex army guy who had been involved in the R&D of various secret electronics projects. He was often amazed that I could come up with better and cheaper solutions for some product designs and once suggested I join Ferranti or Marconi. But I was s large Rizla man then :eyebrows:, which would not have fitted in well with the job...

EZWiders here... (Jokers? Club?):lol:Related story with the nuc med job and resultant FBI background check...

[Ali Tait]

Well, for my sins I've spent the best part of 20 years working in or around the periphery of TV and film production. As Hunter S Thompson said:

The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason.

but for the most part, having eschewed the traditional route of working in London, I've had a pretty good time. I now mostly edit documentary programmes; a wierd life involving long hours spent in a darkened room going over and over footage to whittle it down to a watchable programme. Every so often I direct shoots, often self-shooting programmes too - though this is usually for corporate clients. It's still a job I enjoy, but it's a young persons game and as budgets dwindle, companies are less willing to pay for my experience thinking instead that a young blade who can push all the right buttons will produce the goods for half the price. So I don't know if I'll be doing this in 10 years time - we will see...

J

Typical bloody editor- can't even spell weird!! :lolsign:

[Effem]

I wanted to be a male slut but I failed the entrance exam :eyebrows:

In my time I have been a tree surgeon, TV engineer, computer engineer, general manager, marketing manager, management and marketing consultant, cable manufacturer and now unemployed layabout after doing some commission only sales which were a disaster because the idiots I worked for didn't understand either sales or marketing.

Must have sent at least 300 applications off in the past three months and not even an interview to show for it. Wouldn't mind so much if a "better" person was hired, but from what I have seen so far it's the young ladies fresh out of college that are more in demand than a silly old fool like me for the marketing jobs.

I get plenty of job offers from some nice people who want me to do some financial transactions which involves paying cheques from "customers" into my own bank account, then drawing the cash out immediately and sending it away by Western Union to them. Nice easy job, a few hours a week and a fabulous wage, apparently. They need a better scam I reckon as this one is well worn out now :scratch:

I have been rung three times now by a big investment company that wants to train me to sell pensions and investments to ex-pats living abroad. The first time I was asked to "meet the MD" up in Knightsbridge and I didn't have the nerve to ask for travel expenses because I can't even afford the bloody parking in London, never mind a 500 mile round trip from Cornwall. They are due to ring again on Monday and I won't be so quite so shy about asking for some cash this time. Another reason I turned them down was because it would involve relocating to work in one of their overseas offices and the missus said "no way" but she said this time "go for it". If it's all kosher I would love to suffer working in Thailand or maybe Cyprus, but not holding my breath on it just yet. I'm still puzzled why they are ringing me when there must be thousands out there looking for a job that would jump at the chance of working abroad in some exotic location.

[Jason P]

Typical bloody editor- can't even spell weird!! :lolsign:

Hoi! I resemble that remark.

Anyway, I deel wiv pitchers, not wurds.

:ner:

[sparky68]

cargo surveyor at a refiney near to me ;)
very interesting job, meet all kinds of people from all over the world, get to practise sign language a lot :lol:

although not a Chemist also do some lab work testing crude oils and such like.

very very underpaid for what we do :steam: considering the money involved relying on my dodgy maths calculations :scratch:

[Effem]

Got an interview on Monday afternoon for a job, maybe two in fact. The first is as a Training Manager responsible for training 40-odd people what the heck "customers" are and how to empty their pockets efficiently and pleasantly :eyebrows: It will also involve teaching managers how to manage and other stuff like induction courses.

I didn't think the job would last forever to be honest, so they also have a vacancy for a manager for one of their shops, so i could be doing two jobs at once. We shall see what occurs on Monday ;)

[Reid Malenfant]

The very best of luck :) It's not like you haven't been trying! :doh:

Fingers crossed for you :wave:

[s70rmp]

I am an Infrastructure Support Manager in the NHS, which in real terms in a IT Support Manager

it's a job, shame I hate computers :(

[hifinutt]

I wanted to be a male slut but I failed the entrance exam :eyebrows:

In my time I have been a tree surgeon, TV engineer, computer engineer, general manager, marketing manager, management and marketing consultant, cable manufacturer and now unemployed layabout after doing some commission only sales which were a disaster because the idiots I worked for didn't understand either sales or marketing.

Must have sent at least 300 applications off in the past three months and not even an interview to show for it. Wouldn't mind so much if a "better" person was hired, but from what I have seen so far it's the young ladies fresh out of college that are more in demand than a silly old fool like me for the marketing jobs.

