The Art of Monetizing Art
Few creatives are blessed with the ability to make a living off of their passion, let alone build a successful career. However, artists at least have the opportunity to do so today. Rather than viewing the reality of your dreams as just being a starving artist, you should view your aspirations as a chance to kick off an entrepreneurial venture. In this article, I will explain several things rising artists can do to earn money while they build their careers.
Stay in School
On Rae Sremmurd’s song Swang, Slim Jxmmi raps “I could’ve went to school to be a doctor; instead I dropped out and chose to be a baller.” This strategy clearly worked for Rae Sremmurd since that song alone has gone three-times platinum. That being said, I firmly believe most young artists should remain in school, especially if they haven’t gained a considerable following. I say this because, whether you’re on a college campus or in high school, you’re presented with a concentrated base of consumers. You can easily sell to your classmates and grow your career while attending school, especially before your time is mostly consumed by work.
Furthermore, you’ll have the advantage of your audience sharing something in common; they’re all students! By playing to their commonalities, you can gain their attention and grow momentum. By staying in school, you’ll also have the benefit of easy access to connections that you would miss out on by dropping out. It’s a small world, and especially in artistic circles, who you know matters. Do not miss the chance for easy networking. Finally, artists should, without a doubt, stay in school. It never hurts to have a degree and, trust me, no record label will see your Bachelor’s in Industrial and Labor Relations and conclude that you’re overqualified for the job. Don’t view this as a back up plan or a passive lack of commitment; staying in school is a career-building decision.
Monetize Your Artistic Skills and Resources
Before Pierre Bourne was producing singles for Playboi Carti, he was in school for audio engineering, and mastering artists’ tracks was not only how he made money, but also what got his foot in the door of the music industry. He always had dreams of becoming a Grammy-nominated artist, but he started by using his skills for something totally different from rapping. Very few people are immediately paid for their specific art, but you can make money off of the same skills and resources embedded in the creation of your art way before you’re famous. Say, for example, you shoot music videos, and have all of the equipment and skills necessary to also shoot great photos. To earn money as an independent artist, you might consider also being a wedding photographer. The same creativity that you use to make art can also help you come up with alternative ways to earn money. Stay innovative when thinking of ways to apply your skills; opportunities are more common than you think.
Sell Merch
CD's are dead; most millennials can’t afford to furnish their sublet apartments with expensive paintings, and you’re not going to grow a fan base by charging for your first shows. It’s sad but true that before you have any sort of industry clout, your art alone might not be profitable, which is why you need to sell merchandise. If your merchandise is unquestionably amazing, people can discover you based solely off of that before even witnessing your art. Smino, a rapper from Chicago, has achieved great success by selling his trademarked sweatshirts that have a satin-lined hood. These hoodies were an instant success and sell out almost instantly each time he releases them. This is something all artists can do easily to expand the ways in which they earn money. If you’re a visual artist and struggle selling pieces or getting contracted, throw your best design on a t-shirt and someone is sure to buy it. Merchandise is also great because it allows you to reach audiences you wouldn’t otherwise have access to. You don’t have to skateboard to put your album cover on a deck and sell it. Use your creativity to think of niche merchandise that others may not have tried to sell yet, and you might just find your next fortune.
Ironically, surviving as a creative is all about creativity, and being a successful entrepreneur is about innovation. It is totally realistic for creatives to eventually earn money through their art. By taking advantage of the opportunities and skills they already have access to, artists can make the jump from hobbyists to professionals.
