From Seth Godin’s recent post called Maybe You Can’t Make Money Doing What You Love:
…if you’re driven, talented and focused, you may discover that the market loves what you do. That people read your blog or click on your cartoons or listen to your mp3s. But, alas, that doesn’t mean you can monetize it, quit your day job and spend all day writing songs.
The pitfalls:
1. In order to monetize your work, you’ll probably corrupt it, taking out the magic in search of dollars, and
2. Attention doesn’t always equal significant cash flow.
I think it makes sense to make your art your art, to give yourself over to it without regard for commerce.
Doing what you love is as important as ever, but if you’re going to make a living at it, it helps to find a niche where money flows as a regular consequence of the success of your idea. Loving what you do is almost as important as doing what you love, especially if you need to make a living at it. Go find a job you can commit to, a career or a business you can fall in love with.
A few additional remarks:
These kinds of thoughts raced through my head at top speed when I was first debating the leap into a professional life of songwriting. And these kinds of thoughts race through the heads of everyone I mentor – whether I’m working with a visual artist, a songwriter, or an entrepreneur.
The deeper truth is that until you decide to do something, all the deliberating in the world means nothing. Your vocation, as it turns out, is a lot like marriage. You’re entering into a relationship with something – music, painting, or poetry. (Or marketing, money or widgets.)
When you enter a relationship with something, you are almost certainly going to love it sometimes, hate it sometimes, obsess sometimes, and want to take a one-way flight to Anything-But-This sometimes.
This is what most people would describe as “taking the joy” out of it. (As in — “Wow. I used to love sitting around writing songs. Now I just freakin’ hate it because I have to make money from it. I wish I’d gone to law school and just stayed in that Skynyrd tribute band on the weekends.”)
Will this happen to you if you go pro?
Yes. It will. Many times. (Minus the Skynyrd part.)
But, as with marriage, if you’re aware and committed to your relationship (in this case with the music, art, or widget) you will move through this phase into a deeper place. Or you’ll find a way to do it differently that is more aligned with your heart.
Have I “corrupted” my work “taking out the magic in search of dollars?”
Oh, let me count the ways.
I’ve said yes to some scary performance dates just for the money. I spent two years on the college circuit. (They call this “driving for dollars.”) I did the Nashville co-writing thing in an office from 9-5 day after day with people I didn’t know. (I wrote some of the worst schlock you ever heard.)
But that’s the thing.
Many people have done this kind of stuff. And lots of them recognize when they’re being inauthentic, and they stop doing it. It’s a part of the story of that relationship! Besides, you’re only stuck in those situations if you think you’re stuck in those situations. (In my case, I no longer do the “money” shows if they’re not great shows. I fired the college agent long ago. And I only co-write with a select few.)
Now, I’m not saying: “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Nor am I saying: “Build it and they will come.” (There is truth in both of these aphorisms. But mostly it gets skewed.) Money is definitely a consideration when you go pro. No doubt. But that’s yet another element that can actually build that relationship. Sort of like when you have kids in your marriage. Or money issues!
For me, the most painful part of going pro was the disillusionment of realizing I wasn’t going to be rescued by anyone. This was when I realized that if I loved music and songwriting, and if I wanted to indeed make a successful living at it, that I’d also have to become very much aware of the business, the marketing and the money parts.
The disillusionment lasted about a year. (I needed to make certain there was no chance of rescue.) But then my relationship with music (and with myself) got deeper. I got better at business. I got stronger as a person. My passion for everything got more fierce and, in so many ways, more real. And that’s when I began to make much more money.
I’ve seen people live their passion in all kinds of ways.
The happiest people are the ones who decide – really decide – how they’re going to make it work for them. (Keep the job/Do the art at a studio at night. Quit the job/Get a less-pressurized job/Do the writing on the weekends. Quit the job/Start the business/Deal with the obstacles as they come.)
The most miserable people are the ones who never decide one way or the other, letting themselves stay stuck in a swamp of questions and what-if’s.
Add to del.icio.us
Stumble It!
Subscribe to this feed
Digg it
|
Comments:
Share this Article:
|
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for this entry, Christine. I’ve been observing your endeavors for a while, wondering where is the opportune time and space to make a contact, and this post was it.
It’s because I am about to go pro. And I’m about to go, for no other reason than because I decided to. Nobody asked me to, nobody gave me a stamp of approval, nobody gave me a permission.
You are a role model for many of our dreams, and to have you explain how it can be done is greatly reassuring and empowering.
So I thank you for that. Thank you.
ari
That is such a great post Christine – it’s exactly where I’m at. It’s interesting the comment about wanting to be rescued – I know exactly what you mean!