I get plenty of job offers from some nice people who want me to do some financial transactions which involves paying cheques from "customers" into my own bank account, then drawing the cash out immediately and sending it away by Western Union to them. Nice easy job, a few hours a week and a fabulous wage, apparently. They need a better scam I reckon as this one is well worn out now :scratch:

I have been rung three times now by a big investment company that wants to train me to sell pensions and investments to ex-pats living abroad. The first time I was asked to "meet the MD" up in Knightsbridge and I didn't have the nerve to ask for travel expenses because I can't even afford the bloody parking in London, never mind a 500 mile round trip from Cornwall. They are due to ring again on Monday and I won't be so quite so shy about asking for some cash this time. Another reason I turned them down was because it would involve relocating to work in one of their overseas offices and the missus said "no way" but she said this time "go for it". If it's all kosher I would love to suffer working in Thailand or maybe Cyprus, but not holding my breath on it just yet. I'm still puzzled why they are ringing me when there must be thousands out there looking for a job that would jump at the chance of working abroad in some exotic location.


hope you find something soon , still using your cables!!

[Beechwoods]

I am an Infrastructure Support Manager in the NHS, which in real terms in a IT Support Manager

it's a job, shame I hate computers :(

Working with them can do that to you.

[Reid Malenfant]

Well i have had a few different jobs to :eyebrows: I have been a catalogue packer, & a picker (collecting orders), a dry stone waller, a steam engine mechanic, gritblaster & airless sprayer, leading hand/team leader (damn yank speak in an english firm), & electronic engineer :) I'm sure there is more, just my addled brain can't quite think of them right now :scratch:

Now i wish i could do anything :doh:

At least i have a roof over my head, bills are payed & i have music to listen to :)

[s70rmp]

Working with them can do that to you.

oh it truly does !

with the friends and family - oh could you just have a look out our pc/laptop
really makes it worse !

[Alex_UK]

with the friends and family - oh could you just have a look

I'm a gynecologist, and this is absolutely the worst part of my job! Still, could have been worse, I could have chosen proctology!

OK, I fess up, I'm in IT too - see what I have to do to make my life seem interesting?

[s70rmp]

it's shocking working in IT

[Rabid1981]

Studied as a Car Designer, even got to work at Porsche for a while.

But am now working for the prancing horse as an engine specialist, and trying to setup a restoration business, without them knowing... not going great atm thou....:scratch:

[The Grand Wazoo]

it's shocking working in IT

If that's the case, then you're doing something wrong..............try not to stick the pointy bits of your anatomy into things that are connected to the mains!

[s70rmp]

If that's the case, then you're doing something wrong..............try not to stick the pointy bits of your anatomy into things that are connected to the mains!

but that helps the day pass quicker ! :)

[Grez]

My first job (besides the obligatory paper round) was when I was still at school - I had a short-term Saturday job selling computers at Radio Rentals shop in Leeds. I've worked in pubs as a barman, been a car, van and lorry (light goods) driver, had two spells teaching science in secondary schools (still in my second spell), and also spent from 1994 to 2002 working in the steel industry, running a small fabrication shop, including designing, drawing, marketing, invoicing, buying and all the rest that's involved. :D

Voluntarily, I've done Hospital Radio (presenting and producing my show, along with peripheral stuff including MCing a garden party many years ago), and I'm currently a trustee of my church as well as being worship leader! I've also done other musical projects such as being in a band that plays in gospel services once a month around the local area, another occasional worship band that has led worship for large meetings at Kidderminster Harriers stadium over the past three years. I'm a member of a little folk group called the St Vitus Dance Band and do bits of song-writing and arranging for them too. I was also the spokesman for the parents' group who successfully fought a campaign which contributed to stopping Worcestershire County Council from closing my daughter's school.

Actually, I think I need a lie down...

[webby]

Hi guys,

Ive been away from the forum for a bit for various reasons. Last year was a tough one what with being out of work and having a new baby (he's beautiful by the way) and I got a bit down in the dumps towards the end of the year.

However, almost out of the blue I had a reply to an email enquiry I made to an apple tech support company, purple computing. There wasn't even a vacancy, I just approached them. I met the guy the next day and about a week later he told me I was the man for the job! I started at the beginning of December.

It's part time at the moment at 28 hours a week but that suits me fine plus I get to work mostly from home. I hope to take an apple support course soon to get qualified although one thing I've learned is that I know more about macs than I thought I did!

