So I’m up at 4:00 am. Ask me why… come on do it…Ok you forced it out of me. I have no idea… none. Some times I just pop awake at odd hours. My sleep patterns are all screwy from the weird hours I keep as a freelancer. So, what do you think about this early in the morning besides plotting to take over the world? Nothing…That’s what you think about. Anyway, the “world” for me pertains to my career as an artist.
I think we as artist shy away from the pure business side of our industry and leave that stuff up to the “business guy”. Big mistake. Ever notice how that “business guy” (your clients or the company you work for or through) is doing really well? He or she is always going on about that last trip to Europe or the problems he’s having with the renovations to his house. Guess what… Your paying for his kitchen tile. That’s right. He takes the work that you produce for him or her, gives you a crust of bread and a sip of Kool-Aid (grape or cherry. your choice) and then he translates that into 10,000 times what he paid you. Welcome to America… But hey it’s a living right? I mean it beats digging a ditch and it’s something you and I love to do.
Yeah it’s pretty awesome I have to admit. However, about 4 or 5 years ago I made a decision. I decided that I needed to cut out the middle man. I wanted to produce the work and make all the money from it’s “exploitation”. Great! Let’s do it!!! Whooooooaaaah cowboy. Not so fast. That’s that business stuff. That’s not for you…. Uh, yeah it is. To quote Biggie “Gimme the loot, Gimme the loot!!!!” I had to get over that mindset and educate myself. I’ve literally been buried ever since.
“Where the hell is Larry?” “That guy never hangs out anymore…”… Bottom line you’ve got to go inward and really put in some work. This is not a game but it can be done. The best part about it is as a professional artist you already know most of what you need to know.Take a look at what your work is being used for. In my case, the bulk of the work I was doing was for licensed properties. My work went on to be used on product, in books and on television. So I set out to learn the business of licensing and publishing (e-publishing as well). That’s my area of focus. Find yours. Check out what your “middle man” is doing. Learn that. That’s where the real money resides. For the most part we can learn what they do but they can’t learn what we do. That’s our advantage.
In the coming months I’ll be announcing the several ventures as they come online. I’m very excited. What I’ve done we can all do. It just takes tweaking the way you think about things a bit. Watch this blog for more info moving forward. I plan to document all of my wins and losses as I move forward. Hopefully, this will help some others along the way. I’m posting a video below that a Facebook buddy of mine posted. The guy in it really puts it down and touches on a few key topics that we as artists need to hear on a daily basis. Just replace the term “record label” with Marvel, DC, or whatever company happens to be using your work to turn a profit. Well, that’s it for now. I have to find some breakfast in the bachelor wasteland that is my kitchen.
L
dope post, and video. I am in the beginning stages right now.