Tips For Creatives

Nowadays, with social media ruling the universe, there are a lot more creatives out there than ever before. 

Everybody is making something. Your classmates from high school who clowned on you for making music, now also make music. (Albeit worse than the music you made 10 years ago)

Your graphic design major cousin is complaining about AI art. Your crazy great aunt who is a Todd Rundgren fanatic is making things to sell on Etsy. Everybody wants to be an author now (no they don’t actually; reading has become an outcast activity)

Regardless of how many examples I could make here, everybody around the world is making something, and they’re all putting it on the internet at the same time. With that being said, there are a few things to remind yourself of when being a creative in a digitized world.

1. Don’t Join The Race

It’s important to state here that, especially for musicians, there are so many things being uploaded to the internet at a rate that most people can’t even pay attention to it.

Dont feel like you have to rush your creation in order to have it online as fast as possible. This isn’t a record label. Nobody cares if you drop your project on Friday at Midnight or Sunday at 6 PM. Rushing will just taint what you’re trying to create. 

Deadlines are for consumerist corporations. Every time I’ve ever worked with someone on anything and they want to rush it, it ruins the entire process. If you’re not making a living off your creations, don’t worry about getting it done as quickly as possible.

2. Comparisons 

Sure, everyone does it, it’s natural human behavior. We will always compare ourselves to the next person and wonder why we can’t get to that level. 

I remember a few years back, a guy I went to high school with appeared on NBC’s The Voice. That actually motivated me to get back to making music after taking a break for 3 and a half years. 

The reality is, he’s one of the million guys with a guitar that can sing halfway decent, that sounds like a Black Keys cover band. Another reality is, I’m one of the 10 million people that makes rap music. His chances are way better than mine, but I can look at it this way. He had his chance, I have yet to get mine. 

Everyone’s paths are different and the journey will always be different for everybody. 

3. Copycat Syndrome

Another human nature flaw is that we always want to do what the next person is doing. Now add, say 10,000 people into that equation, and you have a lot of people doing what the next person is doing. It doesn’t look all that unique anymore does it? 

4. Promotion

Don’t be fooled, no amount of promotion is going to help you. Facebook, Instagram, whatever, all those ads aren’t going to do anything but make you more in debt. 

It’s a sham really. Think about all those 10,000 people paying for Instagram ads. They say you’ll get a reach of “X amount of people” but that never happens. 

These companies are literally making millions off of dreams. How else does a free app become a billion dollar company?

Look at Facebook with FarmVille. Ad revenue. 

5. Put Your Phone In Your Pocket

Sometimes it’s needed to evaluate your life in order to get inspiration. Getting new hobbies or getting back into old ones is a good way to do this. 

Sun is good for you. Your art isn’t going anywhere.