How do I turn Detecting into a career?

[turtlefoot]

Detecting has become addictive (I'm being told by my wife), so how do I turn this into a career. They always say, do what you love, and love what you do. I've found my niche, so how do I turn it into a career? Any suggestions?

Here is what I think.

Geoff Notkin and Steve Arnold (Meteorite Men) - Paid to find meteorites

Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz and Danielle Colby Cushman (American Pickers) - Paid to find anything of value

Rick Harrison and family (Pawn Stars) - Paid to have their pawn shop on television

Josh Gates (Destination Truth) - Paid to search the world over looking for cryptids

I also know that there has been at least one treasure hunting/ship salvaging show.

I think if the right person pitched a quality metal detecting show to the History Channel and possibly others, there would be a good chance of getting at least a late night slot. If you were able to get a History Channel show, you wouldn't have any problems getting sponsors for both equipment and for financial support. I have considered this route myself, but I do not have a "videographic personality" so to speak. If I ever got involved in something like a show, it would have to be in the production/post production side of things.

Doug

 

[scoundrel]

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[turtlefoot]

These two guys were famous long, long before 'Meteorit Men'.
They were famous for finding lots of big meteorites.

And if they gave up after 2 weeks, you wouldn't even know their names.

I know that they were famous and fairly well to do well before the show. I was just pointing out that if the public is willing to watch these different shows, that a well thought out and well produced metal detecting show could do just as good.

I know that I could never personally make a living swinging a coil. The items that make the hobby fun for me (headstamps, bullet casings, logging relics, horseshoes, etc.) will never be worth anything, plus I would have a problem selling them. I could see myself working locally for some of the historical societies though and having metal detecting being part of my job though.

Doug

 

[snowdak]

Quit your day job.

I'm taking your advice. As of the end of September. At that time I will be gainfully unemployed by choose. I think they call it being retired.

 

[scoundrel]

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[scoundrel]

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[dld]

In that case I apologize. I thought you were calling me a liar. So you can confirm that what I said was no exaggeration? My credibility is important to me.

what you said said was no exaggeration in the least

There is a big difference between 'illegal' and 'unlawful'. Florida has recently done away with the 'isolated finds law', and now it is 'illegal' for anyone to dig up, remove, disturb, or even photograph anything that is 50 years old or older. That includes bottles, arrowheads, bullets, coins, relics, etc, etc.
I think it's total bull**** and I won't adhere to it. So let me ask you, have
you done anything 'illegal' since you started detecting? Just because something is illegal does not make it right.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Illegal, or unlawful, is used to describe something that is prohibited or not authorized by law or, more generally, by rules specific to a particular situation

So let me ask you, have
you done anything 'illegal' since you started detecting

I can honestly say No I have not, it is tempting but so far I have resisted but left questionable finds in the ground, but that is just me and my ethics and I don't put then on any one else. I follow the law stupid or not as close as humanly possible, I am the only one that has to live or deal with my self

 

[scoundrel]

.

 

[dogpound]

well look at it this way... if ya do something illegal in FL there's a good chance you'll be aquitted

 

[triplehooked]

well look at it this way... if ya do something illegal in FL there's a good chance you'll be aquitted

Now that's funny stuff right there. I don't care who ya are or if you have a day job you have to laugh at that....

 

[PokerShark]

Time to weigh in on this one.

I am fortunate because I have already converted one hobby into a full-time and profitable career. After 10 years in the Air Force I gave up jets and turned what was my hobby starting in 1986, into a full time job in 1989. It has been a great ride and I have zero regrets.

I am also a competitive semi-pro poker player. That simply means I am a profitable tourney player. It is a hobby, I could make a living doing it, but it would be difficult to do so. Thus I wait until I retire to go full time.

Detecting is also a hobby, but I do not believe it could be profitable enough to support myself, much less a household, family, or a reasonably secure future. I am aware of those that supplement their 9-5 income, or those that live the life of a homeless person on the income from their detecting efforts. I will take the supplemental income, but not the homeless lifestyle option.

