Day Job

[DandyFop]

This has been prominent lately but especially since's Yauch's passing I've been feeling that urge to live life to the fullest and quit my job and just pursue comedy and be poor and not give a fuck. But I feel like that would be idiotic...I could last maybe a month or two. And I can't go on unemployment cause I work "freelance" even though I'm there full time. Ughhhhhh. That's one thing about the Beasties, man, they were rich from 18 years old, that's crazy. Didn't ever have to deal with that shit, you know? And it's a GOOD job like, many many people would kill for it but it's not my passion and I feel like I'm just wasting my time sitting in a cubicle doing it when I should be writing and performing comedy all the time.

I don't know if I'm asking for advice or just complaining but I needed to vent...those of you pursuing other careers outside your day job, how do you get through it? I've been there a year and a half and I just feel like I'm gonna go crazy.

[Bob]

i wouldn't say i'm pursuing another career exactly (improv is ramping up but i don't expect the comedy thing to be more than a hobby at best, and i don't think that anyone, anywhere makes career money off of improv), but every time i find myself working late at my job, hating myself and skipping shit i like to do for fun because of it i just think "this is still better than that 17 months of unemployment where at the end i'd have been homeless if my mom didn't pay those last few months of rent for me"

it's not exactly an inspiring speech, but having spent a perilous amount of time in the no-job limbo has made me afraid to ever go back into it

[DandyFop]

Yeah the problem is I feel like I'm spending all my time at this job when I could be spending it writing scripts/applying to auditions/etc, shit that could actually get me somewhere in the comedy world. MINDFUCK SOULFUCK

[Bob]

yeah i can understand what you mean...my improv group recently got this spot on this friday night show, and i had to miss our first one (which could have been our last because it's a competition format) because i spent 12 hours at work and missed the rehearsal. we managed to win (by packing the audience with friends who voted for us, but still, we won!) and i got on the second week but still, i'd never performed on a friday night before and i nearly missed my chance because i was working late on a thing i just don't care about

buuuuuut if i didn't have that i'd have literally no way to make money so....one does what they must i guess

at least that's what i tell myself. again, i'm not really treating my comedy thing as a "career" exactly, and after my visit i know how much of a bigger deal it is for you, so i can only imagine how much more frustrating it must be to be held back because you have to spend most of your time working on shit you don't give a shit about.


but think about it this way maybe--how many people only have the "day job" to do during their life and nothing else (except maybe some shitty family to come home to or something i dunno)? even if you can't spend as much time on it as you want, at least you're spending at least some of your life doing what you love...how many people get to say that?

[yeahwho]

Having the very best skills I can possibly possess, being dependable and working harder than those at my job is the long game.

Doing what I really want to do is going to require the above skills, so I look at my current job as the place to up my game until my other goals are obtainable. I've been asked several times to work in the office because I can keep my cool (I don't give a shit is the secret) but don't because I like the pressure of actually solving a problem with a full crew.

Don't hold yourself down because you have to pay bills, it's all part of the big picture and respect comes to those who earn their way.

[yeahwho]

Yeah the problem is I feel like I'm spending all my time at this job when I could be spending it writing scripts/applying to auditions/etc, shit that could actually get me somewhere in the comedy world. MINDFUCK SOULFUCK

Do you have an agent? I work with a guy who flies up to Washington twice a month so he can keep regular cashflow while his girlfriend does bit parts in commercials and a few tv shows here and there.

They're just breaking even because he's kept his job. And the auditions don't come easy nor does anyone send a car or wardrobe. Plus w/o an agent the auditions would be slim. That all cost some serious cash.

You probably have an agent.

[paul jones]

I've done mindless soul crushing jobs all my life.I suppose it's a combination of risk,luck and who you meet in life.

I think you and Bob should write a script for a TV show or something.(y)

[yeahwho]

I think you and Bob should write a script for a TV show or something.(y)

A TV show about fans of a band who end up posting on a message board. Some have professional jobs others are ham and eggers like myself.

In order for it to work I don't think it can be a straight ahead comedy, it has to be more like that 90's show Melrose Place. Drama steeped in irony. A lot of beautiful people portraying us.

You and bob would be the axis of the show, representing both east and west coasts of the US. The premise is international though. The moderator will be the narrator setting the tone for each episode.

[yeahwho]

Episode 1, bob dates my mom and a new board riff ensues.

[Dorothy Wood]

My friend does stand up, hosts stand up shows, and is in several bands. She has a 9-5 office job, and is pretty much just tired and hungover all the time.