If any of you mac users out there ever have any problems let me know. We can do online remote support if need be.

For those that are out of work, keep looking. Don't give up. You have to believe that something will turn up.

Good luck.

[Alex_UK]

Really good to hear from you Lee, and to see a bit of brightness in your work life after last year. I can't imagine how "down in the dumps" I would feel in your situation - although a new baby is unbelievable joy, if you are anything like me it brings out the "caveman" in you and you just want to protect and provide for your brood, so translating that into modern terms, I can see how being out of work would be a problem.

Hopefully the rest of 2011 will be just as bright for you, and we'll see a bit more of you around these parts. (Don't expect any business from me though I bloody hate Macs! ;))

[Macca]

Good for you Lee - onwards and upwards:cool:

[webby]

Thanks guys :)

[Barry]

Yes, great news Lee.

Congratulations on both counts!

Regards

[Techno Commander]

Excellent news. :)

[goraman]

Studied as a Car Designer, even got to work at Porsche for a while.

But am now working for the prancing horse as an engine specialist, and trying to setup a restoration business, without them knowing... not going great atm thou....:scratch:
The prancing horse....Let's see... The Ford Pinto?

Occupation (beat down slave)/full time whipping boy.

[jbloggs]

I'm a Chiropractor, but not practising at the moment...

[Alex_UK]

Occupation (beat down slave)/full time whipping boy.

I was going to say that's the same as Marco but that's not his occupation, just what he does for fun...:eyebrows:

[Marco]

Yer... And yoo is my fav biatch! :kiss:

Marco.

[Alex_UK]

Yer... And yoo is my fav biatch! :kiss:

Marco.

yeah baby! :wetkipper:

[Welder]

I used to be an engineer. I got the sack a lot for being generally disrespectful and argumentative with senior engineers so management ladder climbing was more downward then upward ;)
Spent a few years bringing kids up while the other half went to work and did a second degree through the Open University.
I then had a small security fencing sub contractors business which I loved having spent years being choked by a tie and from biting my own tongue :mental:; very hard work outside in all weathers and paid for what you did rather than whose arsehole you climbed up :ner:
I now I tutor GCSE and pre A level applied mathematics in a local scheme for gifted but poor kids and do energy audits from architects plans to keep the bills paid. Neither makes me serious money.

[Reid Malenfant]

I used to be an engineer. I got the sack a lot for being generally disrespectful and argumentative with senior engineers so management ladder climbing was more downward then upward ;)
:lolsign: Sounds like me except i got the sack once & resigned once, mine was more pay related though as everywhere i have worked dealing with electronics took the p*ss :steam:

[Welder]

PAY!! They didn’t pay engineers in my day mate; lucky if you got a living allownace :doh:

[Alex_UK]

I got the sack a lot for being generally disrespectful and argumentative

Never! :eek: That's one of the most unbelievable things I've ever read on this forum! ;)

(Hopefully you'll take that in the spirit it was intended John! :))

[Welder]

Does it show then? :eyebrows:

No worries at all Alex. I would like to say its my age and excuse myself that way, but………:lolsign:

[Ali Tait]

Yep, I can relate to that. I'm currently suspended for much the same thing.

[Ali Tait]

..On full pay though! :cool:

[Rare Bird]

One of the all time leaving lines i once told an ex gaffer was 'Id rather stack shopping trollies down Tesco's than work for a wa*ker like you for another day' , i forget what brought this on one afternoon, sure as hell i went home early. I've never been one for handing in a notice, i'm a genuinely impatient person :lolsign:

[Ali Tait]

:lolsign: I like it!

[webby]

Hi guys,

Ive been away from the forum for a bit for various reasons. Last year was a tough one what with being out of work and having a new baby (he's beautiful by the way) and I got a bit down in the dumps towards the end of the year.

However, almost out of the blue I had a reply to an email enquiry I made to an apple tech support company, purple computing. There wasn't even a vacancy, I just approached them. I met the guy the next day and about a week later he told me I was the man for the job! I started at the beginning of December.

It's part time at the moment at 28 hours a week but that suits me fine plus I get to work mostly from home. I hope to take an apple support course soon to get qualified although one thing I've learned is that I know more about macs than I thought I did!

If any of you mac users out there ever have any problems let me know. We can do online remote support if need be.

For those that are out of work, keep looking. Don't give up. You have to believe that something will turn up.

Good luck.

