Any brony professionals here?

[RainbowMau 291]

I'm not sure if we're minority, but I guess here we have some bronies that are professionals in something (cause there's people who think liking MLP ruin our professional image    ) are you one of them? In what?

 

I'm a journalist and ad-graphic designer.

Edited June 21, 2014 by RainbowMau

[Jennabun 1,578]

I'm a teacher. Despite the pressure of constantly needing to be ultra-mature and professional in the teaching field, I do express my love for MLP around the kids. I've worn MLP lanyards and I have some MLP merch on my desk (along with some other "child-like" thingss like hello kitty, care bears, etc). A lot of the kids identify with it, and I find that I form some pretty positive relationships with my students by expressing myself this way. I've even found that I have some bronies in my classes, haha!

[Lord Bradley 1,319]

Well, seeing as im a kid, im probably not a Professional in much...Except maybe being a Gamer, Fiction Writer, *Voice Changer* and so on...

 

...But i will be in the future!...I hope...

Edited June 22, 2014 by Bradley-MysteryLord

[Kay Dreamer 884]

Also a teacher! But pre-service currently, and teaching high school music classes.

 

I haven't got to the stage where I can start bringing little pop culture references into my classes. When I'm employed at my own school, I probably will... but slowly. Starting with desktop wallpapers, or the kind of musical examples I choose to have kids listen to when studying certain instruments, to stickers and things on my water bottles and thermos. My coffee cup and pencil case are already Astroboy, so the kids at the school where I'm currently on prac have a bit of an indication that I'm nerdier than I appear!

[Twilight Sparkle ✨ 8,520]

I like this thread. There is some degree of stereotyping surrounding pony fans in certain circles, even from within the fandom. Personally, I feel that it's important to live as yourself, and it's just as important to take pride in your work as it is to stand by your personal interests. I'm in for a sad life if I let ponies get in the way of a rewarding career.

 

 

I'm a software engineer. Though I'm currently in school, I already have an offer to start a software job in January, and I've done some contract work before as well.

 

My work in the pony fandom played no small role in building my career so far, actually - it was through MLP Forums, Pony.fm, and Poniverse that I've learned and refined a lot of the skills that the software industry looks for, so these projects are prominent on my resume. If a potential employer has a problem with me enjoying a TV show and putting time into building stuff for its fanbase, I have a problem with them.

[Descant 1,897]

I'm a whitewater kayaker, meaning I tumble down waterfalls in a little plastic boat for fun. I'm not as skilled or daring as some of my co-workers, despite my seven years of experience in the sport, but since it is my job I suppose that does make me a professional.

I'm employed by the United States National Whitewater Center in Charlotte as a camp instructor while I'm off from school for the summer. Basically, that means I'm teaching kids how to read rivers, how to go through rapids in their kayaks, how to roll back up should their kayak flip over, and all the while making sure they don't drown while they're going over the waterfalls in their little plastic boats.

Of course, I exaggerate when I use the word waterfall. But it sounds more impressive that way. However, I don't exaggerate when I brag that my old boss, the one who asked me to join his team, competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the Canoe Slalom. 

Edited June 22, 2014 by Flareon

[WunderWaffen_ 165]

This thread makes me happy. *inner boop*

 

I'm currently a Network software engineer which is to some the most boring job on earth. Not to me! *Evil chuckle* So don't let me use anyones Wi-Fi, No seriously. DON'T.

Sometimes I like to hide references to MLP inside of my work. Never been caught. *breathes out*

 

Oh yeah... and I can whip up a mean soufflé omelette. if that counts for anything.

[Rainblow H. Ash 5,090]

Didn't see this topic!

 

I'm an Event Analyst for a Fortune Ten company. It's not the most exciting work, but I have great coworkers and I learn a lot on the job from training and all the different sorts of attacks and malware we run into.

 

Fun stuff for sure and glad to see all the professional Bronies speaking out about their professional jobs. I haven't ever brought up ponies at work, except one time when I talked to my coworkers about that kid who was getting bullied for that Rainbow Dash backpack he brought to school.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

I'm a 2D animator but have yet to get hired fully for a studieo yet. Though I do hope to get my own desk and show off my brony persona. Till then it tends to be expressed on my desktop and home desk.

