Question:
Hello all, After living in Rhode Island most of my life, I have come to conclusion that I need a change. At the beginning of September my wife and I are selling everything we own (minus computers, clothes, a few essentials) and heading on a trip down to Atlanta to visit a friend for a few days, then travelling cross country and landing in Phoenix/Tempe, Arizona! Now, this scares the shit out of me, because I have never done anything like this. I’m going to be leaving a very lucrative shop where I work with good friends and my brother. I’m VERY secure in my place there and very financially secure…So why leave? I’m 33, never seen any place else, never travelled and don’t feel that I’m growing much as an artist because of this security. I don’t feel the need to push myself so I am not. And as sad as that may sound, I think that’s how it’s gonna be until I give myself a little push. We have a friend out there where we will be staying for a couple months while I try to find a job. I’m pretty insecure about that though. I only have a little over 2 years experience…I am going to try and dig up some leads, but we’ll see how that goes. I’m giving myself a year. I am hoping this will put things into perspective for me. I just need to get out of my comfort zone some. If anyone knows of any shops down there that may be looking for artists or has any contacts that may be helpful, any pointers in the right direction would be great. I THINK we are going to be leaving Monday September 13th. I’m sure I’ll have a few emotional breakdowns between now and then though. Hehe. — Eric S.
Response:
> After living in Rhode Island most of my life, I have come to conclusion > that I need a change. At the beginning of September my wife and I are > selling everything we own (minus computers, clothes, a few essentials) and > heading on a trip down to Atlanta to visit a friend for a few days, then > travelling cross country and landing in Phoenix/Tempe, Arizona!
YAY!!! We’ll be NEIGHBORS and shit!!! > Now, this scares the shit out of me, because I have never done anything like this. > I’m going to be leaving a very lucrative shop where I work with good friends > and my brother. I’m VERY secure in my place there and very financially > secure…So why leave? I’m 33, never seen any place else, never travelled > and don’t feel that I’m growing much as an artist because of this
security. Oh, man, are you gonna have a blast! Change is good. Change is an adventure! Google my "Escape from NJ" travelogue for hotels to avoid whilst travelling cross-country. :) And, omigod, there’s so much to SEE!! Wow. You should give yourself some extra time to travel. Go out of your way and take the northern route (I-70), come down through Colorado, over the Rockies, and then down through southern Utah. You’ve never known such colors existed. > If anyone knows of any shops down there that may be > looking for artists or has any contacts that may be helpful, any pointers in > the right direction would be great. I THINK we are going to be leaving > Monday September 13th. I’m sure I’ll have a few emotional breakdowns > between now and then though. Hehe.
That would depend on where you plan on working/settling. It takes well over an hour to get from one side of the Valley to the other. If you could narrow it down geographically, I could ask around for you and refer the owners to your online portfolio. Since I live on the extreme east side of the Valley and work on the extreme northwest side of Phoenix, I can pretty much check out anyplace you like. WOO-HOO!! I love meeting RABbits. But, grrrr… wanderlust strikes again. This is so unfair. ;) Mara
Response:
> Hello all,
All? You done fucked up, son. Left that door wide open for *all* to reply. > [snip]I need a change. [snip] my wife and I are [snip] travelling > cross country
The following Web site offers great advice as well as the obligatory Jack Kerouac mention. Unfortunately, you’d better have a pop-up zapper. http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/drivecc/drivecc.html > and landing in Phoenix/Tempe, Ariz[snip]
That’s the one place out west that I have visited. A friend used to attend their Thunderbird school which is just ten minutes from Phoenix. > leaving a very lucrative shop where I work with good friends and my > brother. I’m VERY secure in my place there and very financially > secure…
a) lucrative shop b) friends c) family d) financial security > So why leave?
Good question. Perform some reconnaissance instead. Take a vacation, Eric. A vacation in Phoenix. Hell, take three weeks. Stay at your friend’s place. Check out the area for jobs and homes. One sure-fire way to botch a friendship is to actually *move in*. (shudder) > I’m 33, never seen any place else, never travelled and don’t feel > that I’m growing much as an artist because of this security. [snip]
Artistic growth isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. You can travel and grow without cutting your legs out from under you. Hrmm. I’d imagine that NOT cutting your legs off would actually facilitate the process. >[snip] while I try to find a job. I’m pretty insecure about that > though. I only have a little over 2 years experi[snip] any pointers > in the right direction would be great.
http://www.arizona.jobopenings.net/ http://www.topusajobs.com/jobs-by-state/Arizona/ http://www.employmentspot.com/state/az.htm http://www.job-hunt.org/jobs/arizona.shtml http://www.azcentral.com/ I doubt you’ll find tattoo artist employment listed, but you may find a second job that suits your needs. And the recommended recon will give you a clearer picture of what’s up. > I THINK we are going to be leaving Monday September 13th.
