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Should I take a job

Anything related to matters of the mind

Hai

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Hey guys...I know you can´t make decisions for me, but I would like to ask for advice.

I currently live at my parent´s. I found it to be effective. There are spare rooms and I use very little of their resources.
I´m preparing to be an artist, went all-in since the beginning of 2019, have already all the canvases and materials, hired models, booked an atelier to work from and also some work to show etc. etc.
Currently applying to local art galleries......but basically in dessert of desertion, because no sales yet. But the real value lies in there...

I went on unemployment 2 months ago, after quitting my dayjob as a waiter. I have worked full-time in logistics and in newspaper as a physical worker before and hated every single second of it. Those jobs drove me into the darkest depths of my emotions.
I make some money with freelance gigs and trading.


Now: So I was trained to be a commercial game artist, and they are inviting me to an interview for a casino company.
The revenue after taxes and living costs: ~1k€/month
The only pro: Stable revenue slightly higher than minimum wage and a job that doesnt kill me physically

That´s very little considering I could do half of it in 1/4th of the time living at my parent´s.

Cons:
Little time for developing art business(my energy levels are very low after working as well...)
Boring work and dealing with management.

If I don´t take the job, am I just spoiled?
Would love to hear the opinions of some entrepreneurial "adults". Of course everyone in my immediate environment is telling me to get a stable job, but every inch of my cells is against it(while my anti-lazy mind tells me it´s possible to keep a full-time job and work on the art business on the side, realistically probably not).
 
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Tossek

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Just a stupid idea: Cant you take the impressions of this new job and make a paint series out of it. I mean, see it as an inspiration for your other hobby. Painting models is so ... normal ... how about catching your impressions into your art and combine it with something, but dont ask me what. Make some synergy out of it! And then maybe sell it to your boss or offer at least one free before. Maybe he thinks about redecorating.

Always see opportunity! :-D
 
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Longinus

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Also, is this ethically right for the hiring company?

Would the hiring company keep you if you don't seem to be a good worker?

No, and this is as ethically right. So why bother.
 

Hai

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Just a stupid idea: Cant you take the impressions of this new job and make a paint series out of it. I mean, see it as an inspiration for your other hobby. Painting models is so ... normal ... how about catching your impressions into your art and combine it with something, but dont ask me what. Make some synergy out of it! And then maybe sell it to your boss or offer at least one free before. Maybe he thinks about redecorating.

Always see opportunity! :-D

Of course. Though, I have a lot of motives in the backlog, so that isn´t an issue :)

Would the hiring company keep you if you don't seem to be a good worker?

No, and this is as ethically right. So why bother.

Good point.
 

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Ok I'm going to chuck in my 2 dollers.I always think of a job as a means to keep money coming in "A safety net to stop you plummeting to the ground.At first I worked in kitchens washing dishes "Which was disheartening" but it kept money coming in.Got a better job now but when I'm not working I have my time to read and anything I have to do to help me think of my next opportunity.
 

Devampre

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Take a job or find some way for income to accommodate your life, but remember to ignore the F*ck out of sidewalk/slowlane people that you come across while there. Their SCRIPTED advice isn't worth more than a fake smile and nod in fake agreement.

I made a decision a while ago to move back in at my mom's place. Why? Because I'm a loser? Perhaps that's how it appears for others. Truthfully, I don't care. I work for her business right now anyway (it pays me more than any other wageslave position in this shithole province.) I am also able to help out at a local studio as a producer. (The work I do there is for free now, but the owner is a good friend/mentor and I'm in the business of helping other people out.)

Sure the sacrifices suck.
-I don't hang out with friends as much as I used too.
-Whenever I want to meet someone off tinder, it's often a date in my vehicle, their place, their parents' place or a cheap airbnb if I'm going all out. :cool:
-The small town folk probably talk shit about me.

But, I look at the silver lining to these.
-Friends don't waste too much of my time with BS
-Tinder dates are often shortlived and/or just hookups, thus also not overly time consuming.
-The town folk are living the SCRIPTED life and their opinions don't matter to me. (It's also not easy to disregard what others think about us and the more I can train myself to break this "conditioning" the better.)

So how will I get my "millions" or "rock hard abs" or "insert other desire here"? Through small habits and actions that will better my odds over time. A lot of this looks unsexy and unappealing at the beginning. It's also torturous to some extent. But, the alternative is the hell I truly dread.

