u/LuvClassic5625

TL;DR:

I'm currently an apprentice. Please don't delete.

- Do I keep saving money and do so until I have an emergency fund ($10k) and can pay for the trade school outright ($12k) before I quit my job?

- Are unsafe machines (table saw, band saw with no safety guards and no air handling for wood dust, metal sanding...) and no insurance enough walk away from this apprenticeship?

- Do I quit my job, depend on my partner's income, do the $12k program and just see how the apprenticeship goes since I've already invested so much time and money into this endeavor?

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I relocated across the country (US) for a unique trade job (artisan woodworking) apprenticeship. I had been talking with the business owners (brothers) for 6 years to figure out if this was something I wanted to do and I went and visit their shop.

The owners told me I could earn money doing the work, but need to go to a 6 month trade school program in order to apprentice. So I learned about the school and prepared to move.

I called the school, talked to professionals there, met with and visited other shops and businesses in this field as well. I built things from scratch to get a feel for if I'd like the work. I did all the prep I could. Talked to the other apprentices. 6 years of prep, planning and discernment.

This was the only business that was taking on an apprentice.

I moved from Seattle, WA, to West Virginia for the apprenticeship with my partner. I have no family or friends here. It was very expensive ($12k) and I took a low paying hourly job in Maine (80% pay cut from what I was making). I have been working at the mentor's shop for the last year when I can, aside from my full time job. Here's the situation I'm in.

Pay ---+

- There is no hourly pay for the apprenticeship. You're only paid if you do work on a project. Which the rate breaks down to about $18-25/hour before taxes. You don't get paid regularly and the work and pay is dependent on the owner and what work comes in.

- The shop is very busy and work is consistent, but there are 3 other people handling projects.

The business ---+

- The owners are in their early 80s and travel to their summer home in Ireland multiple times a year. So this disrupts things in terms of pay and learning.

- The business is a speciality, artisan trade that my mentors run out of their house. It's an ancient shop with machines with no safety guards (1980s table saw, 1940s band saw...), peeling floors and wallpaper, dirt everywhere, full tools, extremely hot in summer and extremely cold in winter.... A couple of people were hurt already. Minor injuries. No air exchange or handling for wood dust, metal sanding and filing....

- The shop does $500k in sales annually, split among the full time professionals (the 3 former apprentices).

- They have had 3 apprentices so far, both were in their early 20s when they started. 6 years later, they are all full time professionals, but get all their work from the shop. Each one scraped by to make the apprenticeship happen. Very difficult.

- The apprentices used and use large machines from other businesses to do their work. They don't use these ancient machines much, if ever.

- The business provides no insurance of any kind, so I'm on my own if I'm injured or worse. I'm essentially a contractor.

Education I need to progress ----+

- I still need to take the 6 month trade school program and need $12k to do it and it's full time during the day. I have found similar programs, but they are either too far from me (and at the same price). All programs I have found are during the day, 8 am-5 pm.

- Now after 1 year of working essentially odd jobs for the mentor (made $2k for the year at the shop), they want me to do the school before they teaches me anymore. There are specific skills he wants me to learn.

My income ---+

- I have multiple streams of income to try keep me afloat while I do the apprenticeship, but I'm not making enough. I'm also still recovering from the move across the country. I dont have $12k for the school either.

- There is no financial aid for the trade program.

- I have an large loan I'm paying off already ($24k) so I don't want to take on more debt. But if I have to, I will.

- I work full time at a job 8-5 and make really good money at the moment. My partner also works and we could live off their income alone, but it would be tight.

The issue ---+

- I'm struggling because I originally thought I would quit my job, do the trade program and then apprentice full time, but I don't know if that makes sense anymore. The work and pay at the be studio is so inconsistent (in terms of how much you make. There is a lot of work that comes in.) The owners also travel throughout the year...

- The other apprentices work in other states so I don't get to see them and they don't have time to train me. They are actually a bit annoyed I'm even there because they are concerned about their income and having to split it with another person.