My other friend has a writing job that's 9-5 sometimes and sometimes she has to travel. Somehow she manages to produce a show with me and perform in like 3-4 other improv groups, and guests with sketch groups. She actually just landed a role in a tv pilot and has to fly out to LA to film it...so I guess all the work is starting to pay off!

I think that's just the way it goes, ya gotta burn the candle at both ends.

Me, I'm lazy, so outside of work I'm just trying to come up with money-making designs/schemes (something dumb that a million people will buy, pretty much) all the time so I can focus on actual creative stuff that will make me even more money (hopefully), and get me the respect I demand! Then finally I can go on a nice vacation for god damn once!

[M|X|Y]

some good advicez here. it ain't easy (n):(

[MC Moot]

I've been pondering/entertaining the thought of a move to the old country...you know pack it all in and work the orange grove,go clean swiming pools and maintain koi ponds a few day's a week for rich Germans and Russian gangsters...my father would be thrilled but the Spanish economy wants nothing to do with me...

[M|X|Y]

shit is fucked up there

[yeahwho]

Whatever you do, remember your 3 S's: Star Smile Strong (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1lSLNCRYls#t=05m14s)

[checkyourprez]

i wouldn't say i'm pursuing another career exactly (improv is ramping up but i don't expect the comedy thing to be more than a hobby at best, and i don't think that anyone, anywhere makes career money off of improv), but every time i find myself working late at my job, hating myself and skipping shit i like to do for fun because of it i just think "this is still better than that 17 months of unemployment where at the end i'd have been homeless if my mom didn't pay those last few months of rent for me"

it's not exactly an inspiring speech, but having spent a perilous amount of time in the no-job limbo has made me afraid to ever go back into it

o ya? tell that to the dudes from 'whose line is it anyway' who were in my city last night charging 50 bucks a ticket.

[NicRN77]

Blah. That's a tough situation. You need money....but the day job isn't getting you anywhere. My boyfriend is in the same situation. Hates his day job...but has a very successful music blog and music promotion biz (his latest is the Outlaw Roadshow with Counting Crows). He does SO much for the local Boston music scene....but it doesn't pay anything. :(

[100% ILL]

I guess it all depends on your individual sitiuation and choices you've made/have to make on a regular basis. My job isn't the greatest, but it's not the worst. I get to see my wife and kids everyday and we've never missed a meal or had any serious illnesses or anything.

To me life is a tragedy/drama/comedy.........Sometimes it's your turn to play each part. I think sometimes "life sucks" but then I think about some poor kid who got killed in Afghanistan at 20/21 yrs old and then I say well "at least I'm alive"

Most of us will never be rich and independent (I won't) but I've learned to enjoy the normal everyday things and keep things in perspective.......listen to music that makes me happy and surround myself with people who I love to be around..........My job is kinda souless but I have some great friends there........Really most of us are more blessed than we realize but we are always looking for more and not being satisfied with what we have.

I think if you're single you can take a little more risk, but in the end don't be a burden on others, take care of your children and let the people in your life know you love them often.

Peace and good luck with your decisions

[checkyourprez]

I guess it all depends on your individual sitiuation and choices you've made/have to make on a regular basis. My job isn't the greatest, but it's not the worst. I get to see my wife and kids everyday and we've never missed a meal or had any serious illnesses or anything.

To me life is a tragedy/drama/comedy.........Sometimes it's your turn to play each part. I think sometimes "life sucks" but then I think about some poor kid who got killed in Afghanistan at 20/21 yrs old and then I say well "at least I'm alive"

Most of us will never be rich and independent (I won't) but I've learned to enjoy the normal everyday things and keep things in perspective.......listen to music that makes me happy and surround myself with people who I love to be around..........My job is kinda souless but I have some great friends there........Really most of us are more blessed than we realize but we are always looking for more and not being satisfied with what we have.

I think if you're single you can take a little more risk, but in the end don't be a burden on others, take care of your children and let the people in your life know you love them often.

Peace and good luck with your decisions


you sir, are on to something.


(y)

[Guy Incognito]

s'pose it depends how much you want to do comedy.

are you going to be filled with regret in 20 years time if you dont take the plunge?

not being able to claim unemployment benefit is a bit tricky but i suppose the threat of having no cash could spur you on to really make a success of comedy.

From what i have read about comedians, no one is ever an overnight success and it seems like a long hard road for everyone.

