I don’t like to be cold like this, but I think “creatives” need to depend less on their agents and production companies and all that industry infrastructure promising 1 in a million “stardom” while stringing the other 999,999 along with breadcrumbs leading nowhere.
The same technology they’re bitching about destroying those jobs that most of them never had in the first place, is technology that enables smaller budgets to create competitive entertainment. Self-publishing is a very real thing now alongside traditional “Best Seller List” promotional publishing houses. No, you’re not likely to get on “Oprah” or whatever the magic promotional outlet is these days with your self published book, but every creative who achieves that kind of stardom that virtually all of them are hungering for is absolutely stealing the limelight from hundreds or even thousands of other people just as talented as themselves or more…
In other words, stop whining and start making things happen for yourself, you have better access today than ever. There’s still a place for superstars in today’s world, but instead of the “top 100” getting all the attention, it’s time for a top 10 to be followed by 10,000 you might also want to check out. The long tail has gotten fatter, and it should continue to grow.
At the end of the day, if the entire creative arts industries disappeared overnight, the world carries on without any real disruption. People might not like to hear it, but it’s true. The entire industry is essentially just a luxury thing.
There aren’t many industries that could be wiped out and nothing in daily life really changes, but the arts is one.
The arts is a vital part of our culture, not our survival - yes. The fact that we have over 4% of GDP going to “the arts” (that’s over $1.2T in the US alone), is an achievement, not a waste. It also means - more or less 1 in 25 people you meet is dependent / heavily dependent on the arts not just as something to do with their time, but a significant source of their livelihood.
I don’t like to be cold like this, but I think “creatives” need to depend less on their agents and production companies and all that industry infrastructure promising 1 in a million “stardom” while stringing the other 999,999 along with breadcrumbs leading nowhere.
The same technology they’re bitching about destroying those jobs that most of them never had in the first place, is technology that enables smaller budgets to create competitive entertainment. Self-publishing is a very real thing now alongside traditional “Best Seller List” promotional publishing houses. No, you’re not likely to get on “Oprah” or whatever the magic promotional outlet is these days with your self published book, but every creative who achieves that kind of stardom that virtually all of them are hungering for is absolutely stealing the limelight from hundreds or even thousands of other people just as talented as themselves or more…
In other words, stop whining and start making things happen for yourself, you have better access today than ever. There’s still a place for superstars in today’s world, but instead of the “top 100” getting all the attention, it’s time for a top 10 to be followed by 10,000 you might also want to check out. The long tail has gotten fatter, and it should continue to grow.
At the end of the day, if the entire creative arts industries disappeared overnight, the world carries on without any real disruption. People might not like to hear it, but it’s true. The entire industry is essentially just a luxury thing.
There aren’t many industries that could be wiped out and nothing in daily life really changes, but the arts is one.
The arts is a vital part of our culture, not our survival - yes. The fact that we have over 4% of GDP going to “the arts” (that’s over $1.2T in the US alone), is an achievement, not a waste. It also means - more or less 1 in 25 people you meet is dependent / heavily dependent on the arts not just as something to do with their time, but a significant source of their livelihood.
Have you worked as or with a creative?
I’d call myself more “creative adjacent” but, to your “or with” question: definitely yes.
To be honest with you, it sounds like you don’t know what’s it like to actually be a creative in this economy…