I’ve worked steady since I was 12. I used to sell tickets to movies that I rented for free from the public library. I would play the movies in my garage and sell popcorn candy and drinks to all of the neighborhood kids. From there I moved to mowing lawns and had regular customers. I also sold greeting cards door-to-door. During my adult years I had a career in GM and was part of a start up company towards the end of my GM days. 20 years later we ended up selling that company to a life science company and I’m still working for them but planning on retirement soon. My system now is head and shoulders above what I could afford when I was with GM. Only thing is that my hearings not as good haha!
What do/did you do for a living?
With the increasingly high priced items people own and are selling, I'm curious about the line of work people do or have done. I thought my $5k integrated was a massive investment, but seeing users searching for $100k speakers or $75k SET amplifiers has me curious about the varying lines of work people do to afford these items.
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I'm exploring options.... COVID-19 has provided me an opportunity to rekindle my appreciation of music. When it comes to 'stuff' there's always something 'to chase' and my goal is to be able to enjoy and share my enjoyment of things with my friends. I've spent money I've saved for vacation on equipment recently because I am enjoying listening sessions almost daily. Stay well, take care of others if you can. |
I left school in 1964. Began an apprenticeship in Bricklaying and Stonework and Tiling. Shortly after my apprenticeship finished I began working self employed. Worked at it and loved it for 53 years. But a long time back I learnt the truism of what my old mother would say "Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves" So true. Unless you apply this, a person will spend what they earn (poor or rich) on unneeded stuff. SO, now well retired I have two freehold houses and can upgrade cartridges, turntables and so on as I please. |
65 retired sales - sold IT consulting for many names most would recognize. Happy to be retired. System is about 10k - all tubes - Covid has given me a good excuse to be in my ManCave and listen to all my LP's. I have a new amp on order - should be here in 2 weeks or so - and a very understanding wife - 38 years of marriage - no complaints. As another poster said - keep you health. Great thread and interesting to read what everyone used to do/is doing. Stay happy and healthy all. |
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Looking forward to reading these stories. As for me, I started out when I was 14 years of age with a Garard table, Stanton and Pickering cartridges, Dynakits and Lafayette speakers. After college I was working at a calligraphy studio and getting paid like a monk in an abbey. I traded for a pair of Altec 604Cs in garage built cabinets, and bought a Dual 1229 table. Eventually I gravitated to graphic design firms, then ad agencies. I became a creative director but never made big bucks because I didn’t take it seriously, I was more interested in my career doing public art installations which made almost no money. That latter career took up 90% of my savings. I am currently old enough to retire but creative people never retire, they keep going until they drop. I’ve started a new business with my wife doing net zero ready renovations of homes with historic, aesthetic character. The audio system I have today evolved from my teenage system by buying used, store floor models, trading, and the Koetsu Onyx was a gift from a member of a famous 1960s folk rock band who is an environmentalist. That said, my system’s basic configuration has been fairly stable for 35 years. My current system can be found at theaudioatticvinylsundays.com Mr Hafler, where are you now that we need you? The whole concept of Dyna was high end audio for the lumpen proletariat. Now, audio mirrors the dysfunctional economic inequality of the society at large. The industry thinks that no dollar amount is subject to the reach of the law of diminishing returns. Today, one can say that the size of a man’s speakers are in inverse proportion to the size of his, well,... use your imagination - and have little relation to true audio appreciation. |
What a great question! Secondly, thanks to all that responded. My story started in a house with two older brothers and we all collected and listened to music and enjoyed it tremendously. I worked in a local marina, refinishing and equipment operator for 10 years. Moved on to plumbing, residential new construction and service for twenty years. Currently employed in local hospital as Union maintenance/ engineer, which I started just before Covid hit. I have one son in college and and another in his senior year in high school. Been married for 23 years to an understanding wife who puts up with my hobbys. I got back into quality sound with car audio back in the late 90’s. I’m now enjoying a small dedicated room with a humble system which includes an Oppo 105, Rogue Herra, Sherbourn pt-7030,Emotiva xpa5 and my Totem Forrests, Model 1 center and Lynx surrounds. Second system is a Rogue Sphynx with B&W CDM7NT and the turntable from my teenage years, Onkyo Integra.Almost all equipment was financed by side jobs or upgrading existing equipment. Its been an enjoyable journey and have met wonderful likeminded people who share the passion of quality music. After all, its always been about the music. Thanks again and be well. |
