What are you doing? I'm Creatively Hustlin!
The artist is constantly grinding and hungry. We are willing to go days without eating, sacrifice our time and energy dedicating it all towards our dream. Furthermore we are willing to risk being chastised for our vision that is expressed creatively on heavily received subjects ie; religion, sex, civil rights, etc. It's in our system, we can’t live without it, and sometimes when we are forced or unable to get our vision out, sometimes we die. Now I know that’s a little dramatic, but it's true. Think about visual artists like Van Gogh, and Rothko. Writers like Ernest Hemingway and Sylvia Plath. Some successful during their lives and some not. It makes one sometimes think, is it really worth being a starving artist?
Well I’m here to say, “ HELL YEAH!” For one, artists today are not exactly sold on the whole “starving artist,” appeal anymore. We’re out here hustlin and hustlin hard. In today’s world one might argue that it is harder to step out as an artist, but I for one would contest that argument. I think with new media, and the internet, artists are becoming “creative entrepreneurs.” We aren’t letting “other” people give us the opportunity to share or present our work publically we are doing it ourselves! Just look at me writing this blog. Think of the independent musicians who are uploading their music on Itunes or Spotify, the writers that are self-publishing, the actors creating their small films and uploading them to Youtube or Vimeo, the dancers booking spaces and performing pieces.
Yes, it can still be a struggle but we always find creative ways to make it work. Hard work can pay off, starting with believing in yourself. Here is my impromptu idea for the week: What’s your creative hustle? What is something you have always wanted to do creatively, artistically but hesitated because you thought it would never work? Write out all those ideas and pick one to start with. I would love to see your dreams coming alive, share your progress with the world using #creativelyhustlin and #lebohemianmuse. And I will share it on my instagram and twitter (@lebohemianMuse).
“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” - Abraham Lincoln