clarky3009
19 posts
Feb 02, 2009
1:12 PM
|
Hey guys, and gals. I live in Scotland, UK. As far as the blues scene goes, it's pretty crap, rock and folk is as far as it goes here. So i've decided, when i reach the age of 17-18, 1-2 years away, i really want to travel the states. For the sights and experiance of course, but blues aswell. So, budget wise, its pretty tight $2500 roughly, that won't last long, so, my question is, does anyone, for those in the states, know of work that goes around, temporary work, I was looking at cattle drives etc, anyone with any tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
-- Al
(http://uk.youtube.com/user/Clarky3009)
|
Preston
110 posts
Feb 02, 2009
2:48 PM
|
I would "steer" away from looking for cattle drives. (Pun intended) That only still happens in small areas out west, and you won't find a whole lot of blues being played out there either That would be country music.
Don't take this wrong, but if you are coming for blues music and expecting to work on cattle drives, you are either severly mistaken on what it's like in the U.S. in the year 2009, or you don't have a good idea where you are going. However, if you are mainly coming for sights and experiance and hoping to see some blues as just an extra, by all means, find some cattle drives.
I would suggest looking up Adam's tour dates and even if you don't catch any of his shows, you could make a flight pattern out of his locations. Of course there is always Chicago, home of the amplified blues. Kansas city has a blues/jazz district, or you could try Memphis, Tennessee and New Orleans.
I would suggest looking to the construction industry for temporary work. There are companies that do nothing but provide temporary labor to established contractors.
Hope this helps. Good luck, and then if this forumn is still here, be sure to tell us all about it.
|
eharp
202 posts
Feb 02, 2009
5:09 PM
|
moooooo-ve here and get a job at a blues bar!
|
gene
125 posts
Feb 02, 2009
5:34 PM
|
Good luck finding ANY job...
|
n2fz
2 posts
Feb 02, 2009
5:49 PM
|
Every summer along the New Jersey shore there are summer jobs in the tourist industry. Lots of US students work there as well as numbers of foreign students. I know that Ukrainian as well as Irish students or young people have worked in the industry for summers. It also holds for the next state down Delaware although the industry is smaller. Start at Atlantic City, NJ and work your way down to Ocean City Maryland. I would guess the Chamber of commerce would be the place to start. Big music scene within 1 1/2 hours drive from the NJ shore covering all of Southern NJ and Eastern Pennsylvania. Hope this helps. Bill
|
RyanMortos
63 posts
Feb 02, 2009
7:27 PM
|
'Good luck finding ANY job...' (gene)
I hear that, 2 years experience and a bachelor's degree and struggle like mad to find anything other then entry level work.
----------
~Ryan
PA
Ryan's Tube - Containing [0] uploads and counting...
|
Tuckster
95 posts
Feb 02, 2009
8:41 PM
|
Gene-thanks for that laugh. Clarky- get to be friends with lots of forum members. Then you can go visit them,let them put you up and show you the local sites. Kind of a harp hostel. You could save lots of money.
|
Chevus
11 posts
Feb 02, 2009
10:51 PM
|
Hey Ryan,
Unfortunately, I can top that!
I'm two classes away from completing my second master's degree (marketing this time), and I have several years of sales and management experience. I've been downsized from two separate companies in the last couple years (first a corporate restructure, then the economic downturn got me). I can't find anything other than entry level or retail...Today, I received a response to a resume I'd sent to a bowling alley...They're keeping my information on file because I'm not qualified!?!
Good luck with your job search…Times are tough!
|
Sirsucksalot
20 posts
Feb 03, 2009
6:25 AM
|
Its true that out west there isn't much blues music being played. I live in Tombstone Arizona and there ain't no blues bands close by that i know of. Most people tend to play rock and country out here. If they hear you playing harp they say " hey do you know any Neal young " at which point i just play a few cords that sound sot of folksy . Iv given up trying to explain to them that Neal young does not play the blues. The cowboys you are familiar with don't exist and never did. Cowboys are just drunks that cant and don't want to find better work. There are a few blues clubs around though, but i can only recommend going to the Rhythm Room in Phoenix.
|
clarky3009
20 posts
Feb 03, 2009
7:29 AM
|
New Jersey sounds pretty good here, rhythm room sounds pretty hot to, ill take all into consideration!