Neuroscientist. Have studied visual, auditory and infrared systems at the cellular, subcellular, and genetic/molecular levels. Most recent concentration on neuroimaging (mostly functional magnetic resonance imaging - fMRI) the developing human brain and the effects of extrinsic influences on structural and functional development. First slaked my interest in audiophilia with Dynaco/AR system. Magnepan devotee beginning in the late '70's, Turntable lover, in part because it panders to the satisfaction I get out of tinkering/tailoring the sound to my tastes. Frequently concertgoer (mostly classical/jazz). Or I was up until this pandemic hit. |
Picked strawberries for 25 cents a basket at thirteen, picked tobacco (good money) at age fifteen After High school worked at a steel mill for six years, went out west and worked at a sawmill on Vancouver Island for two years and still have all my fingers and hearing! Went back to collage and got a degree in mechanical engineering. Was never out of work up to my retirement at age 52 My wife and I flipped ten homes over the years when most didn't know what flipping homes was Always liked good music. Early 80's got a used Marantz 2265B and Teac cassett player Cerwin Vega speakers. Did the Yamaha/Paradgim thing But in the mid nineties l decided to step it up a bit and not really knowing what i was doing, I bough a VAC PA 80 80 amp and ARC LS15 pre amp that I still use to this day. My current speakers are Magnepans and my source is the Oppo BD 105 with the Exogal Comet DAC and Audiolab 6000n streamer. Not top tier, but sure puts a smile on my face. And besides I have a Porsche 944 track car( money pit) so I can't spend crazy money on my stereo rig without a divorce involved ! |
After four years as a Machinist Helper, another four years of apprenticeship and years of vocational training, I worked my way up through the ranks of the Mechanical/Electrical Field Tech. Division of one the two giant international electrical corps. After they closed their US operations in the late 80s, the wife and I decided to turn our part time photo work into a full time business. We opened a fully equipped studio and became very involved with in studio shoots and all manner of remote location, custom shoots. After a few years, the wife continued operating the photo business and I became involved in designing and building custom adaptions for medical equipment and for several years, was also involved with doing compliance work for the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act). Over the past twenty-five years I have owned/operated my own canvas and upholstery businesses and have managed operations for others. I am now happily retired, but still have a small shop set up and do canvas/upholstery and mechanical work, mostly for friends and family. Since the late 70s, I have had a love for audio and have shared that hobby with classic muscle cars, motorcycles and boating. Happy listening ....Jim |
(terrific thread) I'm a freelance medical writer/home-office based (3rd career & the best). 35 yrs ago I had a wonderful ~$15K 2-channel system in living room of 1st house. Moved to this 2nd house 30 yrs ago, where there's no good place for audio--and all that 2-channel gear is still in the closet. Now it's all desktop audio + headphones in home office (total ~$10K). It all happened because I love music so much... |
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I’m fairly sure I’ve already related this in another thread, but I’m another retired Hollywood denizen. Spent about thirty years as a Story Analyst at a couple major motion picture studios. Essentially, I wrote book reports for a living. I’d read movie scripts, novels, non-fiction, comic books, etc., etc., etc. and tell studio honchos if they ought to buy the material and make a movie out of it. If the company already owned the material I’d offer up suggestions on how to "improve" it. It’s a process known in the movie industry as Development. I’ve had my share of hit motion pictures. I’ve helped develop a passel of Academy Award winners. I must say, too, that it’s the perfect job for an audio-fool. I’d sit there in my easy chair and blast the stereo as I’d flip through the pages of one more cop drama. |
I played sports as a profession. Baseball all state as a kid got a free ride through college playing ball then double A pros. blew out the right arm career ended. Lived on an estate of a nationally ranked senior tennis player became a USTA 5 in tennis,then blew out the other arm. I lived next to a golf course got to a 6 handicap before blowing out my back.turns out a life in sports and a genetic predisposition to osteoarthritis is not a good combination to have. Now I just kayak the Delaware and ride my bike. Oh to make money I managed a business office in a State's Division responsible for child protection ie investigation and intervention in cases of child abuse. FYI at any one time, we had 50,000 + kids under state supervision( and their parents)for substantiated child abuse, 8,000 kids in foster homes,1,400 kids up for adoption, and 1,500 kids in 24/7residential treatment centers.I listen to music to chill on an old system now as an old man.My system is getting younger one piece at a time while sadly I'm getting older and running out of time. What a ride it's been. |
I do university admissions consulting, and co-own a SAT prep/tutoring company, also a private debate academy. Clients are Chinese mainly, they are the only ones seemingly with the money and desire to spend big on their kids' future... this is really really scary personally as over the last 20 years I have become convinced the Chinese will one day supplant us white folk and rule the world. On a more pleasant note, I charge them big money which allows me to buy $$$ hifi gear. |
I studied psychiatry, and work now for a Italian company as medical-pharmaceutical rep. in Belgium. Live alone and “music” is my life.:”The first, the last, my everything” My best friends ,2 brothers (Tom and Jef) build high-end speakers (Ilumnia Magister). Music is our passion. My equipment is about 90k. |
