City Belt: DAY JOB: JOHN PIATKOWSKI OF FUN MACHINE

John Piatkowski is better known as Johnny Tronny in the band Fun Machine, where the 22-year-old plays keyboards, sings, and is apparently the designated driver and booker of shows as well. These guys from central Jersey play a mathy progadelia (making up new genre words is fun!) that brings to mind moments from a Soft Machine or early Genesis record.

Day job: Clerical/admin for telemarketing company

What's the worst or most interesting thing that's happened to you at work?
I quit, then got a raise and a promotion. I worked on the phones for a year and a half, and it really sucked for me. I'm not that pushy, which you must be to be a telemarketer. I felt bad bothering people, and I wasn't making any money (Commission Sucks!!!) ... so I approached my manager and told him I was going to deliver pizzas, and he said something like, "Well, you're quite dependable, and nice ... and this and that" -- all that good stuff, and as it would turn out, they moved me to clerical/admin work, and got steady pay raises from there on after.

Does work ever conflict with your music?
Well, yes, in a way -- if I wasn't in the office, I'd be behind the keys, or drums, or mixing desk, or something! I always find a way to make it all work for me amongst the craziness of life ... work, college, that's all well and good. But, my music -- our music -- is what I truly live for. Work is just to make money to aid in my wants and needs.

Do you have health insurance?
No, not on my own, but yes, until I graduate, I am under dear mother's wing of health insurance goodness.

Who are the three people you'd most like to have at one of your shows, in terms of helping your music career?
Well, I'm not sure. Any musician like Robert Fripp, David Bowie, or Omar Rodriguez-Lopez; or any scout from a record company that would be conducive to what we're trying to accomplish. I think if those musicians mentioned saw us, I think we might be able to impress them good enough for them to help us out some way. We aren't like every other band out there, that's what would strike them, I believe -- we stand out a little bit more, musically. We're trying to offer some sushi instead of the hamburgers that we all have stuck in our throats.

If Wal-Mart approached you about using your music in an ad, for a large sum, would you do it? Where do you draw the line, if anywhere?
Well, I'm sure Wal-Mart would never approach us, that's like Home Depot approaching The Mars Volta or Animal Collective, but it would have to depend on the company or product -- that's really tough, I mean you never really sure what you'd do until the check is in front of you're face. I believe we would retain our integrity in all matters. I don't think musically, we'd reach a sell-out comfy place, which is what groups like Genesis pulled in the 80s, when they used to be a strange, interesting, envelope-pushing band in the early 70s. Then there's the exposure you get from ads like Wal-Mart or whatever ... that's kind of appealing. I can't be too sure at this point.

One thing I've noticed about bands that "sell-out" is the meteor-like quality of their careers, as opposed to bands that keep it relatively low-key throughout their career. The "low-key" bands are still around with their integrity, making the music that they want to make, and the music that their fans obsess over them about, and they will for as long as they'd like. Bands that blow up in a short amount of time usually sizzle out, people get sick of them. God, I'm a windbag!

Any additional thoughts on the conflicts and intersections of work/art?
Well, everyone needs money, unfortunately -- it's the blood of society. One needs to find a balance. When you're an artist or creative person, you are in hell when you're in a situation that doesn't allow you to create. It would be absolutely wonderful if I didn't have to get up and go to the office, that's obvious. I would rather get up, and go screw around in my garage on the keys, drums, guitars, etc. That's what I'm going to do when I get home! Of course the aim is to get to a point where your job is your art, until then, you need to make money somehow. That's the reality, it can get a little depressing!

ON THE WEB:
Fun Machine

Day Job is a weekly column examining the contradictions, conflicts and convergence between work and art. We're always looking for new people to profile. If you or someone you know fits the bill, send us an e-mail.

E-mail the author

Comments

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Posted by: jeff paul internet marketing | 12/30/2008 at 02:00 AM