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Should We Be Artists?
🕑 Added 2024-03-25 16:04:41 +0000 UTCThe simple answer is yes, of course. Be an artist if that’s your thing. And I don’t think there’s anything better than being happy at doing your thing.
I’ve seen more conversation around this topic recently, about the notion that artistic success is a lottery. (Yes. It is.) And that it’s irresponsible for publicly-established artists to tell fledgling artists to follow their dreams of making art full time. (Um, hang on.) And that the correct life is to get a day job and pursue art as a hobby. (Kind of. I mean, no. But yes? What?)
First, financial success in any field is a lottery of sorts. That’s no secret. It’s just that financial success in the entertainment business is rarer than say school-teaching. Of course, the top end of financial success in entertainment is far greater than in the field of education, which is why it feels so much more lottery-like. But the odds of you getting a steady job as a teacher are really high if you’re qualified, whereas the odds of getting a steady job as a singer, novelist, painter, or actor are extremely low, regardless of qualification.
Okay, we’ve got the basics down. Now should the people who want to be artists… be artists? Again, yes, they should. That’s easy. But the tricky part is how full throttle should we pursue our artistic dreams. Obviously, that depends on how full of desire each single person is about those ambitions.
But I also think we should break down the phrase “artistic dreams.” In the context of people like Mr Beast or Bo Burnham discouraging people from following their dreams of being influencers or stars of some sort, I think there’s so much more to it than just quashing dreams of those who have had far less public success. Because there’s still the question of WHAT IS AN ARTISTIC DREAM?
If your dream is earning a livable wage for art, well, then, you should know how out-of-your-control that goal truly is. Same can be said if your dream is achieving fame for your art. But having an audience for your art? Having a conversation because of your art? Getting paid for your art? You CAN achieve those things. How much conversation? How much pay? I mean...
Whether that audience is large enough to pay you enough to quit your day job(s), that’s out of anyone’s control. But if you like making art and sharing that art, and if THOSE THINGS are your dream, then it’s shitty of anyone to tell you not to pursue that.
For the record, I don’t think that’s what most publicly-establish creators truly mean when they discourage others from pursuing art as a career (i.e. Burnham and Mr Beast, above). What’s happening is that Some People confuse the desire for fame and money with the desire to create art. And Some People work their asses off on TikTok, YouTube, Soundcloud, etc. trying to earn their success. And that's noble. You do have to hustle to achieve success in any field. But entertainment has never been a meritocracy. And so Some People fail to achieve the dream of fame and money that they had been told was achievable.
It’s not up to anyone else to tell you what to do, but by extension, it’s not up to anyone else to tell you HOW to do it, either. There’s no set PATH to success. There’s only a personal definition of what success is.
And I would say the most successful people I’ve ever met are those who make time in their lives for what they love. Sometimes that time comes outside of working hours. Sometimes it overlaps with working hours. The point is that people find the time for what they truly love (which has absolutely nothing to do with "success")
This could be painting, or singing, or telling jokes/stories. It could be making podcasts or pottery. It could be raising kids, or pets, or goats, or gardens. None of this is a secret. You know all of this.
But I think it gets clouded (at least it does for me) by internet-wide arguments over whether or not people should pursue fame/fortune in entertainment. Personally, I have never thought it a good idea to pursue fame or fortune. Because I know I’ll never achieve either. Even at whatever level of fame you would consider me at, there’s a level above that that I will always feel I have to get to. And another beyond that, and another beyond that. Same with money.
So, please be an artist. Please find your people. And please never stop trying to be successful at the art your create and community you foster. Those aren’t commands, just desires that I have for you. From my experience, nothing is more fun than sharing creativity with others, regardless of the attention of strangers and/or producers. Trying to get someone to buy your thing is work, not love. In other words, the path to artistic success if easily followed, as long as that success is not strictly defined by money.
I’ll leave you with a good quote from author Jason Pargin: “Do not leave the pursuit of the creativity in your heart up to the whims of capitalism.”
Jeffrey Cranor
March 25, 2024
Comments
James LEE
I want to share this outside of the Patreon. I am thinking already of specific friends I feel need to read this.
WhenTheFoxGrins
I always feel like I have a hard time answering when people ask me advice on the different paths they’re considering pursuing in life. I don’t want to blindly tell people to just “follow their dreams,” only for them to do so and end up bitter and resentful that it didn’t take them where they wanted to go… But at the same time I don’t wanna be a jerk and tell them NOT to pursue their artistic pursuits, because ultimately I just want for them to be happy, yanno? For me, it’s hard to give an answer like that without coming off as some sort of awkward, optimistic pessimist. But what you wrote here really just “fits.” Like, it checks all the boxes and points that I’d wanna make, but am definitely not eloquent enough to pull off myself, haha. I feel like I just need to save/print this post and have it ready to whip out at any given moment to offer up some sage advice to the youngins.’ 😌 People often say “well, things aren’t like that anymore” (I know; I was one of them lol sorry mom) when you’re trying to advise those who are notably younger than you, but advice like THIS… I really don’t think it’s the type of advice that would ever really fade out of relevance. The world changes, people change… but this? This is solid.
Asymmetrical Exile
Amen!
StarEater Scales
Fantastic post ❤️
Madmenquill
I love creating but I hate being witnessed, so keeping art away from money is good for me. Thanks for speaking out.
Stevie_Not_Nicks
Well said, thank you Jeffery! I just recently started illustrating again (after a 7 yr hiatus) and listening to older episodes of Night Vale. Its my time to meditate after a long day of dealing with insane coworkers at my full time job. I do it for my sanity, not for money and not for show.
Jamie V
Preach. Even monetizing a beloved hobby makes it that much harder and less fun. Love you guys 😘
Sunegami
❤️
Jesse
Oof, needed this today. Thanks
Byrd
thanks. i. really needed to hear this right now
peachblow
when i was at school my head of year staged an intervention for me to dissuade me from being a musician. i think about that a lot. at the time i found it insulting bc of the assumption that i wanted fame&/fortune rather than to make music. i don't really find it insulting anymore but i do find it sad.
Lex
This is so well said and you truly spoke from my soul. Thanks for this!!