I like yours better than Seth’s. I have a big problem with the “selling out” thing – isn’t sitting at a job you hate also “selling out”…your soul if not your art? These days I’ve needed to take a part-time job to support my art and I lucked into working at a road side stand with veggies and flowers. Low pay, hard work, lots of being present in the moment because that’s all I can be, then several days of nothing but focus on creating. I fought it forever, but that’s just where I find myself, and after fighting it forever (most of this year), I’m now grateful that I’ve found a space of peace both for income and art. It isn’t perfect, but even when life is perfect, it rarely stays that way long – too boring. Thanks for a great post!
I stopped working in my “official” field (speech pathology with people with autism) about 5 years ago and started making art full time. My husband has a well paying job, so the making money pressure was not as strong as it is with most people, but it is definitely there and increasing. I am more and more in the question of where do you make any money doing this and still make work that feels true to you. It has been a circuitous route; mostly realizing what doesn’t work on a monetary level or feels like a sell-out.
It has been a challenge not to decide to chuck it all and return to my former career. The way there is clear, jobs are plentiful, and I know I am really good at what I do; bosses and parents tell me and the children that I do therapy with visibly improve. I have been very satisfied doing this work in the past, but it doesn’t feel like my heart work. Having said that, there is a magnetic attraction to being on a path that is all laid out for you.
Art has been much more nebulous; there are those times that it looks like the only one who gives a crap that I continue to do this is me. It has often required me to be entirely self reliant in assessing the worth of my path and my work. Often, I have gotten lots of kudos via shows and galleries, but it doesn’t turn into sales. When I was in the question of whether I had anything to say through my work, that was enough for me. It doesn’t really feel that way at this stage of the game.
I have come to the same realization that you cover in the post, you have to constantly learn about business and marketing. This is a huge learning curve for me and really out of both my comfort zone and my interest. Having said that, it’s the challenge that I have committed to for 2009. It’s not like someone else is going to do it for me! Thanks for the post, Christine. You have an unerring ability to address the issue that I’m currently wrestling.
Love this post and the lesson of deciding. You’re teaching me this very powerful concept. And deciding from within myself vs from outside pressure. What a relief, a thrill, and a leap of faith. The stuff life is made of. Thanks for this!!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who had this reaction to his post, or talked about it. It gave me a total freak out moment, because I thought, “What if I AM doing the wrong thing? What if I’m NOT supposed to be doing this full time? What if I will begin to hate it?”
It did make me realize though that I had begun to censor myself, and put the passion and my own authenticity last, instead of first. I’ve started putting the passion first again, and things are falling into place.
The point about being rescued – I haven’t come to terms with that one yet. Still learning that I need to depend on myself. Which is scary in and of itself!
Decision! And action to get me out of this swamp of potential what-ifs! But what to decide? Should I go ahead and press CDs with the 12 songs I recorded (and have all mastered.) Or take the 7 of those songs that will be woven in The Musical I’m writing and record 8 or 9 more and then press the “I Need A Man,” musical CDs to promote it as a whole?
I should really do a blog post on that to get feedback and ask as many friends as I can, as I really don’t think I honestly have the answer within me.
See – your post has certainly made me clarify what I need to do next has inspired me to action. Thanks, Ms Catalyst.
Oh, and when you say you had some “scary” performances, what did you mean exactly?
Great topic!
After spending the last 10 years selling my art at art festivals, I recently made the decision to take a year long “sabbatical” from what I have started to consider “madness”. Art festivals have been a great way to get my work out there and I have made some money over the years but I need a break. The money isn’t worth the stress of doing the shows(right now).
This decision while scary, also feels authentic and exciting. The challenge of trying to make money without the art festivals led me to teach my first workshop and schedule a second one. I know there are other ways I can sell my art and I am learning all I can about that. However, “not spending money” will be more of a goal than “making money” in the coming year. What I am most excited about is learning more about my craft and creating images I love and not worrying about being a “production machine” in order to have enough inventory to take to a show.
Thanks!
Ari – All the best with your decision. (And remember to keep deciding!) thanks for the kind words, too!
hiya tammy! I’m not sure if taking a job you hate is the same as “selling out” (nor do i really know what “selling out” is! i think it’s different for everyone.) I’ve known people who saw their “not-so-much” job as a way to do their art. And I’m glad to hear that you’re taking care of yourself by doing other work!
Tracy – In some ways, the marketing part (that we ALL resist so much) has taught me every bit as much about myself that my songwriting has. I’m truly grateful – because it’s made me get over myself a bit. I love that. Keep me posted about how it works for you!
sue – you’re welcome!
sarah – yea, the rescue thing is a fun one, isn’t it? Here’s one thing to know: when you are free of that feeling, you will feel SO good!
jannie – lots to decide! and you should know that that doesn’t stop!
