Finding a Vintage Career

[thunderw21]

This is directed at the likes of MK, Matt Deckard, Senator Jack, Marty M., Hemingway Jones and the innumberable others who have made vintage and style not just a hobby but a career. And seem to be successful at it.

As a fresh college graduate with a degree in history and someone who cannot for the life of him find a job in the field of history (outside of teaching), how can I and others like me get started in a vintage-based job and career? Whether it be in Hollywood, getting published, running a haberdashery, working at a museum, creating my own clothing line, etc.

The possibilities seem endless if only I knew where to start. Perhaps the old saying is true; it's the people and connections that really count, not the things you might know.

Is there room in the vintage/style business for someone who graduated with a history degree, is slowly learning about the Golden Era, loves to write and has an expertise in WW2 U.S. Army uniforms and militaria?
Where does one look?

 

[Brad Bowers]

Thunder, you have to create your own opportunities. That may sound flippant, but it's not meant to -- it's the truth. I graduated 2 1/2 years ago with a Master's in History and still haven't found a job in my field, but I'm working on many projects that will lead to something one of these days. That's the plan, at least.

Put your research skills to work at what you love and you'll come up with something, whether it's writing, editing, learning how to design or make clothes, or volunteering at a museum you like. One or more of these things will lead to something, but it may take a while.

Here, from one underemployed historian to another, this drink's on me.

Brad

 

[Two Gun Bob]

Consider working in archives or in an historical library. Or maybe archaeology, a natural progression from history? And if you'd like to maybe build up a career in historical journalism, why not have a go at writing articles for history magazines?

I became an historian in reverse; I graduated as a commercial photographer and ended up managing the photo collections and services of a local public record office here in England. As a result I studied history and now also do research and writing.

 

[donCarlos]

And what about some job for the city, like monument preservation? These people have tremendous power here...

 

[$ally]

I know a few people who had to create their own job market. I just used the skills, talents, experience I already had, adding my vintage interest to it, my career then found me. Develop a plan to make a living doing what you love to do anyway. I know that depends on finding the demand, but it's out there. You have to take initiative to make it happen. The vintage aspect could be applied to any career: certified/degreed tailor, licensed cosmetologist, mechanic, photographer, acrobatic dancer, musician, artist, historian, burlesque/vaudeville/cabaret performer, teacher, writer, retailer, shop/venue owner, interior designer, architect, collector seeking bargains to resell on e-bay, helping others with estate sales, so on. I don't think anyone can give you specifics, because you have your own?

 

[Miss 1940's]

Being a shop girl

or perhaps working at the perfum counters at "Blacks"
just like Crystal allen

 

[KittyT]

My grandmother was a stenographer during the Great Depression. She later taught pattern drafting at a local university - without having a college degree herself.

The main pitfalls I see with finding a "vintage career" is that everyone is on hard economic times right now and during such times, companies are less willing to hire someone who is inexperienced, because it's very costly and time consuming to train them. There's also the issue of how to support yourself while you're establishing yourself in a new career. Some people have it in them to take these sorts of risks, and some of us do not.

 

[YARVTON]

Vintage Career

Well, I know all too well that the world spins on Money and Connections, but if I force myself to be less cynical than usual I might say the following:

Connections help because truly-helpful people can only help if they know you and know what you can do.

It's not always best to be a Big Fish in a Small Pond. Opportunity has a way of knocking-- if not slipping notes under the door -- in the Big Ponds of New York, LA, and other large cities. The challenge is not getting lost or eaten up while making one's way. I have regrets about not seizing opportunities presented, but I'm grateful for all sorts of happy accidents. So I think there's a lot to be said for "being in the right place at the right time", and also "being the guy out in the hall when they need to hire somebody today".

And while I'm not one to tell others to "follow dreams" or "you can do anything, blah... blah..." if you have a scheme and some sort of plan, sometimes things will work out fairly well.

All sorts of crazy things have happened -- 30-some years ago, Harrison Ford was George Lucas's carpenter and just look where he is now!

 

[Miss 1929]

It's overrated...

or perhaps working at the perfume counters at "Blacks"
just like Crystal Allen

I actually have a friend who was a perfume girl at Saks, and was inspired to take the job by "The Women"...didn't like it.

And I was a vintage shopgirl for quite a while - the good part was getting 80% off on my vintage clothing! The bad part was the poverty, retail sucks unless you own the store.

I think the internet holds great possibility for vintage enthusiasts - besides the buying and selling of stuff, it's a great way to reach a large audience for whatever you business turns out to be. I know I am getting at least half my musical work from it!

I guess the first thing is to ask yourself what you would be doing, if you didn't have to do it for the money. That is how you will know what you would really enjoy, then the next step is to find a way to get paid for it...

 

[TheDutchess]

I did an internship at a gallery that preserved vintage clothing. You get to go out and try to find, look through and date items of clothing. Its like CSI for vintage clothing, a lot of research of course but if you love clothes its a pretty fun job.

 

[HoneyBee]

I'm working on getting into the Historic Preservation masters program at USC (some schools call it Public History) - something like that would be perfect for a history major....

Good luck!

 

[David Conwill]

I was in the same boat, now I'm almost done with law school. I have this idea that someday I'll be doing mostly historic-preservation related work. I think the best advice was "make your own opportunities" - networking really helps for that. Find people locally who are doing what you want to do and start sticking to them like glue - you'll find they occasionally kick off opportunities that they don't have time for or are only peripherally related to what they do.

-Dave

 

[JazzBaby]

I agree with Brad Bowers about creating your own opportunites - the career you want never just falls into your lap. Why not take inspiration from the people here at the lounge you mentioned in your post, and maybe a few others here who may be in a 'vintage' career. I thought Matt Deckard and Senator Jacks' respective enterprises were such a good idea that I'm currently in the process of opening a boutique in my hometown, selling self-designed vintage inspired clothing (for women!) Since you have a history degree, why not collect and resell objects from your specialist area. That way you can also have fun researching and relating the history behind each piece. There are a lot of collectors of various historical artefacts so even a small online business could well prove to be lucrative.

Good luck, whatever you do!