What do you want me to say? There are two artists in this house. Our work is our lively hood. One of us is more famous than the other — not me. We don’t give very much away unless it is an honest-to-god benefit. That really helps somebody in need. Doing that helps kill our own earnings and destroys the marketplace for others. Giving your work to some guy who is compiling a book and will give you a credit for a cover photograph helps nobody. To paraphrase Neil Young who sang, “you can’t eat hope,” — you can’t eat credits. And, it’s no good claiming work for free because you just priced your own work… it’s free.
Thank you! I thought it might be so, but didn’t want to assume. I have a son who is an artist (musician) and numerous friends, as well, who are professionals who deserve to be paid for their (professional) work. But I think there is there room to crowd-source content from amateurs, especially in areas like mental health in which many have a tiny bit of personal experience (like me with a close family member), but definitely no expertise. That’s what I think this post was looking for… anyway, I so appreciate the opposing view and the voice of the professional artist. The world is changing and not always for the best.
Yes, we’ve talked about your son. I’ve assumed that he wants to work in his chosen art and profession. And, that’s hard. How hard? We have a friend who used to play in the brass section of the LPO (Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra). She reckoned that between rehearsal and performance time (not counting practice and woodshedding) that she earned less than minimum wage. She left. Became a waitress at Commander’s and immediately doubled her earnings. Today, she is a wait captain and earns way more than she could as a musician. That’s no good.
The problem with crowdsourcing from amateurs is one that you don’t really think about. Since they are the real majority of people producing anything close to art, they undermine the market because for many art buyers we live in an era of “good enough.” Rather than pay the proper rate for an image or to license a song, if the art is free then “it’s good enough.”
OTH, there is nothing wrong with helping people if you know something from experience. That to me, is an entirely different matter. I’m long sober — 25 years — and AA was, and is, a big part of that. We all share our experiences in the hope that we will help others.
There is also nothing wrong with giving away art as long as it actually helps some body other than the people to whom you are giving it, they understand what you are donating and you chose to do it.
Hmmmm. Text. Cover art. For a credit. Wow! I hate to say this, but that’s why most creative industries are circling the drain.
Say more, if you would.
What do you want me to say? There are two artists in this house. Our work is our lively hood. One of us is more famous than the other — not me. We don’t give very much away unless it is an honest-to-god benefit. That really helps somebody in need. Doing that helps kill our own earnings and destroys the marketplace for others. Giving your work to some guy who is compiling a book and will give you a credit for a cover photograph helps nobody. To paraphrase Neil Young who sang, “you can’t eat hope,” — you can’t eat credits. And, it’s no good claiming work for free because you just priced your own work… it’s free.
Thank you! I thought it might be so, but didn’t want to assume. I have a son who is an artist (musician) and numerous friends, as well, who are professionals who deserve to be paid for their (professional) work. But I think there is there room to crowd-source content from amateurs, especially in areas like mental health in which many have a tiny bit of personal experience (like me with a close family member), but definitely no expertise. That’s what I think this post was looking for… anyway, I so appreciate the opposing view and the voice of the professional artist. The world is changing and not always for the best.
Yes, we’ve talked about your son. I’ve assumed that he wants to work in his chosen art and profession. And, that’s hard. How hard? We have a friend who used to play in the brass section of the LPO (Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra). She reckoned that between rehearsal and performance time (not counting practice and woodshedding) that she earned less than minimum wage. She left. Became a waitress at Commander’s and immediately doubled her earnings. Today, she is a wait captain and earns way more than she could as a musician. That’s no good.
The problem with crowdsourcing from amateurs is one that you don’t really think about. Since they are the real majority of people producing anything close to art, they undermine the market because for many art buyers we live in an era of “good enough.” Rather than pay the proper rate for an image or to license a song, if the art is free then “it’s good enough.”
OTH, there is nothing wrong with helping people if you know something from experience. That to me, is an entirely different matter. I’m long sober — 25 years — and AA was, and is, a big part of that. We all share our experiences in the hope that we will help others.
There is also nothing wrong with giving away art as long as it actually helps some body other than the people to whom you are giving it, they understand what you are donating and you chose to do it.