- My mentors tell me that once I do the trade program, I could apprentice for 1 year and then could be equipped to do my own thing. But I think they are underestimating. The other apprentices have been with the shop for 6+ years and are employees.

- I'm bummed because I've been talking with the mentors for 6 years, moved all the way here and they are like "we can't train you until you so the school." Fine, but now they are fully training a new apprentice ((who is retired and has the time) who lives locally. And now I get no work and no calls to do anything at the shop.

- The owners do ask me to do admin remotely (answer calls periodically and schedule a few supply deliveries), but I'm not paid for that work.

- I work full time, sell online (trading cards), and have a small business. I'm really trying to save and earn as much as I can. Most importantly, have consistent income when I apprentice.

--+--

I'm concerned about getting hurt and taking care of myself financially. I knew I was taking a risk with this move and everything. I'm committed... And at the same time, concerned by the lack of insurance, inconsistent pay, old equipment...

How do I make this work? I dont know what I don't know, because this field is new to me. The blatant lack of safety protocols worries me. Mainly the machines. How the heck do I do this? Any advice is much appreciated!

Edit: I've gotten a comment asking why even post a question like this.

1. I lost a family member to depression and I want to treat others who are struggling with the disease with kindness and care. And at the same time, take care of my own mental health and not get taken advantage of.
2. I'm not a professional musician. This isn't my area of expertise so I'm just looking for an opinion from professionals in this field.
3. Lessons are a big expense for me. $75 for 45 min weekly. So there is a financial stress and now a mental and emotional one due to what the teacher is sharing with me and how they treat me.
4. I've only been with this teacher for 1.5 months so I've been trying to get a read on if it's time to move on or give it longer.

A big thank you to everyone who commented. I very much appreciate all your advice and you sharing your experience.

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I'm a student (late-50s's) who has been studying with a new music teacher on Skype for 1.5 months. Things started out fine and then a month in, my teacher's life imploded. Their wife left them, they started a divorce, one of their loved ones died and then the teacher told me he has attempted to end his life multiple times in the last month. He is currently working with a therapist, is under mental health watch and is getting care. They also talk about how they are drinking quite a bit. But they have a support system and people watching them.

They share this with me in lessons. The mental health story was shared after I mentioned I was having a hard time because my aunt had passed from something similar. And then my teacher started sharing their recent mental health struggles. I think these open conversations about mental health are important. We did reschedule the lesson.

My teacher has an incredible career. They have produced many music albums and has a large teaching studio of children and adults.

The mental health struggles and talking about it during lessons is one thing, but I've been struggling with my teacher's attitude the last month. Recently they were rude, snippy and were borderline yelling at me, "I already specifically told you..." When we were working through a new piece of music. The whole lesson was very uncomfortable.

Each lesson they share a lengthy, sad, update on their life. I never ask for the updates.

They are irritable and always seem impatient and annoyed with me. They "bark" commands at me sometimes and made a comment about "music dyslexia." He was implying that because I mixed something up in a measure, I had music dyslexia. What the heck?

We haven't been working together that long.

I have had many teachers over the years (I've been playing my instrument for 10 years) and I've had my share of teachers that weren't a great fit, but this has been a unique experience. They treat me like an idiot and an inconvenience. But I spend a lot of money on these lessons!

How do you kindly end lessons with someone who is not doing well mentally? I mean they are still scheduling concerts, keeping a performing schedule, judging and more, so there is some level of functionality.

Thank you for any advice. 🙏

Hi! I'm an adult student (late-40s's) been studying with a new music teacher on Skype for the last few months. Things started out fine and then a month in, my teacher's life imploded. Their wife left them, they started a divorce, one of their loved ones died and then the teacher told me they have attempted to end their life multiple times in the last month. They are currently working with a therapist, are under watch and are getting care. They also talk about how they are drinking quite a bit.

