Do all dancers fit the stereotype of being poor artist types?

[yippee1999]

For fun, what are everybody's "day jobs"? Do you have a basic 9-5er, or do you work a few odd jobs? Are you self-employed? Do you make your living dancing/instructing?

Me, I work for the CEO of a large accounting firm. I'd much rather be doing something more creative/artistic, but I guess I've gotten accustomed to a steady salary, decent benefits, etc. (My real life however begins when I leave the office! :--)

[SPratt74]

For fun, what are everybody's "day jobs"? Do you have a basic 9-5er, or do you work a few odd jobs? Are you self-employed? Do you make your living dancing/instructing?

Me, I work for the CEO of a large accounting firm. I'd much rather be doing something more creative/artistic, but I guess I've gotten accustomed to a steady salary, decent benefits, etc. (My real life however begins when I leave the office! :--)

You sound like you have a very impressive job! Congrats! I for one work retail even though I've had other jobs working in a college etc. I do have a computer degree, and I was a business partner with my brother at one time when he set up his wireless company. (It was actually friends of our family that set it up with my brother to ok everything, because they created the system, but because he's a lawyer, he did the legal work, and I did some of the advertising you know like making the logos etc. with my computer background).

It got to be to stressful, because I was already working at a college at that time. I however was just thinking about this the other night, and I might join up again this Christmas. I'm going to talk to him about it and see. I probably won't be a big business partner like I was last time, because I only deal with computers for fun now like a hobby, because I was so burnt out, but still... it's something I'm really thinking about, because it would be a stable position, and one that I could make some money in.

[yippee1999]

er... I'd don't know if I'd call it impressive (but thanks!), although I guess some may think that. It's really just a job to me. I always feel the need to apologize of sorts, when I tell people I work for an accounting firm. I find it sorta "embarrassing", not only cuz I'm working for the man :-) but because there's always this image of accounting types... straight-laced, with those pen-clips in that plastic shirt pocket liner thingy... But usually folks never confuse me as an accountant (thank god!), because they always look at me a bit perplexed when I tell them where I work and they say "oh, are you an accountant?", and I say "god no!... I just do research type work", and then they say "yeah, you don't look like an accountant", to which I give a big smile.

[Pacion]

there's always this image of accounting types... straight-laced, with those pen-clips in that plastic shirt pocket liner thingy...

...you forgot 'the abacus', 'suspenders'/braces to hold up their trousers/pants and the m-e-t-a-l* bands around the elbows to holdup their shirt sleeves!

:D :D :D :D

*the forum's web nanny is editing me!

[Twilight_Elena]

Oh, most definitely poor artist type. I have been teaching since September, but I ain't liking it all that much. I dream of one day teaching people who love dancing and want to put a lot of time and effort into it, AND get paid at least 3 times what I'm paid now (which would bring us around 15$/hour). That way I won't have to work many hours, I'll still be making reasonable money and I'll be able to dance for myself. Oh, I miss that.

T_E

[It's Wonderful]

Yeah, poor (artist) student type. I'm working in an espresso place now, but the goal is dance as an income-source. Hopefully the huge amount of money that goes into learning more about dance will pay off in the long run career-wise, but we'll see - it was quite a leap of faith!

[anp73ga31]

I'm a legal secretary in a small law firm. The money is pretty good, but I have none left after spending it on lessons once or twice a week and going out dancing on the weekends....so maybe not starving artist, but pretty close. lol!

[samina]

It's something I'm really thinking about, because it would be a stable position, and one that I could make some money in.

That's a good idea to consider! You can definitely make more money in the computer biz over retail. And I remember when I worked retail it was like working in restaurants: when everybody else has off you have to work. Working in a service industry could be harder for a dancer than if you've got a stable 9-5.

Not that I'm a promoter of 9-5 in general. But it sure can free you up to do what you want in the evenings & on the weekend!

