I Called It Quits Today After 7 Years:

Robert Herndon said:
Well, @chilipeppermaniac, TBTH....I made more money playing music than I ever made as a police officer or as a member of the U.S. Navy. I never wanted to do either job, but I needed medical benefits for my kids and retirement, so I did it.

I'm well past being able to do those jobs again age wise, and I really have no desire to do them.

I think, perhaps, for people who haven't earned a living in music, it's hard to truly describe just how much money is out there. Once you hook up with the Musician's Union, it doesn't take long before you have to turn the work down.
Somebody is literally recording something all the time.

I know people who play a 3 hour set for $100.00 and they earn it. But, I've made more than that in a couple of hours worth of studio time and earned it in a comfortable chair under the A/C.

My education consists of a GED. Let me tell you, that don't take you very far. But, in music, my previous project always opened a door for me and the cycle kept repeating itself.

For example, I'm still under contract to a band for another year, getting paid once a month. Not a bad deal.

Now, I'm 55 and have a GED. How much you think I could earn at Guitar Sinner???

I considered opening a guitar shop doing tech work, but TBTH, I don't see big money in that. What do you think???

A full setup down here in SoCal with new strings and a new nut install is $200.00.

In May of this year, you may recall our trip to the bay area. I got a text from a colleague. "Recording job in Petaluma. 2 days. $2,500.00. Accommodations and per diem included. R.U.N.???"

The last line means (Are You In???)

This is how things work once you get established, but most musicians never get into that circle, and maybe some don't want music to be a job....bit I wouldn't want to bust my ass all day loading trucks for Fed-Ex at $16.00/hour, then rush home, shower and drive to a gig and play for free...or play for $400 split 5 ways.

I much prefer, "Hey, Rob. Polaris wants a progressive rock backing track for a new snowmobile commercial. R.U.N.?"

I don't think I could ever say no to these kind of deals....
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I understand. But it is a far cry from " I can;t do any other kind of work"
I also fully understand being limited in well paying jobs for a 57 yr old barely able to walk or even put on shoes and sox carpenter. Like myself
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
I understand. But it is a far cry from " I can;t do any other kind of work"
I also fully understand being limited in well paying jobs for a 57 yr old barely able to walk or even put on shoes and sox carpenter. Like myself
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You just have to view it through my perspective, although I do get what you are saying...

I really can't go back to work as an LEO at my age and with the damage to my back and neck from being rear ended twice in 2016/2017.

Ya, I wrenched on cars a little, but there's no real money in that, so I have to look at two things - my education and my skillset.

My wife works at a State university about 1 mile from our home. A couple of years ago, I applied as a janitor. I got rejected stating "you do not possess the minimum educational requirements for this position." Funny, I thought, that was also applying as an honorably discharged service member.

So, let me re-phrase my statement...

At 55, with only a GED, I can't make better money on the outside than I can in the music industry...
 
Robert Herndon said:
You just have to view it through my perspective, although I do get what you are saying...

I really can't go back to work as an LEO at my age and with the damage to my back and neck from being rear ended twice in 2016/2017.

Ya, I wrenched on cars a little, but there's no real money in that, so I have to look at two things - my education and my skillset.

My wife works at a State university about 1 mile from our home. A couple of years ago, I applied as a janitor. I got rejected stating "you do not possess the minimum educational requirements for this position." Funny, I thought, that was also applying as an honorably discharged service member.

So, let me re-phrase my statement...

At 55, with only a GED, I can't make better money on the outside than I can in the music industry...
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Not trying to be a douche, but I couldn’t get a janitor job, with the school district either, nor could I get a job with BnB for the Santa Fe railroad because of my lack of education.
BnB means bridges and buildings.
So you all know what I do for a living.
I am still a carpenter.
 
Mitch Pearrow SJMP said:
Not trying to be a douche, but I couldn’t get a janitor job, with the school district either, nor could I get a job with BnB for the Santa Fe railroad because of my lack of education.
BnB means bridges and buildings.
So you all know what I do for a living.
I am still a carpenter.
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I have mad respect for your skills. I'm just venting...That janitor gig started at $21.00/hour - More than I made as a police sergeant.
 
Mitch Pearrow SJMP said:
Not trying to be a douche, but I couldn’t get a janitor job, with the school district either, nor could I get a job with BnB for the Santa Fe railroad because of my lack of education.
BnB means bridges and buildings.
So you all know what I do for a living.
I am still a carpenter.
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There's where i get pissed: they say a person isnt even qualified to mop a floor in a school system because they "lack proper education" but there you are, building everyday in carpentry which is a certified trade skill that others have to go thru vocational or apprenticeship training for. That is a trade skill that is considered a higher degree than a highschool diploma.

Then you got folks like @Robert Herndon who is both a Naval vet and former law enforcement, they say the same tired ass bull poop on when they are clearly capable of doing far more than janitorial work. They have this very stupid and naive belief that unless you have a college degree these days: you are hopeless and at the bottom rung of society. But they forget that it was blue collar/average Joe's who built this country and keep it driving along after 245 years and onward.

