Lucabrasi
Posting Freak
Posts: 1047
Registered: 9-12-2005
Member Is Offline
Mood: f-minus
|
|
I think im going to quit my job....
Recently Ive been thinking about doing my freelance art for a living. As of now its only something I can do when I have free time from my full-time
job as a dishwasher. Im 25 and a fucking dishwasher and I have this great talent (dont mean to gloat) which should be getting my full attention but
its something thats been on the back burner for along time. Im really considering putting in my 2 weeks notice tomorrow from work and live off the
money I have saved up (about $1500) I really feel I can do this. My life needs a drastic step and I think this would be the right step to take. If
things dont go as planned I can always get another job..a better job then dishwashing for $7.85 an hour. Any of you guys have any advice for me on
wheater I should do this?
|
|
random
Posting Freak
Posts: 2293
Registered: 7-30-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Not that you have any reason to trust my opinion, but here's some useless commentary...
1) You're young enough that this should be the time to do something drastic like this... better now than when married and have a kid or two around.
2) $1500 won't last too long. This only buys you a few months. That might be fine if you're already selling your art on a somewhat steady basis,
but otherwise, it doesn't give you much time to establish a sustainable clientele.
3) You might want to consider a part-time job so that you buy yourself some more time to do art (20 hrs/week part-time, 40+ hrs/week on art). Still a
huge sacrifice on time, but let's you take more time to get things established.
4) Have you been doing art as some sort of job or side job up until now? Like designing artwork for bands (albums, shirts, etc). Something else to
consider if you're a good artist is trying to get a tattoo apprenticeship. Not that I think people should rush into that, but the tattoo profession
could always use good artists to push out some of the shitty hacks that just scar people. That definitely seems like a job that would allow you to
focus on art while still making a living... one of the shops here also has an art gallery with regular showings (not that I've had to money to get any
work done since moving here and living in poverty as a grad student). I guess the idea here is to look for something that allows you to be an artist
(though perhaps in a different medium) and get paid while still giving you the time to progress in your work.
|
|
clevohardcore
* Kick\'n ass on the wild side *
Posts: 12937
Registered: 9-19-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sick Of It All, Youth Of Today
|
|
good luck
Each aspect of the soul has it's own part to play, but the ideal is harmonious agreement with reason and control.
|
|
JawnDiablo
Posting Freak
Posts: 12139
Registered: 4-21-2005
Location: 1902666
Member Is Offline
|
|
id love to quit my job...to get another job im sure id hate in a few years...
|
|
Lucabrasi
Posting Freak
Posts: 1047
Registered: 9-12-2005
Member Is Offline
Mood: f-minus
|
|
Random: Thats some very good advice. Thanks. I think looking for a part time job is a good thing for me to do. There are no tattoo shops in my town so
I cant get a job at one of those. I have a big project down the road that im hoping comes sooner then later. Its a project for the state so im hoping
they pay me alot of money Boycott, you're 100% right, the hardcore scene is hard
to make alot of money off of. So many people want free work as if a designers time is worth nothing, that REALLY pisses me off. I have a business plan
that I wrote acouple years ago that im going to follow closely to help me get as much money from these "neo-hardcore schmucks" as possible
|
|
upyerbum
Posting Freak
Posts: 3226
Registered: 10-14-2005
Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Condemned 84
|
|
All I can say is don't live with regret. I started over at 29 and I'm doin' fine. Everything has a way of falling into place if you persevere.
Good luck, your work is good, I think you'll get plenty of business based on your talent.
Well, its this place where nobody works, and the pigs don\'t give you any shit. Everyone smokes weed and gets drunk all day. Its a place where
cunts like me and you can truly take it easy and relax. Know what I mean?
|
|
JUICE MAYNE MSHC
Senior Member
Posts: 976
Registered: 7-4-2003
Location: Atlanta / Memphis
Member Is Offline
Mood: new CF songs
|
|
I'd say go ahead and quit. I have a similar problem. My job takes a lot of time so I have very little time for drawing. And it pays me really well
so I'm scared to quit because the most I ever made off art in a month was like $500. The thing is, my job is so boring and is the least creative
thing in the world...sometimes when I get home and try to draw, nothing will come out. If I do draw out something it sucks. Also my art talents
haven't developed like they should have over the last few years because I spend most of my time dealing with loans and money at work and not on art.
