Ask HN: What is your money-making side project outside programming? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What is your money-making side project outside programming?

#741

Post by ynac » Sat, Apr 27, 2019, 5:59 AM UTC

hammock wrote: post #710

ynac wrote: post #109

* Act as a standby for dish pits at the local restaurants - filling in only when someone doesn't show since I don't want to take what could be a lifeline job for someone AND having a standby like me means they can keep their job instead of just being a no-show * Write articles for other people - usually on topics I really don't have a lot of knowledge or feeling about to start. * Mow lawns - I'm allergic to grass. Bu…

> Act as a standby for dish pits at the local restaurants - filling in only when someone doesn't show since I don't want to take what could be a lifeline job for someone AND having a standby like me means they can keep their job instead of just being a no-show I'd like to try something like that. I have no experience in restaurants. How would you suggest I go about it?

Shadow someone in a dish pit.

  * not a chain - too many rules
  * don't get in the way - harder than it sounds
  * bring your own gloves and get used to them before the big show

If you don't know anyone working a dish pit, ask around. Another good bet is someone just starting a restaurant. They will probably go through many tryouts until they get someone good in the pit, so you'll be really helping them out by being standby.

A few more tips.

  * get some copies of the zine, Dishwasher.  
  * know that the dish pit is the center of the restaurant cycle
  * call out all sharps in the water - especially soapy water
  * keep a flow and constantly look at the big picture
  * always be ready to help anyone in the building

Lastly, find out when they clean the grease trap - and stay home that day. Haha.

Re: Ask HN: What is your money-making side project outside programming?

#742

Post by ElCapitanMarkla » Sun, Apr 28, 2019, 10:24 AM UTC

hemmert wrote: post #352

Mine is Escape Team: www.escape-team.com

Hey I saw this here last week and just played through the whole lot with my partner tonight. We’re looking forward to you’re next update if you are working on more.

Re: Ask HN: What is your money-making side project outside programming?

#743

Post by PaulRobinson » Sun, Apr 28, 2019, 2:53 PM UTC

MrFoof wrote: post #277

Nabi wrote: post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

May I ask what car brands do you usually work on?

Bread and butter is the Lexus RX, Acura MDX, Honda CR-V and Toyota Highlander. There is zero issue putting them out the door, because the demand is insane. I've also started with Toyota Priuses because there's high-demand, most mechanics are allergic to batteries, and people dump them for cheap over any battery pack issue. Though I've worked on a ton of stuff, the above is where there's A) enough people owning the ab…

For your target market, it sounds to me like you'd be much happier dealing with more mid-range stuff like Fords and Volvos rather than going to premium grade stuff. Parts are cheaper, usually less going wrong, and the customers are of course a whole lot nicer (disclaimer: I'm a Ford owner).

If you want to get into performance, I'd go gentle: Ford have sports lines of their usual mix (ST/RS in Europe), as do many other makes.

Also a small hatchback with a big engine is a lot more fun per dollar than a Merc...

Re: Ask HN: What is your money-making side project outside programming?

#744

Post by crharding » Wed, May 01, 2019, 7:52 PM UTC

A few things. First, I play in an Irish wedding band (it’s insane how much people pay for wedding bands...and since they’re Irish weddings we usually all end up being fed shots throughout the night (this was more fun when I was in my twenties, now I stick with a beer or two so that I’m still standing (well, sitting, I’m a drummer) at the end of the night). Secondly I do quite a bit of teaching / mentoring. It’s easier in nyc than in other places because of how many boot camps there are here but companies pay quite a bit for a 6-10 pm twice a week gig. Plus at my job I’m primarily working with php and vanilla js so this helps me keep my react / insert framework or library here skills sharp. I argue that this is still outside the field because teaching beginning web dev is to actually working as a programmer as apples are to oranges. That last sentence was super bungled but I think the point comes across.