sell Yourself House agrees. “I constantly need to get Many professionals in Arts, A/V
Doing what you love is important in the out there and meet and find new customers, Technology & Communications are
arts, but you also have to find clients who and help them find me,” she says. When freelancers or small business owners,
are willing to pay you to do what you love. medical illustration isn’t available, House and being your own boss carries certain
To make a living in the creative fields, the turns to other forms of art to pay the bills. responsibilities. “I’m running a business,
first thing you have to sell is yourself. “I’m a technical illustrator, too,” she says. with all its aspects, from employees to
“Professionals in the arts have to find a “So one week, I’m illustrating oil wells, the billing and bookkeeping and that sort of
balance between self-expression and conditions next week I’m depicting a surgical procedure thing,” says Zanikos.
in the marketplace,” says Lynne Cagle, a project that went wrong, the next week I’m
coordinator at the University of North Texas in explaining how cell phones work.” Learn Business
Denton and president of the Visual Arts Society House says few artists are taught the ins and
of Texas. “Obviously, creativity is important, Your Art, Your Business outs of business and, as a result, often have
and a sense of pride in what the artist is No matter what creative field students no idea how to negotiate a fee or manage a
producing—in authentic self-expression. But pursue, they have to remember that it’s a budget. “Observe someone who runs their
entrepreneurism is a very important skill, too. business first and last. own business,” she advises, “like a family-
Professionals have to be able to market their Even the glamorous world of fashion owned business, even if it’s a florist shop,
work, to promote themselves, or they’re out design is ruled by hard dollars-and-cents because the same principles apply.”
of business. They have to take a risk and put judgments. “Our students definitely have “I’d encourage students to take business
themselves out there. They have to have a self- to be able to understand profit and loss, courses, particularly accounting,” says
starter’s mentality.” and the costing of garments—how much Cagle. “I think some students expect a
it actually costs to produce them,” says career to fall
Building Your Reputation Deborah Young, program director for in their laps,
“As in any other business, marketing is fashion and textiles at Texas Woman’s and it just doesn’t
important—we have to let people know University in Denton. “We spend lots work that way.”
we’re here,” says Zanikos. “We depend on of time talking about costing, markup,
word of mouth and reputation.” and profits.”
5
Cool Careers
cHeck ouT THese excITIng careers In arTs, a/v TecHnologY & communIcaTIon.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
photogrApher MUltiMediA And FAshion designer print JoUrnAlist MUsiC perForMer
If you have a good eye for AniMAtion Artist If you have a good eye for color, If you’ve got a nose for news music may be the first career
composition, and can cope multimedia artists and animators line, and form in clothing—and and a talent for the written word, many high school students think
with deadline pressures, you create special effects, animation, a solid grasp of business consider a career as a reporter of when the arts are mentioned.
might consider a career as a and other images for television, fundamentals—you might find or correspondent. It’s an exciting and if you work hard and long
photographer. photography film, and the burgeoning field a place in the world of fashion time in the field right now—the enough, and love it enough, you
is really a collection of of computer gaming, which is design. “dallas is a regional circulation of traditional may make a living in music or
professions—you can earn a fast becoming a major Texas fashion market,” says deborah newspapers is falling across the singing—but remember that the
living with a camera in studio industry. Texas has more than 70 Young, program director for country, but their Internet sites field is fiercely competitive. as a
photography, advertising, game development companies, fashion and textiles at Texas are growing rapidly. The rise performer, you’ll stand a better
magazine and newspaper with major pools of jobs and woman’s university in denton. of Internet-based journalism is chance of success if you can play
journalism, and the sciences, talent in austin and dallas. “It’s probably third in size in the generating a whole new range of more than one instrument and
to name a few career paths. at You’ll use computers country, after new York and job opportunities. are comfortable with multiple
its most glamorous, the career extensively—and may even get los angeles. There are jobs musical styles.
can take you to exotic locations to play your own creations. in Houston and san antonio
photographing famous people. as well.”
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