Anyone want to help run my life?

[RoryJ 0]

Just some quick thoughts from whoever cares to drop some would be splendid.

I am looking into cutting away from everything by the end of next season after getting my AFF and tandem ratings.
Now, do I quit my current asst. mgr. position at the end of January, head down to FL for a few months of temp. work and hard jumping, return to NJ to keep jumping while working any skydiving/non-skydiving related jobs as possible to earn money OR do I stay at my current job, net about an extra $2800, and just start jumping as much as possible in Jersey starting in April?

Thoughts? Anyone? I am very confused these days, hahah.

Not again!

[freefalle 0]

stay where you are at, the pay here in Florida sucks and jobs aren't the easiest to find. Unless you have a stash of extra cash someplace to get you through the tough times, IMHO you are better off staying where you are, getting your jump numbers way up, then getting your tandem ratings and AFF ratings when you are ready.

It doesn't sound like you are; but, Don't expect to walk into a full time slot doing tandems in Florida. Since most DZs down here run year around the tandem masters slots don't open very often. Although it may suck and may not be much fun, stick with what you have right now, once you have the experience to get your AFF ratings and your Tandem ratings get them under your belt. Then if you decide you want to seek your living in the sport get a slot somewhere and go for it. Good luck .02 dropped

[Superman32 0]

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start jumping as much as possible in Jersey starting in April?

Why wait until April?
Cross Keys and the Ranch are open year round.
Don't be a cold sissy, and get your jump on

Inveniam Viam aut Faciam
I'm back biatches!

[altichick 1]

ditto freefalle

If you leave without the jumps you'll just eat into any cash you have whilst getting your jumps nos. up and then doing the courses. And if you don't have enough cash to do it you'll get sucked into the dz bum / packing thing - working all hours but rarely being able to afford a jump (let alone a beer!)

Why not stick at your day job and get general dz experience, riggers ticket or something in the mean time - the more you can do the easier getting a job will be when you do cutaway from real life!

I left the UK 18 months ago with 300 jumps and I spent a *lot* before I started working in the sport even since getting my ratings I have yet to break even!

I don't regret it though

Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things!

[jas8472 0]

239 jumps, tandem, aff rating next season????

Abit ambitious don't you think.

[packerboy 3]

Why? 500 jumps in a year sound like too much? It's been done in one day.

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In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

[Eule 0]

Quote

I am looking into cutting away from everything by the end of
next season after getting my AFF and tandem ratings.

Background: So far, all of my transactions involving skydiving have
involved money flowing out of my pocket, not into it. I have a
bachelor's degree and have worked at several places, both in and out
of what I have a degree in, since graduating ten years ago. I am not
an accountant, businessman, or lawyer; this is not legal, financial, or
tax advice.

I know people who write novels for a living, and their standard advice
for aspiring writers who want to quit their day jobs includes "make sure
you have X months/years of salary IN THE BANK first". One of the
reasons they advocate this is that writers tend to get paid in large,
irregular chunks. A writer with a couple of successful books out might
make $30,000 one year, but it will come in as a $12,000 check in
April, a $10,000 check in September, and an $8,000 check in December.
It seems like people working in the skydiving industry get paid in
smaller but more regular chunks, but there is probably still some
seasonal variation to it, so having enough money in the bank to
cover a month or three of cold or rainy weekends is probably a good
idea.

There are some opposing theories like "it's easy to turn a hobby you
love into a job you hate" and "if you find a job you love, you'll never
work another day in your life". My suggestion in this direction would
be to keep your day-time job, get your ratings, and see what you
think after that. You'll have more knowledge on how you feel, and
you'll be able to talk to other people who are tandem and AFF
instructors to see what they think.

Something else that can help you to decide is to do the math. A
spreadsheet is great for this but it can be done perfectly well with
pencil and paper. What I do is break everything down to a monthly
basis first and look at what I make and spend each month. Don't
forget that if you're self-employed, you get to buy your own insurance
and (probably) withhold your own taxes. You can get a quote on
insurance from several places, and guesstimate your taxes by what
you paid last year or this year. Or, for this year or last year, "pretend"
that you were self-employed - take your yearly net pay, add the
withheld taxes back in, and then do your taxes again, assuming that
you are self-employed. Don't be surprised if your taxes end up being
more than they were for the employee-of-company case. The tax
thing varies - I have heard of DZs doing everything from the full-monty
W-2s and 1099s to the DZO handing you a wad of cash in the men's
room on payday. Remember, the IRS has an infinite amount of time
and money to hassle you with. You might want to talk to an accountant
or tax preparer to understand the financial stuff better.

