And now for a long overdue introduction…
Well Muddo! The audience has come, and they have voiced their opinion on Part 2 of this series, and after some initial ruckus, it seems that things are settling down to some sort of consensus: Film has potential, but beware of the risk. Thanks to all of those who joined in the discussion, and of course you can still go there and have your say.
Yes, let’s talk a bit about this viability thing. Simply put, what I am talking about is how YOU can make a living off of what you love. For me, what I love is writing and painting. The usual day jobs needed to fund these pursuits are teaching and the graphic arts. I have worked for clients as a graphic artist, and I have spent portions of the last two years marking student essays, and I will tell you, this is not how I wish to spend the rest of my days. I do not want to pursue what I love as a hobby. Now, if you enjoy your day job, good for you. Keep on keeping on. However, if you are like me, and want to do this thing you love more fully, then we can get somewhere together.
See, when I ask is it ‘viable’? I am not asking ‘is it possible?’ Because, of course it’s possible. What I am really asking is this: if this is what you love, can you live off of it?
Not too long ago the lament in Nassau was that:
Bahamians who want to exercise their talents in the cultural industries are faced with the choice of pursuing their callings as hobbies at home, or of leaving home to make a living by their gifts elsewhere. And we are all the poorer for it.
Maybe you remember that time. However, the interesting thing is that people have been living off of art in the Bahamas for at least 40 years. My father, Eddie Minnis, for instance, has been making it in this country as an artist non-stop since 1971. So clearly, it is possible.
Now, see I’m not talking about getting rich, I’m not talking about creating a multi-national corporation, what I’m talking about is you, doing the thing that you love, not as a hobby, but as your career.
The other thing, that bugs me is that a lot of people will give you some platitudes, “Go follow your dream!” or “Ma buhy, you can do this!” But, it isn’t very often that there is any talk of HOW. Maybe you went to school to study art, maybe you are a bundle of natural talent, but how do you translate that skill into a practical dollars and cents living? That is what this series is about. I’m trying to take a closer look at some of those Bahamians, like an Eddie Minnis, like a Michael Pintard, who are actually doing this thing.
This series, also is just the start. I have been interviewing and emailing Bahamian artists, trying to work out these ideas, and get their thoughts. And of course, I’m taking all of your thoughts and comments to heart and in the end I hope to put it all together as a free .pdf guide / booklet. Maybe to serve penance to the film people, I’ll even put some of the interviews I hope to do on Youtube.
Cause see, the way I see it, the more of us there are doing what we love, the better it will be for all of us.
Ok, now that we are, hopefully, all on the same page, back to the matter at hand…
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