Immediately following RABcon, right? :p — Curt http://curtjames.com/ — Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server – http://www.Mailgate.ORG
Response:
> Perform some reconnaissance instead. Take a vacation, Eric. A vacation > in Phoenix. Hell, take three weeks. Stay at your friend’s place. > Check out the area for jobs and homes. > Artistic growth isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. You can travel and grow > without cutting your legs out from under you.
So, Eric, what’ll it be? Motivated by adventure and growth, or motivated by caution and fear? Will you regret leaving? Possibly. Will you regret not testing yourself against the unknown when you had the chance? Undoubtedly. I stagnated in NJ for 20 years. I’ll tell you which one I chose. I’ll also tell you it worked out beyond my wildest imaginings, and at times it’s so intense (good AND bad) I have to remind myself to breathe sometimes. And when WE left, we had no jobs, no housing, no friends or relatives lined up on the other end, and less than $2000 to live on till we found jobs & housing. We just packed everything into a box truck and left. We put everything into storage, checked into a motel, and started job hunting. I’ve never regretted leaving for one moment YMMV, but you never know until you fling yourself out there and see what happens. Mara
Response:
I scribbled: > [snip] reconnaissance [snip] take three weeks[snip] > Check out the area for jobs and homes[snip] > So, Eric, what’ll it be? [snip] fling yourself out there and > see what happens. > Mara
I double dog dare ya! Mara, yes, I was indeed advising against a course of action. However, I don’t believe it’s all or nothing. Leaping without looking (much) worked for you. That’s excellent. It doesn’t mean it’s the wisest or the only choice. — Curt http://iam.bmezine.com/?curt http://www.curtjames.com/ — Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server – http://www.Mailgate.ORG
Response:
> Mara, yes, I was indeed advising against a course of action. However, > I don’t believe it’s all or nothing.
He’s not DOing all or nothing. He’s got a place to stay, he’s looking for jobs beforehand, and he’s scouting around for info. I.E.: to the best of his ability, he’s making careful preparations for moving cross-country. Oh, and about those motels, Eric: http://tinyurl.com/54c38 It’s scarier down South, ’cause there’s more of them. > Leaping without looking (much) > worked for you. That’s excellent. It doesn’t mean it’s the wisest or > the only choice.
That’s why I put "YMMV". However, in my experience, ANY decision motivated by fear is bound to cause regret. Read here, Eric: http://tinyurl.com/6hsmn I can’t imagine what our lives would be like now if we’d stayed. Others on this group have done the same thing for different reasons. I don’t think any of them regretted it. Mara
Response:
> He’s not DOing all or nothing. He’s got a place to stay,
A friend’s home. Better you than me. > he’s looking for jobs beforehand, and he’s scouting around for info.
Reread his posts, Mara. The looking and scouting didn’t sound especially concrete. I am not attempting to dissuade Eric from moving. I was and am saying to use intelligent steps, however. re http://tinyurl.com/6hsmn I moved from an assistant operator training position on a GaVehren Tipper to a proofreading job with a different company in order to take evening classes to complete my teaching certificate. The tipper job was swing shift and typically 60 to 70 hours a week and those were often frustrating hours. I have mechanical aptitude, but that’s not at all the same thing as mechanical *ability*. I gave three weeks notice. I did my job to the best of my ability and I’d be welcomed back because I didn’t burn any bridges or make a rash decision. It’s not fear and caution, but goal-directed and efficient. The job switch was a big step, but I’m glad that I made it. I was able to work in a field where I was much more comfortable and, since it was a straight shift, also offered me the opportunity to finish the cert program. Last year I made ten grand more than I was making in the crazy-making bindery job and that amount while working a 40- to 50-hour work week. So, yes, change is good. I sincerely wish Eric the very best. — Curt http://iam.bmezine.com/?curt http://www.curtjames.com/ — Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server – http://www.Mailgate.ORG
Response:
> After living in Rhode Island most of my life, I have come to conclusion >that I need a change.
I hope your grand adventure works out the very best for you & yours, Eric. Are you wedded to the Phoenix area of AZ, or are you open to other places as well? Tucson is a large enough city to have what seems to be a pretty healthy tattoo scene, what with the U of A and the rest. It’s also close enough to Phoenix that you can scope out job opportunities there and still stay with your friends assuming you have transport. I will come see you regardless. — nj"pupdog"m "You are one tough mean _uneducating_ permanently braindamaged hopeless bitch NJill!" – Corine flirts outrageously.
