Anyone can be an artist/writer, so what do you do for your day job?

HippieGhost 2021-02-20 22:17:40 UTC #1

Thought this would be a fun little conversation piece. We're all artists and writers, but what do you do outside of your craft?

I'll start, and I've got kind of a busy life . I'm an EMT that does patient transport for the major hospitals around me, so most of my job right now is transporting Covid patients to higher level facilities, and dealing with critical care patients that need a hospital that specializes in a particular procedure. My hope is that one day I can earn enough from writing that I can do that full time and live a much calmer life.

In addition to the above, I am also a scoutmaster for a local Scouts BSA troop, and a cubmaster for a cub scout pack. I teach kids how to camp and hike safely, and encourage them to learn skills that will help them later in life.

What about you? I'd love to hear when our community does outside of writing and comics! Feel free to drop your link as well if you'd like. I'll also do kind of an Ask Me Anything for those curious about what my job entails. I also left my link below in case you're curious about my work.

mrtoontastic 2021-02-20 22:23:50 UTC #2

When I'm not writing any of my books (currently working on The Adventures of Jean-Luc & Joey), I go to school.

I'm in university and have been going for a while now. I never thought being a bio-major student (or being a pre-med student, because apparently I'm not eligible to declare that major for some stupid reason). While I'm not close to graduating, it has been an opportunity for me to finally put my creative skills to work and start posting my writings on a website that's readily available.

It takes a lot out of me to balance both, and to be honest... neither have been as exciting as once imagined. But hey, it takes a lot off my mind. Plus, I'd hate to just abandon all the tales I sat around creating. Who else is gonna take it and finish it for me? TAPAS?

But seriously though, despite not being exciting, I still love writing and drawing all these kooky characters I've created because of my weird imagination. And anything that fuels my imagination will instantly bleed into my work, both creative and school-wise.

GesuGesu 2021-02-20 22:37:42 UTC #3

I'm a school teacher.

LCT_m_a_d 2021-02-20 23:31:44 UTC #4

Curious, what subject(s)?

Tanako 2021-02-20 23:44:58 UTC #5

I'm a District Leasing Manager for a credit company. I manage 130 stores
it's hard work but it pays the bill. I do art during my spare time. Since I Met You

MARNSOA 2021-02-21 00:02:55 UTC #6

I'm a soft scientist and a student right now.

An EMT sounds like it would be hard to juggle both your comic work AND your work, work. I heard that field pulls tough hours, man,, Good job managing that. I think I would have a hard time

orbitkatart 2021-02-21 00:07:54 UTC #7

Sounds hectic and scary considering you're basically on the front lines of the pandemic. I commend you for your work!
I'm currently unemployed because of Covid but I used to code for an automation software company. Since I have so much time, now I focus on art and video game making, also hoping that one day some of it can support me!

AnimeKitty 2021-02-21 00:11:51 UTC #8

That's awesome how you're EMT, scoutmaster, and cubmaster yet still find time for your writing. It's cool seeing what other creators do outside of Tapas. Teaching kids how to camp and hike safely sounds like a lot of fun too. Currently, I work in retail for one of the big box stores. Been there almost two years now. I'm not quite sure I'll ever be able to earn enough from my stories to just focus solely on them, and I don't know if I want to. I kinda enjoy working (when they're not being shitty ) I've met some really good friends at my workplace. I always considered seeking a job in dispatch or becoming a private investigator. Dunno if I'll ever do it though.

