Note: the main idea in this blog comes from a chapter in Hugh Macleod’s book, Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other keys to Creativity and from my experience as a full time artist. The chapter is entitled “Keep your day job.” In this chapter Macleod discusses the “sex and cash” theory. Let me tell you about it.
Many artists resent doing alternate work in order to be able to pursue their passion. Without a side job of some kind, however, artists are often unable to earn enough to live on.
Macleod contends that even professionals at the top of their game still have to do work that they dislike or at least tolerate (cash) in order to free themselves to do work they absolutely relish (sex).
Macleod states that, for some reason, this is always the case — whether you are an unknown or a mega-successful celebrity. He cautions against quitting your full time job just to follow your blissful dream. You may be doomed before you start.
My experience supports Macleod’s theory. I worked as a high school teacher for 26 years. The plan was to retire from teaching once I turned 55 so that I could pursue my dream of cartooning full time. For two years before retiring, I worked on my art at night and on weekends. When I finally left teaching I was ecstatic about the extra time I could finally devote to my craft but I was in for a disturbing surprise.
All sorts of distractions came into my life. Cooking, television shows, walking the dog, meeting friends for coffee —on and on it went. When I taught full time I had no way to get involved in these things, but when my schedule allowed it I found them impossible to resist.
Consequently, the increased productivity and fast-tracked progress my new schedule “promised” never quite materialized. Further, when I looked at the quality of work I was doing while still teaching, I found that it was as high or higher than the work I was producing while free to pursue art full time!
What the heck was going on? When I had less time to spend on my art I would do more of it and it would be of higher quality. Really?
And what of the sex and cash theory? Thanks to a modest teaching pension, I am a full time artist now, but I take on some projects mostly for the income so that I can pursue other projects that I have a passion for.
Bottom line: life seems to work this way. Be willing to do work you do not want to do so that you can do the work you do want to do. Period. And Macleod finishes the chapter with this promise:
“As soon as you accept this, I man really accept this, for some reason your career starts moving ahead faster.” (pg. 32)