Skip to main content

Starving Creative? You're Doing It Wrong

Apart from small talk about the weather, the first question that is usually asked by people when they're introduced is - 'What do you do?'

Now, if we go by the statistics alone, coming in at 90%+ would be people who actually hate what they do for a living. So why are we so interested in this? At least with the weather there's a chance that I might pick up a little bit of upcoming 'hail' this afternoon.

If I myself hate what I do, why would it be the first thing that I want others to know about me?

I honestly believe that it comes back down to people trying to feel better about themselves. Figuring out who sits where in the pecking order that has been designed by someone else.

So what's my answer when asked this question? Simple - I'm a creative artist.

The result more often than not is that people look at you like you're some kind of leper or lunatic.

Why is it that I cannot be a successful working creative? What's the onus for this? Why does society in general believe that all artists / creatives are either bums on welfare looking for a handout or making millions? I honestly believe it's because we, as creatives perpetuate this and in a lot of cases actually believe it ourselves.

How many 'new' artists, creatives and photographers have you heard about who will give away their work or practically give it away for nothing? In the hope of gaining 'exposure' or getting a foot in the door? Way too many to count. This needs to be stopped. My creativity and my art means the world to me. It's the result of countless hours of work, sweat, laughter and tears. To give this away for free just seems utterly ludicrous to me.

I honestly believe that right from the outset the creative arts put themselves behind the eight ball by not placing value on their work. It's one of the easiest degrees to get in university. The degree that people go into while they're trying to figure out what they really want.

To truly get the correct value on this we need to modify this behavior and thought pattern. Creative people have talents that they work long and hard at perfecting. The smart ones take this creativity into whatever else they do. It makes them stand apart from the crowd, unique - individuals.

Being a successful working creative is no different to any other small business enterprise that people go into. For some reason if you opened up a small caf�, no one bats an eyelid when they learn that you have to be the owner, manager, barista, chef, cook, cleaner, book-keeper, website designer, marketer and window-cleaner. When it comes to the creative fields though no-one really takes any of this into account. It seems to be a matter of 'you're JUST a creative. JUST an artist. JUST a photographer.'

In order to change this mindset in general across society, we as creatives need to change this mindset within ourselves. I create products that bring joy, happiness, smiles, tears and laughter to people. How many products can claim that?

So next time you're asked - 'What do you do?' Stand proud and state 'I'm a creative!'

My crazy world has included successfully combining all the skills of a artist, photographer, designer, programmer, and marketer into one crazy life.

I'm available for guest blogging, article writing and speaking events.

~ Frank

Tazz 1 Pty Ltd

Follow me in my crazy world via my site
or Insta!


 By Frank Perez

Article Source: Starving Creative? You're Doing It Wrong

Labels

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Kecemburuan semacam ini

Jacey melemparkan cangkir kopi kaca, (Mug Kaca Berinsulasi Dinding Ganda Zwilling), melintasi dapur. Itu menghantam dinding yang baru dicat (Behr, Sweet Coconut Milk, M230), dan hancur menjadi triliunan kepingan. "Inilah yang telah kamu lakukan pada kami!" teriaknya, suaranya berderak karena cemburu, kuku jarinya yang terawat (Orly Cold As Ice - perawatan bernapas + warna) menusuk udara ke arah tumpukan puing-puing kaca. Blayne menundukkan kepalanya, dagu keduanya mengenai dadanya terlebih dahulu. "Maaf, sayang," gumamnya. "Maaf?! Maaf!" Dia mengambil sekotak Wheat Thins dan mengangkatnya di atas kepalanya. "Tolong jangan melempar yang lain!" Blayne memohon, berdiri dari posisi setengah duduk di bangku logam di dapur. Ini adalah bangku yang sangat tidak nyaman (Bangku Meja Grejsi dengan Bingkai Logam), tetapi Jacey menyukai cara logam itu memantulkan sinar matahari di sore hari, jadi itulah yang dia beli. Dia mencondongkan tubuh ke arahnya,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thirteenth step

My grandmother attends the church basement on Tuesday evenings. I saw him there among the metal folding chairs and antique coffee pots, his figure trembling under the fluorescent lights that buzzed like dying insects. She wears the same powder blue pullover she was buried in, the one with pearl buttons that catch the light like little moons. Others can't see it, of course. They just feel a sudden chill as they pass by where she is, or smell the ghostly smell of her Shalimar perfume mixing with the smell of burnt coffee that never leaves these rooms. But I see clearly. He's been following me to AA meetings for three months since I got my first white chip after five years of being back in the bottle. "Your grandmother was my godmother in 1985," old Pete told me after tonight's meeting, hands shaking as he poured a seven-pack of Sweet'n Low into his coffee. "Toughest godmother I ever had. She saved my life." "Mine, too," I said, not specif...
Post a Comment
Read more

A-Z of Corporate Governance Law

Corporate governance law can be seen as the law that states the way a company is regulated and managed. Any student of law must have a clear idea about the corporate governance law. This article provides an insight into the law, along with its importance. Corporate governance law  describes how a company will be managed and governed. This topic is an important one for any student pursuing a degree in law. They may also receive academic papers to write on it. Hence, individuals should be clear about this law. The article aims at clarifying the idea behind the law and why it is important. What exactly is corporate governance law? A business is directed and controlled by the system of corporate governance. It is a process for governing a company, establishing the policies, customs, and laws for all employees, starting from the highest to the lowest levels. It states the distribution of responsibilities and rights among the various participants in a company like the di...
111 comments
Read more