Art careers are like many other careers. Some artists don’t realize that.
In business, good advice includes, “Get your foot in the door. Then, work or network your way to the top.”
However, when I talk with artists about their art careers, they often insist on the perfect job from the start. It’s that, or nothing.
Unfortunately, that’s an unrealistic attitude. Too often, it leads to the “nothing” side of the equation.
Sympathy may help you feel better as you’re working at a fast food counter or stocking merchandise in the back room of a store, but those jobs aren’t — and usually won’t lead to — art careers.
Recently, I mentioned some good art careers options in the UK and the EU. Resources like those exist in most countries.
Moving to a new location may be necessary. Art careers exist in almost every community, but there may not be any art jobs available when and where you’re job hunting.
Compromises are often necessary in pursuit of a successful art career.
- It can be scary to move to an area where you know no one.
- It may seem demeaning to take a janitorial or custodial job at an art gallery where you think your art should be.
- You may not want to work as a journalist, reporting on art and people with art careers.
- It’s not elegant, being the PA, nanny or gardener for the home of a famous artist, art critic, or other art professional.
However, all of those kinds of jobs keep you in contact with people who have art careers. Those people can help you once they see what an amazing artist you are.
The tricky part isn’t getting the job connected to art, but knowing how to play your cards so the person wants to help you.
It’s not unreasonable for someone to work for a year or two in a lesser job, before being “discovered.”
In that same period of time, the all-or-nothing artist will either wallow in his (or her) misery in a single, low-paying job. Or, the artist will continue to shuffle from one minimum-wage job to the next, never working in a field connected to art careers.
My point is: If you can’t get the art job you want, it’s best to find a job that will lead to the art career you want.
After that, it’s a matter of politics and patience.
Art careers can be like any other career, in that respect. It’s important to keep that in mind when you’re pursuing work in the arts.
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