Way
back in June, Shelly Payson was one of the winners of the Creatavita
Birthday Party Contest. She asked for a post about reentering the
arts. And we're off!
Let's
say life is feeling pretty good right now. Let's say you feel good
about your relationships, your
children are thriving and your career gives you a sense of
fulfillment (and pays your bills). Yet, in spite of these
accomplishments, your secret yearnings are rising to the surface.
They're waking you up in the middle of the night, making you check
out dance classes schedules or weekend retreats honing your painting
skills. Even if your career is a creative one, you still feel a tug
to trying something different. While many of your friends are
talking about downsizing and early retirement, you find yourself
dreaming of finally having enough time for a serious avocation and
maybe turning it into a second career. But how do you reenter or
reconfigure at this point in your life?
Or,
let's say you're in the middle of a creative career, but you're
feeling weary and closing in on burnout. Even though you still feel
that creative bug in your gut, you find yourself contemplating a
change and checking out new opportunities.
If
you've still got that bug, congratulations. You truly are a creative
spirit. You are correct in acknowledging that bug. Look it in the
eye. Take it out for coffee. Get to know it well. Because if it
has stayed with you through everything you've been through, this bug
still has something in store for you.
I
don't have the definitive answer, but I do have some thoughts for you
to consider:
Be
open to the possibility that
another form will be the way back in. You were a
dancer? Maybe now is the time to explore that sculpting talent that
got shoved to the back burner as you were hustling from one dance
class to the next.
Take
one step back and return at a lower level than you left. This is
especially true if you're taking on a new creative form. Consider
taking a class to get started. 10 weeks in a quality class can
answer many questions. For hands-on experience, consider venues such
as community theatre groups, small galleries or self-publishing.
Start
small. Aim to write one short story, not the next Great American
novel. Sing one song in public, not an entire solo show. You'll
experience a sense of accomplishment sooner. Plus, if it turns out
this is not the experience you were looking for, you won't be in too
deep and moving on will be easier.
Ask.
Ask. Ask.....friends and acquaintances about their experiences.
Given your skill set, how do they think you might fit in? If you're
thinking of returning to the arts as a profession, consider reaching
out to experts in the field to ask for their perspective. There's
always a respected professional out there who is more than willing to
share their experiences. Seek them out and offer to pay for a
consultation. Every time I have done this, I have come away with
more information than I expected, as well as an affirmation of the
legitimate possibilities that exist for me.
You
get to say no. I've been invited to private casting calls and
told by numerous trusted sources that I would be great in
commercials. Guess what? Right now, I have absolutely no desire to
be in commercials. In fact the thought of it makes me sigh and feel
like there's a heavy weight in my chest. So I'm not checking out
this field at all. You don't have to either.
If
you're looking to return to the arts as a profession, keep these tips
in mind:
It's
still a business. If you want to enter the arts as a
professional, you have to recognize that part of you has to be a
business person. Know what unique skills you have to offer and where
those skills are needed. These skills might not be the ones that you
were hired for previously. For example, I frequently get women over,
let's say 35, coming to my voice studio for audition material advice.
My work usually revolves around convincing them to look for fresh,
appropriate material because their days of being an ingenue are gone.
Be
ready to promote. Most
successful artists I know have become masters of marketing their
products. Now I know that it can be a real challenge to
market/promote one's own artistic creations. You can all look to me
as a model of an artist who has continually had to work on marketing
myself. I was brought up to be humble and I've fought with the deep
roots of humility for all of my artistic career. But now, I
recognize that I am an artist not because I want fame, but because I
have a deep desire to express myself, and in that expression, I think
I express something important for all of humanity. This is a good
feeling, and it makes it a heck of a lot easier for me to put my art
out into the world.
Finally,
remember:
You
have nothing to lose except
some time and energy. Seriously, think about it. What's the worst
that could happen? I find that one of the biggest perks of having
been on this planet for so long is more confidence. A little
rejection isn't a reflection on who I am, but rather on whether or
not I have the right skill set for the job. In the meantime, I'm
having a heck of a good time trying out all kinds of creative
opportunities.
And...
Keep
your sense of humor. Well,
that's just good advice for life.
Fabulous!! This one has a ton of good advice. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jean!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's a comment that came into my email, from E. Bahnsen:
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! As I was reading, I was reminded of my own quote: You can always 'change' your 'change'. Then, I was thinking that the first half of your ideas could be attributed to reentering the business world ... then, low and below ... you mention that Art is a business as well and that one needs to adapt there.