What do we do?

Just curious. I know I'm a relative "newbie" here to the site, but I feel like I've already made some real good friends in a very short time and hope to keep adding to the list.

I know we all love to: build guitars, play guitars, look at guitars, discuss guitars and occasionally the music we make on them. But that's all I know. I've always found the cross section of society that we musicians (and builders) make up, pretty interesting, and I'm just curious about what some of us do for the "day gig".

Some of you may be lucky enough to do this full time or even make a living playing music, but I'm sure most of us aren't. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking to get "too" personal. Company names and such are not necessary or asked for. Just curious what you might call your "profession", and I thought it might be a good way for some of us to get to know each other just a little bit better. If this is too "off topic" or if no one is interested, I apologize for the intrusion, and the written results will speak for themselves.

So here goes: I'm a printer. Technically, I work in what is called the prepress department. Been in the business for almost 40 years (I'm 57 by the way). The people in my department PREpare the files and documents for the PRESSes. I got into it by accident as a part time job back when I was in college (a LONG time ago) to make some money so I could by a Fender Rhodes electric piano. Found out I liked it, the pay wasn't too bad and it was even somewhat creative.

Back in the old days it was all cameras, film and chemicals. In 1991, the company I worked for at the time decided to get one of those "new fangled" Macintosh computers and I was selected to see if I could make it work for us. This was back in the early days of what was then called "desktop publishing". Computers were expensive and slow at the time. An 8 megabyte RAM upgrade cost over $3,000 and that was a HUGE amount of RAM at the time. In the mid '90's our first gigabyte hard drive for file storage was ONLY $1,000 ($1 a megabyte) and we thought that was SO cheap at the time.

Anyway, I'm still at it after all these years, and I haven't looked back since. In between times, I've been lucky enough to have been married for almost 35 years, raised a beautiful daughter to adulthood and her own marriage (still waiting for grandbabies!) I've played in a couple of very good semi-pro bands (blues/rock) and have had my share of good times doing that. In more recent years I've been concentrating on just improving my playing, doing a little home recording when I can and building up my guitar collection (about 17 as of last count - not including the ones I've built myself).

Well, That's what I do. How about you?

Views: 403

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

4th Grade teacher here. Not music, just regular curriculum. I turned to teaching after a career in radio. I fiddle around with ukulele and CBG/long neck dulcimer.
Well, I'm yet another Prepress person. The company I work for does mainly continuous business forms, letterheads, etc. Been in the business since 1995.
Hi, Tom. I´m 33 and I started to work in my dad's furniture workshop in my early teens. When I was 20, I became a electronics technician and worked for some major companies here in Brazil during six years. But after two years of unemployment, my love by woodwork made me change my life. Now, I have two jobs: I'm work (self-employed) as a carpenter, where I build custom wood homes, and I have a part time job in the state government. In meantime, since 1989 I have been playing guitar in pop-rock bands, but I'm never been satisfied with this, and I quit two years ago to just play the blues (a lifelong love...). I'm married and have no children, but I have a 16-year old nephew who's just starting to play the guitar and I'm trying to "doctrine" him to good music... Well, when I was in my teens, I don´t have money to buy a guitar, so I was build one with wood scraps of my dad´s workshop. And, last year, I´m rediscovered the pleasure of building homemade instruments with cheap materials. When I discovered the Cigar Box Nation, I was very happy to find a place where we can talks about, show and play simple but unique instruments, and make friends... well, that's it!
I've been in police work for just short of 41 years. 10 years on a local county department, then the rest of the time in "campus" law enforcement at one of the major universities. Still strap on the Glock for 40 hours a week.
I expect I'll have to retire someday...
I maintain all the department's patrol bicycles, and thus am a full-fledged bike mechanic. As such, I do a lot of repair and refurbishing bikes for re-sale; made about 800 bucks this season and I have a nice little roadster I'll likely sell for around 400.
Keep 'em coming guys' - I'm really enjoying this and it sounds like a lot of you are as well - STILL would like to hear from some of the ladies!
What a great thread! I'm a newbie myself and really love what is going on here. I'm an architect (unemployed like most these days), but starting up a new venture with a few friends from my last firm. I just turned 50 and have a great wife of 28 years and three wonderful daughters. I met my wife in architecture school and we also studied art together when we lived in San Francisco. My first job in SF was a paste up artist, I remember photostat cameras and wax machines! Our home is always a cacophony of creative projects, objects, and musical instruments. I starting building things from scratch at a young age (model railroading) and always considered myself a craftsman. I played some bass in high school, but just picked up guitar about two years ago, now it's what "floats my boat". I was looking into luthery as a second career (one I could retire into) when I started seeing these CBGs on the web. I had to build one! I can't say I have enjoyed building anything more. Well, with a little free time , I'll be building more. We'll see where this goes. I look forward to making many friends here!
I worked in the commercial film production business for about 8 years as a business manager and sales representatives (visiting advertising agencies and blowing smoke up their patooties -- that was HARD work, I'm telling you.) Then I stepped out of the working-for-money world for a handful of years to get my 3 children started in the world. Needing a line of work that matched their education schedules, I started teaching art classes at a local preschool. That turned into a really large contract with our large-urban-school-district's early childhood classrooms, including Head Start. I had a bunch of employees and we visited more than 1200 kids a week.

