Are you a (young) artist and in the early phase of your creative career? Perhaps you are about to graduate from a higher music institution and ready to leave your mark on the world. Then the following question is probably on your mind: now that I’m “grown-up” what will I do to make a living? My advice is to separate your hobbies, jobs, career and vocation. This essential distinction is often overlooked but will aid you in balancing your creativity with earning an income. In addition, the best career strategy in these uncertain times is definitely a diverse portfolio career.
This blog post is for all you creatives that are trying to forge a creative path forwards. Let’s look at your creativity and your career from some different angles and figure out together what you will do next. After all, together we know more.
Am I A REAL Artist?
I want to start with a seemingly simple question that on deeper inspection has a large impact on your career but also on your overall life satisfaction: are you a real artist? And why, yes or no?
I ask this question because during those early career years your identity will most likely not be a one-word description. It might very well be an artist (eg. composer, performer, producer) and barkeeper and music teacher. Or artist and banker if that’s your cup of tea, you get my point. For the vast majority of young artists – be it illustrators, actors, poets or musicians – making a living from your art alone is impossible. Yes, I said it. Impossible. For now, let’s assume, despite all your talent, great chops, dedication, professional network and hard work, that you also belong to that group. In fact, the percentage of professional musicians in the Netherlands that make a living solely on music is 20%. So, 80% has another job or career going on to pay for their cat food. That kind of career is called a Portfolio Career. A career built from several building blocks that each can serve a different need, such as creativity, stability or social connection. I would argue that probably 90% of global creatives live this way. It’s definitely what my career looks like. Always around music but simultaneously consisting of different projects, jobs and careers.
It raises the next question: does not being able to financially live solely from your artistic music mean you’re not a real artist? I know lots of musicians that think that being a true artist means you can make a sustainable living of your art. They think in terms of being a professional artist. And in my view, that’s where a lot of trouble starts. Hence this rant of mine 🙂
Be Real About The Beginning
I think many aspiring artists get discouraged and even depressed when in their first one-to-three years they can’t make a living from music. They consider themselves not to be a professional artist. It hurts me to see very talented musicians throw their creativity away altogether and quit playing because of … What exactly? Since when does creativity have guaranteed outcomes? Since when does an arts degree guarantee an income afterwards? Surely, that was not the reason you started to study music, right? You started with a focus on art. You started it because you love music. Does love need a paycheck? No, your love doesn’t, but your house lord does. No, need to throw it all away if the word ‘professional’ is, perhaps only temporary, missing.
For some people, their early ‘non-professional’ phase lasts 3 months, for others 10 years, and for some even a lifetime. I’m saying all of these outcomes can be fine. It all depends on how you define being an artist, what your view on having a (music) career is and on how you define success. There is for sure not one definition set in stone.
Separate your Hobbies, Jobs, Career & Vocation
Since making a career with art is almost impossible everywhere in this world. Let’s save you a lot of stress and unhappiness by sharing a simple trick. Separate four things, as beautifully put by author Elizabeth Gilbert, your hobbies, jobs, careers and vocations. By doing this you will be able to understand more deeply why you do what and the role each part plays in your creative journey.
Let’s start with the difference between having a hobby versus having a vocation. A trajectory that for most of us probably had a similar development. Starting with an initial interest in an instrument, and slowly that curiosity transformed into love and finally into a calling. But, I’m getting ahead of myself here.
When A Hobby Turns Into A Vocation
What is the difference between having a hobby versus a vocation?
A hobby is something you do purely for pleasure. The stakes are zero. You don’t have to make money from your hobby, excel at it, get famous or anything else. The action itself is the goal. Since you’re reading this article, my guess is that music is definitely not your hobby. That’s fine. As long as that is clear for you. Or, perhaps not now but some years later, you will decide music is actually better off being a hobby. That can happen too. As it did with me around my 27th.
