Crazy Making

Allysson pointed me towards this article in Salon about how people who work in creative fields get treated. It's long, but an interesting and revealing read. And as she said, it's somewhat depressing, at least for those of us who try (or even just dream of trying) to make a living in fields regarded as 'artistic'. The article points out:  "The Bureau of Labor Statistics confirm that creative industries have been some of the hardest hit during the Bush years and the Great Recession. ... A working artist is seen neither as the salt of the earth by the left, nor as a “job creator” by the right — but as a kind of self-indulgent parasite by both sides. Why the disconnect? ... Essentially, these are working-class people – a lot of them have second jobs. They’re highly trained – dancers, singers, actors – and they don’t make a lot of money. They make tremendous sacrifices for their work. They’re people who should have our respect, the same as a farmer. We don’t want a society without them.” That's not to say farmers or anybody else don't deserve respect, but that artists do also.

 That article goes hand in hand with this little number, found through Hazel: "We'll sign the picture with your name!" which applies to creatives of all sorts. Go ahead; I'll wait. :)

Then there's this one, from Talis, about how the London Olympics plans to not pay the pro musicians playing for the Olympics. They've spent a ton of money for corporate sponsorships and the costs are mounting up, so where do they find a place to cut costs? The musicians. Of course. Like the musicians don't need or deserve to be paid for working, they should be glad to get the exposure. Right.

My dad used to tell me that I shouldn't become an artist because artists don't get paid, and even when they do it's not much. I (of course) rebelled, and told him something along the lines of, "Oh yeah? Just watch me." It's only taken me 30-odd years to realize that if my kids ask me about becoming an artist, I'm tempted to say just about the same thing that he told me. Now I'd say, 'Become whatever you want, kiddo, but you need to be realistic about the economic realities too. You have to be able to eat and pay your bills. And working for the exposure, for free, won't pay the bills.' The little video above with the talking critters says it well: "Getting credit and exposure isn't compensation. If I create an image, credit is my right, not something that you grant me."

Damn straight.

I do a lot of work for free, for various groups and causes I believe in. The problem is that my time is limited and so is my energy. And there's always the money issue looming over me; I need to bring in money even if I am not the main breadwinner these days. The gaming industry is extremely volatile and as Paul's job history proves there's never a certainty that he will keep the job he has. My main job right now is an energy and time consuming one of raising two little boys who deserve a fair chance at a good life. That leaves very little time and energy to do work as an artist or to do any 'building' work that will take me towards a place in the future doing work I like, that's fulfilling or advances my own goals.

Part of my problem these days is figuring out what my goals are, what road I want to travel down, rather than being pulled blindly along where ever someone else with a strong vision wants to go, with me along as the hired (but frequently unpaid) talented wrist. It feels too much lately like I'm being pushed and pulled about by promises of money or exposure or good causes and I haven't taken the time to stop and look around and figure out where the hell I am and where I want to go. So I'm going to be pulling back from some things and trying to schedule in some time for myself to figure out what's what and which road to go down.

And I'll be taking time out to enjoy the boys, too, because they're growing up a little too fast for my taste.