I'm currently enrolled in a class called "Entrepreneurship of the Arts" and boy has it been interesting! And I mean that in the most sincere and fun way possible. That is honestly a class every art major should be required to take. Though I'm sure the class would lose the substance if taught by the wrong professor (like any class really). Anyways, this class has served as a lot of good for me for several reasons. Keep in mind too, the spring semester barely started a month ago, and I've already gained this much. Just goes to show how impact our professors and our courses actually CAN be when in the right mindset and taught by the right people. But here are the lessons I have learned thus far from the class:
It's ok to want to be an artist.
There is this ridiculous stereotype/rumor that has gone on for decades: art isn't a real job. Art majors "don't work as hard" and "have it easy." First of all, that is a bold face lie. Anybody who has ever created any form of art knows it is definitely not easy. There is always a demand for art. Always someone out in the world just waiting to be impacted by the beautiful things you are capable of creating. Whether your a painter, a musician, a filmmaker, etc. the options for you are endless. They may not fall out of the sky and into your hands, but they exist. You just have to work to find them. And then you have to work even harder to achieve them and to ultimately, follow your passions.
You can be an Entrepreneur.
About 34% of US artists are self-employed. That's a fact. Though it may be difficult, and even risky, it is far from impossible. The demand is impossible to determine beforehand, you just kind of have to take that leap of faith. Call me naive, but those who believe you can't combine a business with art are heavily misconstrued. For a better explanation of this, please read this wonderful article (my professor required us to read it, you can too):
http://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2015/04/25/can-artists-be-entrepreneurs-absolutely/2/#687452973d88Accept Failure.
We are all going to fail. It wouldn't be a journey if we didn't, right? But that is what stops so many people from following their passions through life. They try, they fail, and they give up. They take the easy route, despite it being something they hate. They choose what is easiest for them, not best. Failing is never easy for anybody, but it's also a necessity to grow and to learn. Stephen King (acclaimed horror author) wrote his first novel 'Carrie' was rejected by 30 different publishers. 30. The book became a world-wide bestseller and has had multiple films adapted from the novel. Stephen King failed A LOT. But he just kept on pushing. He kept trying and that effort paid off. We all have the capability of being like Stephen King. You just have to keep that drive.
Fake it till you ARE it.
I always hated the phrase "fake it till you make it." It's always felt absurd to me, the idea of pretending and being in denial to oneself. But then I watched this TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are
That changed my whole perspective. Because the phrase "fake it till you ARE it" is just so much better, isn't it? Stephen King always knew he would be an author. He always told himself that and always acted like it. Now he is one. Simple as that.
We should learn to become the same way. We are ARTISTS, and it's time we started treating ourselves as such.
- You can't do this solo.
You can't accomplish your lifelong journey alone. You just can't. It's like saying you're going to survive in the desert for a year with no water. Artists (and people in general really) have this constant competitive mindset. We see others strengths and get angry or saddened by it. We want to be as good. We want to be better. We want to be best. That's completely stupid too. We should all want to be the BEST WE CAN BE. We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. The only way we can overcome those weaknesses is with perseverance, and some help. As a currently art student, I have learned not to compete with my fellow classmates, but to LEARN from them. And allow them to do the same from me. I think this topic stands true for us all through our adult lives, but ESPECIALLY in college. We are all there for one reason: to learn. We are all there to gain and absorb as much knowledge and skill as conceivably possible. Why not do that together? We are all there, we might as well work together in the process.
My apologies for this post being so chaotic, it's just how my brain lays out stuff to write sometimes. But I hope it was least coherent enough to read and understand! Thanks for reading.