Myth Seven: When I make a million, I’ll be set

Myth Seven: When I make a million, I’ll be set

Does your day job give you enough time and energy to not only create, but also market your art consistently each week? If not, there are still some things to consider before you make the jump. If you’re going to have a legitimate art career without a day job, you should, at the very least, plan to:

·         work long hours, usually 10 to 15 hours a day seven days a week.

·         spend about 65% of your time doing business tasks as opposed to creative tasks.

·         devote 3 hours of business promotion time for every hour of creative time.

·         spend some of your savings on your start-up costs.

·         have an income that isn’t steady or consistent.

·         get lonely.

·         fight the odds of failing. According to the Small Business Administration 4 out of 5 small businesses fail within five years.

For artists like TV host, Mark Montano, this freedom allows him to spend the majority of his days creating. “I’d say I spend about 12 hours a day creating, says Montano. “It’s what I love so I also feel that when I’m deep in a creative project, it’s a form of active meditation.  So, I’m lucky in that aspect.  It’s like being a creative monk you could say.  I try my best not to get in my own way.”

Mark Montano

Mark Montano is an interior designer, artist, writer and TV personality. Best known as his work on both the Style Network and The Learning Channel: Ten Years Younger, which he hosted, While You Were Out, on which he frequently appears as a designer, and My Celebrity Home where he has been both host and designer.  Montano can currently be seen on WE TV's new show, "She's Moving In". Montano is also the author of several books and has a regular column in the teen magazine Cosmo Girl. His latest book is "The Big-Ass Book of Crafts.” www.markmontano.com.