what else do you guys do?

[ghettosynth]

This has been an enlightening read.

[michael2]

This has been an enlightening read.

it has been for me as well.

[SampleScience]

I'm 30 years old, male, living in a small apartment with my brother in Montreal (Canada). I don't work, I live off my student loan (+ grant), so I study very hard during the semesters at the University in Psychology & Sociology.

During the summer I make music, watch tons of movies, I make mixes for the University's radio + various podcasts, read sociology/psychology books, old litteratures & philosophy.

I'm also a horror/sci-fi guy, I like Philip K. Dick, Roger Corman's movies from the fifties & sixties, all those cheap CGI movies like Mega Piranha & the likes... I like Godzilla, Orwells, Vernes, Poe, Lovecraft, etc...

I've worked 7-8 years in manufactures, it was really painfull & depressing. Now I excel at psychology & sociology & I'm very happy with that! I'll probably become a university teacher as I really like school a lot!

While music has became a hobby for me, I really tried hard to have success with my music years ago, but it never came. The couple of albums I have self produced got good reviews but no sales... my sound libraries sells well though.

I used to be very obsess with music making a couple of years ago, but now I feel there's too much of everything & I find that the music market is oversatured. In a sense it's a good thing, because if there's a thing I'd like to have to fit my needs there's almost 100% chances that it's somewhere on the internet! But it's not special anymore for me, I much prefer the good old underground (tape cassette scene) that still exist today, where creativity is not limited by bounderies set by trends...

[jancivil]

I'm 56, one of life's real losers. I dropped out of the classical concert performing seal world I aspired to as a youth as I clearly wasn't going to become a star (or probably even survive that grind).

I moved to SF, CA where my focus was entirely different, improvisation and more of an interest in sound. I became involved with an avant-garde crew there. By this time the idea of making money by music was not foremost in my mind, and I found I had to make a living. Who knew. I was a bike messenger and I got by ok, I was the gravy dog where I was... until someone pulled out in front of me as I came down one of SF's bigger hills at high speed. I should probably have died from colliding with the street face first at that velocity. I did that gig because it was not something that sucked my brain, it was good exercise/good endorphins, I was outside and not in a cubicle or some horror...

I was crippled by that crash. I ended up with no opportunity to properly recover owing to how the worker's compensation [insurance] relied on a corrupt physician (who was caught and prosecuted subsequently) there. I was addicted to opiates for a couple of decades. My father held onto some of his capital dodging the revenuers and left me a little bit... I opted for a robust DAW rather than other property - I have no life, music is all I could ever do and I'm not going to live a long time - I made choices a lot of people wouldn't make. Some of them weren't any good. But I made the choice of learning as much about every single aspect of music I could, and to follow my own lights, in favor of making money at it. So today, the twisted and broken path that my life took has resulted in me making exactly the music I want to make to a level of satisfaction I never imagined possible.

The SSI pays my rent to keep me out of the workplace. I could go postal they believe.

the last person I spent any time in real life with is 24 years younger girl than I, we got along great for no better reason but a simlilar sense of humor I guess, but she moved to San Diego to start a new life or something.

besides music I like to argue with people. I skipped out of school at 16 and writing and testing ideas in the form of an argument is compelling to me. I have written up a number of ideas in fiction, two screenplays, and poetry but I don't have the energy to push it, nor do I want to live in LA. I did that stuff as a substitute for getting music done really.

[Jace-BeOS]

Why are so few of us "normal" and "successful?"

I briefly considered post a few polls about serious health issues, autism spectrum and employment/disability. Apparently it sucks to be a musician/kvr regular.

[Tricky-Loops]

I'm 56, one of life's real losers. I dropped out of the classical concert performing seal world I aspired to as a youth as I clearly wasn't going to become a star (or probably even survive that grind).