[Shanks 10,811]

I am a Dairy Clerk/backup checker at a grocery store, I have made no secret with all the blog post rants I have made on the subject that I hate my job, have nothing but complete contempt for my employer, how burned out I am and how greatly concerned I am about my ability to physically handle my job due to me sustaining 4 work related knee injuries and 1 semi work related knee injury. Trust me on this ladies and gents, you do not ever ever ever want to go through the workers comp process and that goes triple for the state disability process (had to go through that for the 5th injury because they didn't count it as workers comp).

 

Despite all the grief this job has given me some good has come out of it. When I was first hired my only prior job experience was working at my Dad's Italian restaurant which we had to sell because he went into kidney failure after the kidney Mom gave him to save his life in 1996 failed after lasting him 8 years. I did my fair share of work in that restaurant and in it learned the value of hard work and helped me learn something that as someone on the Autism spectrum did not come as easily to me as it does for most people and that is how to interact with customers and the general public.

 

I first started out in the Service Deli, I didn't do very well there and was made a General Merchandise Clerk who are responsible for stocking all non food items, bread, beer, water, crackers, cookies, chips. My natural strength and endurance helped me lift heavy objects with relative ease making me the stores heavy hitter and coming up with a few tricks to improve my efficiency made me get promoted in less than a year to a Food Clerk and become one of the most respected employees in my store. I took the 4am slot which isn't for everything but loved it because of all the extra time it gave me during the day. I was mostly responsible for canned and boxed food items but was also trained as a backup dairy clerk at the time. I became skilled enough to become a 3rd and eventually 2nd Dairy Clerk, the times I run the department during the head Dairy Clerks days off and vacations were run much like an assembly line. Of course I was made a backup checker despite my objections and is my least favorite part of my job and is even harder on my knee than stocking, but I have been working on my plan to get out of there for a while now.

 

 

If a potential employer has a problem with me enjoying a TV show and putting time into building stuff for its fanbase, I have a problem with them.

Even if you did run into that problem I think you are talented enough to find an employer that is not going to care about that. I know a bit more about computers than the average person with some basic knowledge of HTML, Java, Flash, Photoshop and some virus/spyware removal but not nearly enough knowledge or practice of any of that to build a site like this. I am considering getting into computers myself because I think I would be probably do well in that, there is a lot of money in it and would be a great thing to fall back on for my true goal of being a writer, but one major obstacle I have is that I completely and utterly suck at math.

[Freewave 1,145]

I work in command center of tech company that does a large amount of credit, debit, and gift card processing for the country. It's a pretty good job where i work the back half of the week and have the front half of the week off (although that means 12 hr shifts). I also am self-managed (my boss works at our alternate location) so i have ample freetime during slow periods to pony up (although i'm still closeted with mlp at work.

 

TBH I love multi-tasking and keeping busy and that's why i am involved in the music community as a blogger, forum admin, and also as a musician. I've been making brony music now for 2 1/2 years during my freetime and just released my 4th album and have about 4 more planned to hopefully come out by the end of the year. I'm an admin on the My Little Remix forums and run the FIMMusic and Brony Musician Directory(i created both and have a small team that helps me) blogs and that keeps me rather busy in the music side of our community.  

 

I also have a wife, a house, and twin 7 year olds (boy & girl) to keep me even busier.  I actually have never seen a single episode w/o my kids and that's part of why i do what i do in my freetime. Sharing the show with them and being creative within it I find really makes it a rewarding experience and makes me feel very connected with them and their spirit. Most of artist prints and plushies i get go straight to them.

 

I have two musician friends in town i fraternize with and Stars in Autumn is a network engineer and my friend Mathematicus is a tablet app programmer. Adding two more musician and prof techs to the list.  My friend Dreamsong who still frequents here is currently a full time musician on a music label now so she's certainly a 3rd professional as well and gets to do a ton of travelling with her new profession (after running an animation studio in years prior).  

[Fluttershyfan94 5,737]

I'm a professional rally driver, vampire slayer as well as a multi billionaire. Yeah, I'm not officially professional yet hopefully something cool though like a rally driver.

Edited June 26, 2014 by Fluttershyfan94

[Khaoios 1,970]

A fascinating thread, I gotta say,   Nice to see fellow IT members here as well

 

I've got a few careers under my belt, but I'm a Network Administrator, Cyber Security Specialist.  I tend to be either at home or at any facility they need me in (personally I prefer small business buildings, b/c hospitals tend to be the biggest pain in the ass to deal with, )  In addition, I tend to monitor, not only network as well as establishing them, but I sometimes monitor websites (forums included.  Yeah, think of me as the ALL-SEEING-EYE).  What I can tell you about this career..................study hard and make sure you know how to SUBNET...........you'll be working with it, a lot. 

