Things I Do Sean M Puckett 9/2 '14

I think it's interesting how in the West we often pigeonhole people based on what they "do" -- like "oh, Bob's a Dentist" -- and I think that's really kind of unfair. 

So, at the risk of seeming douchey, here's a list of things I do with reasonable competency. Basically what things I either have or would be comfortable accepting money to do.

  • Computer programming, including analysis and architecture. 
  • UX and visual design, typically for printed communication or UI purposes.
  • Systems analysis and solution synthesis in a broad range of arenas.
  • Homebuilding stuff, including construction, trim, plumbing and electrical.
  • Cabinetmaking, furniture building and wood turning; chunky but functional.
  • Vocal performance, both spoken (books/VO) and sung.
  • Theatrical performance, both on stage and in front of a camera.
  • Writing, both original (essay length) and adaptation.
  • Event, portrait, landscape, architectural, art and repro photography. 
  • Digital image processing and retouching, as in "Photoshop".
  • High end hardcopy photo production (gallery quality prints).
  • Instruction of many (but not all) of the above skills, 1-on-1 or group.
  • Managing people in doing many (but not all) of the above tasks.

There's a longer list of things that I do at a novice level or just to save paying a professional to do; stuff I wouldn't do for someone else for money. 

Anyway --- what do you do?

Considering this a "getting to know you" kind of shared discourse, feel free to post your answer in your own journal -- you don't have to answer in my comments, though you may want to say "hey read my journal!" 

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9/2 '14 9 Comments
Are these things journals? Hmm.
Sean M Puckett
Sounds like you and I need to go bowling!

I will likely post a response to this under my profile and link here when complete.
Matt Lichtenwalner
Had to erase a long comment when I realized I'd misunderstood the post. I've actually done very few things for money, because, well, I don't have the hustle (and maybe don't want it.) I've been paid to be a sysadmin -- a lot, a software engineer, a customer support dude, a teacher (evening course at the tech school.) I got paid to run ads in my podcast for a while, maybe that counts.

"Would be comfortable getting paid" is trickier. I've read stories for Librivox. I've played and still play live music in front of live people. I wrote, audio produced, and voice acted in amateur audio dramas. I make websites. I do desktop publication work. I've written short stories (I actually did try to get paid for that, to no avail.) I preached about once a month for some 15 years. But I don't know (with the aforementioned exception) that I'd really want to get paid for any of that. Some of it, maybe. Some of it I honestly fear would be spoiled by monetizing it. But I'll never know, because I don't have the hustle.
R. Francis Smith
I use Librivox already, but is there a place I could find the audio dramas? (I drive for a living so I go through a LOT of audio books/podcasts.)
Matt Lichtenwalner
Sadly, the audio dramas I worked on are no longer available. Pendantaudio.com was the place, but it's pretty different these days, I guess.
R. Francis Smith
Would you recommend the experience? I've thought of creating some small production stuff with friends in the past but haven't yet.
Matt Lichtenwalner
Addendum: best piece of advice I can give -- in any ultimately self-published venue -- is to be realistic about your expectations. The show I considered my baby had around 1500 monthly listeners (well, downloaders, anyway) if I recall correctly, and I was blown away by that number, because I went in with very modest expectations. My podcast before that, I remember celebrating enthusiastically when I hit 100 unique downloaders. Like I said... keep that bar low, that's my recommendation. :)
R. Francis Smith
Heh. Yeah - THAT's a lesson I've learned well already, but thanks.
Matt Lichtenwalner
I loved doing it, but it is super time consuming, or at least can be; we were on a firm monthly production schedule so that had a lot to do with it. On the other hand, having a production schedule was a great experience -- learning to shrug off motivation blocks and just plunge ahead.

Having all my work pulled from availability was terrible and I am still pretty bitter about it, but that doesn't make the years I spent doing it without value. I had a good, if sometimes exhausting, time. I may yet do it again, just on my own terms.
R. Francis Smith