I moved to SF, CA where my focus was entirely different, improvisation and more of an interest in sound. I became involved with an avant-garde crew there. By this time the idea of making money by music was not foremost in my mind, and I found I had to make a living. Who knew. I was a bike messenger and I got by ok, I was the gravy dog where I was... until someone pulled out in front of me as I came down one of SF's bigger hills at high speed. I should probably have died from colliding with the street face first at that velocity. I did that gig because it was not something that sucked my brain, it was good exercise/good endorphins, I was outside and not in a cubicle or some horror...

I was crippled by that crash. I ended up with no opportunity to properly recover owing to how the worker's compensation [insurance] relied on a corrupt physician (who was caught and prosecuted subsequently) there. I was addicted to opiates for a couple of decades. My father held onto some of his capital dodging the revenuers and left me a little bit... I opted for a robust DAW rather than other property - I have no life, music is all I could ever do and I'm not going to live a long time - I made choices a lot of people wouldn't make. Some of them weren't any good. But I made the choice of learning as much about every single aspect of music I could, and to follow my own lights, in favor of making money at it. So today, the twisted and broken path that my life took has resulted in me making exactly the music I want to make to a level of satisfaction I never imagined possible.

The SSI pays my rent to keep me out of the workplace. I could go postal they believe.

the last person I spent any time in real life with is 24 years younger girl than I, we got along great for no better reason but a simlilar sense of humor I guess, but she moved to San Diego to start a new life or something.

besides music I like to argue with people. I skipped out of school at 16 and writing and testing ideas in the form of an argument is compelling to me. I have written up a number of ideas in fiction, two screenplays, and poetry but I don't have the energy to push it, nor do I want to live in LA. I did that stuff as a substitute for getting music done really.

56 years old, really?? So that photo of you at Soundcloud is an old one?

But one thing what bothers me more: Should I say Ms. Civil or Mr. Civil??

[hibidy]

n/m

[Hink]

I'm 56, one of life's real losers. I dropped out of the classical concert performing seal world I aspired to as a youth as I clearly wasn't going to become a star (or probably even survive that grind).

I moved to SF, CA where my focus was entirely different, improvisation and more of an interest in sound. I became involved with an avant-garde crew there. By this time the idea of making money by music was not foremost in my mind, and I found I had to make a living. Who knew. I was a bike messenger and I got by ok, I was the gravy dog where I was... until someone pulled out in front of me as I came down one of SF's bigger hills at high speed. I should probably have died from colliding with the street face first at that velocity. I did that gig because it was not something that sucked my brain, it was good exercise/good endorphins, I was outside and not in a cubicle or some horror...

I was crippled by that crash. I ended up with no opportunity to properly recover owing to how the worker's compensation [insurance] relied on a corrupt physician (who was caught and prosecuted subsequently) there. I was addicted to opiates for a couple of decades. My father held onto some of his capital dodging the revenuers and left me a little bit... I opted for a robust DAW rather than other property - I have no life, music is all I could ever do and I'm not going to live a long time - I made choices a lot of people wouldn't make. Some of them weren't any good. But I made the choice of learning as much about every single aspect of music I could, and to follow my own lights, in favor of making money at it. So today, the twisted and broken path that my life took has resulted in me making exactly the music I want to make to a level of satisfaction I never imagined possible.

The SSI pays my rent to keep me out of the workplace. I could go postal they believe.

the last person I spent any time in real life with is 24 years younger girl than I, we got along great for no better reason but a simlilar sense of humor I guess, but she moved to San Diego to start a new life or something.

besides music I like to argue with people. I skipped out of school at 16 and writing and testing ideas in the form of an argument is compelling to me. I have written up a number of ideas in fiction, two screenplays, and poetry but I don't have the energy to push it, nor do I want to live in LA. I did that stuff as a substitute for getting music done really.

56 years old, really?? So that photo of you at Soundcloud is an old one?

But one thing what bothers me more: Should I say Ms. Civil or Mr. Civil??

really? this is what you want us to believe you do when you're not making music?

[experimental.crow]

Why are so few of us "normal" and "successful?"

I briefly considered post a few polls about serious health issues, autism spectrum and employment/disability. Apparently it sucks to be a musician/kvr regular.

well , one of us is normal ...