I digress...

Get enough income to accommodate your life, but stay true to yourself and avoid the many pitches of the SCRIPTED zombies.
 

Xeon

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YES.
 

1step

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I wouldn’t take the job.
Your current living situation seems like a good way to live cheapily and invest all your time into your art which I am assuming you see a path to financial freedom through.
Why the hell would you take a shit job to make a few bucks? The job doesn’t improve your living situation much if at all (doesn’t sound like living with your parents is that bad) and doesn’t move you closer to your end goal
 
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minivanman

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Since there was no direct answer to my question, I'll ASSUME it's 40 hours a week.... to which I tell everyone in my family.... get your lazy @ss up off the couch and get what you need done, done! 40 hours a week always chaps my '@ss when people say stuff like that! I worked 120+ hours a week, 520+ hours a month when I was young yet people want to complain about being tired after 40 hours. I busted my @ss at Burger King for over 2 years on that schedule. Not just you, but anyone that reads this and is complaining about being tired after working less than 100 hours a week..... you ain't gonna melt snowflake..... now get done what you need to do to get to the next level.

As for the art business, no one here is connected deeper in the art business than me but you should take your talent some place else. Make a business that uses your talent. If you are good, people will want you. Sure, it's nice to see and draw boobs all day, hell, I'm all for that..... but it will take years if ever to make much money doing that. Don't get caught in the dream..... it's just a hobby right now. Work the measly 40 hours at the job and after work, make it happen with your art.... either make it a business or keep it as your hobby.
 

Roli

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I´m preparing to be an artist, went all-in since the beginning of 2019, have already all the canvases and materials, hired models, booked an atelier to work from and also some work to show etc. etc.
Currently applying to local art galleries

Okay, alarm bells ringing.

Now: So I was trained to be a commercial game artist, and they are inviting me to an interview for a casino company.

Aha, alarm bells quietened, this sounds good.

The revenue after taxes and living costs: ~1k€/month

Excellent.

Little time for developing art business(my energy levels are very low after working as well...)
Boring work and dealing with management.

That's fine you're still saving money.

If I don´t take the job, am I just spoiled?

Well that depends, I'm going to make a couple of assumptions here for my answer, so correct me if I'm wrong.

So you say you're an artist, and that you want to work on your business, and the art you are trained in is artwork for computer games. So I'm assuming that your business is setting up some kind of agency that people can come and buy your art for their games, and eventually other artists that you sign.

Whether that's the case or not, I think you should take the job for the following reasons.

1. Contacts: seeing as you are trying to start an art business, and the job is in the same area you want to enter, you should take it just to increase your contacts. You could meet future clients, suppliers and/or partners.

2. Savings: Every business needs money to start it off and keep it going, so if you are making €1000 after living expenses, that is a chance to save €12,000 a year, what would that do for you in terms of starting your business.

3. Experience: No matter how good you are at something, you can always get better right? Plus of course, this will show you how such an agency operates and will give you ideas for your own business.

4. Enthusiasm: You are an artist and you have decided to go all-in, so I'm assuming you are really into your art right? So then surely getting a job doing something you actually enjoy is better than the other jobs you mentioned which sucked the life out of you. This way you get to enjoy your work whilst still keeping your eyes on the prize.

So TLDR take the job, gain experience, meet contacts, work out how much money you need to take your business to the first level, save up your €1000 per month till you hit that target, then leave.
 

Hai

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It seems like there are mixed opinions on this, rightfully so.

Take a job or find some way for income to accommodate your life, but remember to ignore the F*ck out of sidewalk/slowlane people that you come across while there. Their SCRIPTED advice isn't worth more than a fake smile and nod in fake agreement.

I made a decision a while ago to move back in at my mom's place. Why? Because I'm a loser? Perhaps that's how it appears for others. Truthfully, I don't care. I work for her business right now anyway (it pays me more than any other wageslave position in this shithole province.) I am also able to help out at a local studio as a producer. (The work I do there is for free now, but the owner is a good friend/mentor and I'm in the business of helping other people out.)

Sure the sacrifices suck.
-I don't hang out with friends as much as I used too.
-Whenever I want to meet someone off tinder, it's often a date in my vehicle, their place, their parents' place or a cheap airbnb if I'm going all out. :cool:
-The small town folk probably talk shit about me.

