Who's the Boss...

Today I want to talk about being a full-time artist. Now what I'm going to say is nothing new, and maybe not even anything interesting to you but hey, this is my forum so what I say is what...um...you know, goes. So being your own boss sounds really cool right? Like you can work whatever hours you want meaning you don't have to slave away at a desk for 8 hours trying to please some random nobody. You determine your work load, you can take lunch and other random breaks at your will. I mean it sounds pretty sweet right? Well let me just say, it is NOT at all anything like that, at least not after the first week. Being your own boss sucks sometimes. Suddenly you are realizing how much work you have to put in if you want to create something of greatness and that short shift has turned into a 12 hour stare down with your computer monitor. That light work load does not exist. Before one task is completed you've already thought of another thing you need to do that will make whatever you're working on even better. And most days you don't even eat lunch because you're so focused on the work.

Now I don't want to make it seem like I hate this, I don't, I actually love it. I am just stating that it isn't easy like one would assume. Especially if you are really serious about your work. And I am. I think I may be the bossiest boss I've ever worked for. If I'm not creating something, I'm researching, if I'm not researching something, I'm touching something else up. The work of a semi-perfectionist is never done.

Luckily for me there are a lot of other people out there doing the same thing I am. Some I only know through the internet and a few I actually know in person and often sit down and work together through some things. I'd have to say the hardest thing about what I do is figuring out how to market myself. If you're like me you don't have 6,000 Facebook fans and 20,000 twitter followers so social networking used as a marketing tool can seem kinda pointless. Well, that's what I thought, then I actually started using other social networks to add a larger fan base and so far it's working out (slowly but still, it's working). My twitter following is beginning to grow (follow me @talichaj) and I'm networking with people who are working hard just like me to promote themselves. It's a 50/50 trade-off.

Well I'd love to stay and chat some more about other aspects of being a full-time independent artist, but my boss is breathing down my neck about more work to be done. So I will hopefully get a chance to talk about some other things pertaining to this topic. Thanks for reading!

Do you think you'd be your toughest boss?