Why I'm Glad I Have a Day Job

This is what a theatre looks like.

I wrote a guest post over at Always the Planner a few months ago where I talked about some ways to get closer to your dream job.  You should go check it out if you haven't already.

The last bit of advice that I suggested in that post was to make sure to remember that you've got bills to pay.  My point was that if you've got steady income from a day job, it may be best to continue working in that position until you develop stronger footing in whatever your passion may be.

I'm pretty glad that I've taken my own advice.  Here's why.

Today, I start rehearsing for a play at one of the most reputable regional theatres in my area.  I will be working as the understudy for the male lead.  Because of this, I will not have to attend all rehearsals, but I will have to learn all of his lines (obviously), attend certain/most rehearsals, and be on call for all performances (it's the sort of thing where you'd like to go on stage, but you'd really rather whatever it would take for you to go on stage didn't happen [e.g., the lead actor would likely have been seriously injured and physically could not perform]).*

My rehearsal today is just over eight hours (including the meal break).  Even as an understudy, I'll probably spend close to a hundred hours total in rehearsal, and that's not counting the performance times where I'll need to be ready to go even though I will probably (knock on wood) not have to.

In exchange for my time, I have a contract with the theatre which states that they will pay me $250.  If my hundred hour figure above is accurate, that's $2.50 an hour I'll be taking home, pre-tax (which is about as good as the money I make over at Fiverr).

If the above sounds like I'm complaining, I assure you that I am not.  I'm chalking this whole experience up as a win.

First off, in my experience, the networking that comes with being in shows leads to more shows.  Second, I'm pretty excited to even be getting the opportunity to do anything with this show because I've never worked with this theatre company before.  I hope that my involvement will open the door for me with them in the future.

I love what goes into being an actor.  I have gladly done it for free, and I'll almost certainly do it for free again.

While one day, I hope working in theatre is all I do, I'm just glad having my day job affords me the opportunity to pursue what I love, even if it's on the side right now.

We've all got to take steps.  Here's another one for me.

*A buddy of mine is having a bachelor's party weekend while the show is going on that I can't go to; that's the only part that I'm complaining about.  Feel bad for me.

Photo by Andypiper.

Best and Worst Jobs - Yakezie Blog Swap #12

(This post is by Kay Lynn Akers as part of the Yakezie blog swap #12. Kay Lynn writes about money and life on the way to retirement at Bucksome Boomer (which is where you can read my post on the same topic).

Certain jobs seem really great. Play time as kids might have included pretending we had those careers. We wanted to be astronauts, movie stars and rock musicians. The only one of those I had a real shot at was being an astronaut and science courses didn't appeal to me. My perspective's changed over time and now I think more about the traits of the ideal job versus the actual role.

Traits of the Best Job in the World

1. High Pay: The best job would result in an income high enough to live well and save for the future.

2. Flexible: Having the ability to control your own schedule makes a big difference in job satisfaction. Being able to start your day when you want is why lots of people like their job.

3. Fun: I know there's no job that is fun 100% of the time, but it's got to be fun most of the time! Life's too short to not enjoy it.

4. Self-Directed: Just because a job is flexible, doesn't mean you control what you do and when. Being able to determine what you will work on and when is imperative.

5: Challenging: I want a position that makes me think and grow. Working in the technology field gives me that on a daily basis. All these criteria add up to the job of Entrepreneur. Starting your own business can give you all of the above plus more. It's the best job in the world.

Worst Job in the World

The opposite of the above traits makes for a pretty bad job. Add an unpleasant work environment to it and it's a contender for the worst job in the world. If you've watched the TV show, Dirty Jobs, you know about some of those roles. Cleaning out septic tanks, collecting garbage, and more. But there's dignity in honest work no matter how hard or awful the job. The worst job in the world is not having one when you want it. Yes, being unemployed is the worst job! It's never too late to think about giving yourself the best job in the world; being your own boss.

What steps are you taking to have the best job?

San Diego Power Outage Thoughts

Yesterday, according to some early reports, a worker in Arizona flipped the wrong switch while working on a power line, which caused around 1.4 million people in the San Diego area to lose power.  I live in San Diego, but I wasn't put out too much by the outage (my power was turned back on around 10 pm).  In fact, the outage gave my wife and I an opportunity to have dinner (thank you gas barbecue grill!) with some neighbors who we've been meaning to get to know a little better.  Most of the area now has the power back on, but there others who are still in the dark.*

During the blackout, I noticed or heard about two things last night that had to do with money, and I thought I'd share.  One of these is admirable, the other, not so much.

First, the admirable: I mentioned above that I grilled last night.  What I didn't mention is that I had to go to Lowe's to refill my propane tank.  While at Lowe's, I noticed a guy was loading a generator with a price tag of $1,000 into the trunk of a pizza delivery car.  I think this is admirable because it shows initiative; if this pizza company is the only restaurant that can deliver in the area, they stood to make a lot of money.  Also, this company was helping with something vital: they were hoping to continue to deliver food to the hungry. 

