meistwer 0 #1 January 9, 2006 Hi there, I've been in the sport for a year doing static line and then moved to the AFF, and as you all do I've LOVED IT so much to the point of not been able to think about anything else. I am constantly watching videos, reading, surfing the web in search of cool stuff, looking reviews for DZ's, etc. I was wondering if you could make a living out if this, I'm currently completing an engineering degree at university but many times crossed my mind the thought of dropping it and trying to get a job in a DZ cleaning, packing, anything really and live out the dream of jumping everyday and learning from the experienced guys. I'm not too fussed about getting loads of money to get a huge house, nice cars and that sort of things, I just want to be happy and never in my life I have experienced such happiness as when I skydive and enthusiasm about something. I know that you can become an AFF instructor, Tandem Master, etc...but, do you really make money enough to live? I was this weekend at Empuriabrava DZ (couldn't jump cos of the weather ) and I saw the French National Team training and I guess that people like that don't have normal jobs, they just skydive. Thanks guys Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites daniel_owen_uk 0 #2 January 9, 2006 Do a search, this has been asked before (a fair few times).__________________ BOOM Headshot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Hawkins121 0 #3 January 9, 2006 Havent been around long.. it seems that you would make more money selling T-shirts or hot dogs on the dz than being a tandem master or AFF instructor. It is probly different at SDAZ, perris or elisnore but its really hard to get on staff at a dz like that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skybytch 273 #4 January 9, 2006 Quote I'm currently completing an engineering degree at university Finish that first, then consider cutting away and being a dz bum. "Living the dream" can be a lot of fun. It's a lot more fun if you have a real world career to fall back on when you get sick of Top Ramen. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites airtwardo 7 #5 January 9, 2006 Quotewhen you get sick of Top Ramen. Quote That's not really a fair assessment... If you work at a 'busy' year round DZ, you CAN move up to Kraft Mac & Cheese! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites riggerrob 643 #6 January 9, 2006 Yeah! Like skybytch said: complete your engineering degree and work in that field for a few years. Skydive on weekends and gradually earn ratings. Then - when you find yourself "between jobs" work at a DZ for a summer. In the autumn, you will be glad to return to engineering. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites meistwer 0 #7 January 9, 2006 QuoteYeah! Like skybytch said: complete your engineering degree and work in that field for a few years. Skydive on weekends and gradually earn ratings. Then - when you find yourself "between jobs" work at a DZ for a summer. In the autumn, you will be glad to return to engineering. But, I've seen people at DZ's working there and they seem to be quite happy about it. Maybe they only work there in the weekends I guess, (I'm not going to ask them anyway, too personal) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Andy9o8 2 #8 January 9, 2006 I echo all of the above points, especially about getting your degree first and trying it out some summer. But I will add this: if you're going to do it at all, do it while you're still young, single, childless, before your career gets launched, and before you have a mortgage to pay. Living as a skydiving bum / ski bum / surfer bum / etc can be fun for a "certain" stage of life, but after that, it gets old. If you're going to be part of that segment of society that raises a family in a reasonably comfortable middle-class lifestyle, doing that while employed full-time in the skydiving industry can be pretty tough. Look around at different DZ's. You'll probably find that a big percentage (not all) of people who work full-time on a DZ are either under 25 or divorced or empty-nesters; while those who are married & raising families tend to be weekenders. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites NelKel 0 #9 January 9, 2006 I was wondering if you could make a living out if this, I'm currently completing an engineering degree at university but many times crossed my mind the thought of dropping it and trying to get a job in a DZ cleaning, packing, anything really and live out the dream of jumping everyday and learn from the experienced guys.<<<< HI, a couple of experienced guys here have told you to complete your degree, then cutaway. It would be well worth it to have something to fall back on later in life if you decide to. IMO.. I would agree 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites GravityGirl 0 #10 January 9, 2006 My advise would be to stick with the engineering degree. Get a SIDE job at the DZ to pay for your habit. Become a kick ass engineer and design us some new equipment. There are "real" jobs in the industry for engineers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites nbblood 0 #11 January 9, 2006 The way to make a small fortune in skydiving is to start with a large fortune.Blues, Nathan If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Icon134 0 #12 January 9, 2006 QuoteMy advise would be to stick with the engineering degree. Get a SIDE job at the DZ to pay for your habit. Become a kick ass engineer and design us some new equipment. There are "real" jobs in the industry for engineers. I like this idea... Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Elisha 1 #13 January 10, 2006 QuoteMy advise would be to stick with the engineering degree. Get a SIDE job at the DZ to pay for your habit. Become a kick ass engineer and design us some new equipment. There are "real" jobs in the industry for engineers. Listen to the wise little girl.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites UntamedDOG 0 #14 January 10, 2006 Quotenever in my life I have experienced such happiness as when I skydive and enthusiasm about something. In a nutshell, don’t do it. Keep the sport as a hobby. Don’t make it into work. You have 30 jumps, which tells us that you haven’t really seen a lot of the shit that goes on around dropzones. Think “White Trash Paradise”. Lots of trailers, lots of attitude and no money. Dropzones are great when you are using them for their intended purpose, but think about life after the crowds leave. You are all alone. There isn’t a lot of activity during the week and it is a depressing way to live. Next time you are at your dropzone, ask if you can camp out for a few days. Once everyone goes home to their warm houses, you will be left all alone in a tent with no future and nothing to look forward to, except the next weekend. Not a future I would be proud to have. You’ll last 15 minutes. UntamedDOG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
