I stumbled over this tape in one of my flea market walks. A mysterious cassette with a marker tag that only says “ARTIST?” So I put the tape on my walkman just to listen this message that maybe will be helpful for you. Here is the transcription:

Stop trying to be successful
trying to be the best
Repeat after me…
I’m not gonna make it as an artist
Do you notice the relief after saying these words?
Because I do.
When you are making art in any form… music, visuals… whatever…
the most pernicious feeling you can have is:
I need to be successful
I need to have a career making this or that
it doesn’t matter how good you are at your game
Success is most of the time about being lucky and having some amount of talent, of course.
That’s the truth.
So relax…
You must do your stuff because it is part of who you are.
No other reason is valid.
Yes, I know… you have to buy stuff.
Just keep your job or look for something that leaves you enough time
to make the stuff you want to make.
And I’m not giving you this advice because I have
a punchline where I reveal the secret to be successful.
On the contrary, I’m giving you this advice because…
I have a master’s degree in making unsuccessful things.
I have a lot of experience being an unsuccessful artist, musician, writer.
So I am feeling entitled to say…
Don’t punish yourself.
The goal of making all these artistic things isn’t to have a job, but to have a soul.
But don’t get me wrong, your time making these things is valuable,
just like the time of anyone in their daily jobs, right? So…
never underestimate your time, your experience making your stuff.
It is always a valuable asset.
it is your way to carry on in this world.
Make art, your art,
Sharing that art with the people…
And Maybe some money comes your way
that’s a really cool thing!
But never lose the aim…
Just make what you love.
You’ll never take a wrong turn following that direction.
That’s the way to make it
Do what you love
Sincerely… An unsuccessful artist.

And one more thing… Check the AW website: https://audiowanderer.com/