Next, the less than admirable: during a blackout, one issue that people are concerned about is keeping food from spoiling.  As such, there was a major run on ice last night.  I live around the block from a 7-11, and that store had a line out the door for hours last night with people wanting ice or cold drinks.  With the demand for ice at a high, I heard on the radio that one local liquor store decided to jack up its prices for a bag of ice from $2 to $5.  While the liquor store certainly *can* price its goods at whatever it thinks is fair, I think it's deplorable for them to do so in the middle of a blackout where people aren't thinking as clearly as maybe they should (the first reports we heard said that we probably wouldn't be back on until late last night, or possible even into today).

Way to stay classy, San Diego.

The major difference that I see between the admirable and the un-admirable is that the first person was taking some initiative to not only help his business, but also to provide food to people who may not have food stored for unforeseeable events.  The second example, the liquor store, I feel like was just taking advantage of the situation.  While I understand that this is how a capitalist economy works, it just makes me a little sad-face.

What are your thoughts?  Do you think the liquor store was justified?  Or, do you think the pizza place was as big of a crook as the liquor store?  Let me know in the comments.

*For what it's worth, the woman in the picture of the link is a coworker of mine.  She is also a part-owner of a local restaurant, and I guess a patron got out of hand last night and attacked her.  Scary stuff.

How I Asked for (and Received) a Raise

If you're like most working people, you probably would like to get paid more for doing the same work. Who wouldn't? Recently, I had the opportunity to re-apply for the full-time office job that I had left two years ago when I went back to school to get my master's. This is an opportunity few people have, and one that I am blessed to have had; even when I left the position, I figured that I would probably never have as good of a job again. So, when I heard that the position was opening up again, I was eager to throw my hat in the ring.

Next, obviously, came the interview. During the interview, I asked for a small raise, and I presented my reasoning for why. The rest of the interview went well, and when I heard back from HR, I was told that my new/old boss had authorized just shy of an effective 10% pay increase from what I had earned before! I was blown away as I had hoped to receive in the neighborhood of 2-3%, so getting 10% was kind of like going to bunt in a baseball game and somehow managing to hit a home run.

While I can't take too much negotiating credit (my boss was outrageously generous, by any stretch of the imagination), I've decided to share some of the issues I was thinking about when I asked for a raise. While my situation was unique, I still think there are some nuggets of truth to be gleaned.

1) I had industry knowledge - Even though I went back to school full-time in the fall of 2009, I still spent over a year working as a temporary worker for the same company (half of which was spent working in the same department in the same position for the same individual who just rehired me). The rate at which I was being paid during my two stints was equal to the rate I had been paid before I left (minus any bonus money). From this perspective, I felt my raise seemed reasonable as I had been working in the same industry, even if it was "only" as a temp, and I had been developing industry knowledge over the last two years that Joe Schmoe with a different work background wouldn't have. This was my key point in asking for a raise.

2) I had position expertise - While my employer could have hired somebody fresh, it would have been at his disadvantage to do. As I've already worked in the position (both salaried and as a temp) for over a year and a half, I have a good feel for how the position runs, what the expectations are, and whom to speak with in the company if I have questions. Joe Schmoe certainly wouldn't have had that. Along the same lines, my boss has the bonus of not losing hours of potential productivity due to a brand new person's learning curve.

3) I had the guts to ask - I'll tell you a secret: I almost didn't ask. I had gone into the interview with guns-a-blazing (in my mind), but, once in that conference room, I found myself quite timid. During a lull in the interview, my boss said something along the lines of, "Do you have any questions? Anything else you'd like to discuss?", and I knew that it was either ask at that point, or be content with the same salary until March (which is when annual reviews are conducted)*. At that point, I squeaked out my raise request, and, fortunately, it was met immediately with a positive response. Had I not brought the issue up, it seems like I likely would have been hired anyways, but I'd still be making the same money I have been making for the last two years (although, it certainly will be nice to now get paid sick days, vacation time, and holidays).

In short, I think the position I was in was particularly advantageous when I asked for the raise. Many of you reading this are almost certainly not in the same place career-wise. Still, I think the above can be useful as negotiating tips in your own annual or semi-annual reviews. Make it a point to say that you have industry knowledge that others might not have. Make it a point to say that you are the best qualified person for your position in the company. And never feel badly about asking; if you don't ask, you could be leaving money on the table.

*That said, I think my wife and I already get paid an obscene amount of money. "Just" getting paid at the same rate would have been very generous in and of itself. Still, it certainly feels like the American way to want more, doesn't it?

Thursday Links

The Best Job in the World - Australia is willing to pay someone to live in a beautiful house on an island in the Great Barrier Reef and blog about the experience. They are paying $100,000 American dollars (roughly) for six months.

25% off Borders Gift Certificate - For Borders Rewards members only, expires 1/19/09.

$25 Restaurant Gift Certificate for $4 - Use coupon code "Exclusive," expires 1/19/09.