:)

Samina

[samina]

I have been teaching since September, but I ain't liking it all that much. I dream of one day teaching people who love dancing and want to put a lot of time and effort into it, AND get paid at least 3 times what I'm paid now (which would bring us around 15$/hour).T_E

Elena, do you work for yourself or for a studio? If you're getting $5/hr (1/3 of $15, if I understand correctly?) it seems to me there must be a way to jack that up considerably!

Samina

[samina]

I'm working in an espresso place now, but the goal is dance as an income-source. Hopefully the huge amount of money that goes into learning more about dance will pay off in the long run career-wise, but we'll see - it was quite a leap of faith!

FWIW, I am the world's greatest coffee-lover, who definitely appreciates your barrista skills! :)

Things have a beautiful way of evolving in life, Wonderful... I'm sure you'll eventually be able to migreate in the direction of living your dream whilst making money from it, if you don't give up and keep moving in that direction.

I tell my kids that, if they focus on becoming in the top 5% of their passoin, they'll eventually be able to make enough money to sustain themselves, no matter what. And if they focus on being in the top 1%, they can turn that into tremendous prosperity...

It's cliche, but... "keep following your bliss"!
Samina

[SPratt74]

That's a good idea to consider! You can definitely make more money in the computer biz over retail. And I remember when I worked retail it was like working in restaurants: when everybody else has off you have to work. Working in a service industry could be harder for a dancer than if you've got a stable 9-5.

Not that I'm a promoter of 9-5 in general. But it sure can free you up to do what you want in the evenings & on the weekend!

:)

Samina

Oh I know! I have definitely made more money working with computers. I actually had to take a pay cut along with a benefit cut to work in retail. The thing is that I've been dealing with the computers for a long time, and most of the posters remember when I wrote a post about being burnt out with the computer field, because I also went into a slight depression at that time. So, now I'm helping a friend out by working in her shop. It's a fun shop though, but for right now it lets me just enjoy the computer as a hobby rather than a job. And I know that they say if it's fun it's not work, but if it burns you out then its not work either lol.

But yeah my brothers company is still fairly new, which is why they are just trying it out in China right now it's not available anywhere else. And there are others in the wireless computer area of course. The code was written by a friend of ours, and he owns like a million companies it seems lol, but the guy is a computer genius. Well, he doesn't own that many businesses of course, but he is a business man. If he thinks its a good idea, that's where his money goes, and my brother sometimes has to tell him to stop lol (but that's the lawyer side of him talking).

And you learn in school that in business if you aren't the first one out then you will be lucky if you make it no matter how good your product is, and our friend lost money because of it. That's why when they mentioned this idea to me, I was like ummm... very stressed out about it. They just hired three new people they said though, so they are doing better than when they started out. But I'm not much of a risk taker though. I'd rather work a 9-5 job lol!

[Twilight_Elena]

Elena, do you work for yourself or for a studio? If you're getting $5/hr (1/3 of $15, if I understand correctly?) it seems to me there must be a way to jack that up considerably!

Samina

5$ (approx.) is correct. I work for a studio. And I can't see how I would be able to raise that. Though I've been told by the boss when I first started that if I eat my veggies and I'm good with the customers/students, I'll get a rate raise (something like 6$/hour). Exciting stuff. :rolleyes:

T_E

[samina]

The thing is that I've been dealing with the computers for a long time, and most of the posters remember when I wrote a post about being burnt out with the computer field, because I also went into a slight depression at that time.

Yeah, I understand that. Working with computers all day is very hard on the nervous system. I know *many* colleagues who have a hard time unwinding, especially if they remain "plugged in" after work. Consequently, mood swings, depression, and the like are not uncommon.

I work in that industry as a consultant, and my latest project is extremely tedious -- less money than I am used to & much less responsibility, but the upside is that when I walk out the door... I am GONE. My last gig was like showing up for the Superbowl every morning, quite literally having taken over the role of three full-time people for a year, and it was very intense.

