Working 9 to 5 was once the way to make a living.

Now your workday is more like 9 to 5 and 5 to 9. After going to college and working to build a career, more young professionals are turning to second jobs to round out their finances.

Daniel Fahrner said he works “way too much for my own good.” The 24-year-old has three jobs. His main breadwinner is his not-quite-full-time job as assistant concert manager at the Vogue.

He puts in about 20 to 30 hours a week at the Monon Coffee Co., and he helps operate Transpanther Group Touring and Management, working with eight full-time artists.

“I’ve realized I’ve kind of bitten off more than I can chew,” he said, having recently resigned from even more work as the drummer for Everthus the Deadbeats. “I’m moving my focus toward this business and also having some free time.”

The number of people in Indiana holding second jobs increased from 4.3 percent of the total employment in 2006 to 4.7 percent in 2007 (the data for 2008 is not yet out).

Those numbers are below the national average for people holding multiple jobs, said Marc Lotter, communications director of the Department of Workforce Development.

Let’s face it, 2008 and 2009 have been rough. Plenty of us are lucky to have primary jobs, but with inflation, wage cuts and mounting debt, moonlighting is starting to look like a good option.

Of course, working a second job is not all misery, pain and heartache — and it’s not just about the Benjamins. These locals are getting money and more from their second jobs.

The entrepreneur

Fahrner, who has his degree in entrepreneurship from Ball State (class of 2006), estimates he works about 70 to 80 hours a week.

He credits his work ethic to the way he was raised (both of his parents are small-business dynamos) and his training at college. But all that work, even with a dream, is something he’s trying to knock down."

“I kind of was turning into a workaholic,” he said. “Since I’m a little young and my eyes are bigger than my stomach, I tend to bite off more than I can chew. As I’m growing and settling down, I’m realizing that I can’t do it all.”

He’s also realized that his workload has kept him from making close connections in Indianapolis, where he’s lived for not yet three years.

“I’ve met a lot of people I could see becoming good friends with,” he said, “but I’m definitely putting forth less of myself — taking in less of everyone else. Unfortunately, that’s a major sacrifice.”

Being a worker bee, he’s learned, is ultimately a hard balancing act.

“Starting small would help, and budgeting a little more of your time,” he said. “Even having one day a week that you know is going to be your rest and relaxation day. My fiancee and I, we always have Sunday together, no matter what.”

The multi-tasker

Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evening, Alex Kraft heads to Carmel and suits up to teach Jazzercise. She learned the routines after her graduation from Ball State with a degree in theater. Forty hours of her week are already devoted to teaching theater and technical theater to freshmen through seniors at Bishop Chatard High School.

It’s common for young teachers to take part-time jobs, so Kraft had already geared up for the idea of a second job.

“My mom has been in the archdiocese for about 19 years now,” Kraft says. “She was just telling me, on a single budget with a bachelor’s degree, you’re probably going to have to get another job. And I really need it with student loans rolling in.”

Often, she misses linking up with friends for dinner; during theater season, she’s never home. But, she has lost about 25 pounds teaching Jazzercise at the Prime Life Enrichment Center.

“I’m not paying for a gym membership. That’s good,” she said. “Actually, knock on wood, I haven’t really been sick all that much this year.”

Yes, she does feel spread thin; some days, she’d love to spend all day in bed. But her second gig has kept her active, even on days when she would rather slack off.

“I would say that you have to be prepared to — you’re not going to have the free time after you get off work. There’s no time to unwind,” she said. “But if you’re a goal-oriented person, it’s really not that hard.”

Ms. Hyde

LeRie Carraway, 33, is meek and quiet at her day job processing annuities at Conseco Insurance, where she has worked for four years. She decided to attend the Midwest Bartenders School because of all the feedback she got when she lived in Las Vegas.

“People used to say, ’You’d be good in a job that makes tips,’.” she said.

Carraway now works regularly through the Midwest Bartenders School, getting referred to private parties. She worked at the Kentucky Derby earlier this month.

On average, she works a couple of gigs a month — which can yield some heavy tips — and there are busy seasons.

She uses the job to network “with different industries that I probably would not have access to,” she said. But what Carraway likes the most is switching personalities.

“Bartending is like my Ms. Hyde,” she said. “I pretty much keep to myself — so when I get an opportunity to be that outgoing personality, it’s a fun job. That’s my way of releasing.”

Surviving a second job

Nicollete Jones, youth services manager for Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, offers these tips.

Always check with your current employer to get its take on second jobs. “Some employers do have policies where they don’t allow employees to take on second jobs,” Jones said. “Make sure it doesn’t interfere with your primary job.”

Stay in your field. “You have a greater chance of getting paid more,” Jones says.

Think about taxes. “You want to be aware of your income tax implication; it may put you in a higher tax bracket. You want to be mindful of that.”

“Make sure the effort is worth the return,” she says. “A lot of times you sacrifice time with your family or things of that nature.”

Have very clearly defined goals for what you’re going to do with that extra money. “That will keep you motivated for why you’re getting a second job — you can see that it’s helping you.”

Remember that you’re not alone. “The economy is extremely tough right now. The market is extremely competitive right now. Know and understand that you’re not the only one that has to face this decision.”