# Have you been paid for your "Art"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 6, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956 "2010-01-06T20:55:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/81 "2010-01-09T10:43:19Z")
> [@nicole1912](#): > > I make and sell [jewellery](http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicole-hill/collections/72157622975793203/) - and, somewhat surprisingly to me, it does sell! Slowly, I’m not making a living off it, but people still give me money in exchange for my work, which is awesome. (My normal line of work is admin work, so this is a big change for me, and quite a recent one; please forgive the excited babbling…) That’s nice stuff, better than you see around your average market. I don’t know how you are selling it but I would look at some alternatives because I know that people making a living off stuff inferior to yours. Have you checked out what is selling at markets near you? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/82 "2010-01-09T11:59:32Z")
I’ve been paid expenses for playing trumpet, money for time off work ditto, and now receive an annual honorarium as church organist plus extra for weddings and funerals (one of each, to date). Also got paid to sing once or twice. Not much, but I guess it qualifies. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/83 "2010-01-09T12:00:54Z")
> [@C3](#): > > I’ve been paid for my knitting. I knit a pair of pants for a friend’s toddler. They were really cute sock monkey pants and turned out really well. The original deal was that she would just pay for the yarn (about $25-30), but she like them so much, she insisted on paying me for them. She wrote me a check for $75. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/84 "2010-01-09T12:08:30Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I have been paid for writing comedy material for network television. I have been paid for writing movie reviews. At the moment I am trying my hand at song writing. The guy I am doing it for likes my stuff but I can’t seem to get anything completed. I have written some songs but they are really fragments that I can’t tie together. What this country really needs is another hit like [this.](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1gxzw_the-kingsmen-louie-louie_music) ---
**Author:** ![nicole1912](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@nicole1912](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nicole1912)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/85 "2010-01-09T12:17:12Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > That’s nice stuff, better than you see around your average market. I don’t know how you are selling it but I would look at some alternatives because I know that people making a living off stuff inferior to yours. > > Have you checked out what is selling at markets near you? Thanks! Looking at local markets is on my list of things to do early this year - but it’s much more scary selling things in person than online. Still, time to be a big girl and try it out; I’ll never know if it’ll work out if I don’t give it a shot, at least! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/86 "2010-01-09T18:08:35Z")
I write science fiction. I’ve been paid for nearly everything I’ve published, sometimes two or three times. ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/87 "2010-01-09T18:14:49Z")
My senior year in high school an art teacher paid me $20 for a copy of my cat tessellation that I made in my digital art class. It wasn’t much, but the fact that somebody liked it enough to buy it from me made me feel good. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/88 "2010-01-10T13:34:33Z")
I’ve been paid for playing music in various configurations, the most recent (if you can call it that) being a band playing our own music in NYC/NJ in the mid to late '90s. We made enough to buy studio time, and put out a demo cassette and a CD. That was about it. Lots of fun though, which, most likely to the detriment of the enterprise, was all I expected to get out of it. My expertise is drums, but I think I made more money during a 6 month stint playing bass in a country band when I was living in Colorado than I ever did playing drums. My favorite episode from that time ('87, '88?) was when we were the house band at a midway BBQ/beer shed at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Slept on the stage, played 5 sets over the course of the afternoons and nights, and got paid $3600 in $5 dollar bills at the end of the week. We were all looking over our shoulders while we practically ran to our vehicles with our pockets stuffed with cash. Got to see the carnival life for a week and saw Johnny Cash and a bunch of other big acts for free (the shed was just outside the main grandstand). ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/89 "2010-01-10T15:42:51Z")
I’ve been paid to play the piano in bistros a couple of times, and it was my own compositions & improvisions I was playing; but it was never “time to quit the day job” sort of thing. I’ve been told I could sell prints of my photographs at the local art & framing stores, or set up a kioskbooth along central park or at some street fair. Haven’t tried it yet though. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/90 "2010-01-10T17:20:33Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > I’ve been paid to play the piano in bistros a couple of times, and it was my own compositions & improvisions I was playing; but it was never “time to quit the day job” sort of thing. I hear you. I was at the local Guitar Center the other day just for fun. I was playing a decent guitar through a decent amp - just basic rhythm stuff, not “hey look at me” riffing (I _hate_ that crap). Anyway this Eastern Eurpopean fellow about my age listened for a while and then wanted to talk to me - he liked my playing, which is cool, and told me a tale about being involved in music for years in Ukraine and then a 20+ year gap and now he is looking at guitar. He got kinda misty-eyed and talked about how he wished he’d stuck with it the way I had and was asking me about what it was like to be a professional. I had to help him step away from the fantasy, made it clear that I had never seriously considered being a pro musician, and encouraged him to be happy that he loves music so much and can keep growing from where he is at. Folks on the SDMB like \*\*Le Ministre \*\*and \*\*picker \*\*who are pro musicians are the exceptions - being able to devote your life to making money from your art changes everything - what lifestyle you are prepared to have, your relationship with your art since it’s gotta pay the bills, etc… ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/91 "2010-01-10T17:34:28Z")