On the other side of the creative spectrum is your vocation. Your vocation is your calling. It’s the voice of the universe gently inviting you to take your role in the story of creation. The word comes from the Latin vocare, meaning to do what we are called to do. It is the highest possible pursuit a human being can do. A vocation can of course coincide with a career: the vocation of a doctor or nurse might be to be a “healer.” Your vocation as a musician might be “bringer of Joy”. For me being a teacher and coach circles around my heartfelt vocation to empower artists. Right now, I assume that music is your vocation. When and if it will be your career is partly up to you (discipline, clarity on goals) and partly up to chance (luck, talent).
In Our Creative World Jobs Are Too Often Underrated
It’s time to sing some praises for the good ol’ job. However, before the choir starts, let’s first look at what a job actually is.
A job is something you do to pay the bills. Something you do to be a responsible and independent adult. We live in a material world and those ‘materials’ come with a price tag. You have to pay your rent, food, utilities, drum sticks, and so on. A job means you don’t need a sugar mommy or to depend on your partner or parents. And, especially important for us millennials wanting to make an impact, a job is not about life fulfilment or total creative expression. It’s practical and serves a singular purpose: earning you an income. As writer Elizabeth Gilbert points out, many many artists had jobs. Herman Melville wrote Moby Dick whilst working at a customs office. Or, to use a jazz example: Lizz Wright runs a small cafe in Chicago called Carver 47 Cafe. Most people are not able to only be an artist. They have jobs. Even more, they might actually enjoy those jobs, because it gives them something music can’t. In my view, to focus on something else 1-3 days a week can be a welcome thing.
A career is a job you are passionate about. It is something you care about and worth taking risks for. The perfect example here is of course to have a music career. The main take-away is that you should only build a career out your artistic expression when you love it. And with ‘it’, I mean all of it. The good, the bad, the boring and the exhilarating. Or, as Mark Manson so eloquently puts it: “What shit sandwich do you want to eat? Because eventually, we all get served one.” Meaning: every career has its down-sides. A pro eats that sh*t sandwich, an amateur doesn’t. Which for the latter would mean music would be better off as a hobby.
Why Separating Your Hobbies, Jobs, Career and Vocation Matters
A job can give you time. Time to invest in your art (vocation) and music career. In this early stage of your life as a creative, I urge you to look for one. Also, understand that the difference between jobs and careers is not crystal clear. In fact, the definition is for the most part up to you. Some jobs will be music related, such as entertainment gigs or wedding gigs. Gigs that you do solely for money. So jobs can be both non-music and music-related. The difference depends on the reasons why you do them.
Furthermore, don’t confuse a job or career with being an artist. You can always be an artist and follow your vocation. You can be an artist and have a full-time job as a librarian or school teacher. Even with only six people loving what you do, you can still see an artist when you look in the mirror. Your vocation is not result-bound. It doesn’t depend on earned income, sold tickets, amount of press, Instagram followers or any external criterium. Being an artist is something internal – you feel it in your bones. It is a conviction, a mindset and matter of the heart. Let that knowledge set you free from the burden of having to establish a creative career. You can, and that career can be a beautiful part of your life, but you don’t have to. You can be an artist either way.
Be In It For The Long-run
This long-term vision will enable your creativity to flow more freely. Keep investing in your vocation and deepen your music skills and knowledge. Give yourself time. Results can illustrate your progress but they are not your end-goal. Your ability to express yourself and connect – through your music – with other people are. Let a simple job carry the financial burdens and don’t expect success to happen overnight. A creative career is a marathon, not a sprint!
Now that you know, embrace the many different projects, jobs, careers and hobbies that your creative and professional life will consist of. Who knows, they might even fuel and inspire each other 😉
Pieter Schoonderwoerd
Your Jazz Career
Two great resources on this topic are the book Big Magic by Elisabeth Gilbert and this video by her on building a creative career. I love her take on being an artist. Both reassuring and empowering. In a previous blog post, I wrote about building a portfolio career. Read it here.
Find an empowering ebook on developing your artistic vision and writing a compelling artist biography here.
I’ve been coaching and educating jazz artists for years to achieve their creative and professional ambitions. If you are a high-performing artist and interested in transformative career coaching, you can read more about it here.
Be More Of You. Be Creative.