Blogger? I am a blogger, but I can't say I'm making much money doing it. Then, I don't really pursue blogging with any great degree of seriousness. In my early days of blogging I was pretty avid about the whole idea. After all, that's the main reason I came up with doing this Blogging from A to Z April Challenge thing. Over the years I've drifted away from my big blogging enthusiasm that beset me in those first few years. Things happened and my attentions have been drawn elsewhere. Not to say that I'm ever going to give up blogging, but for now it's not a big pursuit of mine. For now blogging is a placeholder for something that might come up later where my blog will serve a real useful function. Big ideas on hold for a moment I guess. For the time being, blogging is a dalliance rather than any real occupation, though sometimes I put as much work into it as I have many of my past jobs.
Throughout my years in show business I've come into contact with barkers and I'm not talking about dogs. If the term seems unfamiliar to you, a barker is a "talker" in front of some sort of attraction at a fair, carnival, circus, or some other public function. The barker is the person out front who is drawing a crowd and giving the sales pitch for the attraction they are fronting. Since I'm not much of a shouter who can glibly come up with things to say to persuade people to buy whatever it is that I'd like to "sell" then the art of barking is not my schtick.
And though I've baked things at home, I don't think I'd want to be a baker. My youngest daughter is a pretty good baker. For a while she was pretty busy with her home based baker business in New Jersey. She would regularly post pictures of some of her masterful cakes and other assorted baked goods on Facebook. As a regular job she also worked as a baker in various restaurants. She really needed an industrial type kitchen to sustain her own business properly but so far has not gone that route. She's good at the baking, but maybe not so much at the business part of things. Let's face it--to have a successful business then you've got to have someone who understands the ins and outs of running a business.
In 1966 after my family moved to Tennessee, my father started a booking agency that he worked as a sideline out of our home. He did pretty good at it for a while, but maybe it got to be too much for him doing it in tandem with his regular full time job. Or maybe the show booking business was no longer as lucrative as it had been in the years prior. Or maybe he just wasn't getting the return for his investment, which is probably the downfall of many a business. Over the years I've dabbled in show booking. It was not especially lucrative for me either. Maybe I just didn't try hard enough. But maybe I wasn't interested enough to keep pursuing that route.
So for me it's been no to barking, baking, or booking. But I guess blogging is still there as an option. Arlee Bird--Blogger. Not bad I guess. Or maybe I can do better. Time will tell.
What "B" jobs have you done? Have you done any jobs related to baking or cooking? When is it time to give up on a business dream?
Well, you've certainly made a name for yourself in the Blogosphere, Lee! The success of the A to Z Challenge is testament to that. ☺
ReplyDeleteDebbie D, A to Z has been an interesting ride.
DeleteLee
Babysitter, and the only synonyms for teacher I could find that began with B are backseat driver and buttinsky...
ReplyDeleteBlogger extraodinaire is perfect for you, Lee!
ReplyDeleteLike Anonymous, I've been a babysitter! I'm a blogger, but no pay, so not a job. I don't know that we should give up on a dream. That's what I say, and do believe, for other people! It's the advice I'd give. I just haven't taken it.
ReplyDeleteI started blogging in 2006 after a year of widowhood. I had made the decision to sell everything and become a full-time RVer. That didn't happen until 2007. Since then, I've had multiple blogs. Moved from Blogger to WordPress (although I still have one semi-active on Blogger), and had half a dozen other blogs. Some personal ones got merged into my main personal one (including my 2006-2008 solo travels and my now husband's 2007-2008 solo travels). I used to blog daily on both my personal with hubby and my author blog. I quit that years ago. So few actual readers and even fewer commenters. Other social media took over and now even that is waning. Looking forward to the letter C!
ReplyDeletehttps://dbmcnicol.com/a-afterthought/
I blog but just for fun and I certainly do not do any of the others. I am a pretty good baker but you are on.your feet for a long time a d that take a toll on me.
ReplyDeleteI was a bookkeeper and I help.people budget. Thankfully, I never babysat.
As founder of the A-Z I think that definitely qualifies you to be considered a Blogger Arlee!
ReplyDeleteHey-ya Hey-ya Hey-ya
ReplyDeleteStep right up ladies and gents and feast your eyes on a marvel of our scientific age. Yessir friends and neighbors, it's right here for your very own edification, enlightenment, and exegesis. What I'm talking about is this little item in my hand which most closely resembles an ordinary deck of common playing cards, but allow me to assure you, and all of you know that legally I couldn't say this if it wasn't true, that this particular deck is far from common, no my friends, not even uncommon, but is in all truth, accuracy, and honesty, fully sui generis.
How am I doing so far?
I've been a bartender, bar back, and a barn boss. I learned to bark at state fairs. I'm Mad Jack, owner and operator of Mad Jack's Shack. I was reading Tilting at Windmills when I tripped over an empty bourbon bottle and landed here, at Tossing it Out.
Nice blog.
Jack, you done well. You know what I'm talking about for sure.
DeleteGlad you dropped in for the visit.
Lee
Let it be said that Mad Jack brought his own bourbon bottle. Now, had he said, "Beer aged in bourbon barrels..."
ReplyDeleteNot sure I've done any "B" jobs. My jobs have been more along the "C" type, including Customer Service and Census taker. Oh wait, I have been a Boss. Although I had a C job (not listed) at the time I was also a Boss. So maybe that does count. I've never, by the way, intended my blog to be a money maker. It's strictly a hobby.
ReplyDeleteB jobs? Don't really think I've done any besides blogger, and even then it's more a hobby than anything...
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever held a B job.
ReplyDeleteI tend to blog just once or twice a month as like you, I have other interests and things going on in life.
Alex, blogging can certainly consume one's life as we both found out in those earlier times. Now I just have to take care of the other things in my life.
DeleteLee
If being a boss is a job I've been one for 40 years - I'm boss of myself - and my staff (me and I) are very capable. We three (me, myself, and I) enjoy being boss and take turns at it. hahahaha
ReplyDeleteI think you were definitely destined to be a blogger - and we all appreciate the effort you make keeping this A-Z challenge going.
With smiles, Jenny
I've helped with baking and cooking for community events when I still lived in Albany, NY, but only got paid $40 once for all my help. That was a pleasant surprise, since I hadn't expected to get any money at all for helping. It was always something I did because it was the right thing when so many people needed to be served.
ReplyDeleteHi Arlee, great to meet the brain behind A-Z. Your theme for this year is quirky and fun. It's my first time at this challenge. Hope to make it to the shore.
ReplyDeleteArpita @ https://arpitamisra.blogspot.com/