A misty-eyed gay boy once tipped me after I sang Sarah McLachlan’s Angel on karaoke night at a bar in Atlanta. 😃 I do some pretty decent graphic design stuff for family and friends that ends up saving them a few bucks, but that’s about it. My better half has sold some sheet music of pieces she has written through the Sibelius Music Store and we are on the cusp of getting her own music company off the ground to give it a real go. ---
**Author:** ![Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Picard_Kills_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/92 "2010-01-10T18:49:11Z")
I haven’t seen anyone mention my hobby yet, so I’ll throw it in. I have been paid for woodworking. I’ve made and sold pen and pencil sets, salt and pepper shakers, small woodcarvings, breadboards, small boxes, etc… I would like to one day move up the size scale and make some furniture, but I don’t have the necessary tools or space to do so. Not yet at least. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/93 "2010-01-10T20:33:06Z")
I’ve sold carved calabash, paintings & clothing I’ve made from reclaimed stuff, dyed, bleached & generally funked up, bookmarks, little reversible dolls, hair scrunchies, vests knitted from old sheets, hats, bags. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/94 "2010-01-11T07:17:37Z")
Yes. Not _much,_ mind you, but yes. Let’s see: I’ve been paid for photography services once. I’ve bartered photography services a few other times. I’ve sold at least one and possibly up to three (can’t remember now) fine-art photographic prints. I’ve been paid for background/extra work twice, for two stage shows, and one feature-length indie film. I don’t think I’ve ever been paid to sing, yet. I’ve also been a salaried/freelance graphic designer, web designer, email designer at various points in time. Now I’m pretty much at a point where I refuse to work for free unless they’re offering me something else of substantial value. ---
**Author:** ![Aghris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@Aghris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aghris)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/95 "2010-01-11T14:39:38Z")
Beginning freelance photographer (website [here](http://www.erbay.nl)). I had some of my Vietnam photos bought by a travel organization for publication on their website. I also have done some private photo shoots in my studio that paid fairly well. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/96 "2010-01-11T15:17:19Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > Oh, great. So _you’re_ the one responsible for me having to listen to Shadow Sonic mutter “Damn! Not here!” every other minute. 😃 Oh I wish. Good lord do I wish. No, I get hired because I work cheap, and I’m known for my ‘humor’. Of course, it always ends up this way: “This is too obscure. Can you change it?” “You mean dumb it down a bit?” “…Yeah.” Grumble. (No lie, last project? 100 pages of dialogue, none of which will be used because the developers decided, at the last minute, that the game needed to go a ‘dark and gritty’ direction instead of a ‘humorous’ direction.) ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/97 "2010-01-11T15:23:30Z")
Not sure I’d call it art, but I’ve had lots of my pictures published in NASCAR related publications, including a few nationally distributed ones. I was a NASCAR photographer for 5 years, 3 of which were contracted to NASCAR. This was on the old Busch North touring series (now Camping World East and bears little resemblance to the series I was associated with). I also had some of my racing work show up on trading cards. That was kinda neat. I’ve also sold some of my regular photography as well. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/98 "2010-01-11T18:12:09Z")
I sell my art [here](http://www.etsy.com/shop/WinonaCookie) - hoping to do a book with the stories and images soon. I design logos, do freelance illustration and design [table accents](http://www.ehobbytools.com/contents/en-us/p2834.html) and [figurines](http://www.ehobbytools.com/contents/en-us/p1984.html) for a collectibles company (they sculpt them in Hong Kong). It’s about a 1/3 - 1/2 of my income, depending on the year. ---
**Author:** ![Viridiana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Viridiana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viridiana)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/99 "2010-01-12T09:39:30Z")
Aside from web and graphic design in my some of my day work, I paint resin doll faces and make doll clothes on commission, with personal designs selling here and there. I’m not famous but I’m fairly well known in a niche community and have been in a magazine. Not quite what I got my fine art degree for, and it doesn’t make enough to live on, but it’s really nice for reminding me that my artistic side hasn’t become totally worthless, which helps me continue to work on other creative stuff that I don’t get paid for. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956/100 "2010-01-12T09:54:40Z")
When I was younger I got into making chainmaille. I sold a number of necklaces and shirts. Hardly profitable at an hourly rate but it was fun to get money for a hobby. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-paid-for-your-art/523956.md?page=6)