One nice thing that Florida, Texas, and a few other states have is
called a "homestead law". The Texas version is (was?) basically that
when you buy a house, the only liens that can be put on it are for the
mortgage and the taxes. Once you've paid off the mortgage, and
if you keep paying the taxes, it's YOURS. If you lose a bunch of
money in Vegas or max out your credit cards or whatever, your
creditors can take your car, your rig, or your stereo, but they _cannot_
take your house. You might be sleeping on the floor with the utilities
shut off, but it's _your_ floor. :) One side-effect of this used to be
that in Texas, there was no such thing as a second mortgage or home
equity loan, but I think that has changed. It's probably not a good
idea to _depend_ on this law, but it can be a reassuring backup.

You didn't mention it and it may or may not be a factor, but I'll say
this: Don't move because you've fallen in lust with someone. I did
this and althought it eventually worked out (with a different person),
it created some unpleasant situations for a while.

Again, I am not an accountant, businessman, or lawyer; this is not
legal, financial, or tax advice.

Good luck!

Eule

PLF does not stand for Please Land on Face.

[marks 0]

Quote

I am looking into cutting away from everything by the end of next season after getting my AFF and tandem ratings.

only cut away from a malfunction!, unless you have an extra reserve.

[Vectracide 0]

My little newt. How fast you grow up and get 1100 jumps. You still belly flyin?

Still in the states?

------------------------------

Controlled and Deliberate.....

[RoryJ 0]

Word. I DO have enough money saved to keep me paid for for at least 6 months. If I went to FL I would get a temp job and try to knock out about 160 in about 4 months... otherwise, it is a jump fest at CK as soon as the weather starts to calm down. I could easily knock out 200+ jumps at CK if I make a concerted effort of it. Basically, that is where all of my money is going to get dumped from now on. That and a camera helmet and camera with it. Another useful skill to have.

Not again!

[NelKel 0]

I know what it feels like, the pull to cut-away. It sometimes feel's like the "dark side" is calling to you, the desire to leave behind all of your real world responsibilities. Start a new life in the Skydiving industry. Looking forward to sleeping in a tent, eating cheap, only being able to afford sandals, and staff t-shirts. Surviving only because you get discounts on stuff like re-packs, food form the concession stand.
I have some advice, why don't you first take a coach course at a local DZ. I only takes a weekend, you might then have a better undestanding of the future you so desire. It will give you the experience to fly with examiners during the course, while they imitate the lack of skills a student has.

Finding a job in Florida is going to be tough for a newly rated Instructor, everyone else more experienced than you, and I are already there.

Trying to get a job at any turbine DZ anywhere in the country is going to be tough for a new instructor. DZO's want the best. The only way to get to be good is through experience, how are you going to get experience if they all require 500 tandem jumps to get on as staff? Same with AFF.

I wish you the best of luck.

_________________________________________

Someone dies, someone says how stupid, someone says it was avoidable, someone says how to avoid it, someone calls them an idiot, someone proposes rule chan

[NelKel 0]

That and a camera helmet and camera with it. Another useful skill to have. <<<<<<<<



Most DZO's, and for that matter most Tandem Instructors will not let you fly with them.

_________________________________________

Someone dies, someone says how stupid, someone says it was avoidable, someone says how to avoid it, someone calls them an idiot, someone proposes rule chan

[riggerrob 561]

Good point about the camera helmet. Don't give up your day job until you are "first string" on CK's video rotation.

Also plan on spending ten days - this winter - with Dave DeWolf in Elizabethtown, PA because a Senior Rigger rating is a great way to keep the Wolf from your door (Groan!!! Yes, I know, that was a bad pun!)
Riggers' greatest advantage is that they can make money - by hiding behind a sewing machine - on rainy days when everyone else is grumbling about impending starvation.

Every extra skill improves your chances of employment.
For example, there have been seasons where all I did was train and dispatch static-liners. Other months, all I did was rig. Speaking of rigging, I am one of the few Canadian skydivers who collects a salary year-round because I spend winters repairing student gear for 3 or 4 DZs.
It also helps if you have a construction related skill (electrician or plumber) and are willing to paint, mow lawns, take out the trash, etc.

[bozo 0]

Quote

Just some quick thoughts from whoever cares to drop some would be splendid.

I am looking into cutting away from everything by the end of next season after getting my AFF and tandem ratings.

What are you gonna do if you break your leg....or maybe your pelvis.....or god forbid , your spine like I did. Got 150,000 bucks stashed away somewhere?

Keep the job little brother and do a bit more research.
Cutting away isnt a cool as in the movies. It was a bad movie anyway.
bozo

bozo
Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars.