Every now and then I gets to wondering: exactly what percentage of the world is made up of those of us purporting to be in "the arts"?
Purporting to be in the arts being the only prerequisite for being in the arts, I would suggest the percentage of artists (and bear in mind I can't count due to the fact that I'm in the arts) is a figure that would reach into the... manys.
This is simultaneously inspiring and a little humbling (bordering, if I'm honest, on depressing) when everyone you know and everyone they know is in pre-production, post-production, novelisation, and/or development.
But here's why I mention this: I detect interlopers.
At this point I would like to address those of you who have had steady jobs for the past five years. You know, jobs with suits and business cards and salary packages and after work drinks. Now, I know times are tough. I know that. I read the papers. I know some of you are losing your jobs. I know some of you have been given a nice package and told to come back later and it must be scary and some of you have kids and houses and the Beast That Dare Not Speak Its Name in the arts world: adult responsibilities, and that sucks for all of you.
Having said that, could I please beg of you: do not join the arts world. Please. I know it looks fun. I know it's swanning about with Moleskenes and coffees and looking frenzied just before deadlines. I know it doesn't involve staff meetings and that must appeal, I realise that, I've been to staff meetings myself.
However, know this: there are too many of us. Far too many. Someone pointed at a celebrant at the wedding I was at last week and told me she was a casting director, the woman next to her was an actor, the man next to her was a cartoonist, and the one in the striped suit was a director. The one in the striped suit, for future reference, is usually the director. But I digress.
I like my artist friends but I also like the other ones. The ones whose jobs I don't understand. The ones whose lives I peer into with wide eyed astonishment: you MAKE YOUR OWN PASTA? You went to WHERE on your holiday? You like Packed to the Rafters? I like those friends and their mysterious salmon-pink-shirted cufflinked high-heeled world. It's their world but I like to watch it and learn from it.
But there are enough of us. Look around you. Artists are everywhere. We serve you drinks, we thank you for calling and ask if you have any other banking needs, we read Russian novels on public transport. I know it's tempting to take that leap of faith to join us but please... I beg you... don't make me the majority. My marginalised nobody-understands don't-patronise-me attitude is the only thing I have.
Please don't take that away from me.
heh!
Humph... shoot me down just when I was considering a career change. Can I speak on behalf of all the non-artists?
We like what artistic types produce and the things they add to the world. Artists seem to be able to get away with saying or doing the kind of things that were we to imitate would see us publicly stoned. They have exclusive rights to the use of the words "juxtaposition", "paradigm" and "semiotic" and don't seem to be embarrassed by body paint or acts of random street theatre. Without them, the world would be a more boring place.
We enjoy watching artists put together outfits that would look ridiculous on ANYONE else. We also love the "I won't be doing this forever, buddy" attitude of the artistic barista - the service industry wouldn't be the same without that spunk.
However... Don't try and come into our world unless you're willing to commit. Don't put your attractive but substance free Powerpoint presentations onto our projectors. Don't interrupt my meetings with phrases like "it is only through the fire that we forge the gold" or hold up projects because you don't like the colours.
Don't plaster the walls with posters advertising recitals by your piss-ant choir or the short play that you've been rehearsing on the weekends. And, most assuredly, don't get upset when we don't turn up to said show. If you're an artist, be an artist. Otherwise, accept your mediocrity like the rest of us and settle in to 40 years of mind numbing reality. At least you'll have Dilbert.
"...In this way the old specialization of art has finally come to an end. There are no more artists, because everyone is an artist. The work of art of the future, will be the construction of a passionate life." -Raoul Vaneigem
The world would be a better place if there were more artists... A passionate lawyer is no different than a passionate painter.
Personally, I pray for a switch.
Nick.
I read this at work and laughed earl grey tea out of my nose, Andy. You know I like earl grey tea, but there are better ways to experience it.
It's enough to make me want to come to the dark side. Almost.
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