inkdick: february 23 2009 first day of work
So today I began my job at The Peanut Shop. My first time working retail. It seems like it will be an okay enough job. I mean, as I said before, this is not what I spent four years going to art school to end up doing, but it is okay for the time being (aka the next few months to a year). Money is money right now, and no one else was hiring and you can’t exactly get a nine to five job in the ‘comic factory’. And this place is close enough where I can ride my bike to work so I’ll be saving money on gas. That’s a plus.
I admit, I was a little overwhelmed at first. As I said, this is my first time working retail. Took me a while to get the hang of the register. I’ll get the hang of this all soon enough.
I’m NOT a fan of standing on my feet for ten hours. Fuck did my back kill me by the end of the day. To those who have worked or still work retail: Do you ever get used to the staying on your feet all day? Or am I just a pussy?
I really don’t know how cartoonists with day jobs do it. Work by day and then go home and work on their comics at night. Need to find out how to do this. My biggest fear is that I stop doing comics because I am to tired from working my day job. I can’t let that happen.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:41 am
Good, supportive shoes with cushy insoles go a very long way for the back pain. Also, one of those padded mats they use for Walmart cashiers to prevent body strain, if you can find one.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:50 am
i used to work at a coffeeshop where i would have to be on my feet for eight hours at a time. i would recommend investing in shoes that have a lot of cushioning/support in them; i too often made the mistake of just wearing chuck taylors to work and then losing the will to live halfway through my shift because my back hurt so badly.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:54 am
Here’s the secret: after about 3 weeks, its like second nature. Infact, it probably healthier that you’re on your feet all day.
You’re gonna adjust, just stop worrying about it.
February 26th, 2009 at 3:07 am
The Webcomics Weekly fellows did a podcast on time management (episode 21). It’s all about how they figured out the job/life/comics balancing act. It was pretty helpful, and at the very least, they’re always fun guys to listen to, anyway. Kudos on the job!
February 26th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Waitress and working at the college library; is how I paid my way through college. Like Laya and scrab state, it is in the shoes . . . arch support and all that. The first paycheck you receive is also very motivating. Oh yeh, try a warm compress on the back; that will help relieve the pain.
February 26th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Briony told me that I need to comment on this one.
I know how you feel, too. It really helps to have someone else pushing you on whenever you just don’t have the self-motivation. Plus, just about any and every writer (be it comics, novels, or whatever) has had to deal with juggling a job and their dreams. Don’t let one get in the way of the other and you’ll persevere.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Wow, 10 hours on your first day!
As for juggling a job and comics…that’s just something you’ll have to get used to. After you get comfortable with your job, it’ll be less exhausting, but probably still somewhat exhausting. You’ll just get a feel for when the best times to work are. I found that letting myself take a small break (hour or two) after work lets me feel refreshed enough to tackle the drawing board, but it does mean that I have to spend significantly less time working on comics. But then that’s where weekends come into play! On days off, be sure to do fun stuff, but try to fit in as much drawing time as possible. Those days are very valuable. Now it’s time to really treat this as if you have “two jobs.”
Also, use the crappy day jobs as motivators for working on comics. A wise professor once told me, “Make comics your escape” in regards to jobs. Working 9-5s that I don’t particularly like are great motivators to work as hard as I can on comics in the hope that one day I won’t have to work them ever again!
February 26th, 2009 at 10:09 am
My advice to to take a tylenol for the first few weeks until your back muscles adjust to the strain of being on your feet all day. Moving around and stretching when you have a minute helps too.
Most everyone here has said Arch support, Arch support, cushy shoes, cushy shoes-
but if you are like me, arched or slightly heeled shoes kill my back because I have flat feet. I used to work as a zoo, and the greatest pair of shoes I ever owned were some nice regular old black chucks with gel inserts. The gel was only there though to make the sole a little thicker so I didn’t feel rocks so much when I stepped on them.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:08 am
It will suck for a couple of weeks, but then you won’t really notice.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:14 am
10 hours is long. You’ll probably develop a rhythm. As in, the first 3 hours will feel long, then the rest feels shorter. Or it may depend on customer inflow timing.
As they said, good shoes helps. Chatting, if allowed, can be nice, but often difficult at a retail store. Would be nice if you could sit… but that depends on the store.
I doubt you’ll fully get used to the pain of 10 hours, especially as you accumulate the stress for weeks. You’ll have to make sure to get enough sleep, eat well, vitamins, minerals, so forth, take a good hot shower, and maybe massage yourself a bit, or get massaged, if possible.
As you get used to dealing with a day, the next enemy will be the fatigue accumulation, and the temptation to stay up late/later.
Keep looking for your next job, and make that your motivation, the hope that eases the pain of now…
February 26th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Bravo!
Excellent advise from all!
February 26th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
When I worked in a CD store, I would put a couple pieces of cardboard on the ground to help cushion my feet. It was better than tile!
February 26th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Let’s just start this comic factory already! Whattya say?
February 26th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Retail is the hell that births monsters into the world.
February 27th, 2009 at 1:14 am
Biking is always the best way to get anywhere! It’s always different and the wind exhilarates you in the early mornings. Prepares you for the long haul.
And the whole “being on your feet all day” thing should be no problem. As long as you don’t think about it during the day, it’ll all good in the hood g. Hehe
February 27th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Try standing in one square-inch spot as a movie ticket ripper for 8 hours straight. No bathroom breaks. No water breaks. Cannot move unless the manager tells you so. You know they will know if you move due to that damn spy camera right above your freaking head.
I only lasted a month before I finally got promoted to usher. Being a movie Usher is the best job….so the point of this: Hang in there, cuz the grass is always greener on the other side.