But, I look at the silver lining to these.
-Friends don't waste too much of my time with BS
-Tinder dates are often shortlived and/or just hookups, thus also not overly time consuming.
-The town folk are living the SCRIPTED life and their opinions don't matter to me. (It's also not easy to disregard what others think about us and the more I can train myself to break this "conditioning" the better.)

So how will I get my "millions" or "rock hard abs" or "insert other desire here"? Through small habits and actions that will better my odds over time. A lot of this looks unsexy and unappealing at the beginning. It's also torturous to some extent. But, the alternative is the hell I truly dread.

I digress...

Get enough income to accommodate your life, but stay true to yourself and avoid the many pitches of the SCRIPTED zombies.

Getting told to take a job constantly already feels complacent to scripted life, however until you get revenue from your business, there is no way to proof against it.


I wouldn’t take the job.
Your current living situation seems like a good way to live cheapily and invest all your time into your art which I am assuming you see a path to financial freedom through.
Why the hell would you take a shit job to make a few bucks? The job doesn’t improve your living situation much if at all (doesn’t sound like living with your parents is that bad) and doesn’t move you closer to your end goal

Been living like this for 4-5 years now. Maybe it´s time to stop depending on parents.
Just thinking the job makes me a stronger person responsiblity wise, emotionally and work ethic wise.
One of the cons is, I´m already running full-steam with my project.
These kind of offers always happen when you´re already fully immersed in a project.....

Since there was no direct answer to my question, I'll ASSUME it's 40 hours a week.... to which I tell everyone in my family.... get your lazy @ss up off the couch and get what you need done, done! 40 hours a week always chaps my '@ss when people say stuff like that! I worked 120+ hours a week, 520+ hours a month when I was young yet people want to complain about being tired after 40 hours. I busted my @ss at Burger King for over 2 years on that schedule. Not just you, but anyone that reads this and is complaining about being tired after working less than 100 hours a week..... you ain't gonna melt snowflake..... now get done what you need to do to get to the next level.

As for the art business, no one here is connected deeper in the art business than me but you should take your talent some place else. Make a business that uses your talent. If you are good, people will want you. Sure, it's nice to see and draw boobs all day, hell, I'm all for that..... but it will take years if ever to make much money doing that. Don't get caught in the dream..... it's just a hobby right now. Work the measly 40 hours at the job and after work, make it happen with your art.... either make it a business or keep it as your hobby.

Thanks for the kick in the a$$. Yes, it is 40h/week.
A 8h work+1h break+2h commute at my past labour job made me wary, and there was no way to work additionally every day when getting home.
Maybe a "proper" job that fits some of my strengths is different, so I´m trying it out.


Okay, alarm bells ringing.



Aha, alarm bells quietened, this sounds good.



Excellent.



That's fine you're still saving money.



Well that depends, I'm going to make a couple of assumptions here for my answer, so correct me if I'm wrong.

So you say you're an artist, and that you want to work on your business, and the art you are trained in is artwork for computer games. So I'm assuming that your business is setting up some kind of agency that people can come and buy your art for their games, and eventually other artists that you sign.

Whether that's the case or not, I think you should take the job for the following reasons.

1. Contacts: seeing as you are trying to start an art business, and the job is in the same area you want to enter, you should take it just to increase your contacts. You could meet future clients, suppliers and/or partners.

2. Savings: Every business needs money to start it off and keep it going, so if you are making €1000 after living expenses, that is a chance to save €12,000 a year, what would that do for you in terms of starting your business.

3. Experience: No matter how good you are at something, you can always get better right? Plus of course, this will show you how such an agency operates and will give you ideas for your own business.

4. Enthusiasm: You are an artist and you have decided to go all-in, so I'm assuming you are really into your art right? So then surely getting a job doing something you actually enjoy is better than the other jobs you mentioned which sucked the life out of you. This way you get to enjoy your work whilst still keeping your eyes on the prize.

So TLDR take the job, gain experience, meet contacts, work out how much money you need to take your business to the first level, save up your €1000 per month till you hit that target, then leave.