daniel_owen_uk 0 #2 January 9, 2006 Do a search, this has been asked before (a fair few times).__________________ BOOM Headshot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hawkins121 0 #3 January 9, 2006 Havent been around long.. it seems that you would make more money selling T-shirts or hot dogs on the dz than being a tandem master or AFF instructor. It is probly different at SDAZ, perris or elisnore but its really hard to get on staff at a dz like that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #4 January 9, 2006 Quote I'm currently completing an engineering degree at university Finish that first, then consider cutting away and being a dz bum. "Living the dream" can be a lot of fun. It's a lot more fun if you have a real world career to fall back on when you get sick of Top Ramen. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #5 January 9, 2006 Quotewhen you get sick of Top Ramen. Quote That's not really a fair assessment... If you work at a 'busy' year round DZ, you CAN move up to Kraft Mac & Cheese! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #6 January 9, 2006 Yeah! Like skybytch said: complete your engineering degree and work in that field for a few years. Skydive on weekends and gradually earn ratings. Then - when you find yourself "between jobs" work at a DZ for a summer. In the autumn, you will be glad to return to engineering. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meistwer 0 #7 January 9, 2006 QuoteYeah! Like skybytch said: complete your engineering degree and work in that field for a few years. Skydive on weekends and gradually earn ratings. Then - when you find yourself "between jobs" work at a DZ for a summer. In the autumn, you will be glad to return to engineering. But, I've seen people at DZ's working there and they seem to be quite happy about it. Maybe they only work there in the weekends I guess, (I'm not going to ask them anyway, too personal) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #8 January 9, 2006 I echo all of the above points, especially about getting your degree first and trying it out some summer. But I will add this: if you're going to do it at all, do it while you're still young, single, childless, before your career gets launched, and before you have a mortgage to pay. Living as a skydiving bum / ski bum / surfer bum / etc can be fun for a "certain" stage of life, but after that, it gets old. If you're going to be part of that segment of society that raises a family in a reasonably comfortable middle-class lifestyle, doing that while employed full-time in the skydiving industry can be pretty tough. Look around at different DZ's. You'll probably find that a big percentage (not all) of people who work full-time on a DZ are either under 25 or divorced or empty-nesters; while those who are married & raising families tend to be weekenders. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NelKel 0 #9 January 9, 2006 I was wondering if you could make a living out if this, I'm currently completing an engineering degree at university but many times crossed my mind the thought of dropping it and trying to get a job in a DZ cleaning, packing, anything really and live out the dream of jumping everyday and learn from the experienced guys.<<<< HI, a couple of experienced guys here have told you to complete your degree, then cutaway. It would be well worth it to have something to fall back on later in life if you decide to. IMO.. I would agree 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #10 January 9, 2006 My advise would be to stick with the engineering degree. Get a SIDE job at the DZ to pay for your habit. Become a kick ass engineer and design us some new equipment. There are "real" jobs in the industry for engineers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nbblood 0 #11 January 9, 2006 The way to make a small fortune in skydiving is to start with a large fortune.Blues, Nathan If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Icon134 0 #12 January 9, 2006 QuoteMy advise would be to stick with the engineering degree. Get a SIDE job at the DZ to pay for your habit. Become a kick ass engineer and design us some new equipment. There are "real" jobs in the industry for engineers. I like this idea... Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #13 January 10, 2006 QuoteMy advise would be to stick with the engineering degree. Get a SIDE job at the DZ to pay for your habit. Become a kick ass engineer and design us some new equipment. There are "real" jobs in the industry for engineers. Listen to the wise little girl.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UntamedDOG 0 #14 January 10, 2006 Quotenever in my life I have experienced such happiness as when I skydive and enthusiasm about something. In a nutshell, don’t do it. Keep the sport as a hobby. Don’t make it into work. You have 30 jumps, which tells us that you haven’t really seen a lot of the shit that goes on around dropzones. Think “White Trash Paradise”. Lots of trailers, lots of attitude and no money. Dropzones are great when you are using them for their intended purpose, but think about life after the crowds leave. You are all alone. There isn’t a lot of activity during the week and it is a depressing way to live. Next time you are at your dropzone, ask if you can camp out for a few days. Once everyone goes home to their warm houses, you will be left all alone in a tent with no future and nothing to look forward to, except the next weekend. Not a future I would be proud to have. You’ll last 15 minutes. UntamedDOG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
