A Letter to Creatives
You may have received the full range of advice, from “Follow your passion” to “Would you grow up, already?!”
Whether as an artist, musician, actor, filmmaker, or street busker, the choice of whether to go all in, part way, or give it up is among life’s most intimate and important choices.
Most people who are attracted to the creative life understandably find it difficult to replace creative time with other activities. And if I were starting over again, I think, but am not sure, I’d risk poverty for the freedom to write, act, direct, and play the piano, even if I had to live with my parents or roommates forever. But I can’t be sure — Poverty probably sounds more romantic than the reality. Yeah, parents and taxpayers may keep me off the streets but still. On the other hand, I see middle-class people with a straight job who are unhappy and, after taxes, are struggling to stay afloat.
You may be able to have your cake and eat it too by being smart on spending: Do you really need that expensive art coach or yet another class? Should you eat out less? Should you give up your car? Should you live with your parents or roommates?
It can also help to practice nichecraft: What’s something special that you could offer your audience or students that they’d be willing to pay for? For example, a client is an opera singer and after lots of probing, it seems she’d be most helpful in helping menopausal singers unlock psychologically. There are countless teachers out there — Indeed, most performers try to supplement their income with teaching. You need an edge — That may be less about marketing and more about finding a niche of special value to a subset of the market.
I won’t flog you by saying, okay, if you’re choosing the artist’s life, you better bust ass. That’s because many creatives aren’t the bust-ass type. So you may have no choice but to work with what you’ve got, maybe just pushing yourself to the outer limits of your comfort zone.
Some artistic people are emotionally vulnerable. If you are, what helps you: journaling, a friend, giving, working, exercise? And in your creative work, see if you can make your emotions work for you.
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Some people’s choice is more difficult because they’re not sure how good they are or could become. My current musical favorite, singer Josh Groban https://tinyurl.com/5ckkb85k , knew from childhood that he had the unique gift of infusing effortless beauty and emotion into every note. But what about the rest of us? Even if we’ve been paid well, how likely is it to last? And what if we’re just a wannabe, hanging our hopes on teachers’, family, and friends’ kind if not totally honest words?
The choice could be more difficult if the person has safer alternatives. For example, a computer nerd may more easily choose to do creative work on the side. That said, if you don’t stand out in remunerative ways, your choice may be easier — You were meant to go all-in on your art.
What if the feedback you get is discouraging, for example, parents who say, “What talent? You’ll be an example of why “starving” and “artist” appear together. Yet, if you’re sold on the artist life, you may be unable to fairly consider their input.
Should you resist? What does The Wise One within you think: all in, sideline, hobby, or give it up? The right answer might just be the one you feel you can best live with.
A personal note: I’ve been paid well for playing the piano and writing, although I would have made more per hour flipping burgers. But today, AI and other factors are making it worse for creatives. For example, as mentioned, I’ve written 1,600 pieces on Medium.com, and they’ve never paid me a dime. Indeed, when I merely asked for a free subscription, I got ghosted.
But although I’m old, I feel compelled to keep creating, even though I lose money. But if I were young?
Yours in uncertainty,
I read this aloud on YouTube.
Marty Nemko is a career and personal coach, and author of 34 books including How to Do Life. He’s putting the finishing touches on his 35th: Starving Artists: advice and stories. His piano album is Time Tested. His one-man show is Odd Man Out. You can reach Marty at mnemko@gmail.com.
