I have been an artist forever and have noticed that people in general see your career or even your hobby as a way to exploit free labor. Do all people do this? Of course not. But as an example, no one is demanding free work from a dentist. Here are a few points for non-creatives to chew on…..
The artist wears many hats to stay afloat….
They might have to drive Uber or be a server here and there. It does not mean they “gave up.” It is a way to supplement income in the lean times.
“No, we can’t do your photo shoot for free”….
I don’t love the term “friend discount,” mainly because if you were my friend, you would actually support my business. Most people like to squeeze all they can get for peanuts. This can manifest in doing a wedding or a headshot for free. Don’t be offended if your friend says they do not work for free and gives you a day rate.
We are actually busy….
There is a lot of behind -the-scenes work that most people do not recognize. Even socializing and networking is a form of work. It is all about making the right connections. Even just taking a rest day to recharge our brain is part of the process.
We hate hearing, “have you thought about getting a real job?”….
If we wanted to become a nurse, we would have. Most artists can only do artistic and creative things. They are not great at working at a call center. Most of the time, having a day job can be a huge time suck that takes away from our hopes and dreams.
We have good days and bad days….
There could be times when we sold out at an art show or got a huge commission. Then at the next show we only make three sales. Our career is mainly trial and error and luck.
We are always pivoting….
There are certain artists who stick to one medium. However, some artists will switch up mediums to see what sticks or what is the most lucrative. They are not a “jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none.” It is just experimenting on what will turn a profit.
Just because they are a painter or a photographer doesn’t mean they can do your specific thing….
There are a lot of times when an artist has a certain style and a person will ask for a 180. For example, they might be an abstract painter and a relative asks them to paint a hyper-realistic family portrait. Most people see art as art. The reality is most artists have honed into a particular style. Another example is a fine art photographer who usually does not want to shoot a headshot. Some artists do these things regardless, but it is not something they enjoy.
Bottom Line….
If you have an artist friend, support them and don’t use them for their talent. They deserve to be paid like anyone else. Artists work in silence most of the time and have their eye on the ball 24/7. When you see them resting or socializing, they are working. An artist’s life is a calling and takes a lot of sacrifices and losses. Yes, they are aware that they could have gone to school for something “more conventional.” Don’t be shocked if your artist friend or small business owner asks you to be paid for their work. Most creatives get taken advantage of because they love the work and so they will work for “exposure.” Don’t be that person. Another nice thing is to talk up their business when possible or like, comment, and share on social media. Most important is to show support and come to their art opening.
Mostly Casual 