Had a meeting with my Boss yesterday only to be told that he can't afford to keep me on anymore! I'm only entitled to one week's notice.

I'm a bit fed up right now. Don't know what to do next. :unfair:

[Alex_UK]

Bad news, Lee... How about setting up on your own, and pinching his customers? (Assuming of course you haven't signed a contract that precludes you from it?)

Otherwise, good luck finding something else. :(

[webby]

Bad news, Lee... How about setting up on your own, and pinching his customers? (Assuming of course you haven't signed a contract that precludes you from it?)

Otherwise, good luck finding something else. :(

I dunno, seems like a bit of a tall order. I was developing my skills and experience along the way. I'm better at dealing with home users than business installations with servers.

I'm mulling it over right now.

[keiths]

Sorry to hear that Lee :( Hope something turns up soon.

[DSJR]

Oh cr@p, just not fair is it? :(

It doesn't look as if I've ever officially 'fessed up to my working past - Spent over 30 years in the HiFi industry, and was lucky not to have to change jobs too often in that time. Several years at two KJ branches (and a few months back in W1 twenty years later), seventeen years in a home counties Linn/Naim/Rega dealer, which finally broke free and flew for a few years before B&O all but took it over, a great couple of years working in Northampton for another Linn/naim/Rega dealer followed by a disastrous couple of years on the road for an AV cable manufacturer/supplier - a "career move" that I'd rather forget and then my dad passed on, giving me financial freedom for a few years and a whole life change, hence the move here to Suffolk Coastal. Jobs post 50 are difficult if you don't have transferable skills

Now? back to basics and working up to last July as a TA in a local high school. HUGE area for personal growthg and as I've grown, I feel better able to do the job as well as deal with my nearly tennage son, who's "got the hormones" and the attitude to go with it...:)" I'm hoping the high school I was working at will re-employ me next term - they're becoming an academy and my contract ends on August 31st. So much undone and much more to do, so I live in hope.

[Rare Bird]

good luck Dave

[StanleyB]

Sorry to read about you guys finding yourself out of work at this time of the year. Setting up your own business is not easy, but worth a try. I was forced to do just that, and luckily it worked out for me.
I was speaking to a cousin of mine in the last hour who decided to use his redundancy payment as a deposit to get a mortgage on a property that he intends to rent out. He is hoping that it will be enough to keep him out of debt, whilst he tries to find a new job. Not easy at 56.

[flatpopely]

I am a co-director in an Audio Visual distribution company. We specialise in audio converencing, control systems and digital signage.

Feck me its been hard over the last two years! Our USP is the level of tech support we can give but no one wants to pay for support anymore, its all about spreadsheets. A far cry form the mid 90s when AV was awash with money!

We are still trading so I suppose that's a result!

I also co run a small HiFi company,we are in the early stages but hope to survive.

[Thing Fish]

Had a meeting with my Boss yesterday only to be told that he can't afford to keep me on anymore! I'm only entitled to one week's notice.

I'm a bit fed up right now. Don't know what to do next. :unfair:

That's a big pile of poo. I've been made redundant twice and its a horrible feeling. Good luck Lee.

[ursus262]

I am a Quality Systems Engineer in the medical devices industry. Originally did my apprenticeship as an aircraft engineer.

[slate]

Had a meeting with my Boss yesterday only to be told that he can't afford to keep me on anymore! I'm only entitled to one week's notice.

I'm a bit fed up right now. Don't know what to do next. :unfair:

Bummer... I feel for you

I have only just started working again.
Ericsson shutdown the development branch here in town and we were 220 engineers looking for a new job.
From july to new year it was ok; constantly something to apply for and the occational interviews; most of the others got jobs.
From newyear to easter nothing; well I applied for 40-50 jobs and got turned down for all of them. It was starting to bug me, but at least the weather was nice.
Actually it was the same for all of us; the 22-25 remaining. Nothing was moving but around easter interviews started flying around and every week 2-3 more had a job.
Then out of the blue a colleague from 10 years back contacted me about a job at Vestas in Århus. The day before the interview another guy called me out of the blue and I had my first interview that wednesday. Went to the talk with Vestas thursday and on my way home guy from wednesday called again if I could come for the second interview the day after (friday). Got an offer. Thought about it in the weekend. Accepted monday. Started wednesday (1 june)....smoking

keep the faith

[goraman]

Something much like this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQxL0O1lYvg


only on a much smaller scale,can you see the quarter in there?