Career in the Arts

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 11/21/05 at 10:12pm

Does anyone here have a career in the arts/is anyone pursuing a career in the arts? I'm wondering because my art teacher (school) bumped into me in the hallway and told em that with some work, I could do very well as an artist when I'm older, and asked me if I was pursuing a profession as an artist. I told her no, because while I have interest in many areas of the arts (besides drawing and painting, this includes performing, but specifically, I also sing, act and write), I couldn't make enough money in any of them to sustain myself. I don't think she was satisfied with my answer, and neither was I. So I want to know if you guys were able to make a career out of doing what you love, how hard it was/is, and if it's even worth it. Thanks for taking the time to even read this in the first place, even more if you bother to answer.

Updated On: 11/21/05 at 10:12 PM

[iheartcheyenne123]

Posted: 11/21/05 at 10:23pm

i'm wondering the same thing....b/c i LOVE dance and would like to pursue it as a career, but i definitly need a back-up...and i'm thinking of something in drawing/art. This is a very hard decision lol. Loved reading your post..hope you keep pursuing your art skills!!

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 11/21/05 at 10:30pm

I don't think I could live without a career in the art. So yes, I'm going to pursue my love of film into the professional arena. If that doesn't work out...well...I'll make it work...

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 11/21/05 at 10:43pm

I'm with Cruel Sandwich... I'm not going to let failure be an option. I've been told that as long as you work hard and are easy to work with, you will find work (could I use work more times in that sentence?).

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 3:04am

Ultimately, you have to do what you feel is best for you. If you are willing to have a "back-up" it will most likely be where you end up. It's much easier to rely on your back up plan when you have one.

[zzannahk]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 5:57am

in the place i can reality, unless you're extremely lucky and successful, Art cannot pay the bills. unfortunately, there is no nice way to say this: you will still need a "real" job

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 6:04pm

Thanks. What zzannahk is what my parents and Grandma tell me all the time-art's a good hobby, but you can't live on it. I guess they're right, but still...I'd love to live out my dream.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 6:10pm

A lot of people do make a career as artists - look how many actors/singers/dancers are mentioned on this board on a daily basis alone.

You can't say that it's impossible, because obviously, it's not.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 11/22/05 at 7:22pm

I wish I'd had the guts when I was younger to follow through on my career in the arts. I was a dancer, and was also managing an up-an-coming dance-non-profit in Washington, DC. But I am just not the kind of person that can live with the uncertainty of not having a job, having to audition every six months, and live on non-profit wages.

Everyday I'm jealous of my friends that did pursue careers in theater, dance, etc. I'm still very involved in theater and dance, usually backstage. I just don't have the drive to pursue it full-time.

And anyone that calls it a hobby gets the evil eye... it's not a hobby, it's my passion.