Thanks for this very constructive answer. While I was trained in computer games, it´s not the goal to go further with this career, so no plans for an agency as well. The goal is to switch to fine art and sell paintings to collectors.
I´m planning to go for the job for some of your reasons outlined though.
 
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Roli

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Been living like this for 4-5 years now. Maybe it´s time to stop depending on parents.

This is the route of the problem, now you are starting to think fastlane, whereas for the last 4-5 years you weren't. Basically save money, stay (or get) out of debt.

The goal is to switch to fine art and sell paintings to collectors.

This sounds incredibly risky, have you proven the market in any way shape or form?

I don't mean, how big is the fine art market? I mean what leads you to believe that collectors will buy your paintings?

From what I can see about the art world, for a collector to want a piece by a living artist, that artist has to be seen as a future potential money-maker. This will only happen if you are doing loads of exhibitions and getting lots of favourable write ups, and even then most artists are poor and hungry.

Have you read How To Fail At Almost Everything And Still Succeed? If not you should, it is by the Dilbert creator Scott Adams, it might be nice for you to see how a fellow artist made it big and what he had to do whilst on his journey.
 

Hai

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This is the route of the problem, now you are starting to think fastlane, whereas for the last 4-5 years you weren't. Basically save money, stay (or get) out of debt.



This sounds incredibly risky, have you proven the market in any way shape or form?

I don't mean, how big is the fine art market? I mean what leads you to believe that collectors will buy your paintings?

From what I can see about the art world, for a collector to want a piece by a living artist, that artist has to be seen as a future potential money-maker. This will only happen if you are doing loads of exhibitions and getting lots of favourable write ups, and even then most artists are poor and hungry.

Have you read How To Fail At Almost Everything And Still Succeed? If not you should, it is by the Dilbert creator Scott Adams, it might be nice for you to see how a fellow artist made it big and what he had to do whilst on his journey.

It is risky. If it´s becoming a way of life, there is no way to quit even after hundreds of failures though.
As others have mentioned, this remains a "hobby" until the first sales trickle in.
Good perspective on collectors....There is a debate around art vs. representational painting, but let´s not talk about that ;)
Will give the book a try!
 

Longinus

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Been living like this for 4-5 years now. Maybe it´s time to stop depending on parents.

Wtf? You shouldn't even ask this question. About time you get your shit together.
 
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srodrigo

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While I was trained in computer games, it´s not the goal to go further with this career, so no plans for an agency as well. The goal is to switch to fine art and sell paintings to collectors.

Honestly, if those were my choices, I'd go for a games agency instead. It is a hard road, but at least you have a chance to make a hit if you invest part of resources on making your own games. Making a living by creating and selling fine art sounds like what other millions of people would love to do. I get that's the lifestyle you want, but I'd say it sounds like one of the most difficult paths, with less chance of success, you could take. I don't know much about art businesses, but unless you are a very well-know artist, you might be a starving artist.

Best of luck in any case :)
 

Roli

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It is risky. If it´s becoming a way of life, there is no way to quit even after hundreds of failures though.
As others have mentioned, this remains a "hobby" until the first sales trickle in.
Good perspective on collectors....There is a debate around art vs. representational painting, but let´s not talk about that ;)
Will give the book a try!

That's good, and I'm not being a naysayer, I'm just pointing out that on your way to making a living from art, you've gotta eat, and best take a job that at least keeps your eye in, rather than some soul-sucking job where a piece of you dies each day.

It's also why I recommended the book, Adams did plenty of soul-destroying work, 12 years worth, and then hit it big with the syndication of his cartoon Dilbert, also it's good because you see how he married another skill he had (being funny) with his art, this unique combination, along with persistence, is what got him where he is today.

Also can I just take a moment to commend you for being on this forum, all too often artists believe that it is the quality of their art that will allow them to shine through, when in fact it's the hustle. I know a few artists and I have friends who work for famous artists.

There's Tom Dixon, who is quite famous in the UK, a sculptor whose name completely escapes me, and another friend who works for Banksy, all of those artists have unbelievable hustle, then when they make it big, they just design their pieces and get others to actually make/paint them.

Please update this thread from time to time, I'm interested to see how you progress. Keep fine tuning your mindset, hustling, and creating, and you'll go far I'm sure :)


PS I just realise I said 'route' when I meant 'root', ugh, I'm disgusted with myself! :humph::blank::clench:
 

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