When the "Day Job" gets in the way...

[Dkerwood]

So here's my situation. I'm a college student in my last year before graduation. My New Year's resolution for 2006 was to really kick our Christian rock band into gear, which we have done... 32 scheduled shows so far in 2006 as opposed to 12 in 2005 and 7 in 2004 when the band started.

My contract ran out on a public school music gig that I was doing, and so I was left this summer searching for a job to make ends meet until I graduate. Unfortunately, my music making skills don't translate well into the rest of the world (ironic that my time spent slinging fast food looks better on a resume than two years teaching music in a school system), so I'm stuck in minimum wage world.

Out of the blue, I get a call from a certain mall department store, and after a quick interview, I'm offered a job selling shoes. $6 an hour plus commission (I average about $10/hour, which isn't bad for a relatively non-skilled job). I told the boss that I was in a band and that we typically do 3-4 shows a month. She was totally ok with that. I told her that during the summer, I'd like to work pretty close to full time, but cut back during the school year. No problem again.

Fast forward four months to now. I'm still working 30+ hours per week (plus my church gig). She's been complaining every time I turn in a request for time off, although I've cut it back almost exclusively for gigs. She calls me today, telling me that there's a "mandatory" meeting on Sunday. Sorry, I tell her, but I've got a gig that night, and I can't justify canceling that on such short notice. She tells me to go where my passions lie, and that we'd work it out...

She's a great boss, honestly, but she likes to use the classic manipulation tricks - first the guilt ("it's really HARD for me to work around your schedule"), and now the apparent peer pressure ("some of the other associates have been annoyed with you, saying that you are getting preferential treatment"). When these don't work, I'm worried that the next form of manipulation with be simply to schedule me during a gig and refuse to work with me.

I'm torn. In my priorities right now, the job is certainly not the highest, but it's still top 5. I'd hate to have to quit (or worse, be fired) over these problems... The money is nice, but I've survived on much less. What's more, I have no idea what will happen with the band once I graduate. I'll be graduating college, my kid sister (bassist) will be graduating high school. The band might be done in August 07. It's time to give it a go.

Advice?

[HardTech]

you can always get another job

[Dkerwood]

Originally Posted by HardTech

you can always get another job

That's my thought, honestly. I applied to Best Buy a few weeks ago just for the heck of it, and they called me back for an interview. Turned out that I had to work at the mall job, and had to cancel the Best Buy interview. I think I might call them back tomorrow and see if we can't reschedule. Can't hurt to look at the options before throwing the one I have out.

I guess another option I can look at is substitute teaching. I'm available quite a bit of the school day, as well as all of Thursday. Even if I only worked Thursdays every week, that's 250-300 every month. It's a bit short of the 800 I've been making a month, but it's also less hours, no long nights, and useful job experience. If I worked the occasional open hour here and there, I'd get even more money. No work over Christmas, however, and when I student teach in January, the subbing will become impossible. I'll need something to keep my stomach full of food, my gas tank full of gas, and my axes full of strings.

I dunno. I figure by August of next year, I'll be teaching in a high school somewhere (hopefully close enough to the band to keep gigging). Until then, I'll need a job that can be flexible and yet pay me enough money through my few hours of availability to work out. Maybe I can join a bar band... *gag* (nothing against bar bands; I just hate the smell of smoke in my gear).

[pklima]

This ain't gonna cheer you up.

It's hard to find a decent job that will have the schedule flexibility to let you be in a serious originals band. I know guys in the US who've been in a similar situation for a few years now and haven't really solved it, just pretty much keep moving from crappy job to crappy job. They both have experience in professional full-time jobs and one has a college degree but it doesn't seem to do much good once you decide that you can't just declare your music career less important.

[BassChuck]

[quote=Dkerwood
She's a great boss, honestly, but she likes to use the classic manipulation tricks - first the guilt ("it's really HARD for me to work around your schedule")[/QUOTE]

Well, if you're involved with the church you should know how to handle guilt.

[quote=Dkerwood
the apparent peer pressure ("some of the other associates have been annoyed with you, saying that you are getting preferential treatment.[/QUOTE]

That's her job to deal with those problems. All you can do is ask for what you need, its not your responsiblity to handle the morale of the other workers. If she can't deal with the promises she made, she'll have to find someone else. If you can't deal with the schedule the job needs, you'll have to look elsewhere.

And on another not-so-happy note. As a public school teacher for the last 30 years I can tell you that the job time pressure you are facing as a shoe salesperson is nothing compared to what you'll see as a teacher. If you're getting a music ed. degree and you'll be teaching performance groups (band, orchestra, choir) you'll probably never leave school at dismissal time.

But then, its the best to make music. Have fun.

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by BassChuck

If you're getting a music ed. degree and you'll be teaching performance groups (band, orchestra, choir) you'll probably never leave school at dismissal time.

But then, its the best to make music. Have fun.

I know a drummer who is the head band director at a local 4A high school. He drums in two or three bands, too. And he's *awesome*!

But...he doesn't have any kids of his own. I think if he had a family, he wouldn't have time for that many bands.

And yes, it *is* best to make music!

Cherie

[txbasschik]

Places like Best Buy are not likely to be any better than the mall job.

The lead singer from my old band, who had to move to Cali, has gotten two part-time jobs that help him keep it together and still let him play.