[hibidy]

[zerocrossing]

I'm 56, one of life's real losers. I dropped out of the classical concert performing seal world I aspired to as a youth as I clearly wasn't going to become a star (or probably even survive that grind).

I moved to SF, CA where my focus was entirely different, improvisation and more of an interest in sound. I became involved with an avant-garde crew there. By this time the idea of making money by music was not foremost in my mind, and I found I had to make a living. Who knew. I was a bike messenger and I got by ok, I was the gravy dog where I was... until someone pulled out in front of me as I came down one of SF's bigger hills at high speed. I should probably have died from colliding with the street face first at that velocity. I did that gig because it was not something that sucked my brain, it was good exercise/good endorphins, I was outside and not in a cubicle or some horror...

I was crippled by that crash. I ended up with no opportunity to properly recover owing to how the worker's compensation [insurance] relied on a corrupt physician (who was caught and prosecuted subsequently) there. I was addicted to opiates for a couple of decades. My father held onto some of his capital dodging the revenuers and left me a little bit... I opted for a robust DAW rather than other property - I have no life, music is all I could ever do and I'm not going to live a long time - I made choices a lot of people wouldn't make. Some of them weren't any good. But I made the choice of learning as much about every single aspect of music I could, and to follow my own lights, in favor of making money at it. So today, the twisted and broken path that my life took has resulted in me making exactly the music I want to make to a level of satisfaction I never imagined possible.

The SSI pays my rent to keep me out of the workplace. I could go postal they believe.

the last person I spent any time in real life with is 24 years younger girl than I, we got along great for no better reason but a simlilar sense of humor I guess, but she moved to San Diego to start a new life or something.

besides music I like to argue with people. I skipped out of school at 16 and writing and testing ideas in the form of an argument is compelling to me. I have written up a number of ideas in fiction, two screenplays, and poetry but I don't have the energy to push it, nor do I want to live in LA. I did that stuff as a substitute for getting music done really.

56 years old, really?? So that photo of you at Soundcloud is an old one?

But one thing what bothers me more: Should I say Ms. Civil or Mr. Civil??

Heh, spoken like a person who does not live in the SF bay area. Spend any amount of time here and that won't bother you. It's like the first time you go to NYC and you're all, "wow, look at all the cabs!" It's just the lay of the land. That said, we're missing dyke march at the moment because my wife's down with a stomach flu.

WHat's more interesting to me is that Jencivil seems to be quite the accomplished experimental musician. I've been in that world and I know it's not something that comes easily. It would seem to me that if you could make it in that world you could pretty much do anything you want to do... maybe the SSI is more of a curse than anything else. I always think I'd love not to have to work, but then I remember how much fun I have during our staff meetings which after the business part is over usually degenerate into conversations like, "Duck Tracy is the best WB cartoon ever! No it isn't!"

[trimph1]

eh...Jace...well, you got the nail there with that comment!!

If it was not for the PSW work I fell into which got me into doing QA for a health care agency I might be doing the blubber business what with all the issues I've had...heart arrhythmia, so far, three cancer episodes, diabetes, several broken bones from skiing accidents, a mind that meanders the countryside...eeek..and 57 years of this...mmmmmm

[Doug1978]

Life's thankfully going well for me at the moment - I'm teaching English in 3 schools out here in Sendai and hope to do so for the next 5 years - but equally I know how quickly circumstances can change, so I'm trying to save as much money as possible and preparing for a potentially much less stable future in England as best as I can.

Music - I like all sorts, though my preference is dub reggae.

I'm 182 cm tall, blood type A, 1 stone overweight, 33 years old and a self-proclaimed genius which others are yet to fully acknowledge

Doug

[mcnoone]

I miss my hometown.

[Jace-BeOS]

Why are so few of us "normal" and "successful?"

I briefly considered post a few polls about serious health issues, autism spectrum and employment/disability. Apparently it sucks to be a musician/kvr regular.

well , one of us is normal ...