Monetization
I’m trying to fight instant dopamine. One way to fight it is with writing, so here is one way I’ve strung together some opinions in my head.
I’ve always made stuff. I got it from my older sister who liked to draw. I started drawing too, and then it turned into sculpting, writing, poetry, origami, music, graphic design painting, video creating, animation, photography, crocheting, sewing, yada, yada, yada. Just anything I could get my hyperactive and grubby hands on. I loved teaching myself new things. Part of it the process. The other part (that I don’t like admitting) is the attention.
It’s a simple equation. Make something good, get good feedback from the people that see it. Results in a huge boost in ego.
With the compliments usually came another comment: “you can make money off of this.” Or anything similar.
Can I really?
Theoretically, certainly.
In actuality? No.
I’m not a business. I’m just a person who likes to make things (I guess other than money, haha.)
I personally don’t know how to describe it.
Creating (with no monetary gain) feels human. It feels like the thing to do when you want to shake off all the excess feeling you have going on in your brain. You can show it to others if you want to (I like to, hence the ego boost), but you can also keep it to yourself (which paradoxically, I usually want to do because of anxiety.) Whether it’s public or not the reason it is made is still there: for one to express themself with.
Add a price tag to my stuff, it feels less for myself and instead, forms into this transactionary and vapid process and or object I want no part of and feel no part of. The anxiety of making a living steps in, which definitely broadens the gap between your passion and the art you were once making. I think that’s why many musicians and directors sell-out. The gap got too wide for them, but at the end of the day, money is realistically going to be more important than doing something you love doing. (So, I guess to gain the system you’re going to have to be passionate with making money, the process of making money. You can give yourself a big pat on the back for winning the game, killing a natural part of yourself in favour of serving people and overall a system that does not care for all the people below you. Someone you once were. But with “hard work” you can now say you made it and scoff at those who “aren’t working as hard.”)
Which sucks. I don’t want to think this way. If I could effectively monetize this hobby without these noisy thoughts seeping in, I would. Aren’t there books, movies, art pieces that have made millions for the similar talking points I’m making?
I guess so. Also I’m sure “the art grind” is the most saturated it has ever been.
Which makes sense. It’s broken my brain to learn that every single post, video, text post, story etc. you’ve ever made to a social media page has just been free labour for the technocorps that run it? They are absolutely THRIVING knowing that your local band, your sister who paints, your teacher who’s a children’s book author, your brother that bakes, hell, your younger cousin making action skits with his stuffies are ALL competing for an audiences attention right on their platform.
Every single independent artist promoting their stuff on an app is NEVER EVER going to make as much as whatever business is hosting them. And additionally, their posts act as free work for them to keep others using the app.
Anyways, own ya own stuff as much as you can. Get your head out of the monetization hole and just do stuff because you want to. There’s a bunch of people that come to mind whenever I rehash this ramble in my mind. I wish I could beam it directly into their brains.