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Quitting engineering to pursue art full-time

staysketchy.com

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Re: Quitting engineering to pursue art full-time

#51

Post by Dalewyn »

cmgriffing wrote: post #42
jncfhnb wrote: post #2

> In business theres a term called “Total Adressable Market,” or TAM. This is basically everyone in the world who could buy a product in a given category. What’s the TAM for a product like fishing rods? Well, that would be everyone in the world who likes fishing... > The reason we mention this is because when Pablo first started selling his art online, he created all his posts strictly in Spanish - his native languag…

I had one interesting thought while reading that section. It seems that a lot of effort has been put into tooling for translating to and from English. It's probably much more effort invested than for other languages, so by using English he actually is increasing his TAM because the translation tools are better adapted to many other languages from English.

Or to put it another way:

Spanish can understand English.

English can't understand Spanish.

Speaking English you can communicate with English and Spanish without also speaking Spanish, kill two birds with one stone.

The virtues of a lingua franca.

Re: Quitting engineering to pursue art full-time

#53

Post by blargey »

tithe wrote: post #3

> “If you’re getting hate, that’s a good sign.” ...In the past, he used to engage with them...Now, he doesn’t get too involved. Did he mean to say "passion" in this case? How is hate a "good" sign of engagement? If someone has an opinion and is willing to share it with me, I'd hope they could do it in a constructive way (but I wouldn't call that "hate", and this is the Internet he's talking about). Imagine being surr…

If you’re selling a product or service promising objective utility for a user, maybe. Art is just...there, though. Maybe games can promise functionality that a consumer can expect to have working, but most mediums don’t.

Without objective functionality, “Haters” in an art context only have one thing to be vitriolic about - their own subjective aesthetic taste. Thus their words cannot contain anything of value to the artist.

Re: Quitting engineering to pursue art full-time

#54

Post by dottjt »

redbell wrote: post #48

If I were to transition from software engineering, I'd prioritize a role that meets the following criteria: 1. Minimizes screen time and doesn't rely heavily on computers for productivity. 2. Allows me to disconnect after work without constant notifications or calls. 3. Offers stability, requiring minimal adaptation to new trends or technologies. 4. Lastly, and more importantly, not easily replaceable by AI in the ne…

Any ideas on actual roles?

I think the thing that kills me is the mental exhaustion of software development. Just thinking about how to solve problems all day is mentally taxing.

Re: Quitting engineering to pursue art full-time

#55

Post by onemoresoop »

iamacyborg wrote: post #38
Animats wrote: post #13

This looks more like pursuing Instagramming full time.

Instagram is the marketing channel but you still need to put in the work to have something to promote.

fiddling with printers and plotters isn't the hard part, most likely the marketing part is because anything sells if you find the fools.

The whole stick of this article strikes me as marketing in the first place.

Re: Quitting engineering to pursue art full-time

#56

Post by ertgbnm »

redbell wrote: post #48

If I were to transition from software engineering, I'd prioritize a role that meets the following criteria: 1. Minimizes screen time and doesn't rely heavily on computers for productivity. 2. Allows me to disconnect after work without constant notifications or calls. 3. Offers stability, requiring minimal adaptation to new trends or technologies. 4. Lastly, and more importantly, not easily replaceable by AI in the ne…

Masseuse or physical trainer are the only jobs that I can think would qualify.

No screen time, no one needs a midnight massage (although your work hours would probably not be 9-5.), not reliant on technology, and going to take a while for AI to replace.

Very few good jobs fulfill criteria number 2.

Re: Quitting engineering to pursue art full-time

#57

Post by onemoresoop »

iamacyborg wrote: post #17
FrustratedMonky wrote: post #16

With AI hitting Art, and the Engineering Job Market right now, is it a toss which is the worse choice?

Art has been a poor career choice for a long time before the current state of AI

Not if you're truly into marketing and art is a second thought. Most 'artists' of this type sell copies because that easy money. But if you're not good with marketing you end up stockpiling copies of your art that nobody wants.

Re: Quitting engineering to pursue art full-time

#58

Post by AlbertCory »

tithe wrote: post #3

> “If you’re getting hate, that’s a good sign.” ...In the past, he used to engage with them...Now, he doesn’t get too involved. Did he mean to say "passion" in this case? How is hate a "good" sign of engagement? If someone has an opinion and is willing to share it with me, I'd hope they could do it in a constructive way (but I wouldn't call that "hate", and this is the Internet he's talking about). Imagine being surr…

In the movie biography of Tom Wolfe (RIP), his daughter tells of reading some of the vicious things people said about him, and asking him if this didn't bother him.

He said, "No, of course not. You're nobody 'til somebody hates you."

So if you despised them first and said something that touched them that deeply, I could see considering that a success.

Re: Quitting engineering to pursue art full-time

#59

Post by chasd00 »

redbell wrote: post #48

If I were to transition from software engineering, I'd prioritize a role that meets the following criteria: 1. Minimizes screen time and doesn't rely heavily on computers for productivity. 2. Allows me to disconnect after work without constant notifications or calls. 3. Offers stability, requiring minimal adaptation to new trends or technologies. 4. Lastly, and more importantly, not easily replaceable by AI in the ne…

if you live in a place with lots of sun and rain you can make a pretty good living owning a yard service and employing a small crew. A childhood friend of mine in FL worked as a mower and then bought the business when his boss was ready to retire. I think he does well into 6 figures and supports his family with it.

edit: i will say he and his crew are pretty amazing at what they do. Speed and quality is unbelievable (it's been 20 years since i've seen him work though)

edit2: i've also heard of people buying a backhoe, dump truck, and a trailer and making 6 figures doing random contracts.

Re: Quitting engineering to pursue art full-time

#60

Post by tithe »

dottjt wrote: post #54
redbell wrote: post #48

If I were to transition from software engineering, I'd prioritize a role that meets the following criteria: 1. Minimizes screen time and doesn't rely heavily on computers for productivity. 2. Allows me to disconnect after work without constant notifications or calls. 3. Offers stability, requiring minimal adaptation to new trends or technologies. 4. Lastly, and more importantly, not easily replaceable by AI in the ne…

Any ideas on actual roles? I think the thing that kills me is the mental exhaustion of software development. Just thinking about how to solve problems all day is mentally taxing.

Construction trades (e.g., any role involved in building a house).
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