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OK, I'll bite. As someone who could reasonably be called a creative person, I've happily shared work for free or cheap. This is great as you say, but all indica
by guscost 11y ago
OK, I'll bite. As someone who could reasonably be called a creative person, I've happily shared work for free or cheap. This is great as you say, but all indications are that I'd have to work worse hours, live rougher, and probably risk burning out several more times to have any chance of supporting myself full-time doing this. So I work a day job doing, well, rather less exciting enterprise work, and I make a comfortable income. Thankfully I'm also able to enjoy lots of free time and spend some of that continuing work on free/cheap creative projects. But the reality is that with the incentives as they are, or as you seem to be in favor of them being, the choice to put much more time into these projects is not one I'm willing to make.
In all probability the "invisible hand" or what have you is indicating that my time spent doing the day job is much more valuable, and I'm completely fine with that. In my own tortured estimation the creative stuff is pretty much all "crap" by your definition ;) and there is not much of it. But I suspect it is not the situation you're in favor of.
For reference here are links to some of the creative work, which has all been great fun doing, so again, compensation is not at all an issue.
A comedy arcade game about fracking in space (use Firefox or Chrome plz): http://guscost.github.io/spacefrack http://guscost.github.io/spacefrack
An amusing Arduino project: http://guscost.com/2015/02/26/fun-with-tailgaters/ http://guscost.com/2015/02/26/fun-with-tailgaters/
A small tutorial on complex numbers (the most successful content I've made): http://guscost.com/2012/08/06/degrees-and-freedom/ http://guscost.com/2012/08/06/degrees-and-freedom/
A library for wrapping Kendo UI widgets in React components (not as artsy but useful): https://github.com/guscost/kendo-react-wrappers https://github.com/guscost/kendo-react-wrappers
A music game for iOS (had to renew my developer subscription but it should be up tomorrow): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mixball/id578469049?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mixball/id578469049?mt=8
A cover which needs a lot of work and a professional mastering job: https://soundcloud.com/guscost/i-get-carried-away-semi-rough https://soundcloud.com/guscost/i-get-carried-away-semi-rough
- hackuser 11y agoSorry, I didn't mean to suggest that anyone's creative work is 'crap' or that I'm in position to judge it. I was referring to the'art' created only for the large payoff, such as a lot of pop music. But even that's an unfair stereotype.
- guscost 11y agoWell come on, I'm not even being sarcastic or anything, my cynicism about art in general and my own in particular is very real and kind of a problem. But I get what you mean, sorry for having a bit of fun at your expense.
- hackuser 11y agoWe're talking past each other - it's kind of funny, actually. My comment was a sincere apology and not a complaint at all. Obviously that wasn't clear, so thanks for your considerate response.
- guscost 11y agoOk, thanks. I've long believed free is inevitably part of the future of the industry and largely agree with you about the technical argument. And a funny anecdote, spam ad blogs had copies of my linked articles within minutes of posting that comment.
- lmm 11y agoSo is copyright helping your endeavours more or less than it's hurting them? E.g. is your cover technically copyright infringement? Would it be easier to sell this kind of thing in a world without copyright?
- guscost 11y agoHmm, I don't make any money from it, so... maybe? It's a good question.