posted
Information Technology - I've been doing it since 1987, with a couple of deviations when the work dried up. The thing is whilst it is certainly a lot better than a lot of jobs I have done, being a corporate whore is just something that seems to be missing from my genetic makup. Its been an inteferance of things I have really wanted to do - self expressionism for example - I've long wanted to expand my tattoo collection, but banks seem to shy from people with ink on skin.
But its just not that - I truly believe life should be something you love, and whilst I am fortunate to love it, it could be better - a major part of this is of course work, and the trouble is I just don't love my job. I love the money - a contractor earns a lot of cash, but is money everything? What is better, doing something you love for a pittance, or earning a 6 figure salary and being depressed 40 hours a week?
As you know, I'm mad about my music - can't play for toffee but my photographs are passable, and the whole life on the road, which I have been very lucky to experience a few times with some great and quite well known bands have been magical. A recent jaunt to Norway had me doing a lot more than just drinking the rider and a bit of ligging - I got involved actually working and this triggered a desire to try and do something more than just doing it occasionally as a favor - now I want to do it more full time, and for a wage, albeit a much smaller version of what I earn now.
A couple of speculatitive emails were sent, and I got an invite to a company in Dortmund. I wasn't sure what to expect for a band merchandising company, but was quite surprised to see it as a company with 50 staff, a full design, production and distribution operation, and one still expanding. The job they had me in mind for I soon failed, as it required a driving license, but a lot more discussion, brainstorming and ideas exchange I think has just landed me somewhere I would rather be.
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I now introduce myself as the Benelux and UK agent for Trashmark merchandising !
It has worked out quite nicely - I'll just be working on a commission basis and in my spare time for the next few months, trying to increase the companies band roster by going to lots of gigs and talking to lots of contacts, then once my current contract ends, and if all has gone well, I get taken on permanently and will be going on the road with bands selling merch, as well as continuing to use my other skills to help the company grow. I've even taken on an assistant with a degree in marketing and communications, specialising in fashion, who also happens to be drop-dead gorgeous, who eventually I hope will run the Benelux side of things. I'll be getting to spend a lot more time back in the UK, and maybe even will relocate there or to Dortmund in the future.
At 38, its the last chance I will ever get to have a crack at this, and even if it ends up being something I just do in my spare time, I'm still pretty sure its someting that will bring me a lot of pleasure from life.
So all you musos on here - I am looking forward to your orders
I, on the other hand, have realised that my business partner has extreme difficulties with understanding professional/personal boundries, and have decided to sell my share of the equipment to him (something that won't actually effect my ability to do the job, I'll just have to hire in, which is quite normal).
However, as I haven't done the job I love for 10 months, and I'm currently temp-ing, I am thinking long and hard about whoring myself out to the corporate world...
But anyway - yaaaaah Waynster!!!!
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posted
This all sounds HEXCELLENT. Epsecially as I've been a sell out whore recently. You'll be stocking Interloper tees right? that last line is so annoyingly winky/cheeky/chancy that I hate myself.
posted
Awww you guys - seriously thank you. With something as exciting yet life altering like this naturally I have my concerns, but your support is truly wonderful and only makes me confirm that I am doing the right thing.
quote:Originally posted by New Way Of Decay: This all sounds HEXCELLENT. Epsecially as I've been a sell out whore recently. You'll be stocking Interloper tees right? that last line is so annoyingly winky/cheeky/chancy that I hate myself.
Do not hate yourself - and I would love to chat to you about this. Wildhearts next weekend I'll be over so we can have a beer then and discuss any apparel requirements
quote:Originally posted by New Way Of Decay: You'll be stocking Interloper tees right? that last line is so annoyingly winky/cheeky/chancy that I hate myself.
Au contraire. You're more direct than I might have been if I'd had a try.
[proper spread-eagled corperate prostitution]But I couldn't make "Please, please do an About Inventories T shirt too!" sound good whichever way I said it.[/proper spread-eagled corperate prostitution]
posted
Trashmark will actually do corporate merchandising as well (Hell - Darryn - TMO shirts?) - the way it works mind is you order and pay for them wholesale - sadly not a case of they make them and hope people buy them. The idea is then you resell them on with a mark up. Its a minimum order of 50 as well, but seriously if you need anything apparel related, get in touch!
H1ppychick
We all prisoners, chickee-baby. We all locked in.
posted
I think we should resurrect that old TMO T-shirt thread to get some design ideas (hopefully it's still knocking about somewhere) - I'm totally up for a TMO tee.
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