2 ms·

I've gone back and forth between working in the arts and working in software, and now work at the line between the two. The thing is, usually making ends meet

by wheels 19y ago

I've gone back and forth between working in the arts and working in software, and now work at the line between the two. The thing is, usually making ends meet working in the arts isn't very sexy. I taught bass, played at business parties, and did studio work for a while. It paid well, but I was teaching 14 year olds to play Limp Bizket songs and playing cheesy bass lines for TV commercials. There were definitely moments of coolness, but most of it isn't. As a day job, programming was more engaging and laid back, and has a more flexible schedule. The stuff that I really liked in music I could do anyway. Being in the Blue Man Group would probably suck. You'd have next to no artistic freedom, do the same stuff over and over again, and all of your evenings where you'd want to meet with other artists would be taken up.

simianstyle 19y ago
I don't necessarily want to join the blue man group, but have rather have the creative freedom of something as subjective as acting and yet still being able to provide a need in peoples lives (entertainment).
- wheels 19y ago
  Some people are wired to do art. They have to to be happy. If you're one of those people, by all means, do art. But it sounds like what you're debating here is not doing art vs. not doing art, but taking art as a career path. All that I'm saying is I don't expect you'd gain much by swapping out a tech day job for an arts day (or night) job. It's still going to be the thing that's paying the bills to help you support what you're really into. We're awake about 112 hours a week. Even with a full time job that leaves more hours than most people can be productive in arts endeavors. This isn't, "Well, goofing around on stage is fine as a hobby..." blather. Go full on. Set goals. Get in a community. Produce stuff and find a place to exhibit it. But if the guys in the Blue Man Group (or similar) are doing artistic stuff they're really excited about, it probably isn't the Blue Man Group. :-)
suboptimal 19y ago
Good post from wheels of the "been there, done that" variety (actually I hate that expression). Chris: Let's go with green tonight! Phil: Chris, we've been over this before. Chris (mopey): But I like green. C'mon, if the fans really love us, they'll be okay with that. Phil (exasperated): Chris, we're Blue Man Group--we wear f'ing blue. Does Beyonce wake up one morning and say "I think I'll wear a nice, tasteful navy blue dress today with flowers"? No, she puts on the sl'ttiest thing she's got, goes out there and shakes that a'', because she's Beyonce and that's what she does. And that's why we're not gonna go out there and be some kind of Green Man Group.

by wheels 19y ago

simianstyle 19y ago

I don't necessarily want to join the blue man group, but have rather have the creative freedom of something as subjective as acting and yet still being able to provide a need in peoples lives (entertainment).

wheels 19y ago
Some people are wired to do art. They have to to be happy. If you're one of those people, by all means, do art. But it sounds like what you're debating here is not doing art vs. not doing art, but taking art as a career path. All that I'm saying is I don't expect you'd gain much by swapping out a tech day job for an arts day (or night) job. It's still going to be the thing that's paying the bills to help you support what you're really into. We're awake about 112 hours a week. Even with a full time job that leaves more hours than most people can be productive in arts endeavors. This isn't, "Well, goofing around on stage is fine as a hobby..." blather. Go full on. Set goals. Get in a community. Produce stuff and find a place to exhibit it. But if the guys in the Blue Man Group (or similar) are doing artistic stuff they're really excited about, it probably isn't the Blue Man Group. :-)

suboptimal 19y ago

Good post from wheels of the "been there, done that" variety (actually I hate that expression). Chris: Let's go with green tonight! Phil: Chris, we've been over this before. Chris (mopey): But I like green. C'mon, if the fans really love us, they'll be okay with that. Phil (exasperated): Chris, we're Blue Man Group--we wear f'ing blue. Does Beyonce wake up one morning and say "I think I'll wear a nice, tasteful navy blue dress today with flowers"? No, she puts on the sl'ttiest thing she's got, goes out there and shakes that a'', because she's Beyonce and that's what she does. And that's why we're not gonna go out there and be some kind of Green Man Group.