They share this with me in lessons. The mental health story was shared after I mentioned I was having a hard time because my aunt had passed from something similar. And then my teacher started sharing their recent mental health struggles.

My teacher has an incredible career. They have produced many music albums and has a large teaching studio of children and adults.

The mental health struggles and then talking about it during lessons is one thing, but it's my teacher's attitude the last month. The recently they were rude, snippy and were borderline yelling at me, "I already specifically told you..." When we were working through a new piece of music. The whole lesson was very uncomfortable.

They are irritable and always seem impatient and annoyed with me. We haven't been working together that long.

I have had many teachers over the years (I've been playing my instrument for 10 years) and I've had my share of teachers that weren't a great fit, but this has been a unique experience.

How do you kindly end lessons with someone who is not doing well mentally? I mean they are still scheduling concerts, keeping a performing schedule, judging and more, so there is some level of functionality.

Thank you for any advice. 🙏

Been dealing with a dysfunctional workplace for 8 months. I'm remote and so are two of my coworkers. Of the 21 people who were in my department when I started, only 5 are left. 6 got fired for stealing money on a corporate card and everyone else quit.

I've had very little training and no direction. There's been no budget either.

The man who was training me was supposed to become my boss, but he quit. The team that works closely with mine has been complaining about my department for months, but there's nothing we could do. We have had no people and no money.

Now I have a new manager. He asked what I thought about flying across the country for a one hour in person meeting. I told him I had pto scheduled. He approved my PTO.

A week later I get a call from my department head that they've had complaints about me not supporting the team I mentioned earlier. Oh yeah, and it's review season and they need me to come to the office across the country for a one hour meeting to discuss my performance. It's also for the same day my boss wanted me to come in originally.

My coworkers think I've been sabotaged by the previous trainer who left me with nothing when he quit. I have no idea.

All I know is this all feels gross and the management has been terrible.

My dad thinks I should come up with a big presentation with ideas and etc to wow those at the review meeting. But they told me on the call they want to know what I've been working on and etc and during the meeting will determine if I'm a good fit for the company.

Wtf do I do? It's the poor management that is the issue. They have been getting pressure from corporate and that's why they are looking into everything. But I don't know how to handle this. Any ideas is much appreciated.

The meeting is in a month.

Looking for a Cartier pave love bracelet in solid 18k in size 18. 🩷 Open to classic, thin or medium sizes. US sellers. Thanks so much!

This has been the weirdest place I've ever worked and I've been in some bad places.

- Showed up for my first day to a completely empty 2000 sq ft office. Absolutely no one. I was in the right place. I was hired to work in an empty office and no one told me.

- 5 people were fired for stealing company money with a credit card before I started. My boss was one of them. As a result, when I started I had no supervisor.

- In months, our 21 person team (everyone else is in a different state) dwindled to 3 because everyone quit.

- There are bills that our department never correctly processed and are 3 years old.

- Company is against remote work, but I'm not driving 3 hours round-trip to be in an empty office. (I was told by multiple people I could work remote.)

This is a very large national company with tens of thousands of employees. The company is in good standing, the department is the one that is a mess.

Got a new supervisor and things went from no work to him micromanaging and wanting us to do all the work yesterday. I went from no emails a day to an email an hour from this manager. (Yes we have a team chat, but everyone uses email for "visibility.")

And then there's the requests for me to fly across the country for a one hour in person meeting.

My brain is spinning and I'm concerned they'll make me work in the completely empty office.

This manager is blunt, direct, borderline rude and have this manager vs employee attitude.

I don't want to do this anymore. I've only been at this job for 8 months and was hoping to stay until the end of the year or early next so I could go back to school.

Does this all sound a bit wild or is there something wrong with me? Im really struggling to function.

How much should I budget for (total) to have a wedding in Great Diamond Island? (Total range) Would I have to hire a ferry to bring my guests to the island? Thanks! 🩷