Response:
> I will come see you regardless.
You’ve never come to see me. <pout> Mara
Response:
>> I will come see you regardless. >You’ve never come to see me. ><pout>
Stop that, I could pitch a tent on that bottom lip. Once peeps are settled, I shall make a trip up to nasty old Phoenix to see both of you during one of my Tucson stays. — nj"one cuts, the other picks"m "You are one tough mean _uneducating_ permanently braindamaged hopeless bitch NJill!" – Corine flirts outrageously.
Response:
ES> Monday September 13th. I’m sure I’ll have a few emotional breakdowns ES> between now and then though. Hehe. come on. if *i* can move across the country several times by MYSELF, surely you & your WIFE can do it. but you might reread my travellogues for travel tips! lish "i don’t tell lies 40.1% / 30 RANA 125 / 68
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> I will come see you regardless. > You’ve never come to see me. > <pout> > Stop that, I could pitch a tent on that bottom lip. > Once peeps are settled, I shall make a trip up to nasty old Phoenix to > see both of you during one of my Tucson stays.
For the record I will vote AZ as the 2005 RABcon… while I’m in Boston at the 2004 event! 
fr0glet
Response:
choke out these words: >YMMV
especially considering the distance between new jersey and rhode island. :| david
Response:
> For the record I will vote AZ as the 2005 RABcon… while I’m in > Boston at the 2004 event!
YAY!! It’ll have to be October, though. Y’all don’t want to be here in August or September. Note to all RABbits: START PLANNING NOW. I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ANY EXCUSES. YOU HAVE 14 MONTHS TO GET IT TOGETHER. Mara
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> For the record I will vote AZ as the 2005 RABcon… while I’m in > Boston at the 2004 event! > YAY!! > It’ll have to be October, though. Y’all don’t want to be here in > August or September. > Note to all RABbits: START PLANNING NOW. I DON’T WANT TO HEAR ANY > EXCUSES. YOU HAVE 14 MONTHS TO GET IT TOGETHER. > Mara
Note to Mara: YOU’RE HOSTING IT. START PLANNING NOW. fr0glet
Response:
> Note to Mara: YOU’RE HOSTING IT. START PLANNING NOW.
Ha! I’ve been mentally planning it for two months now. If I had a solid date to go on, I’d start getting shit hooked up RIGHT NOW. I even have several t-shirt designs in mind already. I AM SO ON TOP OF THINGS. I would, however, appreciate any and all input from those who have hosted in the past. Mara
Response:
> YAY!!! We’ll be NEIGHBORS and shit!!!
WooT! This trip is looking better and better everyday 
> Oh, man, are you gonna have a blast! Change is good. Change is an > adventure! Google my "Escape from NJ" travelogue for hotels to avoid whilst > travelling cross-country. :)
I’ll do that. :) Everyone keeps telling me change is good…We’ll see about that. > And, omigod, there’s so much to SEE!! Wow. You should give yourself some > extra time to travel. Go out of your way and take the northern route > (I-70), come down through Colorado, over the Rockies, and then down through > southern Utah. You’ve never known such colors existed.
We’re taking about 2-3 weeks…I wish we could go north, but really need visit my friend in Atlanta or else he’ll kill me. Hehe. > That would depend on where you plan on working/settling. It takes well over > an hour to get from one side of the Valley to the other. If you could > narrow it down geographically, I could ask around for you and refer the > owners to your online portfolio. Since I live on the extreme east side of > the Valley and work on the extreme northwest side of Phoenix, I can pretty > much check out anyplace you like.
Actually, we’re moving to Teme on E. University Drive…I don’t really know the area. But this is just where my friend lives. We’re pretty open to where we go from there. Tempe/Phoenix/Scottsdale, etc. It’s all new territory for us. I posted on a forum of tattoo artists that I was heading out there and they pointed me to a shop in Tempe who they think are looking for an artist. Turns out this shop is literally 10 minutes from where we are going to be staying. This would be perfect. Most of my insecurities comes from the fact that most shops want at least 3 years experience…I only have a little over 2. I guess if they like my personality/artwork the actually time tattooing won’t matter as much. I have 2 months to draw a hell of a lot and build up my art portfolio before we head out there. I better get to it. :) > WOO-HOO!! I love meeting RABbits.
I haven’t met any. Hehe. RABcon ‘04 will be my first…I actually extended my departure time a week so I don’t have to miss it because I had forgotten that was the folllowing week! D’oh. — Eric S.
