(Day 30/31)
It’s in the dictionary. Side Gig. It’s real. It’s probably more real in the field of education than in many other occupations.
Cambridge Dictionary – source
I’ve had “side gigs” since before the word was accepted into the dictionary.
A sampling of both paid and “un-monetary” side gigs:
- College instructor
- Substitute teacher
- Blogger
- Grant writer
- Book reviewer
- Tweet chat moderator
- Researcher
- Document analysis
- Cross stitch
- Embroiderer
- Quilter
- “Canner” (preserving food)
- Gardener
- Tech support
- Cook
- Furniture refinished
- Painter
- Carpenter
- Tutor
- Proofreader
- Editor
- . . .
Were you nodding your head? How many of those are also on Your List of Side Gigs?
My side gigs allowed me to have a personal budget for:
books, one or two,
and
professional development that was not paid for by my employer.
What are/were your side gigs? What did they support?
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Thank you,
In Writing Teachers, for this daily forum in March. Check out the writers and readers here.
Resource - Full 
Fran, this made me think. I guess I have had more non-paying side gigs that paying ones. I guess most people don’t do only one thing.
Side gigs: tutor, babysitter, horseback riding instructor, braider of manes & tails for horse shows, adjunct professor, dog sitter, editor, blogger, writer of professional books for teachers, conference presenter.
My adjunct position paid for my medical insurance for five years until I was old enough to receive Medicare. My work with horses provided money for food, clothes, and gas for my car.
Side gigs: babysitter, dog sitter, adjunct professor, blogger, writer of professional books for teachers, braider for manes & tails, groom at horse shows, horseback riding instructor, camp counselor, literacy consultant, editor for PAReads Journal of KSLA. They were not all paid positions. Braiding & riding lessons paid for food, gas in the car, clothes. Adjunct paid my medical insurance for five years.
Fran, interesting post. I haven’t thought of that, but I guess I did have side gigs too, especially during my stay-at-home years when my girls were young–curriculum writer, copy editor, crafter, baker, newsletter editor, consultant and writer. I never made a lot of money, but one time right before school started and we needed to go back-to-school shopping, I received a $700 check in the mail for a story that was sold to some state reading test. I wept at the fortuitous timing.
You’ve reminded me that side gigs are a part of life. I have edited and proofread assignments, essays, translations and resumes over the years.