Now all my intensity gets poured into dance-related activities. :)

And the nature of my current gig lets me check into DF frequently during the day, which is very nice... what a relief! :)

I'm in the midst of a career change, tho -- I have a book that's nearly complete. I have to create time to finish the last bit of it. I wanted to publish the first edition by the end of the year. I'm not seeing that as likely at all. But soon! Probably by spring, then, my professional emphasis will change.

Samina

[SPratt74]

Yeah, I understand that. Working with computers all day is very hard on the nervous system. I know *many* colleagues who have a hard time unwinding, especially if they remain "plugged in" after work. Consequently, mood swings, depression, and the like are not uncommon.

Yes! That is exactly what it is and what I have gone through. I do love the computer though, so I have nothing against it really. It's just my feelings and what I've dealt with which is what you've said up above.

I work in that industry as a consultant, and my latest project is extremely tedious -- less money than I am used to & much less responsibility, but the upside is that when I walk out the door... I am GONE. My last gig was like showing up for the Superbowl every morning, quite literally having taken over the role of three full-time people for a year, and it was very intense.

Yeah that is exactly how I felt like. I was being made to do all kinds of things when I worked at the college all because the others did not want to do them. They figured since I had the degree that I could do them. Well, it got to be to much. I couldn't handle that any more. They wouldn't lift up my load, so I had no other choice but to quit. If they would have given me a raise, I would have said sure thing. But I was there working a good 11 hours Moday-Thursday, and I could not do it any more.

I then went back to school to learn Mac., but that became equally frustrating. I mean I could do it, but I was so burnt out by the computer by then I did not even want to sit down and read my emails.

Now all my intensity gets poured into dance-related activities. :)

And the nature of my current gig lets me check into DF frequently during the day, which is very nice... what a relief! :)

I've had to cut back my dancing lol. But my instructor makes sure I do it though. He won't let me cut back too much, and I'm glad for that. My family agrees with him and me that it's a great stress relief!

I'm in the midst of a career change, tho -- I have a book that's nearly complete. I have to create time to finish the last bit of it. I wanted to publish the first edition by the end of the year. I'm not seeing that as likely at all. But soon! Probably by spring, then, my professional emphasis will change.

Samina

Lol... it sounds like we have a lot in common lol. I actually have started to write a book too!!! My brother convinced me to do so. I actually have the scenes written in detail as to what they are supposed to be about. I am working on the characters etc. though, but my brother says that all comes in time when I'm sitting down and looking at my computer. He's right about that. I just sat down and wrote and wrote the first night I was into it. I also took some writing courses from a friend that was writing a fiction book. She gave me some ideas as to how to write the book, and she would have us write little stories. They were good exercises, because now I'm using all of that into what I'm doing now.

Well, I should say that I'm writing two books, because one is a Genealogy book (that will only be published for family and the Library of Congress). I promised myself that I would write it as soon as I found the missing link to my mom's family, and I did so this year with proof and everything. It was an amazing find! I also found links to my dad's side of the family, so it will include both lines.

I'm thinking about going back to school again though. I know I can get some free classes (benefit of not working as much lol). I'm thinking of going into either fashion or interior design. I work in interior design now (that's what my retail shop does), and I found out I'm pretty good at it. I've had so many compliments from my friends and family and customers when they enter the store, it makes me feel really good about it all. Again though, I'm better at the things that I don't really have to think about (like math/science/building things etc.), and you don't really have to think about redesigning a room. For some reason things that I can work with my hands are better for me, and my mom had always said that ever since I was a little squirt lol. I guess she was right lol!

[Shooshoo]

I'd much rather be doing something more creative/artistic, but I guess I've gotten accustomed to a steady salary, decent benefits, etc. (My real life however begins when I leave the office! :--)

Same here, but I hope I'll have the courage one day to change that.

