Career issues

[Kiiryu]

I've been drawing my entire life, and for the last five or so years I've learned about animation, film making, composing music, and developing indie games. I see each of these as leading to a possible career, but I have no idea what I want to do, since I enjoy all of it, and I'm at about the same level in all of them.

For the longest time I was above average at everything artistic I did, because I literally spent ALL my free time improving skills, trying new things, and actively seeking out information. However, now that I'm in college I'm reaching a point where that's no longer the case. Generally speaking, employers want people who are the best at what they do, not a jack of all trades. So the best way to get hired is to choose a skill and devote you're time to becoming great at it. Since I don't know what career I want to pursue, I can't focus on any one skill, and as a result I'm falling behind in all of them since there are those who's efforts are more focused than mine.

I've talked to guidance counselors, teachers, friends, family, and I've posted on other forums. Generally speaking the answer I got has been "well what do you want to do?", but that's the problem, I don't know, and I don't think there's much chance that I'll be able to choose either. I'd say "work on independent projects and get paid for it" but that's not really a career.

However, I came to somewhat of a realization recently. Most artistic jobs take up all you're time (duh). To become a modeler, you have to focus on the skill, work you're way up, and even then chances are you'll be working overtime on a game for 3 or so years, you don't have time to work on big independent projects, which in the end is what I want to do the most.

I know I'm just rambling a lot, but bare with me here.

I see my success in the future as coming from independent projects, projects I know I could make NOW if I had the time. But I need a career, and the higher you climb the career ladder, the more it takes away you're time. So even if I choose one skill and focus on it, I won't be working towards what I want to do. Generally speaking, a job like a modeler doesn't pay much, you do it because that's what you enjoy, so if I wouldn't be working towards any position I'd be happy with in the long run, is it really worth joining the art industry as a career to begin with?

Right now I'm taking a three year digital animation course. Unfortunately, the first year was way to basic, and I've realized that taking the course is probably pointless, since I know a lot of it already, and what I don't know I could probably learn on my own faster and for twenty thousand less. (degree's don't hold much weight when compared to a good portfolio). However, the next two years would be a good opportunity to get focus on that one skill, build a portfolio, and work towards a specific job for once I graduate. But what artistic job is there that would still allow me to have time to work on indie projects?

I'm not looking for someone to decide on my career for me, nor am I looking for "the answer", I just need some advice to help me find it on my own, because I don't think I'll be able to if things continue on like this.

[Dusty]

First of all, "a job like a modeler doesn't pay much" struck me as odd. I'm a modeler and a texture artist and I get paid enough to support a family just fine (and in Seattle, at that, which has a fairly high cost of living). Granted, entry level wasn't particularly amazing, but it was great for being a 20 year old at the time and was much better than the movie theater job that I had prior! Of course, I have 10 years of experience, but my point is....the job pays good, man. So I wouldn't worry about wages in the game industry too much.

Anyways, onto your problems. The only thing I can say is that you might be over-thinking the "what if"? A bit. I got into the industry at a different time in games (honestly, I feel it was probably easier to get into the industry in 2000), so my advice may not be as applicable to a fresh fish to the pond, but I'll do my best. You can't predict the future, so you just gotta take it one day at a time and not get too bogged down with all the possibilities.

I think most of what you say is accurate, you are correct that employers want someone that is great at something, but I completely disagree that they don't want jack of all trades. That is the most desirable type of employee they can get! But yes, you do need to be really good in 1 thing to set you apart from everyone else. But if you do focus on 1-2 things and at least keep the other skills somewhat current, you will be golden. When I first got into the industry, I was only a texture artist. I quit my job to relocate and found that I could not find another job without learning more skills (specifically modelling) in my new area. People would look at my resume and say "Oh, you just texture? Hmmm...well we have our modelers texture their own things, so resend your resume when you can model".

And that is common everywhere. You need to be able to do multiple things, so if you are already on that path, then stick with it. Treat it like having multiple credit cards. Pay the minimum on all the cards but one, which you pay 2-3 times as much as the minimum balance to get it down to 0. And then repeat the process with the others until they are all paid off. That's how you have to treat this...one thing at a time. And if you don't feel you have time for that? Well, then my friend...you may have to suck it up and live with your family a little longer.

It's not sad or depressing to live with your family if they will allow it to hone your skills. I lived with my mother after college for something like 6-8 months. You'd be surprised how much you learn on your own when you don't have a job or school to go to (well, of course you are doing your own form of schooling, but you get my point).

The best advice I can give you is to stay on your toes and adapt where jobs arise. I went to college to get into sculpting/mold-making/makeup special effects and when I got out of school, I found the leads to be disappointing so I tried to apply to some toy designers and that didn't pan out, so I decided to test the waters with my basic (at the time) photoshop skill and apply to some game companies and that one worked out alright. You just need to be always thinking of possibilities, scour the web for new opportunities and contact places directly constantly. Eventually, something will come up if you are still honing those skills like you should be. At this point of your life you should be in 100% career mode, don't be too concerned about time-wasters and you'll know what they are when they tempt you. There will be plenty of time for them AFTER you find your career.

-D

[Kiiryu]

Sure, employers would rather have someone who's good at modeling and and texturing rather than someone who's good at only one, but that's narrowing it down to the career. Even then, employers would rather hire a person who's great at modeling AND a person who's great at texturing than a person who's good at both. So an employer hiring a modeler certainly wouldn't care that I can do 2d sprites and tile sets, or compose music, or do storyboards, since those particular skills have next to nothing to do with the career. Furthermore, If I was going to be a modeler I'd have to work at it every day, go to forums, get critiques, build an online portfolio, work on collab projects online, get contacts, all just to get a job. I'd have to devote my time to making it as a modeler. I can't do all that with every single skill.

