MetaChat - So, What Next?

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25 April 2006

So, What Next? →[More:] I'm gonna be out of work very soon. I have contingency plans so I'm not gonna starve, but I'm eventually gonna have to figure out what my next move is gonna be. And for once I have the luxury of actually thinking about what I want to do rather than just leaping at the first opportunity that comes around. This is a bit disconcerting. But, what to do? Peaceful labor at some mundane job like bartender or deli clerk? wildly ambitious and outlandish like DJ or columnist/novelist? utter unemployability? school? I think the best part will be not thinking about The Job here at DumbCo when I'm not there.

Also, lunch is best poured. But I'm just gonna keep working then go home and watch our rented copy of The Deer Hunter that the clerk forgot to remove the security device from. But I'm not angry with him. In fact I sympathize with my brother worker. I'm rambling.

post by: jonmc at: 12:36 | 44 comments

Cazale!

posted by jrossi4r 25 April | 12:38

wildly ambitious and outlandish like DJ or columnist/novelist?

You will never have a better chance, or be at a better stage in life, to take a risk like this. Take that into account.

posted by Miko 25 April | 12:44

Do not get a job as a bartender.

posted by omiewise 25 April | 13:02

I suggest the nom de plume: Christan Bulger

posted by Capn 25 April | 13:02

A new word was coined in America this week: fratire. It refers to a spate of testosterone-fuelled books about belligerence and debauchery,

While I'm a big fan of debauchery and can appreciate well-played belligerence in the right hands, I am no fratboy. So a new man must be coined.

posted by jonmc 25 April | 13:06

Do not get a job as a bartender.

posted by quonsar 25 April | 13:13

For one thing, you ought to finally do that Hot Buttered Flannel music blog. I've still got yer pretty design sitting here all pristine and special.

Do not get a job as a bartender.

I've already told you that I think you should write.

posted by taz 25 April | 13:21

what's wrong with bartending? I love bars, why not work in one?

posted by jonmc 25 April | 13:22

Write. But. Ask yourself if you can handle the business end of the writing game.
It will involve either a shitty job, or potentially destroying a relationship with someone who is willing to mentor/support/advocate for your work.

posted by rainbaby 25 April | 13:29

Do not get a job as a bartender.

Get a job as a barfly.

posted by cmonkey 25 April | 13:30

Write from your love of music.

posted by brujita 25 April | 13:38

Get a job as a barfly

"Barfly" is an adverb, right?

posted by tangerine 25 April | 13:39

I always vote for wildly ambitious.

While we're here, a few things that always bothred me about "Deer Hunter"

1) how can you just hop a commerical flight and go back to Vietnam in the middle of the war??
2) i forget but theres another one
but mainly
3) how the HELL do you become "good" at Russian Roulette??????? How could he possibly have lasted that long if he was playing all the time?

posted by drjimmy11 25 April | 13:43

There's nothing wrong with bartending. There may, however, be a problem with *you* bartending. I mean that in the most loving way, my fellow ackyhaw enthusiast.

posted by chewatadistance 25 April | 13:43

drjimmy: he's Robert DeNiro. he can do anything.

posted by jonmc 25 April | 13:44

Ask yourself if you can handle the business end of the writing game.

No worse than the business end of any another game. I'm not a real big fan of the "poor precious artist cant deal with business" stereotype. If you want to do it, do it.

posted by drjimmy11 25 April | 13:45

Well drjimmy11, I was a poor precious artist who couldn't deal with business. Neuroses, etc. Just the phrase "the business end of a game" makes me break out in hives. FWIW.

posted by rainbaby 25 April | 13:48

ok, well I am a poor precious artist too, although I will admit that much like Brian Johnson in the Breakfast Club, I am currently not doing any business at all.

The thing is, I hear all the time about how terrible Hollywood is and how everyone stabs you in the back and blah blah blah. And I just think, "yeah. Exactly like every office job I have ever had."

it's just like the business end of any other business (Hollywood is actually nice compared to something really cutthroat like Wall Street), so it's just a matter of being prepared for that.

posted by drjimmy11 25 April | 13:54

[I say "Hollywood" because I write movies, I assume the literary world is similar]

posted by drjimmy11 25 April | 13:56

[more brackets: rainbaby, I do understand your neuroses and not trying to be a smartass. I was more addressing jonmc, as far as if he can handle his crappy office job, he is probably used to business bullshit, and at least this way he can do something he likes.]

posted by drjimmy11 25 April | 13:59

Get a day job and be a writer. Writing pays shit but it's good for the soul. Day jobs are good for the sandwich and tallboy fund.