-- Al
|
KingoBad
15 posts
Feb 03, 2009
7:54 AM
|
Sirsucksalot lives in the desert where they do not drive cattle and never did (kind of hard to find grass). There were, and still are plenty of cowboys (mostly ranchers now) from Montana down through Texas. When you live in a convict ridden grubby ex-mining town, this is the opinion you might have of someone who wears a cowboy hat. Working a ranch and cattle is not easy work, and usually very far from the blues scene. I would suggest against fishing for king crab on Alaska too. Perhaps you could hook your green bullet up to the drive through of a Taco Bell in Memphis to make some money, then head on down to Beale street. You could see Graceland, drive down for a private lesson with Adam, and Chicago is a six hour drive.
|
clarky3009
21 posts
Feb 03, 2009
8:46 AM
|
Nice, thanks man.
I've been reading about camp america, does anyone know anything about it? and if it's of benefit.
|
Preston
112 posts
Feb 03, 2009
9:04 AM
|
Sirsucksalot, that is a pretty bold statement to make on a forumn where we are all just trying to get along and talk about the harp. My dad is 100% cowboy, and I can guarantee you I drink more than he ever did.
But I'm pretty thick skinned. My feelings aren't hurt and I don't hold it against you!
King was right about ranching being hard work. There's no such thing as going home after 8 hours, and unfortunately you don't get paid overtime. One particular story springs to mind from when I still lived on the farm: It was February, about 10:30 at night, colder than hell, snowing, and a cow couldn't have her calf because it was coming out head first. (Cattle usually calve front feet first with their head tucked between front legs like they are diving, unlike us humans.) I had to push the calf's head back in, then reach in with my hands and fish around until I found two feet, and then pull the little guy out. True story! Couldnt've done that drunk.
Now that I've relived that story, I'm thinking Clarky3009 SHOULD search out some ranch work! Every young man outta experience something like that.
Peace
"I play the blues harp. Harmonica is three syllables and I'm not that deep."
|
n2fz
3 posts
Feb 03, 2009
2:15 PM
|
Since we are posting so much about cowboys on this topic here is another advantage to looking towards NJ. During the summer months in Woodstown NJ there is a real live official rodeo circuit rodeo with cowboys, horses and bucking bulls every weekend. Woodstown is about 2/3 of the way to Philadelphia from the New Jersey shore.
|
Buzadero
23 posts
Feb 03, 2009
3:15 PM
|
Clarky, my little Scot friend. As a payback gesture to all the fine friends I made during my days diving out of Aberdeen, I will extend to you the following invitation:
Give it the two years. Practice your plaid ass off. Get some street chops up and running. Come to the States. When you get to the West Coast, I can hook you up with a place to crash right in downtown San Francisco. My business partners and I keep a small office that allows us to hold an SF address. It is a "live/work" space that amounts to a room with a desk and a bed in it. When any of us are working in the Bay Area, it allows us to have a convenient place to sleep.
From this location, you can easily walk to the Boom Boom Room, Slim's, the Fillmore, Yoshi's and several other fine musical establishments. You can open the front door of the building and be on Market Street. Walk a few blocks and you can busk to your heart's content. It seems you can always find a guitar player doing the same thing near the subway stations. Take the train under the Bay and you can get to Berkeley. Plenty of kids about the age you'll be that hang out, smoke weed, and play various instruments and goofy ethnic drums in the parks.
I'll make sure you have a compass and a map, so (god forbid) you don't innocently wander into the Castro.