Not bashing college graduates by ANY stretch ( want to clear the air there) and many are well educated for clear and obvious reasons, as they are naturally destined to do great things like being doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, educators and so on. But at the same notion, there are bull poop degrees like Liberal Arts, Leisure Studies, Art Therapy and Latin/ Sans Skrit( studying a 2000+ year old dead language) and you cant tell me that someone who takes those for 4 or more years is qualified to even scoop dog crap off a side walk. I'll take someone from the School of Hard Knocks everyday
 
Robert Herndon said:
I have mad respect for your skills. I'm just venting...That janitor gig started at $21.00/hour - More than I made as a police sergeant.
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Plus all the benefits , retirement , vacation..
And the cost of living raises that go with it.
A great deal in the long run!
Plus I have had the pleasure of working with some of those guys you speak of.
They made us get off the roof because we didn’t bring the proper ladder, that was 3’ over the point of step off at the top, delayed us for over an hour.
But at $65.00 per hour we didn’t complain.
Cheers
 
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Mitch Pearrow SJMP said:
Plus all the benefits , retirement , vacation..
And the cost of living raises that go with it.
A great deal in the long run!
Plus I have had the pleasure of working with some of those guys you speak of.
They made us get off the roof because we didn’t bring the proper ladder, that was 3’ over the point of step off at the top, delayed us for over an hour.
But at $65.00 per hour we didn’t complain.
Cheers
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Before joining the IBEW, i was nonunion for about 11 years and even then, i still made a decent wage, just didnt have the benefits to boost it. Funniest story was a guy i went to VOTECH with while in High School for Industrial Electricity, went 5 years to college to become an electrical engineer after and i went straight to work.

He got relocated near Richmond, VA in 2007 and came back bragging about how much he made the year prior. Saying " You cant make money like that in WV and NOT having a degree!" I kinda didnt know how to break it to him so i just looked and said " Um , well i made about $17,000 more than that last year on 40hrs a week and never traveled more than 3 counties away" He said " BULLSHIT! THERE'S JUST NO WAY" so i pulled up Turbotax and said " Sorry man, it happened and i haven't gotten 5 years worth of college loans. Im just a dumbass"

He hasnt spoken to me since, swear to god lol
 
Clockworkmike said:
There's where i get pissed: they say a person isnt even qualified to mop a floor in a school system because they "lack proper education" but there you are, building everyday in carpentry which is a certified trade skill that others have to go thru vocational or apprenticeship training for. That is a trade skill that is considered a higher degree than a highschool diploma.

Then you got folks like @Robert Herndon who is both a Naval vet and former law enforcement, they say the same tired ass bull :poo: on when they are clearly capable of doing far more than janitorial work. They have this very stupid and naive belief that unless you have a college degree these days: you are hopeless and at the bottom rung of society. But they forget that it was blue collar/average Joe's who built this country and keep it driving along after 245 years and onward.

Not bashing college graduates by ANY stretch ( want to clear the air there) and many are well educated for clear and obvious reasons, as they are naturally destined to do great things like being doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, educators and so on. But at the same notion, there are bull :poo: degrees like Liberal Arts, Leisure Studies, Art Therapy and Latin/ Sans Skrit( studying a 2000+ year old dead language) and you cant tell me that someone who takes those for 4 or more years is qualified to even scoop dog crap off a side walk. I'll take someone from the School of Hard Knocks everyday
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Ok,

I am admittedly an opinionated poop chute, but if you think I couldn't clean your shitters to perfection, you got another thing comin....

809.jpgGroup Photo.jpgGroup Photo_1.JPG
 
Clockworkmike said:
Before joining the IBEW, i was nonunion for about 11 years and even then, i still made a decent wage, just didnt have the benefits to boost it. Funniest story was a guy i went to VOTECH with while in High School for Industrial Electricity, went 5 years to college to become an electrical engineer after and i went straight to work.

He got relocated near Richmond, VA in 2007 and came back bragging about how much he made the year prior. Saying " You cant make money like that in WV and NOT having a degree!" I kinda didnt know how to break it to him so i just looked and said " Um , well i made about $17,000 more than that last year on 40hrs a week and never traveled more than 3 counties away" He said " BULL:poo:! THERE'S JUST NO WAY" so i pulled up Turbotax and said " Sorry man, it happened and i haven't gotten 5 years worth of college loans. Im just a dumbass"

He hasnt spoken to me since, swear to god lol
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I'd wager that you are smarter than the average bear...
 
Clockworkmike said:
Before joining the IBEW, i was nonunion for about 11 years and even then, i still made a decent wage, just didnt have the benefits to boost it. Funniest story was a guy i went to VOTECH with while in High School for Industrial Electricity, went 5 years to college to become an electrical engineer after and i went straight to work.

He got relocated near Richmond, VA in 2007 and came back bragging about how much he made the year prior. Saying " You cant make money like that in WV and NOT having a degree!" I kinda didnt know how to break it to him so i just looked and said " Um , well i made about $17,000 more than that last year on 40hrs a week and never traveled more than 3 counties away" He said " BULL:poo:! THERE'S JUST NO WAY" so i pulled up Turbotax and said " Sorry man, it happened and i haven't gotten 5 years worth of college loans. Im just a dumbass"

He hasnt spoken to me since, swear to god lol
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Bravo brother Bravo :2Thumbs:
 
So I'm sitting here at home and I get a message, "Hey, Rob our guitar player is out and we got a 5 hour show tonight that starts at 7pm and we need a gunslinger all 80s and 90s metal. No time to rehearse. Can you bail us out?"

I show it to my wife and she says, "Do it! It's what you love!"

Well, I'm officially unemyed, but not really I guess...LOL
 
Robert Herndon said:
So I'm sitting here at home and I get a message, "Hey, Rob our guitar player is out and we got a 5 hour show tonight that starts at 7pm and we need a gunslinger all 80s and 90s metal. No time to rehearse. Can you bail us out?"

I show it to my wife and she says, "Do it! It's what you love!"

Well, I'm officially unemyed, but not really I guess...LOL
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So you gonna take it?
 
Robert Herndon said:
So last night, we got together to work on some tunes for the July 24th show...my Gibson tuner is photo bombing...
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Your other guitar player looks a lot like my ex boss... Had to check twice that it's not him. I mean he's always been fast to act on his plans but probably not fast enough to have moved to cali and started playing in a band since I saw him a month ago...
 
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