Artists in Tech Industry
I write/direct and produce short films while holding a full time software engineering position. Even though I like software engineering, my "true love" is making films and I've been doing that for the last 5 years on the side (nights and weekends and early mornings). When I see successful artists, a voice in my head tells me to leave my engineering position. I can probably survive around 10 years with my savings (I'm mid 30s), but with the uncertainty in the Arts, it is likely that I'd have to come back to the corporate world again at a later age. So my options are: 1. Stay in corporate, work steadily on my art as a hobby and continue publishing on youtube. 2. Leave corporate world, write/produce and get hired in an agency to develop related skills (camera, production, etc) focus on publishing own material on the side. 3. Change from full time to contract positions, take 6 months time off at a time and work on films. My goal is to create an audience for my films. Anyone here torn between art and tech relate to this? and if you did quit your job how did it go for you? And if you do both, how do you deal with the "double life" and the imposter syndrome that results form doing both at half capacity. oh, and TC: ~300K. YOE: 12 #career #art #quit #wlb #contractor
Thanks for sharing! I have actually failed once! I did quit for a short while and was so anxious that it lasted around 3 months before I came back to SWE. I kind of wish I had gone longer, as I could afford it. But it's never too late.
Are you me from the future? I'm making my first short right now. In university. Contemplating the same choices regarding my future . I'm in Canada, assuming Vancouver is the best place to be for people like us
Best of Luck! You have the advantage of thinking ahead and early in the game. Hope you can find your way.
I’m in the same boat, but I’ve never had the guts to quit and regret it! Now I have a kid and a health issue so quitting is even less feasible. I worked in video games for my first 10 yrs, that scratched the itch enough, but I still regret not taking a couple of years to try while I was young. Now I’m at Microsoft with a nice fat TC for 4 yrs and playing 401k catchup. I say do it! Give yourself 2 yrs to make it work. If you need to you can pick up some freelance dev work. Your life will be more interesting, you’ll meet more people. TC can wait and catch up when you are older if you need to.
Have you thought of networking your way into a Creative Director role? If you can end up as a successful manager at MS, surely game studios can see how that person may work out as a successful Creative Director
Yeah…I’m working on an exit strategy- or a shift- but it’ll take some time. I am not sure I want back to games tho.
What did you end up doing?
Im still handcuffed to fang!! I stayed and am hustling on the side. But I still think about breaking out every day.
Thanks for responding after all this time 🤣 Sometimes I wonder if I can only truly make it as an artist if I devote myself completely to it full time
My brother quit and set a 2 year plan to be making XYZ or he’d go back and he’s halfway through and looking promising!
I like that your brother had a set time limit for his venture. I think having a specific plan is key to reduce the unknowns.