Feast or Famine

July 3, 2006 - 5:44am — stevebrown

So, I recently quit my stressful, lame, and low-paying day job (which offered a steady paycheck but nothing else of merit) and went back to performing full-time.

It's been a while since I made a jump like that. I had plenty of support from my friends, colleagues, and my lovely wife. Didn't make it any less scary.

So here I am now. I'm getting gigs that pay really well, but they aren't coming in anywhere near as regularly as I need them to be. I know it's only a matter of time, and that it's going to be a little while before things pick up. I haven't exactly been out in the marketplace for a while, and I need to get my name circulating again.

I'm ok with this.

But damn it's scary. I've got a wife, two kids, three dogs, and a house in the 'burbs. I'm still paying off my first marriage.

And yet, somehow, I couldn't be happier. So here is my question, for anyone who stumbles across this...

Am I completely insane or what?

S
http://www.stevebrownismyhero.com

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July 3, 2006 - 9:17pm — lindakentartist

P.S.

so, who invented the yo-yo?

July 4, 2006 - 2:38am — stevebrown

No one. It originated in

No one. It originated in Ancient Greece as a toy for the children of nobility, somewhere around 500 B.C. Check this link for more info...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yo-yo#Ancient_origins

http://www.stevebrownismyhero.com

—

http://www.stevebrownismyhero.com
http://www.marleedesign.com

July 3, 2006 - 9:21am — lindakentartist

or what?

No, you're not insane. Yet.
When you need a part-time or temporary job, try craigslist.org
The right side list has states and countries. You could post yourself their as well.
My niece is a henna tattoo artist. She's working at an amusement park (one of those 6 Flags, I think). If there's s'thing like that around you, you might check it out. County fairs? Generally find out what festivals are around?
Are you considering busking to fill in the gaps? Seems like a yo-yo artist could do well with a hat-passing operation. You have kids so we reckon you're good with kids. Is Cleveland Heights near Cleveland proper? (just curious)

July 3, 2006 - 5:33pm — stevebrown

Cleveland Heights is right

Cleveland Heights is right next door to Cleveland proper. I can be in Cleveland city limits in about 3 minutes if the lights stay green.

I've been looking around for a night gig bartending or bar-backing. Keeping my days free lets me spend time with the kids, take care of the little one (who turns 1 next month), and get the business end of things taken care of. Nothing has turned up just yet, but I also haven't had much time to really look.

I really don't enjoy busking. I'm not very good at it. I spent about a decade in the theatre, and I'm far better and more comfortable on a proper stage, with a check waiting for me at the end of the night. This whole thing with doing a show and then convincing people to buy a ticket on their way out just never worked well for me.

http://www.stevebrownismyhero.com

—

http://www.stevebrownismyhero.com
http://www.marleedesign.com

July 3, 2006 - 9:10pm — lindakentartist

Boston yo-yo artist

Ok, well anyway, uncle scam (AMP) says you could contact friendly yo-yo artist John Higby in Boston. www.yoyopeople.com He also creates his own yo-yos. Maybe he has some insight.

July 4, 2006 - 2:35am — stevebrown