Worked as a machinist, welder, bridge bolt maker, automotive mechanic, went to Collage to become a system analyst, minor in programming in computer's and the last 32 years at our water company as my final position as chief Superintendent of wastewater! I started with tube amps when I was a kid and now figure my system is around 30 to 40,000.00 in amps, speakers and such! Extremely happy with my system and always looking for better! |
erik_squires I bring madness to the chaos. I know it sounds easy, but let me tell you, it’s a lot of detail work to pull it off day after day. If you have the passion it is easy to get started, but takes a lifetime to master. The thread is 'What do you do for a living?' This seems incoherent, not to mention having to do nothing with the thread. Perhaps you could start a thread of your own. |
I was in the moving and storage business in sales and marketing with the last 8 years getting paid on commission only. I would say that 75% of the "mover stories" you hear are created by the customer from either under estimating or shopping for a low price. For the last 5 years, I've been doing a lot of traveling in my Airstream and spending too much time and money on my photography obsession/business. I could have bought a Lamborghini for what I paid for 3 bags of German and Swiss cameras and lenses. Shooting medium format, I can make wall sized prints. And now most people look at photographs on a tiny screen. How sad. Instagram @coasttocoastphotoatl. |
Well I’m an electrician IBEW who went to the movie theater to see a Beatle movie. Heard If I fell in stereo went home and found out that my 45 didn’t sound that way. Have chased since then. I love my systems have a Meridian home theatre in the basement DSP 5500 with their DSP sub. Love blowing people away. Got myself separated from my first wife 13 years ago by gods grace and mercy and have put together 2 great systems the Meridian and my B&W Diamond (802D fronts HTM1D center and 803D rears 2 B&W subs) system have a ton of movies and CD’s enjoy getting goosebumps when I hear If I fell now. Just purchased a new Trinnov 16 waiting to install in 2 weeks when I get back from Vacation. Thanks. |
Ex Audiostore owner ,partially retired .having over 40 years in Audio rule of thumb 25% at most goes into most products the rest R&D overhead and dealer markup.Most people donot realize this this, cables up to a 10 x markup in some cases.This is why Everything I purchase from Loudspeakers-Xovers to electronics I mod or have modded for only the $$ products use premium parts most Use dependable average grade . This is how Dan Modwright got so popular and have consulting designers to assist in the mod design. by modding you improve upon it 2-3x it’s cost -performance that’s why A good Quality used product then modded can reap Great sonics benefits per $$ spent. Many are not aware. And tweak refinement do count Also. |
Broke failure as an artist; paycheck to paycheck and miserable working for city govt; pretty content now as a moderately successful attorney. I always cared a lot about good sound, but never connected it with gear until I Bought a Luxman receiver 20 years ago off craigslist because I loved its looks and, working for city govt, was utterly miserable and desperate for distraction. That Luxman was my gateway drug and I’ve been hooked since. Built a really good system with very little money obsessively buying off craigslist, selling on eBay. Now, I’ve got a pretty great system, though my apartment is a disaster sonically. Much cheaper systems sound better in larger, more open spaces. I’m working to buy a larger home in great part to be able to set my system up right. I love this hobby! |
Professional artist (painting) and Professor of the Arts at a liberal arts college. Took my first check from the sale of a painting in NYC along w/ my first pay check from the school where I was a newly minted Professor (Miami University,Ohio) and spent it all on a system. Some number of decades later I am still at it. Dear god: My 2 channel system right now would cost $160K to replace if the house burned down. I need counseling. No actually it brings so much to my life I can not imagine living w/o it! Cheers all ! What great hobby. |
Aeronautical engineer working on aero-engines for over 40 years until I retired early in 2012. My love of audio got its real start in college, when one of my roommates brought his Quad ESLs to our shared apartment in London. As he was an electrical engineer, he built his own preamp, and I think he had a Rotel amplifier, and a Thorens turntable with SME arm. For the time it sounded amazing, and it infected me. So now I have a pair of Quad 2812s in my basement system, with an updated Sota Millenia turntable and Oppo 205 into a Nakamichi CA7 that I found on Audiogon. The amp is an Anthem A2. The upstairs AV system is KEF 207/2 and 202/2C fronts with B&W dipole surrounds, with Marantz 8805 prepro, an Oppo 105 and Anthem P5 multichannel amp. No Atmos yet, but there is no end in sight for my affliction, once I can accommodate an 86 inch TV. |
I trained as a singer and conductor of choirs and orchestras, and have spent about 2/3 of my career so far in church ministry and about 1/3 of my career in higher education as a music professor. Not being in a lucrative field has taught me the fun and adventure of improving my system as inexpensively as possible. The majority of my gear was purchased used (sometimes as much as 20 years old when I bought it), but it sounds wonderful to my ears. |
I’m a Master Sommelier who’s worked in restaurants and wineries since I was 14. I’m blessed to be one of the lucky few to be opening my own place next week instead of closing them. Due to COVID there will be no “things going back to normal” for the hospitality industry.Where can we find "my own place next week?" |
