What do you do?

[Dustin]

I'm a seamstress in the campus costume shop, making the costumes for the plays here at Kansas State. That's my during the week job. I'm also a waitress for the suite boxes at the football games on game days (usually weekends, but there's a game tomorrow night as well)

I'm also a full time student getting my degree in technical theatre. Emphasis on props and costumes. I like props better, but don't tell that to my costume shop boss/teacher

Props for the props folk!

I've had two paying gigs on professional shows - both were as properties coordinator.

[Dustin]

Well, I've pretty much been doing retail off and on since 1997. It's something I'm good at. There have also been a few stints in fast food management, as well as a few temp jobs (telemarketing, factory, warehouse, and data entry). I always come back to retail, though. I've worked at the big three discount stores in the US - Wal-Mart, KMart, and Target. I've also worked at The World's Largest Truckstop (Iowa 80 in Walcott, IA) and JCPenney. Currently, I'm the pricing and signing specialist at Toys R Us here in town. It seems I'm on track to become management at some point in the future. I already have occasional "GSL" shifts (that's where I'm the person in charge of the store operations during business hours for a two-hour shift). My main responsibilites are performing price changes (I get a list of items that are being marked up or down, then print shelf labels for them and replace the old with the new), maintaining self-service tickets on large items such as swingsets, pools, and basketball hoops, and setting signage for any and all ad events. It's full time with benefits, and I almost always have Saturdays off. Not a bad deal.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I've done props for two professional stage shows, "Gilligan's Island: The Musical" and "The Will Rogers Follies". I've also done a couple of paid acting gigs (a staged reading at an art museum and a part-time job as an actor at a local science and history museum), and been a voice actor in a multimedia college textbook. I also did a filmed part for the follow-up textbook by the same author. Theatre is one of my many hobbies. So is history. So faire really combines those two nicely.

I volunteer a lot, too. I've been a volunteer in various capacities for the Bix 7 road race every year since 2002, worked at beer tent at the River Roots Live Music Fest, worked the gate at the Celtic Highland Games of the Quad Cities, and directed a living history event at a local historic cemetery. I've also had acting roles with several community and college theatre groups, from Shakespeare to Durang to Calderon to classic Greek comedy, and lots of stuff in between.

As for faire-related stuff, I've helped with setup and tear-down, and was a town crier a couple of years ago.

[Lady Neysa]

I work for my local school system as the cook in a school cafeteria.

[Sitara]

I am a nanny 2 days a week for my best friend. The rest of the time I'm a domestic goddess at home. I also make and sell various hairpieces and types of fest pants as well as making custom scrubs for my neighbors. My previous jobs have been; admin assistant, tax preparer, and data processor for market research company- my first job was as a phone interviewer for the same place.

[Once Debauched]

For the past 11 years (oh good gawd) I've been the office manager for a small direct mail company (NO I can't take your name off the list!) which means I do everything from maintain the computer system to scrub the toilets - literally.  I mostly work with data and preparing it for print, but if there's something around here that needs to be done - walk the dogs, vacuum, standardize inconsistent data - I'm your gal!

When I was younger I wanted to be a gradeschool art teacher and had the wonderful opportunity to work as an assistant teacher at the Saint Louis Art Museum. Unfortunately I was never able to finish my degree.

In my heart of hearts I'm an artist and have been for as far back as my memory can take me.

I can do just about anything artsy or crafty given enough time to figure it out.  It's one of the reasons faire appeals to me so much - a new way to express an old love.

[Rani Zemirah]

I'm a freelance Graphic Designer, and I also design custom jewelry and create various types of accessories from leather and/or fabric. 

I've had all sorts of eclectic job descriptions in the past, including sous chef, carnie,  admin asst., database admin., office temp, street-corner hotdog vendor, tourist trade beach-front palm frond weaver, retail sales clerk for all sorts of shops, phone surveyor, placer gold miner in AK (for about 6 weeks, once), wrangler for outfitter in Yellowstone Natl. Park, poker dealer/house shill in MT, cocktail waitress, professional storyteller, after school enrichment teacher of science for elementary school age kids... and more. 


It's been an... interesting... run, so far.   

[Rowan MacD]

  Hmm..I overlooked this thread...
 I currently work as a collections acct manager for a mortgage company (I set up alternative payment plans for delinquent customers, see why I need faire to unwind?), before that-I set up computer networks for a Y2K contractor.  
 Resource desk for ADT for a (thankfully) short 3 year sprint.
 Before that I spent 20+ years as Aircraft Ground crew (Boeing) in the AF.  3 trips to the sandbox and now retired.

 

[Delireus]

Props for the props folk!

I've had two paying gigs on professional shows - both were as properties coordinator.

Awesome! I just finished a doing props for my first community theatre show, which is performing this weekend. Wasn't paid, but it was good experince

I also got my first paying job as a graphic designer. I put together a CD cover and booklet for Marc Gunn's new CD, Firefly Drinking Songs. Go buy it, it should be shipping soon!

[Jared Thorne]

I have worked for over 7 years in the cutting dept of a local printing company. If there is a machine in that area (guillotine, sheeter, I-cutter, panel saw, etc.) I have either run it or know how to run it. Most of the past 7 years has been spent working on the sheeter, and I have more experience running it than anyone working there. Previously, I worked in data entry for DHL for 4 1/2 years, did some office temp work, and worked for the IRS for 3 seasons.

[scarletnyx]

Moved to Texas from NC almost a year ago ( October 20th will be a year ) so I'm still finding my place in Texas. Right now, I'm working for a certain dealer in electronics who is blue and the "best" in what they do, in their mobile sales department.

I go to Faires to unwind, to remind me that humanity as a whole isn't a screaming spoiled kid who wants a iPhone even though he is 12.

[Norfolk]

Before that I spent 20+ years as Aircraft Ground crew (Boeing) in the AF.  3 trips to the sandbox and now retired.   

Sincere thanks for your service, M'Lady.  'Tis an honor to know ye, even electronically. 

[Rowan MacD]

   Gramercy Baron,
   I should really join the VFW or the American Legion but alas, they keep sending the membership papers (3 sets so far) to my husband (who has never been in the military but does carry a spousal ID because of me). *sigh*   Sexism is alive and well, and continues to amuse me greatly.  I will join once they send the app to the correct person, and not a moment before!
   

[Captain Dungcaster]

I am in business to business industrial sales. I sell tools and equipment to Electric utilities and electric coops. I also sell the rubber gloves and rubber cover up for the electric power lines so crews are able to work safely. I have been in direct sales since I was eighteen. I worked for my fathers little dist. company until I was 25. He sold it and I did auto parts and automotive chemicals. I also was a Tank crewman in the Va. Army Nat. Guard.

[brooke]

I am a Civil (Transportation) Engineer.  We are the ones trying to keep you safe as you travel to faire.    I do research at a university and love never having to leave college for this job 

[KeeperoftheBar]

I am a Civil (Transportation) Engineer.  We are the ones trying to keep you safe as you travel to faire.    I do research at a university and love never having to leave college for this job 

Brooke, if I may ask you a professional question...
Why, as more cars enter a highway, does the speed of the traffic on the highway slow down, causing more backup?  It seems to me if traffic kept a constant pace, say the speed limit, all traffic would move at that speed and backups wouldn't be created.
Or is it human nature to cause problems?