[Laura]

I'm in a quandry...I had a regular 9-7 job (or later...it was high tech). I had the great pay, excellent benefits, etc etc. But I hated it. So when they laid me off I gladly separated myself from that world. (I had been in it for 13 years, working at various high tech companies and start-ups). However, it's been so very difficult for me to really get started in something more arty/creative. I was making ballgowns for a while, and while I loved seeing the finished product on people, it wasn't satisfying me enough to have the kind of drive and passion needed to make it a real successful business. So now I'm casting about trying to figure out what else I can do. I'm sure some of you won't believe this, but sometimes when you have the freedom to do whatever it is you want, you can't figure out what it is you want to do. I keep dabbling in things, but nothing has "bitten" me. I'm not sure I like feeling like a dilletente. Maybe I should try talking to a career counsellor or something....

[DrDoug]

Though I've been told by the boss when I first started that if I eat my veggies and I'm good with the customers/students, I'll get a rate raise (something like 6$/hour).

I think you should get more money just for being able to distinguish the students from the veggies.

[waltzgirl]

I'm in a quandry...I had a regular 9-7 job (or later...it was high tech). I had the great pay, excellent benefits, etc etc. But I hated it. So when they laid me off I gladly separated myself from that world. (I had been in it for 13 years, working at various high tech companies and start-ups). However, it's been so very difficult for me to really get started in something more arty/creative. I was making ballgowns for a while, and while I loved seeing the finished product on people, it wasn't satisfying me enough to have the kind of drive and passion needed to make it a real successful business. So now I'm casting about trying to figure out what else I can do. I'm sure some of you won't believe this, but sometimes when you have the freedom to do whatever it is you want, you can't figure out what it is you want to do. I keep dabbling in things, but nothing has "bitten" me. I'm not sure I like feeling like a dilletente. Maybe I should try talking to a career counsellor or something....

Just read the Scrutineering thread. Maybe you should work with a company developing comp software systems.

[dancesportgirl21]

I think you should get more money just for being able to distinguish the students from the veggies.

LOL!

[cornutt]

I think you should get more money just for being able to distinguish the students from the veggies.

I'm afraid if you asked a lot of dance teachers, if they didn't teach the vegetables, that would really cut into their income. :p

[samina]

I'm in a quandry...I had a regular 9-7 job (or later...it was high tech). I had the great pay, excellent benefits, etc etc. But I hated it. So when they laid me off I gladly separated myself from that world. ..So now I'm casting about trying to figure out what else I can do. I'm sure some of you won't believe this, but sometimes when you have the freedom to do whatever it is you want, you can't figure out what it is you want to do. I keep dabbling in things, but nothing has "bitten" me. I'm not sure I like feeling like a dilletente. Maybe I should try talking to a career counsellor or something....

Hey, I hear ya, Laura. I got laid off right before Xmas last year and I seized that as an opportunity to make a big change. Started working on my book but haven't finished it yet, ergo am back on a project until I pull it all together and make the change for good.

You're very talented & have a lot of knowledge... I'm sure you'll find your calling.

Waltzgirl may have something with her idea... is there a way you can make a contribution to the ballroom world with you IT knowledge???

:)
Samina

[Terpsichorean Clod]

...you forgot 'the abacus', 'suspenders'/braces to hold up their trousers/pants and the m-e-t-a-l* bands around the elbows to holdup their shirt sleeves!

:D :D :D

*the forum's web nanny is editing me!
Haven't you heard? We've upgraded from abacuses to slide rules.

So aside from the business quantitative day job, I guess I'm a poor artist. I write poorly. I draw poorly. I sing poorly. :D

[Pacion]

Haven't you heard? We've upgraded from abacuses to slide rules.

:lol: Are the slide rules metric or in *imperial* measurements? ;)

[Twilight_Elena]

I think you should get more money just for being able to distinguish the students from the veggies.

*sigh* Sometimes, it's a very fine line.

T_E