Here's the links to both my stories too.

jgreene2433 2021-02-21 00:22:01 UTC #9

First just let me say thank you for your services and hardwork during this pandemic, as someone who survived Covid, I can attest, that the emt workers who transported me were a great source of comfort and very professional.
My day job is not so glamorous I work in the Shipping/receiving area of a department store. It's monotonous at best and infuriating at worst, but I like that it's often slow and I get time to actually work on my comics when I'm at work.

vothnthorvaldson 2021-02-21 00:25:17 UTC #10

I'm a vegetable farmer 🥬

HippieGhost 2021-02-21 00:34:03 UTC #11

I really appreciate all the support you all are giving. It's definitely a tough job, but some days aren't too bad at least. the big thing is the long hours. I lose entire days pretty much

Teira 2021-02-21 01:00:52 UTC #12

I'm a Licensed Massage Therapist.

alcchron 2021-02-21 01:59:50 UTC #13

Ironically, I am a writer outside of writing The Alchemist's Chronicle...I do grant and technical writing, though.

nathanKmcwilliams 2021-02-21 02:05:44 UTC #14

I'm a janitor.

MARNSOA 2021-02-21 02:25:10 UTC #15

Grant and technical writing? That sounds super interesting. Do you have an English major or...? Not sure how you would get into that work, sorry if that's a dumb question

Eiranyx 2021-02-21 03:12:08 UTC #16

I currently own and manage a cafe at the same time I do paintings ^^

Caro 2021-02-21 03:37:16 UTC #17

Before I went full time my last job was as a night janitor for a cleaning company that cleaned up a bunch of random local businesses. Among them were some sort of call center (where we would I would steal one piece of candy per desk since so many people kept bags of candies at their cubicle drawers), a yoga studio, an auto shop (where they hid porn under baseball magazines in the bathroom), and a buncha other places.

That was also the time I started venturing into art for money just doing really straight forward portrait commissions sometimes in oil paints if I got really lucky.

Right now and for the past few years I’ve just been doing art and comics full time but I was recently given an opportunity to start offering workshops on a regular basis. Waitin for covid to be over though so who knows how long that’ll happen.

Prometheus 2021-02-21 03:52:07 UTC #18

That’s awesome, man! Being an EMT sounds like a lot of hard work. So does Boy Scouts. I remember being a Boy Scout when I was younger.

For me: a looooong time I was out of work. I used to be a call center agent, who helped elderly people get to and from their doctors appointments by scheduling pick up times with transportation companies. I did that for three years, and then the company was sold, and everyone started getting laid off. I left before I got axed. Now I’ve been able to find work at Little Giant Ladders’ factory, where I assemble the ladder pieces. It’s not bad work! But the fiberglass can get ya, and that doesn’t feel the best.

Other than work, I’m married and have a kid. He’s a good little dude. The other day I was trying to work on my comic, and he stole my seat to my drawing desk. I wasn’t able to do much that day. But that’s all good! While I wish I had more time to work on my creative endeavors, I’m glad to have my kid and wife in my life, and I wouldn’t change them for anything.

Other than that, I tend to get sucked into the world of YouTube and playing video games. I really like playing games like Animal Crossing, Smash Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Minecraft, Red Dead 2 Online, and FinalFantasy XIV.

ninjashira 2021-02-21 04:09:42 UTC #19

Currently, I'm a full time college student studying Sequential Art at the Savannah College of Art and Design, working part-time at a library, doing tutoring on the side, and picking up comic and illustration commissions where I can, on top of drawing my comic that updates twice a week and working on a pitch packet to submit to an editor at Scholastic I've been working with.

I also run the Sequential Art Club and volunteer to help out with basically every school event I can. I like to stay busy!

gmaximin 2021-02-21 04:22:03 UTC #20

Finance management for an IT consulting company...

I love figures, logic, developing and supporting projects, and finance has many amazing levers and tools for that (from financing to analytical... even taxation can be very useful)...
The team collects, processes and analyzes all information in numerical form, it’s very powerful. Sadly enough, most of the time, finance potential is used poorly, for very trivial and selfish purposes... and trust me, COVID created many opportunities for higher management to reallocate budgets (in their pocket that is)... last year was really really shocking on this, more than usual, and as always, auditors are useless...

I’m generally up very early (stress), so I draw comics about efficiency’s paradox called Effy... to expel some of the daily nonsense from my system... it’s cathartic!