From Quiz Shows to Sheepdogs: The Unlikely Side Hustles of Famous Artists
Before achieving fame, many renowned artists turned to unconventional side hustles to fund their creative pursuits, revealing a fascinating history of struggle and ingenuity.
Illegal Ventures and Creative Funding
French novelist Jean Genet perfected a trick briefcase for stealing valuable books, which he resold after reading them. His criminal activities led to multiple prison stints, but incarceration ironically provided time to discover his writing vocation. Similarly, film-maker Jean-Luc Godard funded his early career by stealing first editions and cash, landing him in jail and a psychiatric institution.
In 1970s New York, Belgian director Chantal Akerman pocketed cash from a porn cinema job and stole film reels for her debut feature. Nearby, novelist Kathy Acker performed simulated sex shows at a nightclub, working just one day a week to finance six days of writing, gaining unique societal insights.
Wholesome Hustles and Unexpected Windfalls
American composer John Cage transformed his mushroom-foraging hobby into a lucrative opportunity. In 1959, he appeared on the Italian quizshow Lascia o Raddoppia, answering questions on fungi to win 5 million lire, equivalent to £70,000 today. He used the winnings to buy a Steinway piano and a Volkswagen campervan for his partner's dance company.
Canadian painter Emily Carr bred Old English bobtail sheepdogs and sold pottery to tourists while running a boarding house during World War I, though her art suffered due to financial pressures.
The Drag of Side Gigs on Creativity
Not all side hustles were successful. Abstract-expressionist Grace Hartigan worked clerical jobs in the 1950s, recording despair in her journal over lost painting time. Many artists found even undemanding gigs drained their creative energy, highlighting the precarious balance between making art and making a living.
Lessons for Today's Artists
These stories show that struggling financially is common among groundbreaking artists. Side hustles often influenced their creativity, such as Genet's thefts shaping his transgressive fiction or Cage's TV charisma aiding his lectures. Being an artist involves acquiring life experience, knowledge, and material stability to create, not just talent or perfect conditions.
Ultimately, artistry is about bringing work to life with available resources, a lesson applicable beyond the arts. For more insights, refer to Making Art and Making a Living by Mason Currey.
