Please help me think of a new career for DH!

[SetzKitten]

We have a guy in our school district who is a storyteller. He goes from school to school telling stories and drawing for the children. They love him. Maybe something like that would interest your dh.

 

[tar heel]

There are a lot of good ideas here. I don't want to sound overly negative, but please keep in mind that some of these fields are harder to break into than K-12 art! I work in the arts and have a background in marketing/communications. Storytelling, for example, is a performing art that only a few people do really well and only a very small handful of people make a living at. Both advertising and marketing are fields that are hard to get a first job in b/c experience is always required. Museum work is either going to be part-time, contract or include a lot of stuff other than teaching art.

I know you said he didn't want to go back to school, but would he take a couple of graphics classes at a community/techncial school? I'll warn you that even if he does that, he'll have to come up with a portfolio for jobs -- doing free work for a nonprofit is one of the easiest ways to do that.

When I worked for a newspaper back in the dark ages, all the layout/design people were unemployed artists. Now that everything is so computerized, I don't know if that is the case, but it would be somewhere to look.

It sounds like you are in a frustrating spot. You don't want to move and he's unwilling to do what it takes to find a professional job. I think you're smart to work this out before starting a family.

 

[harleyquinn]

Thanks!

I really think we'll end up moving, but even trying to figure out where to go is so hard to do. I think a lot of my family might follow us if we found the right place.

Anyone know of some great places hiring public librarians and art teachers that have rather low costs of living?
Whole new thread.

Tar Heel--What you are talking about is exactly what we are running into. Everything is so specialized now! There are degrees or certifications for just about everything.

 

[HaleyB]

Thanks!

I really think we'll end up moving, but even trying to figure out where to go is so hard to do. I think a lot of my family might follow us if we found the right place.

Anyone know of some great places hiring public librarians and art teachers that have rather low costs of living?
Whole new thread.

Tar Heel--What you are talking about is exactly what we are running into. Everything is so specialized now! There are degrees or certifications for just about everything.

We moved to Texas because we could not afford California. My Sister followed me after 5 years. My Parents are moving here this summer... so you may be right about people following you.

 

[HaleyB]

Oh, and the art class thing. She ran it pretty much out of her house and under the table for the first year. She got so popular (at first it was mostly people who she knew sending their kids) she did get a permit and stuff. Here in Texas it is very easy to get set up as long as they don't consider you a day care center.

 

[harleyquinn]

Thanks Haley! I know my parents want to move, and if they do my grandma will come with them. I can see our best friends following us as well as DHs dad and sister.

There's just so many factors in moving, I don't know where to start.

 

[damo]

With his arts training, I was thinking web design. Learning to design a website is so simple, but it is the artistic talent that makes the sites unique. There is always demand for website designers!

 

[harleyquinn]

With his arts training, I was thinking web design. Learning to design a website is so simple, but it is the artistic talent that makes the sites unique. There is always demand for website designers!

I don't know why we haven't thought of that! He took a bunch of classes on it while in Art school, and he's really good. He'd probably have to go back and get some kind of other degree though, unless he started his own business.

 

[tar heel]

With the web design thing, see if he can find a nonprofit that needs a free web design. It would give him a professional reference and a new set of contacts. Instantly, he would be able to put "web designer" on his resume.

I know I talk a lot about doing free work for nonprofits, but I got my first job after doing a free stint. I also have worked for several nonprofits and have seen firsthand what a free gig can offer. We have an intern this semester (he's in his '30s and works full-time in another field), and there's no question his free work has enhanced his resume. He's planning to stay on as a volunteer after his semester is up, too.