What's your Day time / main job

[Leonard Smalls]

I was originally a sound engineer at BBC TV, then moved into Post Production Technical Management... Left London and retrained as an electrician, did up and sold quite a few houses, continued sparkying. Meanwhile, the Mrs opened a garden centre - as it seemed easier than crawling about in spider-filled attics I now work there (part-time, rest of the time I look after our 5 dogs and annoy the neighbours by playing bass very loudly).

[King Tut]

I'm a Train Driver/Instructor working for London Northwestern. I've been on the railway since I was 17. In 1992 I went into management for 11 years but returned to driving in 2003 to reduce stress. We work a four day week but training often occurs over a five day week, so instead of taking the extra day as pay, I take it as time off in lieu which allows me to take time off to gig. I'm retiring August after next at age 60. Although I enjoy my job, I've had enough now and can't wait to retire! 

[Kiwi]

1 hour ago, Oopsdabassist said:

Since my company, Carillion went bust in 2017, 

Whoa, missed that one completely...

[LeftyP]

I'm supposed to be retired at 69 but I'm still presenting programmes on BBC local radio which I have done for over 40 years.  I told the station manager that I would keep going until I got it right and he said I would have a long career ahead of me!  Just about to go and present my usual Sunday evening show.

[Silvia Bluejay]

Very interesting thread! It gives us a glimpse of what's behind our avatars, besides our shared love of music and bass in particular.

I was a (mostly) freelance technical translator, copy-editor and proofreader for around 25 years. That also included multiple-foreign-language website and applications testing. I then got bored and fed up with the direction taken by the industry, so I re-trained as pro PR/social media person. Around the same time, I joined Basschat. I also started my music photoblog, and through that was offered to write for BGM and later BPM.

I consider myself semi-retired now, and I'm loving being able to gig every weekend as live sound engineer and photographer for @Happy Jack's bands. There are plenty of opportunities to learn new stuff and make yourself useful, no matter what age you are.

[BrunoBass]

I work in sales, specifically interior products for hotels (wall coverings, furniture, fabrics etc). My clients are architects, designers, and hotel groups such as Hilton, IHG (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza etc), Marriott et al. I’ve worked in this sector for about fifteen years, initially as an area manager, through to national sales manager level and most recently for an American company managing the business throughout EMEA. I say until recently because I’ve just quit and am now off on gardening leave for the next month. The money was good, but money isn’t everything and the pressure, stress and the increasing amount of international travel became unsustainable. I did twenty eight overseas visits in 2019 and 2020 was shaping up for more. In January I was presented with my March travel schedule; Dubai, Turkey, Russia, Saudi, Malta, Hungary, Poland. That really was the decisive moment and I started looking for alternative employment. As a middle aged man with a young family it just doesn’t work, and it’s not the job I originally signed up for. I start a new job with a different company, same sector but UK only, in April. 

Before that I was a photographer, doing weddings, fashion shoots and latterly family portraits, and before that I worked as a metal fabricator for a long time, which if I’m honest was the best job I ever had, or the most enjoyable at least.

I’m not a career guy. All I want to do is write and record songs, and play bass in pubs at the weekend. Unfortunately this doesn’t pay the rent; I work to live, not live to work. Somehow I managed to find myself in a fairly senior position that the single, 30 year old me would’ve loved but the 51 year old me struggled with. I always felt a bit out of my depth in a senior role and always felt a bit of ‘imposter syndrome’. 

 

[paddy109]

Registered Mental Health Nurse - currently working in a homeless hostel as part of their outreach team. I walk the streets looking for rough sleepers and try to help them. As you can imagine I have cursed the recent weather!

[Raslee]

I'm a typical burned out registered 'Social Worker'.....now a Deputy Manager in a NHS Community Mental Health Team...essentially stuck between a rock and a hard place daily.

[binky_bass]

Fluffer 

[mikebass456]

Slap or fingerstyle binky?!😆😆

[binky_bass]

Clients choice. 

