Tired of your job?
Try a vocation vacation

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Brian Kurth is trying to reach workers who have a burning desire to try out a new profession.
"Maybe you have a law degree, but you’ve always wanted to be a baker," he said.
Kurth had a pretty good job in the corporate world, working for Ameritech, a Chicago-based telephone company. By 2000, he tired of the commuting and long hours.
So, he looked into the business of giving employees a chance to experience another line of work. There was nobody else doing it around the nation. He reserved a domain name, then went into the dot.com industry before it went bust.
"I needed a change in my life," he said.
Kurth traveled around the country for six months, then found a job he really liked. In 2003, he began marketing products for a vineyard in Portland, Ore.
By January 2004, though, he was ready to pursue his ultimate dream. That’s when he unveiled VocationVacations, with 10 job mentors in Oregon.
The business went full time on April 1, 2004, and now offers more than 200 vocations. The owner is proud of the growth in the last two years and has his eye on the future.
"We look forward to where we’ll be two years from now," he said.
Here’s how it works.
Individuals can browse the company’s Web site to find a vocation they’d like to pursue. Most "vacations" last for two or three days. The cost ranges from $399 to $1,200 and includes lunch, but not airfare or hotel stays.
The Portland-based company offers services in 31 states, including Pennsylvania and New York.
Locally, people have the option of working at Action Karate in Feasterville or at Third Story Recording, at 5120 Walnut St. There are also a couple of gigs at bed-and-breakfasts across the state, along with numerous opportunities in New York.
The jobs available include dog trainer, horse breeder, brew master, television producer, farmer, private investigator, auctioneer, actor, sports announcer and auto racing pit crew member.
Kurth said his company offers hope to adults of all ages. The youngest participant has been 18, the oldest 70.
Most of the workers, though, range in age from 35 to 60, encompassing the older Generation-Xers and baby boomers.
Everyone is welcome, as long as they can physically perform the job. Only those 21 and older are allowed to take part in alcohol-related industries.
Kurth stresses that vacationers will do real work, not merely shadow a professional.
"This is not fantasy. It’s the real deal," he said.
The business makes no promise of fortune or stardom. If you choose a music vacation, you’ll be a producer, not a rock star.
The goal is to give participants a feel of a particular industry.
"It’s truly a test drive," Kurth said.
The entrepreneur explained that 20 percent of his business is gift giving. A friend or family member notices that a loved one really needs a break from his or her job and decides to give a vacation as a birthday or anniversary present.
"We call it intervention," Kurth jokes.
According to the owner, 85 percent of vacationers say their experience exceeded their expectations. Thirteen percent said the job met their expectations. Only 2 percent said the holiday fell short of their expectations.
"We have hit a chord with Americans," Kurth said.
Kurth attributes the success of the business to the mentors in various fields. They provide one-on-one mentoring.
"We’re only as good as our mentors," he said.
VocationVacations also offers the service in England, but business is slower. It seems the Brits like their jobs more than we do. The company will expand next to Canada.
While the business is growing, Kurth is branching out into related fields. He’s signed a book deal and will serve as co-executive producer of This Job’s a Trip, a show that will air on the Travel Channel every Thursday at 8 p.m., beginning on April 27.
For those who don’t want to wait for the TV show to see what a vocation vacation is all about, Kurth encourages them to visit his company’s Web site.
There, they can check out the dream job search finder. He likens the site to an online catalog.
"Dream away," he said. ••
For more information on VocationVacations, call toll-free 1-866-888-6329 or visit www.vocationvacations.com
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com