Scary isn’t about being unsafe – so much as it is about thinking, “ohmigod, if anyone I know saw me doing this show – they’d die!” Corporate events with drunk guys falling all over the place…that kind of thing. (go to my squidoo page to read about my all-time worst gigs.)
dianne – that’s excellent! good for you!
You hit a point – really deciding — am I there? Jeez, I don’t know. Sounds like I’m at the what-if stage (I hope not). I don’t think, though, that I’ve reached the point of really deciding, deep within me, what steps I want to take. Scary. That’s the thought that comes to mind here. And…how do I remain authentic? when caught up in daily activities (like determining how to market, how to sell, how to make money)…
It’s always interesting to me to read posts like Seth Godin’s because the possibility of taking something I love and creating a business or making money at it has always just kind of been there for me.
I grew up surrounded by parents, a grandmother, brothers, and many others who have done just that. I got the see the challenges of the business part and the creative part and just kind of accepted that the various challenges were part of it.
I haven’t ‘gone pro’ with my passions yet, but I have no doubt I will in the next couple years – when I really look inside myself, its been the plan all along. And I don’t believe I have to corrupt my work to make money doing it – I think I’m corrupting MYSELF more by not doing it.
These words rang true for me in this post; “if you’re aware and committed”.
“If” — because you might not be.
“Aware” — because you should be aware you will be needing a net before you leap.
“Committed” — because that’s the strong word for the weak moments we all have when set off on this kind of journey.
Thanks for thinking out loud on this one!
Keep creating…today’s masterpiece,
Mike
Hi Christine,
I love that analogy of how your relationship with your work/passion/art is like a marriage. That is the way that I have always thought about it ( I have been a healer/artist/entrepreneur for over 30 years) and like any marriage there are times that I am head over heels in love and times when I start thinking about divorce …. and both those feelings can happen on the same day!
And just like in a good marriage I pretty much signed up for life. Which doesn’t mean that there are times when the relationship needs to be renegotiated or I need to find ways to bring the passion back into it. But I like what you said about how the commitment makes the whole experience fiercer and more intense. It becomes so much more meaningful and really yours when you have had to give it your all or sometimes fight to keep it alive. And deeply, deeply fulfilling.
I think that what Seth is referring to in his post is more along the lines of wanting your relationship with your art or passion to stay at the same place as how you might feel when you are dating or first falling in love with someone. It’s fun, but it kind of keeps you stuck in a perpetual adolescence. What you are referring to is a mature relationship to your work or art or passion. “The full catastrophe!” to quote Zorba The Greek.
Thanks for your wisdom, once again!
Chris
G’day Christine ~
Thanks for your sharings on this… it’s of so much interest to me as an artist/spirited teacher who is making the transition into making it both my passion & my livelihood. I think what the gorgeous Chris said is perfect… and also that when you become an artist/goddess/musician full time, you also become an *entrepreneur*. I get such a kick out of the entreprenurial stuff as well as my art, so for me it’s a perfect blend. It requires different skill sets ~ right brain/left brain, creativity/logic and order in a beautiful dance called business. It’s quite delicious, but not for everyone
Wishing you a gorgeous day ~
Leonie
http://www.GoddessLeonie.com
ditto for me-I am in that place as well. Glad to hear you say “keep making the decision”. I agree that it needs to be made more than just the first time.
The concept of leaping is a wonderful one. As with continuous decision making, the leap seems to be in mid flight, which is fun as I have been on the diving board for a long time!
My son is also about to leap, to college.
I have to say, preparation is helpful.
Yeah, yeah, all the college prep stuff, but also, I went to a card reader! She was more helpful than anything! She told me things that have really helped me to relax a bit and give my son more encouragement than advice that comes from a place of fear. He is a very talented drawer and writer and god knows what else. Anything he feels passionate about goes through his creative mind and watch out. Trouble is, he does not feel comfortable sharing it. His creative process has always been for his pleasure only. So we thought “liberal arts college” that has a good visual arts program and then see after 4 years where he wants to go career wise.
Maybe you have some advice for us?!!!!
Interesting post Christine and thought provoking other comments too. I have had a “jigsaw” career for most of my life. Sometimes doing two very different things that I loved equally. Sometimes doing one job (although freelance) to allow me to incubate and develop something else. At other times, such as just now, I really want to be able to focus all my energy in one direction. I treat it rather like an experiment, adding and taking away elements depending on their relevance at the time.
I have quite a few friends who did say they felt the “joy being squeezed out” when they turned pro – and one way that I try to counter this is to make sure that I always have some personal projects on the go where I do not have to have any considerations other than “does it please me”.
Great post and analysis.