We also have a larger office/house a few block off the French Quarter in NOLA. One of my partners lives there full time, and it seems like I spend a good portion of my life down there as well. Although, I usually land and head straight offshore anymore, rather than charge the Quarter. We can discuss Louisiana logistics at a later date.
Like I said, I make this offer because I enjoyed the hospitality of a good many of your countrymen (and, some of the countrywomen at the nursing college) back a few. The least I can do is pay back a bit.
We might as well globalize this Gussow-founded harp village.
But......you better practice your shit. I ain't hostin' no hacker, boy.
~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
|
Sirsucksalot
21 posts
Feb 03, 2009
6:37 PM
|
OK Preston sorry i offended all the cowboys out there. I wasn't trying to personally offend any one. I do know its hard work, i never said it wasn't. by the way i live on a ranch and know all about how hard it can be. and kingo bad, this area was huge for cattle drives in the late 1800's. Why do you think cowboys played such a huge roll in the history of Tombstone. Plus there's tons of grass out here. We live in what they call a high dessert, meaning we don't get the high temperatures that say death vally might receive being below sea level. We have lakes and rivers (even a underground river) and more rain than you would expect for it to be called a desert.
Again sorry if i offended anyone but you gotta be bold sometimes if you wanna play the blues.
|
clarky3009
22 posts
Feb 04, 2009
4:56 AM
|
Buzadero -- Wow, what an offer man, i will hold you up to it!
I appreciate this very much, 2 years time, hopefully your offer is still on the table! Whats you email? This post could long be forgotten about in 2 years time, (alexander.the.great@sky.com). Drop me a line man!
|
Preston
113 posts
Feb 04, 2009
5:21 AM
|
Nah, I wasn't offended.
I just had an overwelming urge to run my mouth on the account of my old man, even though he isn't even reading this!
Preston
|
Buzadero
24 posts
Feb 04, 2009
7:41 AM
|
You will find that two years isn't that long as you get older. If I make an offer, it will stand the test of at least that much time.
I sent you a PM.
Now, get off the computer and practice.....
|
snakes
91 posts
Feb 04, 2009
4:18 PM
|
clarky,
If you come to the West Coast you should check out Seattle. We have a lot og really good blues and blues harmonica players.
|
Miles Dewar
155 posts
Feb 04, 2009
4:41 PM
|
Cattle Drives!!!!!!!! while your out, You might Want to check out --------- "Bill Cody's Wild America Show" It might be around the same time period.... While your there, get me "Sitting Bull's" autograph.. LOL justa joke.....Cattle Drives.
You can go to any Temp agency. you must go before they open (way earlier than they open). the lines get huge early. you need a social security card. I'm not too sure how it is for non- residents.
----------
---Be Positive---
|
clarky3009
23 posts
Feb 05, 2009
6:58 AM
|
hmm im not sure about social security card, that might be covered by a visa anyone travelling in the country needs, all this has to be researched! Great points guys.
|
Johnster
6 posts
Feb 05, 2009
9:56 AM
|
Florida is anotehr option, lots of temporary work in the farming world here, and a pretty vibrant blues scene too.
Let me know if you head this way!
john
|
clarky3009
24 posts
Feb 06, 2009
3:57 AM
|
Will do. I think when the time comes, ill lay out my travel plan on another post, what states will be visited etc, This post has helped alot already to show some of the best places.
|
bluzlvr
117 posts
Feb 06, 2009
1:46 PM
|
Hey, Sirsucksalot. Believe it or not, Neal Young put out a blues album back in 1988 "This Note's For You".
As you might imagine, Mr. Youngs blues voice leaves a little to be desired.
|
clarky3009
25 posts
Feb 11, 2009
2:49 PM
|
Well guys, cant thank you enough for great comments for pointers on travelling, after reading these all, i think i will travel to the positive places that people have pointed out, it will make a big difference to where i am now, ive been offered apartments etc etc, this is a fantastic forum especially for coming together, thanks guys.
---
Al
|
