Must We Put On Pants?
/Depending on where you are in the country, you may be on Shut-In Day 3 or Day 13. Here in NYC, it’s the latter.
And over the course of these days/weeks, we’ve all been making major shifts in our work lives as we try to figure out keeping ourselves at home while still making an income.
For some people, this shift to at-home and online work has been relatively simple - perhaps their type of work is done mostly online anyway, they’ve worked from home before, or an office just isn’t necessary.
But what about the rest of us?
Artists of all types - and particularly those whose work relies on in-person contact - are now isolated and unable to perform the tasks generally necessary to their craft.
So, how do we move forward with our work?
How do we make any sort of money?
And do we have to put on pants to do it?
Skills and Craft
[*A Quick Note: This post is going to be focused on artistic crafts that require performance skills and multi-person work. I acknowledge that not all Fine Artists are having an easy time with at-home adjustments, but I believe that artists in the performance fields are generally having larger adjustments to make.]
Here are some things I’ve heard a lot via social media over the past week:
“I was in the middle of a great contract when it was cancelled out of nowhere!”
“All of the deign and pre-production work we just did was a total waste - no one will ever see this show!”
“I finally had a breakthrough in my audition class, and now it’s cut short by 4 weeks.“
These are heart-breaking things to hear. And there are so many more stories just like it.
The reality is that most of the artists involved in performing arts of any kind suddenly found themselves without work, potential work, or even cut out mid-contract. This includes people like:
Actors
Singers
Dancers
Instrumentalists
Designers
Directors
Stage Managers
Stage Hands
Technicians
Musical Directors
Conductors
Producers
Board Operators
Writers
And so many more…
And so the question has become: "How do I continue to work on and do my craft?”
For some of these skill sets the answers are more readily available than others, but there are possible answers for all! If you look across the internet right now, you can see just how many artists are finding creative ways to make work and keep honing their skills.
Now, I will candidly say that many of the options to continue honing craft will not provide an income during this time - at least not right now. But that doesn’t mean the work isn’t important.
So, here are some thoughts on ways to keep working in your artistic field:
Take A Class - I am impressed and awed at the number of online classes that have sprung up over the past two weeks. (And I’m sure Zoom has never had so many customers!) For Actors who now have time to take an audition class, there are plenty of options at all price ranges. For Dancers who need to keep dancing, I’ve seen tons of online classes in every style. Or perhaps you’ve been wanting to learn a new skill set - in your field or adjacent - and in that case I would bet there’s a class for it!
Self-Learning and Research - Is there a book that everyone recommends in your field and you’ve neglected to read? Do you feel the need to expand your repertoire, but just haven’t had the time to do the research? Is there one aspect of your craft that isn’t quite up to par with the rest of your work? Now is an excellent time to sit down with yourself, some research, a friend (via video chat), a book, a community board, etc, and fill in that knowledge gap.
Online Meetings - You know, they’re really not all that bad! Many people in the performance profession - and especially on the production side for whatever reason - seem particularly averse to virtual meetings. But there’s some great software out there that makes it quite simple! Not only can you video chat for discussion, but there are also ways to show your work through screen-sharing or sending pictures through apps like Dropbox. It can be done and done well!
Plan The Next Thing - Let’s not forget that most artistic endeavors take not just weeks, but months and years to put together. So why not delve into the planning or pre-production process on a new project? Now is a great time to reach out to people you want to collaborate with and ask their thoughts on your ideas - I mean, what else are we all doing? And who knows? Perhaps by the end of the isolation, the project will be ready to move into the next phase!
Give A Class - You have specialized knowledge - each and every one of you. Why not share it with the world? It doesn’t have to be fancy, and you don’t have to charge if you don’t want to. Do a little advertising on social media in the 2-3 days before your class, then hold that class live on FB or Instagram or Zoom or even just Google Hangout! Set up a camera and talk about the things you love to do in the hopes that the information will help someone else in your field. Chances are, it probably will!
Also, this is important: Any and all of these options should be considered as doing work in your field. It may not feel like it, particularly since it’s different from your normal, but you must think of it this way.
This is you doing your work. Period.
And I’m sure there are plenty of other ways to keep up with your craft as well, but hopefully these few ideas can give you the spark you need to try something and keep going!
Money
Oof. Not gonna lie, this crisis is hitting everyone’s wallets pretty hard, and artists in particular.
*This is ironic, because most everyone is occupying their time by consuming art of all varieties… But that’s for another blog post.*
I’m sure most of you have already done some research on how to make money online, and if you have not yet done so you most certainly should!
Now, you can definitely look for a standard day job/survival job - something akin to the work you were previously doing outside the house, but that can be done remotely. There are tons of websites out there, and here is a good short list as a place to start.
There are also some absolutely fantastic resources on these sites dedicated to giving information and help to Freelancers/Artists:
If you are able and willing to try something a little different from your normal in order to make some money during this time, I guarantee that you can find something across these websites.
“But are there other ways of making a little money online while using your craft?”
Sure! How about:
Giving a class
Provide one-on-one coachings, tutoring, or mentorship
Perform something and stream it
Make a video series with your phone and monetize your YouTube account
Start an online store of products you can sell (writing, art, arrangements, etc.)
Start a Patreon page for loyal fans and supporters
And that’s just a few ideas!
“But Michael, everyone is tight on cash right now. Who’s going to pay for this?”
Good point. But you don’t have to charge very much for any of these products or services. In fact, you can do it by donation if that makes you more comfortable!
But don’t forget that there are plenty of people out there who do have income, love the arts, and are very willing to give in order to help freelance artists out right now.
And the money isn’t going to come rolling in from any of these methods, but who knows? Maybe this is the beginning of an online side business that you’ll be able to keep going after the crisis is over!
You’ll never know if any of these could work for you unless you make the choice to give it a go!
The Big Question
Okay. The Big One. The One we’ve all be waiting for…
“To do any and all of these things you’ve discussed…must we put on pants?”
That, my dear readers, is entirely up to you!
I’ve seen some (well-known) people doing videos and classes online who are sitting in their homes in sweatpants and activewear with messy hair, yet who are nonetheless choosing to give their artistic talents to the world online.
I’ve also seen other people getting fully dressed up as if they are going to the office or for a night out, who only did so for an online happy hour with friends.
Honestly, no one seems too bothered by it either way! Whatever make you feel comfortable and/or productive!
From a personal standpoint - in doing online lessons and classes - I could totally get dressed on my top and wear PJs on the bottom. No one would ever know. BUT, I do subscribe to the idea that I’ll be much more focused if I dress like I’m actually going out to work, so I do put on real pants.
But again, it’s really whatever makes you feel most productive, comfortable, and happy.
Onward
These times are tough and super weird. But there are ways to keep living our lives, creating, making some money, and finding some happiness.
I don’t have all the answers - I barely have a sliver - but I do hope that today’s post gave you something new to think about.
I’m sending all my love and support to each of you! Be well!
Cheers!
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