I initially went to college on an art scholarship - and hated that. Was hoping to be creatively challenged, but was surrounded by mostly delusional trust fund kids painting meh still-lifes, that couldn’t handle constructive criticism. Seeing graduates get jobs as baristas didn’t inspire me with much hope. I wasn’t happy.
I had a few jobs before where I learned some excel skills. I figured - why not? Plus it felt like the most logical rebellion against art.
Working in the industry for like ~12 years now. Good work life balance, some disposable income, living in my dream city. Career was a good choice.
Though, I’m not doing art anymore. But I got really into music and recording since college. During the pandemic, I started side hustling in ghost writing and commissioned music. Started doing stuff for free until I had a few credits to charge. It’s not super lucrative (can’t leave the day job), but earning supplemental regular income doing creative work has been deeply rewarding.
Similar experience here, though from classical music to fintech. The business seems to value marketing and nepotism considerably higher than skill (beyond basics) and artistic merit
Still practice and do some work, and what would have been a miserable wage is now a pleasant bonus.
Accounting here.
I initially went to college on an art scholarship - and hated that. Was hoping to be creatively challenged, but was surrounded by mostly delusional trust fund kids painting meh still-lifes, that couldn’t handle constructive criticism. Seeing graduates get jobs as baristas didn’t inspire me with much hope. I wasn’t happy.
I had a few jobs before where I learned some excel skills. I figured - why not? Plus it felt like the most logical rebellion against art.
Working in the industry for like ~12 years now. Good work life balance, some disposable income, living in my dream city. Career was a good choice.
Though, I’m not doing art anymore. But I got really into music and recording since college. During the pandemic, I started side hustling in ghost writing and commissioned music. Started doing stuff for free until I had a few credits to charge. It’s not super lucrative (can’t leave the day job), but earning supplemental regular income doing creative work has been deeply rewarding.
Similar experience here, though from classical music to fintech. The business seems to value marketing and nepotism considerably higher than skill (beyond basics) and artistic merit
Still practice and do some work, and what would have been a miserable wage is now a pleasant bonus.