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Making Your Life As An Artist by Andrew Simonet PDF
Making Your Life As An Artist by Andrew Simonet PDF
MAKING
YOUR LIFE AS
AN ARTIST
MAKING
MAKING
Thank
you
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pleasure distraction
Art is not cultural broccoli, something you hate
but should consume. Art offers pleasure, the
rich and deep sensations of laughter, change,
and investment. Entertainment does not.
Entertainment satisfies cravings.
Art satisfies needs.
Its impact doesnt come from popularity. If you
look at art history and you remove all the art
that was disliked in its time, you lose much of
what matters.
Todays cutting edge is tomorrows mainstream.
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BUT
HERES
THE
THING
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2) Competitiveness
Fellow artists are our most important
constituency, our peers and partners. All
too often, we distance ourselves from them
because we feel competitive.
Heres a mantra:
The success of other artists is good for me.
Or:
Never talk to anyone about happiness who
has less of it than you.
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3) Poverty
Most artists who leave the field dont leave by
choice. They leave because they cant work
out the time and money equations.
Artists (and activists) are brilliant at leading
amazing lives without a lot of money. That is
a gift. Ask most people, How much money
do you need? They will say: about 50% more
than they currently make. If they make 50%
more, and you ask them again, the answer
will be the same: more. Most people need an
unattainable amount of money called More.
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No one
is
coming
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3) Your Mission
Every artist has a mission, a purpose bigger
than yourself, a generosity. No one gets into
this work for the money or status. Not for long,
anyway. Artists begin with something to give
to the world.
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[AWKWARD SILENCE]
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CIVILIAN: .. .
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Our challenge:
Build lives as
artists that are
balanced,
productive, and
sustainable.
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There is no model.
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you will
never feel
adequately
recognized
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Make the
dream bigger,
and the steps
to get there
smaller.
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What?
Why?
So what?
What is it? Youd be surprised how many artist
statements dont clarify what the artist actually
creates. Examples help.
Why is it important to you, the artist? What is
your passionate connection to the work?
So what? Thats a cranky way of saying: why
does it matter in the world? Why does it
matter beyond your interest? Why might other
people connect to it? This can be the hardest
one to answer, but also the most important.
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The Language
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The Writing
Next, write a one-paragraph artist statement
in the first person (I). Its easy to transcribe
into the third person (she/he) later as
needed. Use phrases or sentences from the
interview that you like. Use some of the ten
words from your list (but you dont have to fit
all of them in).
Answer the what-why-so what questions with
juicy language and total honesty.
Read your paragraph out loud, and discuss it
with your artist partner(s).
What is the strongest language, the
words or phrases that linger?
Does it answer the what-why-so what
questions?
And does it make you want to see the
work?
After discussing it, go back and edit.
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Lifeguard
Co-Director of a
dance company
Caterer
Waiter
Coat check at
a gay club
Grant panelist
Videographer
Strategic
planner
Professional development
workshop leader
Librarian
Choreographer
for a musical
Director of high
school dance program
Bartender
Golf tournament
security guard
Stockboy at
a snack bar
Babysitter
Grant writer
Guest choreographer
at colleges
Stage manager
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My Dance
Company
Teaching
Dance
My Dance
Company
Other Art
Projects
Other Art
Projects
Waiter
Other Art
Projects
Teaching
Artists How
to Survive
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My Dance
Company
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No one is coming.
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This is transformative.
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What I Am
Good At
What I
Enjoy
Doing
What The
World Will
Pay a Lot of
Money For
Nothing
makes you
a real artist
except your
devotion to
making.
Back to Headlong.
We did two things that artists dont do
enough.
We negotiated.
And we said no.
Negotiating is wonderful. And everyone
does it except artists. Negotiating does not
mean haggling stingily over every last dollar.
It means finding agreements that help both
sides reach a common goal.
I always lead with excitement about the
opportunity. Im really thrilled about this
residency.. . and then I use one of my favorite
phrases:
And heres what will make it possible
for me.. .
OR
Heres what will make it easy for me
to say yes.. .
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These
organizations
want to do
this much
stuff
and they have this much money.
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You are
not alone.
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Principles
for Building
a Sustainable
Life
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Published by Artists U
First Edition
Design and production by Smyrski Creative
Printed and bound in Canada by
Prolific Group, Manitoba
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MAKING
YOUR LIFE AS
AN ARTIST