How to make money - Why artists, writers and healers struggle to get ahead in life

How to make money - Why artists, writers and healers struggle to get ahead in life

As an artist, writer and healer, I had been asked this question many times.

The key to any business, big or small, is "Repeat Business" and not "Single Sales" in a consumerism world.

Artists, writers and healers offer once off products that may or may not turn into a follow-up purchase. This leaves them with no option but to continually find new clients, especially if their clients do not speak about their artwork, books or skills. And even if their loyal fans proclaim and sing their praises, most people will not believe it anyway, or have this ingrained idea that they can not spend the undervalued amounts asked for said artwork, craftsmanship, book, or session in whichever form.

People in general will rather spend on luxury items or filling their bellies with something nice.

(Food and Consumables industry = Repeat business)

Modern Medicine knows this and has made it an art form to generate clients instead of cures. The same goes for all Medical accepted practices where clients (NOT patients) have continued repeat sessions to 'get' to the 'bottom' of their issues.

(Modern Medicine = Repeat Business)

The same model works for all 'system' based modalities where repeat attendance is required in order to 'gain' something from sessions.
(System Based Modalities = Repeat Business)

If one should sit down and analyze each business sector one can choose carefully whether you wish to serve, or self-gain.

Of course the ideal is to balance, but when there is no balance gained then one must choose which is best for survival.

Selling lots of artwork and/or books is of course the ideal, yet there are only so many hours in a day to labour in creating and writing (never mind marketing), leaving a huge discrepancy in workload to final product income ratio. In most cases the only industry gaining from these labours are the third party sellers, agents and middle man (to cut down on self-marketing in order to concentrate on creating).

With permanent healing, whether through sessions or substance, that is it. You have one unbalanced client who walks away not needing your sessions or substances ever again. Thus permanent healing does not generate repeat business, ever.

Investors and individuals do not buy into miracles. They will buy into repeat business (continued classes or visits to therapists), feel-good sessions (pampering or praise) and what they perceive as luxuries.

Paying for the substance or services of a healer is still a continued argument of "Your GIFT should be used for the benefit of Mankind" without compensation, or limited compensation in the form of donations, because it is a God Given Gift you had received and Heaven Forbid if you dare make it your income Profession. (This is besides all the other arguments against this, which we will not discuss in this opinion piece.)

Same goes with artists and writers. You were given a gift to GIVE to the world. And who will sponsor these artists, writers and healers?

You, or the public, as it seems to be considered a 'public' service to 'mankind'?

Next time you argue with an artist, writer or healer about price, think about the hours that went into creating the artwork, what SERVICE they are rendering, and what permanent benefit you will derive from their product. Artwork is forever and will continue to keep or grow its investment value. Books are repeat entertainment which might just become the next block buster movie. And what price do you place on true healing?

Disclaimer: This is a generalized opinion piece to inform artists, writers, and those in the original healing fields to maybe re-consider their career choices, or to make peace with the fact that they will have to keep their day jobs while practicing their God given gifts as hobbies only. Hopefully the general public will see a small glimpse into the daily toil and struggles of those so easily dismissed as 'non-essential' in society.

Ps. Put Actors on this list as well https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-shaming-of-geoffrey-owens-and-the-inability-to-see-actors-as-laborers-too