[Cuzzie]

8 minutes ago, binky_bass said:

Fluffer 

Self employed?

i know a finisher I can put you in touch

[grandad]

H M Forces.

Electronics Technician.

Lecturer.

Foster carer.

Retired.

Edited May 13, 2020 by grandad

[ribbetingfrog]

I could tell you, but then you’d have to kill me.

My job is my dirty little secret 😈

[BlueMoon]

Occupational Health Physician (workplace doctor). Now retired.

Resident band expert on tinnitus, RSI, back-ache etc.........you name it. In my current band we have a wide selection of ailments that still keep me busy.

 

[Dood]

I don't have a "real" job. I'm a musician ha ha!

I'm also a journalist, a session musician, a private music teacher & does-stuff-on-video-for-money-er (gear reviewer). I'm also available for gear demonstrations should any brand need them done.

[Bassman Sam]

Started out in a dairy on a milk production link. I then moved to London in 1975 and started work as a telephone engineer for the Post office, just before they became BT. Worked my way up to management before being made redundant in 1992. When on to work in the Civil Service for 3 years then went back into Telecommunications as a project manager. After another redundancy, I worked for TNT as depot supervisor. Another redundancy followed and I'm now a delivery driver. Next February, I'm retiring and moving to Thailand with my wife, where I have a house.

[paddy109]

57 minutes ago, Raslee said:

I'm a typical burned out registered 'Social Worker'.....now a Deputy Manager in a NHS Community Mental Health Team...essentially stuck between a rock and a hard place daily.

Become a AMHP?

[Paul S]

I trained as a pharmacist, decided I didn't want to count tablets for the rest of my days, worked in a petrol station filling cars (yes, they had people filling cars then) until I decided what I wanted to do.  Couldn't decide so joined the police   Served 15 years, was ill for 5 years with ME and was given a medical retirement.  Re-trained as a garden designer, ran a small plant nursery and also started to study a particular branch of horticulture that was untested.  Retired now but write and give talks on my specialist subject.

[Bassmidget209]

I'm optometrist working 6 days a week for the family business, largely in deprived areas around Glasgow. Frequently very challenging but also really rewarding. Done in most of the time but can't imagine myself anywhere else 😊 (pretty sure this is a form of Stockholm syndrome but nevermind)

[martthebass]

Technically a high temperature materials engineer working in what’s left of the UK steel industry but have also dabbled in the past as a secondary school teacher and FE lecturer. Currently working in technical procurement which sounds interesting but erm......

[madshadows]

Now a retired professional loafer

But previously worked in the civil service (21 years), IT Contracting for about five years and then worked as a bis driver in London until I retired March 2019 at age 60 !!.

Now just enjoying retirement but thinking about getting a part-time job 😛 

 

John

[Bleat]

Got made redundant in October 2019, so decided to take a risk and try self employment. It's been a real big jump for me,  but I  have always wanted to run my own business,  with a good, positive ethic behind it (and one that would only need a fairly modest outlay of money to start up) , so have recently started an Eco-Cleaning Service for residential and small businesses. Only began at the start of February, but already have gained 4 regular clients which is not bad. I get to drive around the beautiful countryside of Mid Wales borders and NW Herefordshire, and also am meeting new and nice , interesting people. Hopefully If it keeps going this way, I will be a reasonably profitable business in my first 12 months.

 

[miles'tone]

I'm a teaching assistant at an autism resource base within a mainstream primary school. The money is crap but I do actually enjoy going to work in the morning. 

It's the first job I've ever had where I don't have to pretend to be a something or other, I just show up as me and it's valid. 

[bassbiscuits]

In terms of qualifications I’m a journalist with several years service on various local papers,  but for the last 14 years I’ve been a council press officer.

Bit easier to fit around childcare commitments and gigs, and they’re a good bunch to work with.