 

As side jobs/volunteer work, I am a Fan-Fictional Writer (wrote several for different show series'), Competitive/Professional Gamer as well as Reviewer, a Voice-Actor in training (im going to aim for professional career), an EMT, a starting composer, and artist

 

BTW, i may be right or wrong, but I believe this thread is more suitable in the General Discussion, since it doesn't talk too much about MLP, itself.  Yet, that's up to mods to decide.

Edited June 26, 2014 by Thunder-Wing

[Avatar tag: shipping 299]

As an EMT, my profession has made prime time entertainment for years. What you've seen on tv is pretty much the gist of it. The only difference is that the thrilling explosions, fires, shootouts, car wrecks, and codes make up only a tiny fraction of the calls we run. Most of our calls are fairly routine: old people falling down, dog bites, shortness of breath, and other minor issues. Even then, most of our days are spent waiting at the station for the next call. Sometimes eating, sometimes sleeping, but always ready to go.

 

As you can imagine, I have very strict uniform standards so I can't wear any pony gear on the outside. However I sometimes wear a Luna shirt underneath my uniform. It's not visible, but at least I still get to wear it.

[Inactive01 5,298]

I'm currently getting ready for my Master's Degree in Biology. I'm going to be a professional at water sampling and extracting DNA to understand the genetic community of Lake Ontario. It's so that Canada can keep the waters clean for drinking! I can use the same techniques in a hospital searching for new bacteria in our bodies that have been previously unseen!

 

Otherwise, I'm a "professional" pianist and violinist. I'm playing Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto this fall!

[M'aiq the Liar 5,804]

Prior to March of this year I was a very young buck sgt. in the US Army's MP corp. I patrolled around post and mainly just arrested kids who stole candy from the PX, and had to keep telling the dependents and kids that they are not allowed to walk outside near nude and throw crap on the sidewalk. Down range it was pretty much all just convoy security, rolling around in trucks all day. But most of the time it was just rolling around post in the cruiser, pulling over drunk Staffs, angry angsty kids, and making sure that the infantry unit 1st Sgt. knows that it is not ok to go 10 over the speed limit, no matter how much he wants to.

 

And as for wearing pony stuff while on duty, that shit is an instant no-go private. Guard mount every night, so normal uniform inspections. But I did have a number of fluttershy t-shirts, and some funko vinyls on my desk at the barracks.

 

As of now I work as a reservist Peace Officer with the campus pd. Despite what van wilder may tell you, most campus pd offices are full blown police stations, and all officers are armed while on duty. I don't do much with them during the summer other than training (as the campus has no need to call in reserve officers when the student body is gone for the most part). Spring break is the worst time ever, college kids are dumber than you would believe, and drunk women are the worst thing ever.

[websterhamster 203]

I'm a piano teacher, and I have worn pony shirts a few times. Being a brony doesn't seem to have any effect on business.

[Teabee 59]

I've been in the Army for the past year and a half as a medic.  Regardless of your job, uniform standards still apply so wearing any pony swag is an automatic no-go as several unfortunate soldiers have found out at horse cons to their detriment.  I'm currently debating over whether to switch to military intelligence and do some super spooky stuff or continue in the medical field and seek paramedic, and flight, certifications.  Intelligence is what I originally wanted to do when I joined the Army but I like being able to help out my fellow soldiers and my fellow bronies.  People really depend on the medics when they start having problems, y'know?

 

As for my MLP stuff, I never bother to hide it but I don't advertise it either.  People made a big deal out of it for about a week and now, nobody ever talks about it anymore.

Edited June 26, 2014 by Teabee

[M'aiq the Liar 5,804]

I've been in the Army for the past year and a half as a medic.  Regardless of your job, uniform standards still apply so wearing any pony swag is an automatic no-go as several unfortunate soldiers have found out at horse cons to their detriment.  I'm currently debating over whether to switch to military intelligence and do some super spooky stuff or continue in the medical field and seek paramedic, and flight, certifications.  Intelligence is what I originally wanted to do when I joined the Army but I like being able to help out my fellow soldiers and my fellow bronies.  People really depend on the medics when they start having problems, y'know?