Of course the worm turns, and that contract came to an end, but I still had a foot in few classrooms (but no more employees). I opened my own studio five years ago so I could also teach privately after school and in the evenings, which was a good business model until the economic slowdown. Today I move the last of my stuff out of the studio and hand back the keys. Instead I'll be a vagabond, working out of individual schools after school. But no more evenings and weekends! And I still have my school-day work, in both preschool classrooms and in a K-6 school.
Hi Tom , at the risk of turning this site into an ex printers/graphics get together , I'm another old boy from
the world of printing (old being the operative word)
Loved the job and most of the people , but finally saw the light when some spotty kid tried to talk
to me about fonts and type sizes , and I had to explain that I'd been involved in the industry for a
long long time (tried to explain moveable type , drew a blank look ).
Anyway getting out was probably the best move I made , the girl I was seeing at the time , and who
is now my wife is a florist , so we opened our own shop 22 years ago - so far so good.
I'm now drawing the state pension , a pension from the print firm and the crap wages my old lady
pays me (all in all , just about keeps me in beer and baccy)
Have always buggered about on guitars , never any good , but I just can't get rid of the damn things
and now I'm into CBG's , just what my old lady needed (how old do you think you are , etc etc)
Good to talk
regards OLD OWL
Tom

What a cool idea!!! It has been great reading what everyone has shared about themselves, so I thought I would add to the discussion.

I currently teach Microsoft Office for the Community Colleges of Spokane at the Airway Heights Corrections Center. I have been working there since June; I spent the previous 15 years at Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women doing the same job until they downsized the facility in June to half size and decimated the Education Programs there. I'm grateful to be employed and at a job that I love doing.

Before that I completed a 15 year "gig" with the US Air Force as a Communications-Computer Systems Staff Officer which included being an AFROTC instructor. The Air Force did a great job of financing my education, broadening my horizons, and providing interesting challenges.

I will have been married 30 years this September, all three kids are out on their own and doing fine. In theory, I should have more discretionary time, but I'm not so sure.

I learned to play the guitar in college to be able to sing and play the songs of faith we did at Friday Night Fellowship with Campus Crusade for Christ. I never really stopped playing in similar settings. I picked up the bass a few years ago. I have been leading worship at Medical Lake Community Church for the last fifteen years where I have used my cigar box bouzoukis and bass on occasion to play with the rest of the band (acoustic or electric guitar, bass, drums, vocalists).

I've been building cbgs for about a year and a half now and enjoy all the eye candy photos at the nation. The theory and building details have required more research and trial and error (of course!).

This is a cool place to hang out; lots of creative "outside the box" kind of people! I feel right at home.

Doug
I retired at 60 from Health administration, in particular a health service management lecturer (text book Author) and Nurse ethicist. Since then prostate cancer (radiation treatment) and kidney cancer (surgery) doing very well on both counts so no sympathy required.

Musically i was a Trad band Banjo player in London in the 50s/60s. Got married and served as a missionary in Nigeria and Ghana. Came back to UK and started my management career in order to educate two kids and feed them!
Started making Early Music instruments from a lute kit and from then on I was hooked on EM Instrument making of all kinds. My last instrument was a Portative organ (2 octaves)
Made folk instruments too, psalteries, dulcimers etc..
Lost an active end of my left hand middle finger making an instrument! (Idiot) and never really went back to playing until I discovered the CBG and thought that three strings/open tuning/love of jazz and blues would start me going again. Well it has, but I am as bad a player as ever but love both making the instrument and trying to play!
Having said that I am almost back to EM instruments as I have almost finished a CB Hurdy Gurdy.
Married; wife a "patch worker" and a great vegetarian cook; one son a programmer (or something up market like that) the other a specialist emergency surgical veterinarian.

Other interests are short film video making, writing, wood turning.

PS Migrated from the UK to Australia in 1978. Best thing I ever did. Love it.
Hi Tom,
Pete from stoke-on-trent England here. Left school with no qualifications. I worked in dog kennels, then a small machine shop, then a motor mechanic, copper worker making domestic tubing, back to garage work, then working at a cement works, can't quite remember what i did the second week,lol.
Hobbies have included photography, cycle racing, and breeding Birmingham roller pigeons which I have flown in competition. I won the World cup with my birds in 2004.
Last 15 years been a full time carer for my sicko wife, thats not an insult, she calls herself a raspberry ripple (cripple). Got 2 kids by wife no1 and a 23 years old daughter with my permanent wife.
That's my daughter in the red beret in my profile photo, along with her freind and my sister-in law at a local charity rock concert.
Allways wanted to sing or play music, but never got round to it, then a few years ago I started paying harmonica. I've played in local open mike nights for last 2 years, and I was asked to join a part-time band. I keep trying to play guitar but I think I've hit my hands a few times too often with hammers and such, and taken a few too many blows to the head. I saw a young guy in a bar playing a CBG around 2 years ago and thought it looked cool, so I had a go at making a 3 string for myself.
Once I get the hang of the slide and the 3 chords I''l be away!!
Pigeon Pete.
WOW! - The responses just keep on coming! I am SO pleased with all the letters. We ARE a interesting bunch of folks if I say so myself. Special thanks to Diane for the first response from the fairer side of the gene pool (Love your photos Diane. Really beautiful stuff!). Hopefully we'll have some more before this one runs it's course. Every day I check out the thread and read (and reread) them all. It's really been informative AND fun reading all your stories. THANKS again to all! Keep 'em comin'!

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

smilingdog1 commented on 3 String Blues's video
1 hour ago
smilingdog1 liked 3 String Blues's video
1 hour ago
smilingdog1 liked Glenn Kaiser's video
1 hour ago
Doug Thorsvik posted a video

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

Cigar Box Guitar Slingers - Spokane, 195th Zoom Mtg 03/25/24. Only 1-finger chords, free songbooks here: https://www.cbgslinger.com/download CBG SOF Songbook...
2 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
19 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
19 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
20 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
20 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
20 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
22 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
23 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
yesterday

Events

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->