Well, I have made the decision to stick with the job but to reduce it to 80%. And my boss was ok with it. The problem is that with two kids under 3 the remaining 20% of my work days (basically two afternoons) will be swallowed by taking care of them – which is one reason I decided to reduce. So I am not sure it will give me the much desired time to ‘create’ (be it writing, painting or photography).
Anyways, I have been thinking all day about my word for next year and will be posting about it soon. Where do we link that back to you?
“The most miserable people are the ones who never decide one way or the other, letting themselves stay stuck in a swamp of questions and what-if’s.”
I love that line because I often stay stuck because I over think things! My minister once said, “Apathy is the greatest disease of our time” I try not to do all the “what-if’s” as much and good or bad just make a decision.
Thanks for the wonderful post!
And sometimes the universe boots you in the butt and forces you to make a decision. My official layoff date was the middle of last month. Still haven’t gotten much as far as interviews are concerned, but I have definitely changed the sort of job I’m looking for to be one that will allow me to still have some creativity left in my brain at the end of the day. And meanwhile, while I’m hunting, we’re doing some recording, some photography, and practicing for an upcoming gig, spending way more time on any of these things than we might otherwise have done if I was still in the suck-out-my-soul full time job. So I miss the paycheck dearly, but I’m a lot happier now!
I have been stuck in that swamp of questions and what-ifs for a long time and I am definitely miserable.
So…I’m taking the first steps to pursue what has always been natural for me. I’m finally pursuing my degree in English/Creative Writing and figuring the rest out as I go.
Living in fear about whether I can make a living at it is sucking the life out of me. I have a job that supports me and allows me some comforts, but it doesn’t change the fact that there’s a nagging feeling that I’m not doing what feeds me intrinsically. That feeling will never go away until I make the firm decision to explore it.
Thanks for the affirmation and confirmation, Christine. As always, grounded, yet inspiring. That’s a fine line!
Ditto to everything ari said! I love the relationship analogy. This is so timely for me, as I’ve just closed a business that had me completely tied down and burned out, and committed to my true love, massage therapy, as my permanent full-time life partner. The children being born of that relationship will likely include teaching, writing, and art.
Thank you for all your inspiration over the years, both in your songs and here. You’d be amazed at the number of rough spots you’ve helped me through!
I’ve been reading your blog for more than a year now and to say that it has helped me through what has been a difficult time for me as an artist is a gigantic understatement. This post addresses all of it and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
You seem to have this effect with practically everything you write.
I have always felt like me and my music were in a relationship of some sort. Not unlike being in love. Even childhood sweethearts I’d say. The music was there to be a shoulder to cry on when needed and also a cure for just about anything. So then I made a decision. I was going to commit to it. Go do it. You know? And this was like marriage. Only thing was… I wasn’t mature. And neither was the music. So the marriage was a complete failure. At least I thought so at the time. But now as I look back at it, it was a bold move. And there’s something about boldness that, even though the thing fails completely, it just shoves you in the right direction. And I don’t regret taking that step. I learned a lot. And the music is mature now. We’re just about ready to make up. And the thought of it feels great.
What I’m trying to say here Christine is that the analogy is dead on.
Because marriage is scary. I wouldn’t know because I’m not married. Or would I? Just precisely because.
The decision to do it is where the work is. Getting over that fear of committing to something you love. At the price of failure. Then, when the going gets tough, STICKING WITH IT. And behold! Some more work.
I could have given up. I COULD HAVE. I have a great creative day job. It’s not music. It’s graphic design. It’s less satisfying to say the least. And the one thing I’m sure of is that if I had made a decision to give up on music (the thing I once committed to/married), there would always be a WHAT IF? I’m now more than ever determined to go give my aging website a major makeover and get back to the music.
My story has a happy ending and it’s not an ending at all. And the bottom line is: IT’S YOUR CHOICE. What “Going Pro” squeezes out of your passion is in my view entirely up to you and your level of awareness and determination.
You think this would work in marriage counseling?
Your words are inspiring.
Thank you, Christine!
Love from Croatia!
~Hrvoje
What mark wagner said.
Another amazing post, and confirms what I’ve always felt–your blog has been very important to me.
You’ve probably been “tagged” before but I had to have you on MY favorite blogs list:
http://luannudell.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/ive-been-tagged/
the disillusionment of realizing I wasn’t going to be rescued by anyone.
- Christine ! I do think you read my mind sometimes. This is what my film maker career flounded on I think somewhere I was hoping I would be rescued…
I wrote a letter to president elect obama after his nomination (I’m a letter writer-the previous administration and my local government can attest…lol) and thanked him for inspiring me (again, as many do) to BE the change. To do that means that i don’t get to think of myself as a blue soul in a red state. And it doesn’t mean saying ‘in yo’ FACE!’ either.
we have an opportunity here to truly be the UNITED states of america.
I am going to do my very best to be an example of that.
love the post, as usual.