I had a battle who went 35l. He said it was fun pretending to be James Bond for the first month, but afterwards the massive amount of paper work (that made my constant nightly patrol logs and reports look like childs play) almost drove him mad. According to him, unless you are like top tier high speed low drag intel officer, it is just paperwork and boredom.

[Undubbed Wubs 93]

This is quite an enjoyable thread, thanks for starting it.  It's not a big surprise to see many other IT pros here. 

 

I'm a lone-wolf admin for a medium sized company, solely responsible for 180 systems and their users.  I've been at it for over 8 years, and enjoy the new challenges each day brings.  One very enjoyable way that my job differs from many IT positions is that I'm treated with respect.  Employees don't demand anything of me, rather they ask nicely.  Too often I see stories of fellow IT ponies being treated like dirt.  Seeing these stories has made me realize that I'm fortunate to be where I'm at, despite the occasional bad days..

 

 

Whilst I'm totally open with friends and family about MLP, I don't advertise it at work.  That said, many of our backend systems have pony names. 

 

I also run a small IT services company on the side, and while it may not make all that much, it's a source of pride to run my own business.

[Teabee 59]

I had a battle who went 35l. He said it was fun pretending to be James Bond for the first month, but afterwards the massive amount of paper work (that made my constant nightly patrol logs and reports look like childs play) almost drove him mad. According to him, unless you are like top tier high speed low drag intel officer, it is just paperwork and boredom.

 

Holy cow I wanted to be a 35L and be all high speed low drag top tier!  Well, that's kinda depressing now that you mention it.  Different people have told me different things about MI but everyone I've talked to agrees that flight medics are hot stuff.  Weird.

 

On the other hand, 

promotion points for 68W's are ridiculous.

 

Edited June 26, 2014 by Teabee

[Oblivion 20,265]

I guess that if you have a job at anything then you are a professional, I guess you could say I am about to be a professional roofer!

[Avatar tag: shipping 299]

Holy cow I wanted to be a 35L and be all high speed low drag top tier!  Well, that's kinda depressing now that you mention it.  Different people have told me different things about MI but everyone I've talked to agrees that flight medics are hot stuff.  Weird.

 

On the other hand, 

promotion points for 68W's are ridiculous.

 

The only problem with being a flight medic is that it's a high supply low demand job. There are relatively few jobs available compared to ground units but everyone wants to do it. So pay is usually kind of low. I will never be a flight medic though. I HATE heights with a passion.

[Teabee 59]

The only problem with being a flight medic is that it's a high supply low demand job. There are relatively few jobs available compared to ground units but everyone wants to do it. So pay is usually kind of low. I will never be a flight medic though. I HATE heights with a passion.

 

It's the opposite in the Army.  The failure rate on the course is high but the demand is huge.  I heard from a buddy of mine that you can work for ski resorts and such, rescuing poor shmucks who get lost in the woods, is that true?

Edited June 26, 2014 by Teabee

[Jeric 46,834]

I'm not surprised in the least to find more than a few of you employed in various disciplines in IT/IS sector. Apparently one of you is God (if my profile feed is any indication) so hats off to you Feld0.

 

Currently I work for a Financial Services vendor that supplies Loan Origination Technology and Services to banks and credit unions. Everything from simple integration, SaS, LOS/POS, mobile development, web services, and the like.

 

More than half of my staff work out of Bangalore, India so it's a bit harder to gauge what their personal interests are, even on never ending conference calls. My onshore team is another story. Like Feld0 mentioned, a few of them cut their teeth on self interests while getting a degree ... and as someone who does have input on hiring decisions let me tell you that the Professional that uses their talents as a hobbyist tend to be more satisfied overall -- in their career and personal life. If I were to see a fan labor project on a resume, it's an indicator of passion.

 

I swear sometimes my department looks more like a comic book shop and toy store. If our clients actually got a peek at the sausage factory, I wonder what they would think. There aren't any other Bronies, but the fandom is not looked down on. Pony crossover images are shared liberally. And then you have our internal IT Help Desk ... every visit there is an adventure! O-o

 

Hats off to the EMT's and the teachers. I can't applaud your professions enough, and I feel a little guilty talking about Dev nonsense knowing the work you all put in to your careers.

 

 

Edit: and the Armed Services too!!!! Sorry all of you rock.

 

I really love this topic BTW.

Edited June 26, 2014 by Jeric