“Good art is a talent. Good design is a skill”
Check your
Facebook today? Or, more likely,
the question is, how many times did you check it? Send any tweets?
Post in your tumblr? Update
your blog (see what I did there…)?
The
reality of what is normal and acceptable sharing has become drastically different
in the past seven years. Private
lives are all over the internet, secrets are out there for the world to
read-and the strange part is that we’re the ones doing it to ourselves. I freely admit that I am as guilty as
the next-yes, you can see me as a baby with soap on my head if you find my
Facebook, I live-tweeted the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, and, well,
you’re reading my blog.
As a
natural byproduct of this type of information sharing and openness, it has
changed the dynamic of our personal, and, more important for this forum, it
makes a difference in our work.
Most people who work in the arts are freelancers, in some form or
another, and so, logically, we put a great deal of energy into proper and
positive self-promotion of ourselves, and our work. This is a good thing, and it is extremely important. Every person-freelancer, artist, or
otherwise- should be confident and proud of themselves and their work. Confidence and belief in who you are
and what you are doing is a key to being happy, and satisfied with your life.
The danger
I’d like to address is what happens when confidence and promotion get tangled
together in a perpetuating cycle that leads to unhealthy arrogance.
As
mentioned before, the average person nowadays shares far more of their personal
lives with the world at large, and it is common (even expected) practice. With this level of intrusion into our
private lives, stemming from the same outlets where we also maintain professional
relationships and advertise our freelance business-where do we draw the
line?
Suddenly,
a more casual outlet for communication becomes a source of professional
networking, and so the end result is a digital bandstand to sing out one’s own
achievements with confidence.
Again- this is not a bad thing.
That’s what the internet can be used for. Facebook, twitter, and a million other things can be forums
for professional, personal, or some combination, discussions and networking.
The danger
is maintaining keen awareness of the realities of who you are, what you are
doing, versus the idea of who you are that is displayed on the internet for all
the world to see.
Confidence
and a savy sense of self-promotion are good things. However, a healthy dose of humility also goes a long
way. (That was some awesome
alliteration, agreed?). The best
freelancers, artists, and people are the ones who are confident in who they
are, without believing in their own greatness. Especially as an artist, I always find that the times I grow
the most, or connect with colleagues is when I admit, honestly, to my struggles
and weaknesses; and, conversely, I’ve found that I always uncomfortable or put
off when someone cannot seem to stop proving themselves, or have a normal
conversation that doesn’t involve a discussion of their successes.
All in
all, I suppose I’m just trying to say that it is okay to allow yourself, and
the world, to see that you are a human being. Believe in yourself and your abilities, but be humble enough
to know when you can do better, and you may find you are respected even more
for admitting your mistakes than recounting your accolades of success.
Unless, of
course, you are Mr. Fantastic from the Fantastic Four. Then, by all means…
