"can one actually make money on this? i realize its my first week, but i busted my ass and did only 6 runs in 3 hrs. i know this isn't good, but this is because you wait for packages, go from wall street > upper east side, and etc.

anyway, suggestions, comments, notes? thanks for being my support group.!"

Interesting reading! Just stay in there, soon things will settle down and you'll be able to enjoy the flow when you're an experienced rider. I myself was a bike messenger in Stockholm, Sweden for 3 1/2 years and some in Copenhagen, Denmark also when I got bored of Sweden. But that was a while ago now and I can now enjoy the rough and tough memories of the past.
My suggestion is that you take care of your body and especially your legs. Have a good riding position and if you don't know how ask someone who races bikes. Eat alot of carbohydrates in the evening to refuel and keep your legs warm. I used to sleep with leg warmers in winter just to keep them warm and supple. DON'T try to act tough and do stupid stuff in traffic, something which easily happens you're a rookie and want to show off. I had my accidents the first year, after that nothing serious happened.
You'll soon get better dispatches and you'll soon learn where and how things work.

To give some info on how things were during the financial up in the mid to late 90's. A bike messenger in Stockholm, Sweden could then do 30-40 runs in a day. Some even made 50! I/we made alot of money as messengers then. On a typical day we ended up with approx 100 kilometers(62 miles) in our legs. I even got out on Sundays sometime to do a fast 74 mile workout. Man! You were in shape then!

But N.Y. is alot diffrent from Stockholm. No hills and an easier city structure. Far more clients!