Regardless, I'm gearing myself up to do the same thing you're doing...quit and move ahead with making money using my creative talents. I'm learning
as much as I can about investing so I have something I can use to bring in money when art isn't cutting it.
|
|
forsaken
Member
Posts: 410
Registered: 2-10-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
I'm in a similar boat ... I'm nearly finished my 4-year apprenticeship as a plant mechanic/maintenance fitter which pays from $80,000 - $125,000 a
year .... but to be honest, i'm really not that great at it and getting up at 4:50am everyday wears me out and i've decided i want to go to uni to
study mechanical engineering ... which means 4 years of being broke and ending up in shitloads of debt, graduating at age 29 and earning less than i
do now! ..... you just gotta follow your dreams man ... as long as you're healthy, have somewhere to sleep and food to eat you're doing fine.
|
|
Jason the Magnificent
Posting Freak
Posts: 3880
Registered: 8-2-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
Not to mention your hours will probably double being a mechanical engineer and you'll be salary. So it'll end up that instead of getting up early,
making $35hr and going home early (unless your doing 12's or some wierd shift work) you'll be going in to work at 9, staying till 7 and your salary
will end up breaking down to like $15hr., maybe $10 after medical expenses for the ulcers.
Not trying to be a shit, just saying you might not be that bad off where you are unless you REALLY hate it and love M.E.
|
|
crazyfists28
Posting Freak
Posts: 1367
Registered: 2-8-2005
Location: rochester, ny
Member Is Offline
Mood: dale watson
|
|
ive been with pepsi for 7 years but definitely want to start something with a real future, not one that ends with me being a cripple from all the
physical labor, so im contacting a cousin in florida that does court reporting and hopefully can start in on that, i'd rather take the time and learn
a true skill that can be turned into a career than just keep doing the same job that i dont really like as it is...
|
|
Siczine.com
Posting Freak
Posts: 2351
Registered: 9-6-2005
Location: Philly
Member Is Offline
Mood: Cynical
|
|
You don't get anywhere in life without taking risks. The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. Go for it.
|
|
Lucabrasi
Posting Freak
Posts: 1047
Registered: 9-12-2005
Member Is Offline
Mood: f-minus
|
|
I gave my notice 2 days ago. I hate having to do it because it is such a busy time of year for us and I didnt want to leave them hanging. I gave him a
2 week notice but he asked if I could go for 4 weeks and I said I would cause they have been good to me and Id hate to burn bridges. June 4th is my
last day. I cannot wait.
|
|
crazyfists28
Posting Freak
Posts: 1367
Registered: 2-8-2005
Location: rochester, ny
Member Is Offline
Mood: dale watson
|
|
im really trying to get all my facts together and see if i can stay part time and go to school. this court reporting thing is pretty involved,
involves internships, class, home practice, so i think part time work would be nice. if i can stay where i am and keep my medical/dental that would be
awsome.
|
|
Discipline
* DRUNKEN MONKEY *
Posts: 11900
Registered: 9-8-2004
Location: Over here
Member Is Offline
Mood: The Alley Dukes
|
|
Quote: | Originally posted by crazyfists28
im really trying to get all my facts together and see if i can stay part time and go to school. this court reporting thing is pretty involved,
involves internships, class, home practice, so i think part time work would be nice. if i can stay where i am and keep my medical/dental that would be
awsome. |
I don't know if the US is different from Canada when it comes to this position, but here you need no college education. It's all on the job training.
I spent about 8 weeks working with court clerks/reporters last summer.
‘Do you know what a love letter is? It’s a bullet from a fucking gun. Straight through your heart.’
|
|
forsaken
Member
Posts: 410
Registered: 2-10-2005
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quote: | Originally posted by Jason the Magnificent
Not to mention your hours will probably double being a mechanical engineer and you'll be salary. So it'll end up that instead of getting up early,
making $35hr and going home early (unless your doing 12's or some wierd shift work) you'll be going in to work at 9, staying till 7 and your salary
will end up breaking down to like $15hr., maybe $10 after medical expenses for the ulcers.
Not trying to be a shit, just saying you might not be that bad off where you are unless you REALLY hate it and love M.E. |
Yeah, I definetly have thought of all of the above. Also add to that having to work in shit countries (I'm from Australia, only about 25% of graduate
ME's stay here) to get by. I dunno, I'm just gonna see where fate takes me. If it all fucks up ill just move back with my parents and start from
scratch. No big deal. Unless I knock up a tramp and end up having kids.
|
|