He's a short-order cook in a small local cafe on the morning shift.

And he works for the Events department of a large local casino and performance center.

The cafe job doesn't interfere with his music, and the events job is pretty flexible, and gets him in touch with other local people involved in music.

Somethin' to think about...

Cherie

[vindy500]

Originally Posted by BassChuck

Well, if you're involved with the church you should know how to handle guilt.

[Dkerwood]

Originally Posted by BassChuck

Well, if you're involved with the church you should know how to handle guilt.

Ouch. Bad experience, Chuck?

Originally Posted by BassChuck

That's her job to deal with those problems. All you can do is ask for what you need, its not your responsiblity to handle the morale of the other workers. If she can't deal with the promises she made, she'll have to find someone else. If you can't deal with the schedule the job needs, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Exactly.

Originally Posted by BassChuck

And on another not-so-happy note. As a public school teacher for the last 30 years I can tell you that the job time pressure you are facing as a shoe salesperson is nothing compared to what you'll see as a teacher. If you're getting a music ed. degree and you'll be teaching performance groups (band, orchestra, choir) you'll probably never leave school at dismissal time.

But then, its the best to make music. Have fun.

Well, I suspect that I won't be dealing with a full time class load while working a full time job and a part time job. I'll actually have the occasional weekend off, and for the most part, my nights will be free. Yes, the time will be demanding, but at least I'll know what I'm in for.

FWIW, the mall job just got worse. Next week's schedule went up. Sunday she has me working open to close (in the afternoon I have a committee meeting with my church job and in the evening we're playing an out of town gig - I asked off for it three weeks ago). Monday she has me working noon to five (I get out of class on Monday at 12:30 and it takes a half hour to commute from the college to the mall - this has been this way since August, and she's only gotten it right two or three times since then).

And Saturday she has me scheduled till 4. My church gig is 45 minutes away from the mall and our rehearsal always starts at 4... I put on my availability sheet that I couldn't work past 2, which lets me stop at home to change and still get to the church by 3 so that I can set up equipment, pick songs, and make copies. She's respected that twice since I started working there. Usually I have to get to church and do the service in work clothes and get the rehearsal started late. It's hurting my church job, and that's the one that I actually enjoy. When my annual review at the church comes up next week, I'm going to have to face questions about why I haven't been on the ball, and what am I going to say?

On top of all that, my grades have been slipping because I haven't had time to do projects on time, let alone study for tests. I haven't had time to practice for my piano proficiency, and I certainly haven't had time to attend recitals - the two last musical hurdles to my degree.

I've even had to stop working out at the gym, which was one of my only non-musical interests. I was a competitive practicioner of Tae Kwon Do, but I've not been to TKD class since this summer. I've got the time blocked out on my schedule so I never get scheduled to work on those days, but I end up having to take that time to work on homework...

I know, it's just moaning and complaining on my part, but still. Is money worth this? I don't think it really is.

I may just ask her to cut me back to 20 hours a week and to give me Sundays off.

[JNBlack]

Fun with time management. I feel your pain man. I'm a full-time student, I work 40 hours min. per week, and I'm in an all-originals band. There's quite a bit of friction with my mates because I can only do Sat and Sun gigs since I work 4-midnight through the week. It kinda limits our practice time, as well. Add my pregnant wife to the mix and I've got myself quite a busy schedule!

On another note, I'm about to put the band thing to rest until I get my degree. I don't have enough time to contribute the way I want to. They'd be better off with someone else.

I guess you just have to decide what's most important to you and prioritize it that way. A guy in my band would rather spend $4000 on a new PRS than replace the busted old furnature in his living room for his family. You can see where his priorities lie.

[Dkerwood]

I can't put the band on hold because of work. Not going to happen. My priorities are first to school, second to my family and girlfriend, and third to my three jobs... although I must admit that the "band job" is a lot more fun to me...

I'd be a lot more willing to cut back on hours at work than I would be to cut back on band performances. Heck, we'll probably take the month of December off (finals and busiest time of the year in retail), but I can't put the band on the back burner.

[Dkerwood]

Ok, latest update.

My gig is still tomorrow (along with my meeting for my church job), and I haven't spoken to my boss since Wednesday. I put a note on her desk explaining that I could not work tomorrow, but I'm still on the schedule...

Boy, fellas, I'm starting to feel sick... *wink*

I really am going to call in. I haven't decided if I'm going to say that I'm feeling sick or that I'm simply using a sick day (ie, am I going to lie or am I going to simply tell them to treat it like a sick day). Hopefully we can get it worked out.

I don't want to go back to flipping burgers. Not enough money in that.

[mrmoonjam]

I think you've allowed her to push you beyond the limits you originally set, and now you're trying to get them back in place. Sunday? I wouldn't call at all, or maybe leave an early morning message reminding her that you can't work that day. IMHO you let her know in writing that you COULDN'T work on Sunday, that puts the onus on her. After all, it's HER responsibility to keep the store covered, it's your responsibility to be clear about what you will and won't do.

BTW, I think it's cool how clear your priorities are!

[Steve]

Where I you...I would begin to think of those endeavors as religious functions as opposed to music functions and approach you boss from that direction.

Right or wrong you'll be about as bullet proof as you can get if termination is a concern.

Here in the bible belt if an employer called a meeting on Sunday they would be lucky to get a 25% attendance and they really couldn't say squat.