Taking control of your income as an artist sets the quality standards for your work. It also allows you to create the life you’ve dreamed of.
Working in an artistic field is different from nearly any other field. If you want to pursue something creative either full-time or on the side, there are some things that are important to understand first. The trajectory of your career will be different than that of a more traditional path, such as technology, healthcare, or administration.
Let’s use the example of a nurse, just to show the differences. If someone wants to become a nurse, the path is straightforward. First of all, for schooling they would choose between either a certificate, associate’s, or bachelor’s. The length of schooling will depend on the choice of degree. Schooling will range from 1.5-4 years. Job placement is nearly 100%, and a nurse will make a livable wage right off the bat.
For our creative field, let’s use the example of a musician. A musician may or may not choose higher education beyond a highschool diploma. It’s optional but not required. Many do, however… which means 4 years of college at a specialized (and usually expensive) school. After graduation, a musician must build their resume with years of experience before even being considered for a lot of jobs or gigs. Most full-time jobs are in teaching… in order to teach at a school either primary or secondary, a musician must go back for their master’s or doctorate.
Here is the issue many people don’t talk about… the years of experience required for a creative field is a time when a lot of artists get taken advantage of.
Even after acquiring experience, a lot of full-time job options are highly competitive and low paying. It’s important to know that these jobs usually aren’t low paying because of lack of funding… they’re low paying because there’s always someone willing to do more work for less income.
Taking jobs or gigs that underpay you undermines your ability and integrity. The solution is to stop taking gigs that underpay and overwork you.
I promise you the CEO of that company has at least one vacation home and an Audi. They can afford to pay you, but they choose not to.
If they underpay you because they truly can’t afford to, their business shouldn’t be open in the first place. Because if a business needs to outsource labor but cannot pay a living wage for that labor, they can’t afford to be in business.
Here are two tips to take control of your income as an artist:
- Join a union if you’re pursuing a creative field. There are so many unions that truly value their members. In a strong union, you will find a sense of comradery and security. They are also much safer, with strict rules and regulations to avoid their members being hurt on the job. They campaign for pay that matches market value. It may take time to get work with a union, but it is always worth it over non-union labor.
- Have a job or active certification outside of your creative field. Don’t try to make your passion into a full-time job, at least not right off the bat. Pursue that on the side while living comfortably. This will give you an “out” if you are being lowballed on a gig. An example of how to do this is if you choose to go to college, major in something with a high career placement and livable wage, and minor in your chosen creative field.
There are so many fields you can go into that require an associate’s degree or a certificate. Remember that successful people never stop learning. So, if you find yourself in a place where you’re relying too heavily on your chosen creative field for income, consider branching out and finding something that will be your main course. Your creative field will be your dessert. This will allow you to become more discerning and say no to anything or anyone who tries to get you to work for less than your worth.
I used to think that telling people to pursue something more reliable as their main income, and something creative on the side was discouraging. Now I see how empowering it is. It gives you the power of discernment. Because we are not working out of the kindness of our hearts… we’re working because we have to eat. With that said…
Realize that your employer needs you more than you need them.
I used to undervalue my craft that I took so long to perfect. It’s true that there will always be a better dancer, writer, or teacher than me, and I know I’m not an anomaly in having imposter syndrome.
There was a day when I realized people need my specific skillset and work ethic. But I didn’t need them; I could make more in a night of my side hustle than what they would pay me in a week. So I turned the other way. And guess what? My world didn’t crumble. In fact, it was the opposite. I was able to improve my craft more than ever, because it was on my own terms.
“Something strange happened to me. All I ever wanted was nothing I need. When I said that I’m okay, all your power just slipped away. It doesn’t matter do me.”
Poppy, I Disagree
This goes for you as well. I talk about using your intuition on this blog for a reason. Your intuition is your greatest guide. If you get an offer for a gig that feels like lowball but you think you should take it because that’s all you can get, trust your gut. If you work for someone and begin to feel taken advantage of by them, it’s so important to trust yourself. And just remember, they need you more than you need them.