Here is a dose of reality - Yes, Mr Banker I would like a loan for my new home. What is your occupation? I am a metal detecting professional. He quietly picks up the phone to call security so that they may show you the door for wasting his time. Good luck with the income statement for any real standard of living.....

Enjoy the hobby, it is great, but don't give up your day job.

The Shark

 

[triplehooked]

Well it's better than when I tell them I'm a male nurse and they either start talking about a rash on a particular part of their body or call me Gaylord Focker....

 

[sonofamahalla]

I find it amusing that so many people think that you 'cannot' make a living with a Metal Detector... It's Ridiculous to think that a person couldn't do it. If I'm not mistaken, almost EVERYONE thought that the original 'Gold Prospectors' were 'NUTS' and that panning Gold was for the 'Insane'.... Same thing went for individuals who Picked up Arrow Heads, Petrified Wood and Fossils! Lest we forget about the individuals that were Hunting Meteorites by Sight and using only magnets and Eye Loupes as their 'Tools'...

There's no doubt in my mind that one could make a living (perhaps even a VERY GOOD one) Metal detecting. First things first however... Preparation would be the 'KEY' to Detecting for a living. You'd need to have your Ducks in a Row and REALLY would have to have a detailed plan of attack.

-Intended Locations and Countries that will be detected (North America, Europe, etc..) including the Rules and Regulations in regards to detecting (again, more research..)
-Hardware needed for detecting in your intended locations (water, land..)
-Research: Locations and Areas, specifically in regards to Rules and Regulations regarding Detecting. Found Item(s) research, such as net worth of coins, artifacts, etc..
-Contacts: Meet the 'right people', especially those 'DETECTORISTS' in other Countries where it might be possible to spend a week here and there (saving HUGE money) while gaining VALUABLE information on Detecting within the Country in question... (Gold and Meteorites in Australia and the USA, Ancient Coins and Artifacts from ALL OVER Europe, etc, etc..)

With a LOT of continued research and good practices, I think a person could make some great contacts (local and abroad) and find INCREDIBLY 'vast' and 'VALUABLE' areas of 'Virgin Territory' that would Yield 'Superb' and easily 'liquidated' finds, thus keeping Money in the Pocket for Expenses, etc.

Cheers,

 

[demyansk1942]

I just started in this hobby as a way to get off this computer and get outside more. I am very fit and ride a great deal but wasting time on this computer is getting old.

 

[Hoze513]

 

[gtoast99]

in before lock

 

[ohiochris]

I find it amusing that so many people think that you 'cannot' make a living with a Metal Detector... It's Ridiculous to think that a person couldn't do it. If I'm not mistaken, almost EVERYONE thought that the original 'Gold Prospectors' were 'NUTS' and that panning Gold was for the 'Insane'.... Same thing went for individuals who Picked up Arrow Heads, Petrified Wood and Fossils! Lest we forget about the individuals that were Hunting Meteorites by Sight and using only magnets and Eye Loupes as their 'Tools'...

There's no doubt in my mind that one could make a living (perhaps even a VERY GOOD one) Metal detecting. First things first however... Preparation would be the 'KEY' to Detecting for a living. You'd need to have your Ducks in a Row and REALLY would have to have a detailed plan of attack.

-Intended Locations and Countries that will be detected (North America, Europe, etc..) including the Rules and Regulations in regards to detecting (again, more research..)
-Hardware needed for detecting in your intended locations (water, land..)
-Research: Locations and Areas, specifically in regards to Rules and Regulations regarding Detecting. Found Item(s) research, such as net worth of coins, artifacts, etc..
-Contacts: Meet the 'right people', especially those 'DETECTORISTS' in other Countries where it might be possible to spend a week here and there (saving HUGE money) while gaining VALUABLE information on Detecting within the Country in question... (Gold and Meteorites in Australia and the USA, Ancient Coins and Artifacts from ALL OVER Europe, etc, etc..)

