I've been dropping complaints like they're going out of style in a couple threads that I'd be juggling my old job and a new attempt. I wanted to keep it under wraps, because Google can destroy anyone's chances at a career, especially in the public world, but now I can safely mention it, if not by name.
I spent a practice day with an issue-campaign organization, and asked a lot of questions about what kind of activities and opportunities their people see. Long story short, they work full-time hours hitting pavement, going door to door through wealthier neighborhoods soliciting donations for "promoting legislation". Official hours 2-10PM, pavement hours 4-9PM. Seemed like a great bunch of folks, including a couple cute college chicks who seemed to really take interest in me, and my boss was a younger copy of Zach Galifianakis. Then we got to work.
In our one day out together, I was attacked by a dog, proselytized to try Kabbalah, told to fuck off by two old men, made incredibly sad by more old people, questioned by a peace officer, and got worn the fuck out, all in the space of three blocks over five hours. Their requirements on their fund-raisers? Minimum $160 a day, which you keep half of, and 40% of anything over. I went to school for a long damn time not to be a bum in Old Navy and slacks, or as I like to call it "Polo Hobo". Walking the streets as a salesman with nothing to sell for $80 a day is not going to fucking work. The fact that about five of the fifteen people had been "working" there more than a month, and these pro's were nutty old hippies, is a pretty strong sign.
So I'm happy that I got a huuuge weight and expectation off my mind, and that I can safely tell myself this is a chump's game. Sure, I knew it was going to be hard when I decided to try it. But now I know it would be a wasted effort, and I can walk away with my head high, confident that I'm not missing out on any worthwhile opportunities.