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Question:
Hi! It was a godsend coming across your blog!
I'm coming at you with a question regarding living in the city, or perhaps I want to share my words with you and receive some tips from your experience! I'm only just earning my AA in Liberal Arts and I'm sort of at a crossroads. My heart says to go for fashion design, so I'm applying to FIT for the Fall 2013 semester. I would most likely be living on campus and I do not drive. Do you have any tips for living on campus in NYC and general preparations for moving there? Also, as someone who's sought out a career that others may deem "impractical" (and from artist to artist), what gets you through the times of contemplation? Anything you'd like to share would be most welcomed and appreciated! Thank you! :)
Answer:
Hi there! First of all, YAY! Congrats on getting your degree :D And thanks so much for liking the blog. Ha! It's always encouraging to have happy notes waiting for me in my inbox.
When I read your question I was happy because it hits close to home ... I'd have an excuse to think about one of my favorite things to think about: the business of making art for a living.
In regards to your first question about moving to the city:
a) Perfect! You don't need a car here! Subway it up.
HopStop will be your new best friend (it's MapQuest for the subway - put in your start and end addresses and BAM!)
b) Check out
this post I wrote about starting life in NYC. I think you'll find lots of little practical nuggets in it about the logistics of living (and loving God and thriving) here.
Okay, so you're starting what others would call an "impractical" career. Without a doubt, the most uncomfortable set of conversations I've had in my life happened when I was graduating from college and friends' parents started asking me what I'd be doing after school. And I said, "
I'm going to be a musician full time." In retrospect, I wish I would've had a camera with me. The faces they made were priceless.
I even wrote a song about it! So my first tip is:
1.
Don't worry about their faces; you have your own face. So what if the career's impractical! So is red lipstick. Because what really is "impractical" when you've got a vision in your heart and a persistent work ethic, a love for people and the God of the Universe on your side? People will ask, "
Wait ... like, full time?" and "
How will you pay your rent?" And they'll say, "
Yea, I had a friend who was doing the musician thing and it was so, so tough. He had to actually go back to his office job." and "
What else will you do?" Don't let anyone discourage you. They're probably just wanting to make sure you're taken care of. Grab hold of a conviction of your purpose, deep in your heart, and when someone asks you what you're up to, say it. Like a statement. As definitively as you know how. You'll be amazed at the confidence that'll start to well up in your heart. And all of a sudden, the conversational squirminess is on the end of the person who's left to marvel at the person who just said with such assurance, that they were after something "impractical."
2.
Create seasonal goals. For someone who works in a corporate structure, or in a career with a boss promoting you up a clearly labeled ladder, five year plans are where it's at. But for those of us in anti-cubicle, creative careers - we can book a job or get an email
this afternoon that changes everything. There are no rules for the progression (or the pacing) of a career like ours. I've felt it in my own life. One day I'm doing my 6th grade English homework; the next day I'm in a room auditioning for the writers and director of Law & Order: SVU. And booking the job. And then back to 6th grade. One day I'm making pasta in my teeny post-college apartment. The next, the Washington Post calls. They want to review my album. And that's what I love about my job. I set the goals, but God sets the pace.
So in lieu of some grandiose ten year plan, I put "seasonal goals" on big, brightly colored index cards, and tack them on the wall above my vision board. By seasonal, I mean things to be accomplished in the next 4-6 months. Most of my goals are multi-step. Yours might be too. One Post It might look like this: "Create Spring 2013 Line" - with a checkbox for when you've gathered inspiration, a check box for when you've sketched 40 looks, a box for when you've chosen the 15 best, a box for when you've made the patterns, and a box for when you've completed the garments. I limit myself to 3 seasonal goals at a time. And it's worked wonders for my working life. It clarifies my work. It's visual and gratifying checking things off, and it keeps me focused on taking steps
forward, rather than just maintaining and reorganizing what's already going on.
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3.
Be excellent. Some people think this goes without saying, but it doesn't. And the reality of needing to be excellent at being me is always at the forefront of my mind here in NYC. This place is downright oversaturated. Throw a rock and you'll hit someone who's a singer, actor, designer, model, blogger etc. Throw a dodge ball and you'll hit someone who's awesome at it. The world is full of people who want the exact same job as you. That's why 5,000 people are trying to be on the next season of Project Runway and 20 people are interviewing for the "practical" job. So the quickest way to begin to set yourself apart is to kill it. Every single time. At whatever you do. Over deliver. Perfect the details. Be thoughtful. Do it with heart. Keep learning and growing. Watch interviews. Read biographies. Read trade magazines and blogs. Sharpen your skills. Get feedback. Get better.
4.
Only humans matter. Why are you interested in fashion? If you could answer that question without mentioning people, you may have to change your answer. Because at the end of the day, it's a person who'll be making the call as to whether your clothes will be sold in Macy's stores across the country, and a person who'll answer that email when you write to them asking for mentorship or advice, and it's a person that you met at that dinner that time who will recommend you to a potential client and who'll send you an encouraging note about the clothes that'll make them feel more beautiful, more confident, more ready for their big day. These people are all people, with lives and hearts. They like bacon. And go on annual family vacations. And are scared of heights. And really want to see that new movie coming out. I have to remind myself of this sometimes - because at some point in the shuffle of blasting out booking emails and delegating tasks and submitting press releases, it becomes easy to forget that a human is on the other end of those correspondences. I have yet to think of a career or calling that has nothing to do with people. Even on a practical level, most of the noticeable boosts in my career happened after a conversation with a stranger on the sidewalk or something else weirdly human like that.
5.
I'm not going to say, "It's nothing personal," because the point above belies that idea ... ha! But I will say that, "It's just business." Remember the point about being excellent? Well, another way to set yourself apart is by knowing how to manage and promote and build relationships for yourself. Handling your finances like a capital B boss. Building a dream team of people who can share the vision, share the burden, work for free until what you do makes money, offer new ideas, challenge you and tell you to stop working because it's 5am and you've been working since the previous day. What are your potential income streams? How much do you charge for what you do? How many times a month do you need to do that to cover your living expenses? To save? To be generous? How do you make your brand stick and stand out in the mind of current and future customers and fans? How will you keep it all organized? What constitutes a productive day? What kinds of people should you constantly be meeting to grow your community? You don't have to answer these all at once, but you do have to answer them. And if it's something you love to do, the logistics of making your art happen will make you appreciate getting to do the pure art of it
even more.
I could go on forever, but I've already written a short novella :P I'll most likely think of more things, in which case, I'll post a Part 2 to this post. But in the meantime, I hope that's helpful and feel free to fire back follow up questions.
Oh, and just in the way of resources, if what you'll be doing is working freelance, for yourself, then read
this post and
this post, where my work-for-yourself-rockstar friends weighed in about how to be awesome at it.
Hope this helps!
Love,
LCW
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To read my absolute favorite posts about life in the city, love and relationships, being a singer/songwriter ... for a living, living well, and community, head over to "
The Best of Long City Walks."
