Long ago, when I was a tiny Friekje, still learning how to hold a pen and practicing my ‘o ‘s and ‘e’s, I had a not so secret dream. One day I would become a screenwriter. I followed the old gamer’s code: Git Gud. It’s an ancient phrase, spoken only in legends. And although, the term didn’t exist in my hatchling-days, the sentiment behind it very well did. Simply put it means that one must keep practicing until one is able to overcome the challenges thrown their way. And I was a firm believer that if I became a brilliant writer through practice, I’d get instantly rich and famous. Because that is how life works.
Then, as a bright-eyed adolescent, I went to art school. Here, I would uncover the secrets of game design! And one of the things that our teachers taught us, was that we were the youngest generation in the west. The world lay at our feet! No matter what we decided to do – continue making games, or pursue an art career – as long as we “got gud”, we would thrive. Because that is how life works.
Now Cometh The Tribulation Parteth-th
Every time our government decides to cut back on culture and art, the general response is that it shouldn’t matter because those who are truly talented will get by. It’s strange to me how we keep embracing this idea. As if we are all listening to the child inside who wants to believe in fairy tales. There are so many factors that contribute to success. Talent only takes up a small part. How many times do we hear of someone taking up an important position in government or our preferred entertainment outlet, that make us blurt out: “Really? How did that happen?!” Well, because talent isn’t the deciding factor. There are other things to consider. Because thát is how life works.
Luck, for instance. You need to meet the right people. At the right time. At the right place. And more importantly: You need to be able to sell yourself.
Take Damian Hurst. He is – I believe – the most successful sculptor worldwide. But almost none of the works that bear his signature are made by him. Although, he comes up with the ideas, it’s the people in his workshop that then turn his dreams into paintings and sculptures. In one of the interviews he gave, he admitted that he could have done a painting himself, but the person he hired was better at the job.
Damian Hurst is a conceptual artist. More so, I consider him to be a brilliant marketer. And it’s that combination that made him extremely successful. But most of us are not good at selling our work. We need others to do it for us. And to make them believe that we’re worth representing, we need to do a sales pitch. Catch 22.
The Rolls of a Thousand Dice
Which is why there are so many extremely talented artists out there that we’ve never heard of. And there are also quite a few ‘meh’ ones that are being represented. ‘Git Gud’ is only a tiny part of the equation. Life is far too complicated to think in terms of binaries. Whodathunk? (an ancient phrase, spoken only in legends meaning “duh”)
So, when we’re at a stage in our career where we know our work is good and yet no matter how hard we try, it just doesn’t take off… It’s not our fault. Some factors we have limited control over. We might be able to work together with someone who enjoys sales and marketing, for instance. But there is also a great deal of luck involved. We can’t control that. Unless of course, you’ve managed to ensnare the goddess Fortuna in your basement. In that case, all the luck in the world to you! … But please: Leave some for me..?
