This week I signed up to drive for Uber in Central Oregon. I’m a pretty busy guy with work, family and music and it seems to be a good way to earn some extra cash when I’m not working my day job or performing music at local venues.
I lucked out because Shannon was willing for me to use her car for the job. It’s a Toyota Highlander Hybrid, excellent gas milage, very roomy in the back passenger seats and super for driving around town. I detailed it and stocked the seats with hand sanitizer, water, mints, tissue, garbage sack. It’s pretty much a fucking limo back there. Since it’s night, and I’m in a beer, wine and liquor consumption focused economy I also got some non-lethal self defense items and strategies in place.
Why am I doing this? A couple reasons; but all really because of the pandemic. I, like many musicians, lost gig work during the last two years with some relief - finally - this last summer. It was a revenue stream that usually paid down my credit stuff. So I need to work on balancing out my income and expenses. The other reason - isolation recovery; I’m a social animal and virtual stuff - aside work - doesn’t float my boat. I love talking to people and holding conversations on new stuff - I’ve always liked talking with the ride share folks when visiting the Bay Area for work and thought - hell, that seems like it might be a good way to remedy the lack of local engagement.
Last night I did my first roll. I decided to make it a light night, just getting my feet wet and breaking the seal. ZERO training - I pushed “Online” and ping a trip. After the first I immediately got a second, then third - they kept on coming in. All of them were great, mostly tourists getting ready for the night out. I went “offline” after pulling in $50 and went over to my favorite open mic night hangout, M&J Tavern, which had just reopened their famous night again.
I grabbed my guitar and pedals from the back of my money mobile, walked in and signed up in a blank spot between position 1 and 2. The artist who was going to kick it off was taking his time so I just jumped in and started playing.
It was a great set - and it felt super cool to have just finish off a long day of work, testing the waters of a driving gig and then performing to a warm and friendly audience. Life *almost* seems normal again.