Working a day job
Well, I am now working a day job again - being a substitute teacher (or supply teacher for UK based folks, or relief teacher or CRT). For me, given that summer is a down period in terms of income AND that I’m doing some investment in my business a bit of extra money is good!
Last week I really went through a rollercoaster with CRT work. The first day I taught this incredibly ratty Year 10 class (my least favourite year level) - just a class with like 25-30% of kids actively trying to do as little as possible while also being noisy (noise stresses me out). It was ok but not a good time, I sort of left the school thinking ‘wtf am I doing with me life?’
The second day was a bit better, my worst class of the day was the first class, with just this insanely combative kid who wanted to fight everyone and everything all of the time. Exhausting. After that it was all easy, and things went well. After work, the agency who employs me said ‘hey we’ve got you locked in for next week on Thursday/Friday if you’re keen’ and it was great having that certainty. It’s income in the bag, easy to plan around and walking distance from home. So I’ll take it.
Today - actually right now - I’m in a very fancy school and it’s a lot easier. In many ways that there are support staff, good routines, etc, just make my job a lot smoother. I mean I am typing this newsletter while the class of grade fives are making a presentation about different types of science - so, like, how simple is that. For the money there’s probably not much more I could want in terms of effort:income.
But that’s the thing - if I wanted to earn money I’d just have another day job. I don’t just want to earn an income - I want more freedom and creative possibility in my life. Working this day job is a reasonable balance - I can put in minimal effort, stash some cash, and it’s good to be out of my comfort zone.
Interestingly, a friend of mine said to me on the weekend that he had really noticed how much more happy and optimistic I was. I think so much of what I’d talk to my friends about the last 5-10 years was just the constant slog of working and trying not to let it crush me. I had a few pretty bad mental health moments due to work stress and found that chatting to people made me feel a lot better. But it’s also fairly dull yo just whinge about not wanting to drag oneself to work.
Now, I hope, I’m much more excited about what’s going on in life and feel much better about the things I do. I feel very little anxiety, nerves or existential drama about trading my life for wages, and feel much more excitement, optimism and ownership.
Anyway - in a lot of ways it’s been a slow 7 days, but there’s been a few good things.
a) I’m confirmed to be going to Melbourne Art Book Fair! I haven’t always had that locked in, and the National Gallery of Victoria is an institution that sort of plays funny buggers with artists/exhibitors.
b) I got invited to a book fair in Japan - I can’t share all the details yet but that’s such an incredible opportunity. I was nominated by Perimeter Books (a local book store and Australia’s premier publisher in the art space) so the dual positive of recognition by mentors and invitation by new people was really just so affirming.
c) I’m teaching my first workshop in the new space this weekend and I’m excited.
d) Tall Poppy’s first book SHOULD arrive next week and I can photograph it and start selling it!
e) My big solo show this year is happening in Broken Hill got confirmed for June, so now I can plan my first half of the year.
The year looks something like this:
February/March - in Melbourne, working as a teacher, launching the new book, teaching workshops, my work is in a group show in Canberra soon too! Oh and designing and testing books.
April - on the road, heading to the bush to take photos, do some more CRT work
May - in Melbourne/Japan - doing some teaching, doing some fairs.
June - in Broken Hill for a week or so, doing more teaching and some workshops
July - in Europe - launching a book at Arles, traveling with my partner - doing some reflections and planning.
Live laugh love