| A question that occurs a lot when talking to actors | | | | where we will have to do something else in order to |
| and artists about their careers is this: | | | | make ends meet, while we wait for the income from |
| "What about if I am an artist and I don't want to | | | | our art to allow us to live in comfort. |
| change my profession and also I don't want to have | | | | "Have to". Those are the operative words in that |
| another job on the side? I want to keep my work | | | | sentence. Not "want to" or "like to" but "have to". |
| and have great benefits from that." | | | | There is a great line in "Gladiator": |
| In other words: I don't want to do anything apart | | | | "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the |
| from my acting career, and I want to get well paid | | | | time, I do what I have to". |
| for it. What do you think about that? | | | | Now, do you have to have another job while you |
| My immediate response was a mixture of | | | | pursue your artistic career? Not necessarily; but |
| amusement and irritation. Of course, for everyone | | | | unless you are either supported to willing to live on |
| pursuing an artistic career, what we all ideally want to | | | | the streets, then it is something that you seriously |
| do is get paid a ton of money for doing what we | | | | need to consider alongside your artist development. |
| love (just make sure you have had your financial | | | | For the person who asked the question above, I |
| education before this happens - you don't want to | | | | would say this, finally: Get the tools to help you work |
| end up a morality tale!). If you are a dramatic actor, | | | | out exactly how much you need to earn in order to |
| making $100,000 per episode for being in a high | | | | live. Having gotten that number, you can then find |
| quality night-time drama is about as good as it gets. | | | | work, be it your own business or a regular job, that |
| For a musician, platinum albums generating millions in | | | | will provide that amount in the least time possible, |
| residual payments is where it's at. For a sculptor, | | | | leaving you free to pursue your art around it. If you |
| having ones work on display in private collections and | | | | can sell enough pieces or work enough days to not |
| museums world-wide would bring home more than | | | | need anything else, then that is truly great for you, |
| enough bacon for any number of New York | | | | and the focus now becomes what to do with the |
| apartments and trips to South America. But, assuming | | | | money you are earning, so as to get the greatest |
| that it may be some time before we find ourselves | | | | benefit out of it (that is where financial education |
| in those enviable positions, what are we going to do | | | | comes in) |
| about money? | | | | But, for the rest of us, truly consider the options |
| And that, I think, is the problem with thinking along | | | | before you. Take control of your financial lives so |
| these lines. Sure, there are those, very few, people | | | | that you can pursue your art free form the crushing |
| who are lucky or talented enough to walk out of | | | | weight of financial stress. Bite the bullet and handle |
| their acting schools and into full time acting careers, | | | | things now, so that they do not get out of control |
| or whatever other artistic endeavours you chose. | | | | later. And, above all, never stop focusing on your |
| But, for the rest of us, there will be a period | | | | artistic success, because by doing that, all things are |
| (anywhere from a few months to several years), | | | | possible. |