1001 original paths off the 9-to-5
Unclocked is a field guide to 1001 ways of earning and dwelling that are not a conventional 9-to-5. Each path has a name, an honest description, a step-by-step start, skills, materials, capital, a public source, and people or communities who have walked a version of it.
Filter by craft, capital, and whether the work travels. Save anything that tugs — it lands in your collection.
Minimum initial capital
43 paths
Storybooth at Fairs
Record two-minute stories
Storybooth at Fairs
Record two-minute stories
You record two-minute stories, sell the file and a print still. Clients pay a posted rate, ticket, dues, or commission.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $400
Sports Sideline Micro
Photograph one team's season
Sports Sideline Micro
Photograph one team's season
You photograph one team's season and deliver a gallery on a named date. The package price includes editing time.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Small-Business Story Set
Photograph a morning with a shop, 20 images they own
Small-Business Story Set
Photograph a morning with a shop, 20 images they own
You photograph a morning with a shop, 20 images they own and deliver a gallery on a named date. The package price includes editing time.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Poetry-in-Schools
Residencies, not exposure
Poetry-in-Schools
Residencies, not exposure
You get booked for residencies, not exposure. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $100
Figure-Drawing Host
Rent a room, pay the model fairly
Figure-Drawing Host
Rent a room, pay the model fairly
You get booked for rent a room, pay the model fairly. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $200
Food for Independent Restaurants
Photograph steam, hands, one window of light
Food for Independent Restaurants
Photograph steam, hands, one window of light
You photograph steam, hands, one window of light and deliver a gallery on a named date. The package price includes editing time.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Voiceover Booth Closet
Treated corner, honest samples
Voiceover Booth Closet
Treated corner, honest samples
You get booked for treated corner, honest samples. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $300
Community-Theater Hired Gun
Lighting or stage-manage across companies
Community-Theater Hired Gun
Lighting or stage-manage across companies
You get booked for lighting or stage-manage across companies. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $200
Short-Form for Shops
Photograph weekly Reels retainers
Short-Form for Shops
Photograph weekly Reels retainers
You photograph weekly Reels retainers and deliver a gallery on a named date. The package price includes editing time.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
House-Concert Series
A living-room season with tickets
House-Concert Series
A living-room season with tickets
You get booked for a living-room season with tickets. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $200
Mural for Small Walls
Shops and schools
Mural for Small Walls
Shops and schools
You get booked for shops and schools. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $300
Magic for Tables
Restaurants that want close-up, not smoke
Magic for Tables
Restaurants that want close-up, not smoke
You get booked for restaurants that want close-up, not smoke. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $100
Calligraphy for Institutions
Certificates, not only envelopes
Calligraphy for Institutions
Certificates, not only envelopes
You get booked for certificates, not only envelopes. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $100
Dance Rehearsal Stills
Photograph movement without stopping the room
Dance Rehearsal Stills
Photograph movement without stopping the room
You photograph movement without stopping the room and deliver a gallery on a named date. The package price includes editing time.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Oral-History Film Minute
Photograph elders, 60-second portraits
Oral-History Film Minute
Photograph elders, 60-second portraits
You photograph elders, 60-second portraits and deliver a gallery on a named date. The package price includes editing time.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Quiet DJ
Acoustic or low-volume sets for dinners
Quiet DJ
Acoustic or low-volume sets for dinners
You acoustic or low-volume sets for dinners, bookshops, funerals. Clients pay a posted rate, ticket, dues, or commission.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $400
Choir-for-Hire
Funerals, weddings, recordings
Choir-for-Hire
Funerals, weddings, recordings
You get booked for funerals, weddings, recordings. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $200
Construction Progress
Photograph weekly stills for builders
Construction Progress
Photograph weekly stills for builders
You photograph weekly stills for builders and deliver a gallery on a named date. The package price includes editing time.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Dance at Parties
Cultural forms you have standing to teach/perform
Dance at Parties
Cultural forms you have standing to teach/perform
You get booked for cultural forms you have standing to teach/perform. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $200
Puppet Assembly
Libraries and markets
Puppet Assembly
Libraries and markets
You get booked for libraries and markets. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $200
Commission Portraits
A waitlist, a price list, no haggling in DMs
Commission Portraits
A waitlist, a price list, no haggling in DMs
You get booked for a waitlist, a price list, no haggling in DMs. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $100
Stand-up as a Route
Rooms, open mics as R&D, paid spots as the job
Stand-up as a Route
Rooms, open mics as R&D, paid spots as the job
You get booked for rooms, open mics as R&D, paid spots as the job. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $100
Headshot Pop-Up
Photograph a park, a cloth, a booking grid
Headshot Pop-Up
Photograph a park, a cloth, a booking grid
You photograph a park, a cloth, a booking grid and deliver a gallery on a named date. The package price includes editing time.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
Busk with a Permit
Where legal, a repertoire, a hat that isn't desperate
Busk with a Permit
Where legal, a repertoire, a hat that isn't desperate
You get booked for where legal, a repertoire, a hat that isn't desperate. Use a rate card, a kit list, and a cancellation policy.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital None
