nice to meet a fellow drummer, too!
Well, honestly, my work isn't paid. I'll tell my story(If you mean the journalism aspect, hehe)
I wrote reviews now and then, a couple years ago; been a huge fan of music my whole life; metal especially.
Last year a friend of mine had an idea for a webzine. Around May I think. Before then, I'd just post my reviews on message boards. Long winded things that they are they seem to be taken well! On a message board, Morgan of Marduk noticed my review and contaced me. I flew overseas to see them, and they took me on two dates with them. From there, I had my first experience. The webzine got bigger, and I began doing more cd and show reviews; and because of this, and working at a little CD store for awhile I got contacts with a couple of labels. Thru them I get photo passes for shows.
Now I pretty much offer up my photo skills to any band who wants them; I don't want money; I just want to have fun. I work at both Tower and the Relapse Retail store in Philly; I help Relapse with instore appearances, and from there I go to the shows and continue. Afterward I put the pictures online and send 'em out to the bands. This week I am working the Opeth instore and show; after that it's CC/Hypocrisy(also an instore included!)
So, basically I used the internet, got some stuff out there and went from there. It's so much fun what I do; to me the best part is just getting to hang out with the people who make the music that I love, and treating them to beer as a way of saying thanks. And of course, seeing it all when it's done-and via the webzine, exposing even more people to the music.
EDIT: Ahh, very cool, Squeak!