Response:
> The following Web site offers great advice as well as the obligatory > Jack Kerouac mention. Unfortunately, you’d better have a pop-up zapper. > http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/drivecc/drivecc.html
Thanks, I’ll check that out. > Perform some reconnaissance instead. Take a vacation, Eric. A vacation > in Phoenix. Hell, take three weeks. Stay at your friend’s place.
No, that’s not the point. > Check out the area for jobs and homes. One sure-fire way to botch a > friendship is to actually *move in*. (shudder)
We’re doing all of this online anyways. The joys of the internet. Yes, you can botch a friendship by ‘moving in’, but we’re only planning on staying for a couple months…and hopefully not even that long. If we can save up enough cash before we go, it may only be a couple weeks. > Artistic growth isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Maybe to you it’s not. I’m not sketching on paper, Curt. Artistic growth is everything to me. > You can travel and grow without cutting your legs out from under you.
Yes, you can. But maybe…Just maybe, I will grow more as an artist by seeing more than I have…Experiencing more…Meeting new artists, seeing them work, etc. > I doubt you’ll find tattoo artist employment listed, but you may > find a second job that suits your needs. And the recommended recon > will give you a clearer picture of what’s up.
I have freelance computer graphics/web design that I do on the side. I have marketable skills. I don’t want to settle on something other than tattooing. I don’t even want to entertain the idea that I won’t be able to be tattooing. Focus, Curt…Focus. > Immediately following RABcon, right? :p
Of course. fr0glet, etc. :) — Eric S.
Response:
> So, Eric, what’ll it be? Motivated by adventure and growth, or motivated by > caution and fear? Will you regret leaving? Possibly. Will you regret not > testing yourself against the unknown when you had the chance?
Undoubtedly. I think you know which it’ll be. Bar something catastrophic happening in my life in the next 7 weeks, Arizona it is. I’ll regret leaving sometimes. I’ll my my family, the shop, the money…when things are tight. But I’ll go on. :) > YMMV, but you never know until you fling yourself out there and see what > happens.
Exactly. And that’s part of the experience. – Eric S.
Response:
> That’s why I put "YMMV". However, in my experience, ANY decision motivated > by fear is bound to cause regret. Read here, Eric: > http://tinyurl.com/6hsmn
Great reading…Thanks for the link. I need all the positive reinforcement I can get right now. Heh. — Eric S.
Response:
> come on. if *i* can move across the country several times by > MYSELF, surely you & your WIFE can do it.
But…but…you have more balls than I. *sigh* — Eric S.
Response:
> I hope your grand adventure works out the very best for you & yours, > Eric.
Thank you. I have good feelings that it will > Are you wedded to the Phoenix area of AZ, or are you open to other > places as well? Tucson is a large enough city to have what seems to > be a pretty healthy tattoo scene, what with the U of A and the rest. > It’s also close enough to Phoenix that you can scope out job > opportunities there and still stay with your friends assuming you have > transport.
No, no specifics other than we are going to be living in Tempe temporarily and looking for places/work. We’re pretty much open to whatever opportunities pop up…even if we have to make those opportunities happen. > I will come see you regardless.
Great! I can’t wait — Eric S.
Response:
[snip] > Artistic growth is everything to me. > [snip]I will grow more as an artist by seeing more than I have… > Experiencing more…Meeting new artists, seeing them work, etc. > [snip] > I have freelance computer graphics/web design that I do on the > side. I have marketable skills.
http://www.tinymangraphics.com/ D’OH! How could I forget? > I don’t want to settle on something other than tattooing. I don’t > even want to entertain the idea that I won’t be able to be tattooing.
Attitude is everything. My best wishes for your success, of course, but it sounds like you’ve got it covered, Eric. > Focus, Curt…Focus.
Always good advice. Thank you. And I hope there’s a good comic book shop in the area, too. — Curt http://iam.bmezine.com/?curt http://www.curtjames.com/ — Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server – http://www.Mailgate.ORG
Response:
> come on. if *i* can move across the country several times by > MYSELF, surely you & your WIFE can do it.
ES> But…but…you have more balls than I. *sigh* i have more balls than a {bowling alley,batting cage,driving range,other trite non-humor} I AM ONLY SEVEN HOURS SOUTH OF ATLANTA YOU KNOW. lish "it’s so fuckingly, boringly 40.1% / 30 RANA 125 / 68
Response:
>> Immediately following RABcon, right? :p > Of course. fr0glet, etc. :)
Yay! Committed people! 
fr0glet
Response:
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— Eric S. 