Features / Series: Don't Quit Your Day Job

How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene Point Blank looks at how musicians split their time, and how their careers influence their music.

Browse all 26 features in this category

Don Zientara

Studio Owner

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • May 22, 2024

How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene Point Blank looks at how musicians split their time, and how their careers influence their music (or how their music provides escape). In this edition, we chat with Don Zientara. Zientara has played with Under Heaven, as well as releasing multiple solo record in recent years. In addition to making music, he records it, owning and operating Inner Ear Studios in Washington, DC, known for records by Minor Threat, Bikini Kill, Dag Nasty, 7 Seconds, Fugazi, Bad Brains, Jawbox, Gogol Bordello and many many more. Scene Point Blank: Is Inner Ear Studios your main job? Don Zientara: Yes, it is. Desperado Party Scene Point Blank: What led you to the audio industry, career wise? Don Zientara: I grew up in Rochester, NY [where I] had several friends in school who knew quite a bit about electronics and taught me to build/design/repair that sort of equipment. I had old tape recorders all my life. I also wired them so that it was a sound reinforcement system. I experimented with electronic design and function. Studied art at Syracuse University. BFA in 1970. Attended graduate school at West Virginia University, majoring in painting and printmaking. Studied paper construction and restoration. Was drafted into the Army in 1971. Lottery. Number one. Signed up for electronics training. After basic training finished, was told there was a surplus of electronic trainees, but would I … Read more

Chunksaah Records

Diner Co-owner

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • March 11, 2024

There are a lot of misconceptions about life in the music biz. While late nights and travel are a big part of it, day jobs always influence the process and … Read more

Graduation Speech/Errth

Brewery manager

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • January 29, 2024

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal … Read more

The Brokedowns

Pizzeria Manager

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • April 10, 2023

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal … Read more

Contracult

Cinema Founder

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • March 5, 2023

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal … Read more

Features / Series: Don't Quit Your Day Job: browse all

Browse all 26 features in this category

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  • Against Orthodoxy

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  • Beyond Casual Observation

    A wide-ranging guest column written by BJ from Ancient Shores, mainly covering film but extending into philosophy and aesthetics too. Check out BJ's work on the A389 podcast.

  • Don't Quit Your Day Job

    How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene Point Blank looks at how musicians split their time, and how their careers influence their music.

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    Guest column by T of Vegas

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    A cookery column by Nick, vocalist with metal band The Famine. Veggie/vegan friendly!

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    Our coverage of the 19th edition of the Fest – an independent multi-day, multiple-venue music festival held annually in Gainesville, Florida.

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    All our coverage from the long-running music festival

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    Our coverage of the 22nd edition of the FEST.

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    A radio DJ profile series created by Christopher D & Matt Hutchison.

  • Only Death Is Real

    There’s so much music released, whether physically or digitally, that keeping up with what’s going on becomes almost like a full time job. With Only Death Is Real, the aim is to bring you something new.

  • Remember that one time...?

    A life lived and lessons learned by Eddie Spaghetti of Supersuckers.

  • Running on Nothing

    Welcome to Running on Nothing, the latest addition to our stable of columns at Scene Point Blank. Running on Nothing offers a look at the world through the eyes of Kole, bassist of The Lippies, guitarist of The Bloody Lips, and gigposter artist.

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    We survey some of the other music releases out there.  Results may vary...may get weird, but hopefully something covered here piques your interest.

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    Discussing the state of the music business at the kitchen table

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    One-question interviews with artists where we find out about the gear and equipment they use to achieve their sound.

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    A collection of coverage rounding up the year 2012, covering our favorite albums, shows, bands, and more, as well as asking record labels and bands about their past twelve months in music

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    Our wrap-up of the best music and more for the year we'll all want to otherwise forget, 2020.

  • Year End 2021

    Our roundup of the best music from the worst year (since the previous one, anyway).

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  • Year End 2024

    Our roundup of the best music—and more—of 2024.

More recent features — Series: Don't Quit Your Day Job

Dirt Cult Records

social services

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • December 7, 2022

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when somebody is writing a new record or scheduling a tour, they have to balance that with their job. How … Read more

Pulley

athlete/coach

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • August 24, 2022

Scott in July 2012 (photo by Keith Allison) Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when somebody is writing a new record or scheduling a tour, they have to balance that with their job. How an artist spends their … Read more

Downcast

firefighter

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • June 22, 2022

Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when somebody is writing a new record or scheduling a tour, they have to balance that with their job. How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process … Read more

Moral Panic

filmmaker

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • June 7, 2022

Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when somebody is writing a new record or scheduling a tour, they have to balance that with their job. How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process … Read more

Grim Deeds

education

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • April 14, 2022

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. It’s rarely glamorous. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when somebody is writing a new record or scheduling a tour, they have to balance that with … Read more

The Bloody Lips/Kole

roofer

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • March 28, 2022

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. It’s rarely glamorous. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when somebody is writing a new record or scheduling a tour, they have to balance that with … Read more

Secret Fun Club

systems analyst

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • March 14, 2022

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. And, frankly, it’s rarely glamorous. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when somebody is writing a new record or scheduling a tour, they have to balance … Read more

Loss Becomes

acrobat/stuntperson

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • February 7, 2022

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. The old rock star image of bright lights and fast living is almost patently false. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when somebody is writing a … Read more

ACTORS

music producer

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • January 26, 2022

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. It’s not bright lights and fast living. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when somebody is writing a new record or scheduling a tour, they have … Read more

Paper Mice

higher education

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • November 30, 2021

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. The old rock star image of bright lights and fast living is almost patently false. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when somebody is writing a … Read more

The Bollweevils

doctor

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • October 18, 2021

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. The old rock star image of bright lights and fast living is almost patently false. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when somebody is writing a … Read more

Zealot RIP

design engineer

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • October 3, 2021

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. The old rock star image of bright lights and fast living is almost patently false. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when somebody is writing a … Read more

Adam Gnade

writer

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • August 25, 2021

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. And we want to prove them wrong, or at least make you think about it a little. Most musicians have day jobs –- and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. In Don’t Quit Your Day … Read more

Deaf Club

record store owner

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • August 7, 2021

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. The old rock star image of bright lights, fast living and traveling with an entourage is almost patently false. Most musicians have day jobs –- and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when … Read more

Silent

bar owner

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • June 22, 2021

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. The old rock star image of bright lights, fast living and traveling with an entourage is almost patently false. Most musicians have day jobs –- and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. And usually when … Read more