Joshua Cartmill spends his mornings caring for the University’s wounded horses and cattle, but his nighttime endeavors entreat a much wilder crowd.
The equine physiology alumnus works as a veterinary technician at the LSU Veterinarian Teaching Hospital during the day. But after hours, he can be found blazing through local venues as a Southern rock musician.
Born and raised in rural Kansas, Cartmill said he was frequently surrounded by both farm animals and music, but it was during college when the pairing collided most poignantly.
Cartmill began riding bucking horses in a collegiate rodeo, which he said prompted an increased interest in country music. He said he’d listen to country singer-songwriter Chris LeDoux for hours and hum along to the tracks.
“I started singing along and saying ‘I can do that,’” he said. “I wanted to play guitar and sing, too.”
It wouldn’t be until after a divorce and the end of his rodeo career that Cartmill decided to intently pursue the craft. At age 28, Cartmill began writing songs, mostly about his then-recent break-up.
He said the emotion and honesty behind his first page of lyrics are still defining elements in his music today.
After receiving his Ph.D. from the University, Cartmill settled into his current position while serving as a guitarist and vocalist for local band Bravo Charlie. Cartmill said the band is currently on hiatus, but he hopes to one day revive it.
In regard to education, Cartmill said he is overqualified for his job, but he enjoys helping. He said his expertise in farm animal care is needed because most staff members and students are more experienced with domesticated animals.
Cartmill said caring for farm animals, especially horses, is one of his many passions, but music is his “habit.” If there were ever a need to choose between music and his current job, he said he would choose music because it’s a method of release.
“When I clock out, that’s when I get to be me,” he said.
Chuck Hustmyre, general studies alumnus, eventually chose his passion and retired from a lengthy career in law enforcement.
Although Hustmyre said he always aspired to be an officer, he had a keen interest in writing since childhood. He said he tried writing novels and short stories in grade school to no avail.
Even when Hustmyre became a special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobbacco, Firearms and Explosives, he continued to write in his spare time.
He said his efforts in fiction writing often went unnoticed, but his nonfictional works garnered some attention. To date, he has sold more than 750 magazine and newspaper articles and written a few nonfiction books.
Hustmyre’s final attempt at fiction proved to be successful as he sold his first screenplay. At that point, Hustmyre said he decided to make writing his full-time job.
“Vocationally, I’ve had two passions in my life: law enforcement and writing,” he said. “I’ve been lucky enough to make a living doing both.”
Now with four screenplays under his belt, including Lions Gate’s “House of the Rising Sun,” Hymstre said he mainly writes about crime. He said his 20 years of law enforcement experience give him a unique sense of realism.
“The problem with a lot of movies is they are too fake,” he said. “They’re implausible.”
Hustmyre said he specializes in “plausible action,” where scenes like the one unarmed protagonist killing six bad guys are obsolete.
Drew McArdle, biological sciences alumnus, quickly realized the arts scene was a more plausible work environment for him.
The 2007 graduate worked as a chemist for a year at a privately owned plant, where he and four other workers made chemical solutions for companies worldwide.
Even with a $16.50 hourly salary and benefits, McArdle said the fast-paced position became too strenuous. He said he enjoyed his time at the plant but felt drawn elsewhere.
He found an escape in music.
“Music, that was just something to do after work, but it was so much fun, I always was looking for an opportunity to play,” he said.
The final thrust into the arts scene came when McArdle dated a painter, who he said made enough money from her art to supplement the income from her day job. He said he eventually inspired to create Easy Breathe Productions, an art, entertainment and music company catered to the Baton Rouge arts scene.
While McArdle seeks to increase the availability of the arts in Baton Rouge, he said anyone looking to pursue art as a full-time career must be willing to accept its downfalls.
But Cartmill said the payoff could possibly outweigh the risk.
“Whatever it is that makes you happy, you have to do it,” he said.