Have you heard of John Bishop? From wikipedia - From the 1990s he worked as a Medical Representative for pharmaceutical company Syntex. Until 2006, the father-of-three was working in sales and marketing for a pharmaceutical company, with a company car and pension plan, and gave it all up to become a full-time comedian.

I have seen interviews with him and he nearly lost everything , his day job was well paid but it was long hours and he split up with his wife for a bit and decided to go for comedy ,its definitely paid off now. He is quite funny as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bishop_(comedian)

Personally, my kids are my priority now and any dreams i had of producing music are strictly a hobby now that i make a bit of time for every now and then. I have a good job which isnt very exciting but its ok. What i regret is not going for it in my 20's when i was bit of a waster and had shite jobs. I didnt realise what i wanted to do and didnt pursue it enough until it was too late really. I have come to terms with all that but still feel a little disappointed sometimes.

I suppose if you really want to go for it, then do it. Maybe set yourself a time period and then maybe if its not working you can try and go back to work if you think thats possible.

From what i have read i think you are doing ok at comedy part time so maybe going full time will improve that. Plus how much material can you get from sitting in a cubicle 9-5, maybe if you had more time to get more experiences you can write about.

sorry, some of this "advice" is contradictory , i was just thinking about it too much.

MAy the force be with you.

[Kid Presentable]

People who get paid to produce comedy, often (not always, but often) get paid to produce garbage. I couldn't live with myself if I weren't able to produce exactly what I wanted, on my own terms.

[yeahwho]

Director/Actor/Writer John Waters just took a risk. (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/25/john-waters-tries-some-desperate-living-on-a-cross-country-hitchhiking-odyssey/)

[DandyFop]

People who get paid to produce comedy, often (not always, but often) get paid to produce garbage. I couldn't live with myself if I weren't able to produce exactly what I wanted, on my own terms.

This is very very true. I look at Louis CK who is only big now after years and years of hard work, working for others, etc, and now he does absolutely everything on his own terms which is definitely what I would strive for eventually. I'm a long ways from there but it's an end goal, for sure.

I don't know, I'm going back home for a little while soon so hopefully I'll be able to really think it over and think about what I need to be happy. I have no doubt that if I quit or something I'll figure it out, money-wise, but I don't want to be stupid about it.

Thanks for the advice yall. I realize that, like Bob said, I'm extremely lucky to be able to follow my dream in any sense. But when you get a taste of it, it's hard to not just want to do it completely. I have no doubt that this is what I'm meant to do with my life so it's hard to do anything else .

[Bitchamachacha]

I've spent the past five years working part time serving jobs and skimming by. I worked in fine-dining, so the money was good, but I felt the same. Why spend my entire life working a 40-hour weekly job when I could get by working part time and have my spare time to enjoy my life? Why become society's slave?

BUT- I have a kid, a kid who will need money to go to college. I'm getting older, and I will want to retire someday, so I recently got a 40+ hour day job and have started a career.

Dandy- you are still young. You don't have a child and you are very focused on a career. It's a tough career to break into, but it's your dream. Maybe work part time like I used to- make enough money to live, but leave room for comedy, because you are hilarious! You have the gift of giving laughs. I know you'll get where you want to be someday.

[checkyourprez]

you only live once.

if theres doubt in you that your going to regret it if you dont go for it, go for it.

better to be poor in the bank than poor in your soul.

[Mae]

You only regret the chances you don't take, bro.

Seriously, you are young and untethered. Do what you got to do for you, now, before you resent someone later (probably yourself) for not sacking up.

Plus think of all the material you will be able to get from becoming homeless? comedy goldmine.

[Pres Zount]

You've only got one chance at life, do not let it go.

Live for the music.

[Bob]

don't get homeless though

[Pres Zount]

But if you do, embrace it.

[Bob]

but don't...get homeless

[Pres Zount]

BUT in the worst case scenario, and you do become homeless, just give it your all.

[LuciferHam]

That risk, luck and meeting the right people comment resonated with me... ..I feel none of my persuits, music and film making being the two major ones have ever come to fruition.

I don't think I take enough risks. I think if a great opportunity fell into my lap, I might get scared and backslide to whats safe and familiar. Ugh. Personality woes are shit.

[Bob]

BUT in the worst case scenario, and you do become homeless, just give it your all.

no, of course! but definitely don't get homeless

[yeahwho]

Just read this and thought of you guys and getting started out in Hollywood, or anywhere else I imagine applies.

10 Common Lessons (http://www.latimesmagazine.com/2010/06/10-common-lessons.html)