With a LOT of continued research and good practices, I think a person could make some great contacts (local and abroad) and find INCREDIBLY 'vast' and 'VALUABLE' areas of 'Virgin Territory' that would Yield 'Superb' and easily 'liquidated' finds, thus keeping Money in the Pocket for Expenses, etc.

Cheers,

With everything you have mentioned here , one would have to invest an incredible amount of money into this hobby turned occupation. This is almost James Bond style globe hopping and intel gathering for one man on a budget to do Whats not being addressed is that in order to keep up contacts , research , equiptment , travel ------> because one area dont hold enough to keep you going indefinately on that scale , and such will actually COST quite a bit of money if you plan to be doing this on a level that will earn you a living. To be realistic , without a great deal of almost superhuman luck , your overhead is going to be significantly higher than your finds , even when living on a tight budget. But give it a shot , you may have the most fun you have ever had in your life if nothing else.

 

[gtoast99]

Here's my two cents that nobody asked for. The following is one man's opinion, only.

Is it possible to be a professional metal detectorist? No. I mean, yes, you can probably detect all day long and sleep in your van at the beach make enough to eat. But I don't call that professional, I call it homeless. You can probably make it work if you have no responsibilities, no bills, no mortgage, no family and intrest on your previous savings to pay your property taxes etc., using MD money to buy basic food and the occasional treat. But I don't call that professional, I call that retired.

Is it possible to be a professional *TREASURE HUNTER* on the other hand? Sure it is! There are plenty of examples of professional treasure hunting companies. For starters, you could try to get a job with one of them. If they aren't hiring or you just want to go it alone, it's still possible (with enough startup capitol) to be a professional treasure hunter and live quite comfortably. I don't mean picking up the occasional totlot gold or rings from the beach. There are certainly enough lost caches of hidden wealth (mostly shipwrecks, but I'm sure there are places on land, too) that you can make it work with one or two big scores.

But, as scoundrel points out by saying that selling detectors doesn't make you a professional metal detectorist, being a successful treasure hunter doesn't make you a professional metal detectorist, either. That's because to be successful, you're going to need to do a LOT of work that isn't remotely similar to swinging a detector. You're going to be doing 90% research, and 10% "hunting", if that. To find enough to make it worth your while, you're going to need to track down the big scores, and you're not going to find them by swinging aimlessly. In fact, I'd say the chances of you using a metal detector at all are slim - you'll likely need to do underwater salvage on a large scale OR use something akin to GPR to make the kind of finds to be profitable.

So being a professional treasre hunter is possible, although it is also risky and extremely expensive. What it is not, however, is "professional metal detecting". Personally, I just don't think that's realistic.

 

[JIM BL]

it possible to be a professional metal detectorist? No. I mean, yes, you can probably detect all day long and sleep in your van at the beach make eIsnough to eat. But I don't call that professional, I call it homeless. You can probably make it work if you have no responsibilities, no bills, no mortgage, no family and intrest on your previous savings to pay your property taxes etc., using MD money to buy basic food and the occasional treat. But I don't call that professional, I call that retired.

SORRY SCOUNDREL,BUT I AGREE WITH THE ABOVE QUOTE. TO GET A BETTER INSIGHT,WHERE DO YOU THINK WOULD BE THE BEST LOCATION TO START THIS GREAT BUISINESS ENDEAVOR? BEACH,DEEP WATER,PROSPECTING FOR NUGGETS,OR WHERE. BEING A RETIRED BABY BOOMER IS A NICHE WE WORKED FOR AND HAVE THE WRINKELS AND PAINS TO PROVE IT.
PLEASE REMEMBER,YOU ASKED FOR SUGGESTIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS THREAD. I THINK THIS IS VERY INTERESTING!

 

[scoundrel]

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