posted by Divine_Wino 25 April | 14:05

I'm glad you have the chops, drjimmy11. Truly, I am. And I'm not offended. (I'm not a writer, but that doesn't matter.) I'm just saying it's something to consider. Not all of us have chops. Some of us are quivering larvae starving for praise for whatever dumb reason. I'm talking about me, too, not jonmc, I don't know him, I'm just saying there are two sides to the issue, and if you don't have a business head, your head can get pretty fucked up in creative fields. He's been an employee, not an entrepreneur.

posted by rainbaby 25 April | 14:07

I know at least one writer who works as a bartender. The money and hours are tough to beat.

posted by Miko 25 April | 14:08

it's just like the business end of any other business (Hollywood is actually nice compared to something really cutthroat like Wall Street)

Ha, I may have said the exact same thing at some point, except with Hollywood and Wall Street reversed.

I hope you're right though, I'd like to think I'm a tough motherfucker.

posted by mullacc 25 April | 14:08

I can deal with the business end of things just fine (I do come from a long line of salesmen), I'd just rather not anymore, especially for so little reward-financial, spiritual, and temporal.

posted by jonmc 25 April | 14:10

jonmc: As a day job, you should be a bartender somewhere in Tribeca, so I can come visit you for lunch.

And why not pursue both writing and DJing? If you write about music, that might be an good way to get a radio gig and market your show once you land that gig. It probably all starts with a music blog and regular podcast.

posted by mullacc 25 April | 14:14

you work in TriBeca, dude? you need to come here after work more often.

posted by jonmc 25 April | 14:18

I can deal

Gak! I never meant to imply you couldn't, I've just seen many people who didn't, and now I've put my foot in my mouth. *cries and shuts up*

posted by rainbaby 25 April | 14:21

I've been meaning to hit up Antartica, but y'all go so early. I usually work until 8 or 9pm.

posted by mullacc 25 April | 14:24

I didn't think you were implying that, rainbaby. I just wanted to be clear that I'm not some delicate artiste running in horror from the drudgery and messy choices of everyday life, merely someone who for once has some options.

posted by jonmc 25 April | 14:25

well, that's just wrong, mullacc.

posted by jonmc 25 April | 14:26

I love bars, why not work in one?

Working in one might very quickly kill your love for them.... but don't pay any attention to me. Ask yourself what you really want-- your ideal picture of your life a year from now. Then move towards it.

posted by jokeefe 25 April | 14:44

I'm all for a two-writer family.

You know I'm behind you all the way in anything you wanna do. And I know you're the same for me.

(Two people behind each other... is that physically possible?)

posted by Pips 25 April | 15:02

physically possible? That's hot!

posted by omiewise 25 April | 15:09

Hey Jon, I've just begun a freelance career, maybe I can contract some jobs out to you?

As for working in bars, it pretty much did kill my enthusiasm for hanging out in them. Just like working in a gym made me really appreciate my Bowflex.

posted by fenriq 25 April | 15:24

fenriq, I may get back to you on that. And I worked in bookstores for 6 years and I still like hanging out in them.

posted by jonmc 25 April | 15:27

So, what's your freelance career, fenriq?

posted by taz 25 April | 15:32

fenriq: I'm also accepting subcontracts!

posted by Miko 25 April | 15:58

I wouldn't rule out school, either, jonmc. Find one with good adjuncts in the field you're interested in and they can really help you get your shit together and get moving. (I speak from experience.)

posted by jrossi4r 25 April | 17:03

May I suggest a program of action?

Morning: You're still sleeping!
Mid-morning and afternoon*: Write!
Evening: Whatever Job or School thing!
The occasional Late night: DJ'ing at a bar!

Everything you do must now be done with gusto (!)

* You can go to work or school at this time on alternate days of the week, if needed.

I would support some combination of the above, and you owe me a drink for being such a good life coach™, thanks.

posted by safetyfork 25 April | 17:45

Write, damnit, you're at least as good as me and people always tell me I should be doing/have done that.

posted by stilicho 25 April | 18:07

Yeah, another voice chiming in to say "what's wrong with bartending?" I've done it; my bf does it; if you can get in a place you enjoy (good vibe, good clientele, good pace) you can make decent (even good) money and have fun -- plus have plenty of time to write on the side. Because yeah, in the grander scheme of things, jon, you gotta write.

posted by scody 25 April | 20:18

Write. Get a day job that leaves you with enough time and energy for creative work.

Yeah, I'm kinda late to the party. I'm seconding that emotion, y'know?

posted by box 25 April | 20:21

Temping is always an option. My own experiences have been mixed, but lots of people enjoy it. And it's flexible.

posted by deborah 25 April | 20:39

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