bales 0 #1 April 26, 2005 I have done 3 tandems and my first level AFF last year and all I can think about is jumping. I am a seasonal firefighter and miss the whole spring and summer jump sea[email]Quotesons. I am bored of my job and want to get away. I have seen some guys at DZ's that did some sort of work around for a little cash to jump and survive. Just was wondering if any one needs any work around their DZ. Willing to do anything to jump and maybe a little help getting a rig in the future. Desperately wanting to be a part of the community.thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AggieDave 6 #2 April 26, 2005 Stop by your local DZ, find out if they need any packers, loaders, janitors, any sort of handy work to be done, etc. Stopping by during the week is MUCH better then just calling to ask, usually.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites flyangel2 2 #3 April 27, 2005 Be prepared to live mouth to hand if you work at a DZ doing odd jobs. Can't you take a second job to pay for some jumps? Save up that money and then head down south and bang out your jumps in a few weeks.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bodypilot1 0 #4 April 27, 2005 No knowing what area of the world you are in since your profile isn't filled out, look up some of the larger DZ's in your area and see if they will hire you to do "stuff" around the DZ. The larger DZ's will have work all week for you and not just around the weekend. It's not hard to learn how to pack parachutes either. I jump at the largest DZ in Nor Cal, sometimes doing up to 160 tandems a day with plenty of fun jumpers, they are always needing packers. I can also get you through your USPA AFF training at a very reasonable cost, feel free to PM me for details. Be safe. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites MarkM 0 #5 April 27, 2005 Keep your career choice, just have them shift your seasons or move to a new location that let's you jump like you want. I moved to Florida 5 years back and can today jump like I want to. Really, I think it's easier to work outside of the sport and jump on the weekends. Then after awhile, pay for your ratings and what-not then move over to working in the sport if that's something you still want to do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites riggerrob 643 #6 April 27, 2005 Like Mark M said, it will take you 2 or 3 years to make the transition from firefighter to professional skydiver. Work plenty of overtime this fire season, and save your pennies to pay for completing AFF in the fall. Learn how to pack and write your A License exam. Packing is the best-paying job on any dropzone. Over the next couple of years, add a variety of instructor and coach ratings (tandem, AFF, S/L, Skydive University) and then maybe get into camera flying. Rigger's ratings also help keep the wolf from the door on rainy days. The next step involves accumulating two or three sets of skydiving gear and maybe a tandem rig, along with a motorhome or trailer. When you have accumulated all those ratings and "stuff," come back and talk to us. Also keep in mind that professional skydivers are a dime a dozen and pay is poor because too many enthusiastic amateurs are willing to work for free. Speaking of amateurs, a lot of part-time skydiving instructors work as municipal firefighters (for the great pay and benefits), construction workers, etc. and spend their days off jumping. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites zipplewrath 1 #7 April 27, 2005 It isn't that "too many" it is that "so many". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bodypilot1 0 #8 April 27, 2005 QuoteAlso keep in mind that professional skydivers are a dime a dozen. More like a nickle or penny.... Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites NickDG 23 #9 April 27, 2005 >>Be prepared to live mouth to hand if you work at a DZ doing odd jobs.<< In a world where everyone wants to start at the top the above is not a bad thing. Skydiving is one of the few places left where you can start by sweeping out the hangar and later become the DZs Chief Instructor. I know many respected leaders in the sport who spent the first two years on the DZ living in their cars. Go for it . . . NickD BASE 194 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bales 0 #10 April 28, 2005 Nobody can work for free! I would expect some sort of compensation for my work. It would seem fitting for the rookies to do all the grunt work rather others like yuorself donig it wouldnt you think. As far as ratings, different sets of gear and a trailer go your talking tens of thousands of dollars! For me to save money as a forest firefighter is a joke I make a base pay which is shitty and work like a 96 hour work week while paying for my apartment and bills that go unused more than half of the year. Its not my intention to come and undercut the veterans and and work my way past them. I would rather do the stuff others wont and learn from those who have been in the sport for a while and are willing to teach. I appreciate the advice whether positive or negitive, Thanks again! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. 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AggieDave 6 #2 April 26, 2005 Stop by your local DZ, find out if they need any packers, loaders, janitors, any sort of handy work to be done, etc. Stopping by during the week is MUCH better then just calling to ask, usually.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #3 April 27, 2005 Be prepared to live mouth to hand if you work at a DZ doing odd jobs. Can't you take a second job to pay for some jumps? Save up that money and then head down south and bang out your jumps in a few weeks.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #4 April 27, 2005 No knowing what area of the world you are in since your profile isn't filled out, look up some of the larger DZ's in your area and see if they will hire you to do "stuff" around the DZ. The larger DZ's will have work all week for you and not just around the weekend. It's not hard to learn how to pack parachutes either. I jump at the largest DZ in Nor Cal, sometimes doing up to 160 tandems a day with plenty of fun jumpers, they are always needing packers. I can also get you through your USPA AFF training at a very reasonable cost, feel free to PM me for details. Be safe. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkM 0 #5 April 27, 2005 Keep your career choice, just have them shift your seasons or move to a new location that let's you jump like you want. I moved to Florida 5 years back and can today jump like I want to. Really, I think it's easier to work outside of the sport and jump on the weekends. Then after awhile, pay for your ratings and what-not then move over to working in the sport if that's something you still want to do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #6 April 27, 2005 Like Mark M said, it will take you 2 or 3 years to make the transition from firefighter to professional skydiver. Work plenty of overtime this fire season, and save your pennies to pay for completing AFF in the fall. Learn how to pack and write your A License exam. Packing is the best-paying job on any dropzone. Over the next couple of years, add a variety of instructor and coach ratings (tandem, AFF, S/L, Skydive University) and then maybe get into camera flying. Rigger's ratings also help keep the wolf from the door on rainy days. The next step involves accumulating two or three sets of skydiving gear and maybe a tandem rig, along with a motorhome or trailer. When you have accumulated all those ratings and "stuff," come back and talk to us. Also keep in mind that professional skydivers are a dime a dozen and pay is poor because too many enthusiastic amateurs are willing to work for free. Speaking of amateurs, a lot of part-time skydiving instructors work as municipal firefighters (for the great pay and benefits), construction workers, etc. and spend their days off jumping. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zipplewrath 1 #7 April 27, 2005 It isn't that "too many" it is that "so many". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #8 April 27, 2005 QuoteAlso keep in mind that professional skydivers are a dime a dozen. More like a nickle or penny.... Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickDG 23 #9 April 27, 2005 >>Be prepared to live mouth to hand if you work at a DZ doing odd jobs.<< In a world where everyone wants to start at the top the above is not a bad thing. Skydiving is one of the few places left where you can start by sweeping out the hangar and later become the DZs Chief Instructor. I know many respected leaders in the sport who spent the first two years on the DZ living in their cars. Go for it . . . NickD BASE 194 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bales 0 #10 April 28, 2005 Nobody can work for free! I would expect some sort of compensation for my work. It would seem fitting for the rookies to do all the grunt work rather others like yuorself donig it wouldnt you think. As far as ratings, different sets of gear and a trailer go your talking tens of thousands of dollars! For me to save money as a forest firefighter is a joke I make a base pay which is shitty and work like a 96 hour work week while paying for my apartment and bills that go unused more than half of the year. Its not my intention to come and undercut the veterans and and work my way past them. I would rather do the stuff others wont and learn from those who have been in the sport for a while and are willing to teach. I appreciate the advice whether positive or negitive, Thanks again! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