Also, as I said what I really want to do is work on indie projects, and no job really works towards that, in fact it seems to go in the opposite direction since you'll have more and more work.

Not that it matters, cause I don't know what career I want to pursue anyway :/

[Dusty]

Yes, you will need to spend the time to dedicate to something, but you probably won't know what it is until you get your first hook on the line. That's what I meant by adapting. You may not be able to just say "I want to do this", then spend the next 2 years getting great at it to get a job. You just might have to accept being entry level at something, getting a rather no-frills job at a no-frills, but still applicable company and then honing your skills on site.

Sure it would be great to nail down a good focus of something specific that you want to do and dedicate time to one thing, but if you can't then you need to be ready to pick up whatever strikes when it strikes you. As you said, none of us can decide that for you so all I can say is just be ready for it when it happens.

[Mute]

I think Dusty has offered some great advice already. It's true that sometimes you need to get in and look around before you can make a decision on what you want to really pursue. You might consider another perspective as well.



I see my success in the future as coming from independent projects, projects I know I could make NOW if I had the time. But I need a career, and the higher you climb the career ladder, the more it takes away you're time.

I'm assuming you're interested in game design from your mention of modeling, sprite animation and music production. So, if the above quote is true, then perhaps building a portfolio to look for a career in a large game studio somewhere just isn't for you.

There are people who are more interested in making games on their own or in very small teams as opposed to working in a studio environment. Reasons for this could be because of the freedom it affords them creatively, or the appeal of being involved in more aspects of the creation process (like music design, level design, character creation.) But the point is, their passion isn't to work on a large AAA, 3 year production as part of a 150 person team. That just isn't where the fun is for them. Of course there are people who really like a studio environment too. But if that doesn't sound like you then you shouldn't strive to be that person.

There are a lot of outlets now for smaller game productions. With the XBox360 and PS3 marketplaces, Steam and the various mod sites like Moddb.com it's possible now, perhaps more than ever, to be successful as a smaller developer.

If you want to go that route, then your objective should be to find a job that can pay your bills while still affording you enough time to be productive on your own projects. With enough time, hopefully those projects will be successful enough to support you financially and then you'll have your career. It's tough, because it would require a lot of discipline and it's a less structured career path than saying "I want to be a modeler, so i'm just gonna work my ass off to be the best at modeling." But if it's really what you want to do, and working as a specialist isn't, than it will provide you with a more rewarding career in the end even though it's more risky to get started.

Rock on!

[Kiiryu]

@Dusty: So in other words, apply for everything I think I'm qualified for with each skill set and let the quality of my work choose for me, more or less.

@Mute: There are numerous independent projects I want to work on, not just games. For instance I'd like to submit some films to the Atlantic film festival, write and develop a visual novel (not the same thing as a graphic novel, for those of you who don't know), do a manga, a web series...

There are numerous things I'd like to do, I just feel like I should be working towards a career right now.

...Gah..I have no idea what to do. I guess I'll look at what jobs are out there..

[Dusty]

Yes. That's what I did...and you are a bit different than where I was. You don't know what you want out of a variety of things. I KNEW what I wanted (or thought I wanted) and merely realized it was not something that I wished to pursue and course-corrected my career once I saw an opportunity.

In my opinion, art is art. What you do in your life with that art is up to you...but staying adaptable will increase the likelihood that someone will pay you for it.

[dpaint]

@Dusty: So in other words, apply for everything I think I'm qualified for with each skill set and let the quality of my work choose for me, more or less.

@Mute: There are numerous independent projects I want to work on, not just games. For instance I'd like to submit some films to the Atlantic film festival, write and develop a visual novel (not the same thing as a graphic novel, for those of you who don't know), do a manga, a web series...

There are numerous things I'd like to do, I just feel like I should be working towards a career right now.

...Gah..I have no idea what to do. I guess I'll look at what jobs are out there..

I don't mean this with any disrespect but sounds to me like these are excuses to really do nothing. I was around people all the time who liked to talk about all the possibilities that were available to them but really they were in their head and they weren't reallly as good or really as interested in all the things they said they were. They were the 'legend in their own mind syndrome', now maybe thats not you and you really are the guy you say you are, but if thats true you should have no problem finding people to fund your indie projects.
Mostly I see people who don't want to do one thing because then they never really have to fail; once they actually do it they have to succeed where as if they just talk about it all the time they don't have to do anything.

[Kiiryu]

@kraken98:
The problem is choosing which career to pursue to begin with.


@dpaint:
I don't see myself as being amazing in any way, it's actually the opposite. Like I said, I've fallen behind in everything. Sure, animating a laser effect frame by frame and then editing it into live action footage may have been impressive early on in high school, but I doubt there are many people who couldn't do it on this forum, and I also bet there are plenty of people my age who can do things much more complicated. The only difference is that not only do I have an "okay" knowledge of editing, but also an "okay" knowledge of composing music, sound recording, illustration, game development, and so on. But as I said, I'm just "okay" at all these things, not great.

Anyhow, here are some examples so you can at least see what level I'm at in general. Unfortunately the only things I have are examples of my art and music online, I don't have anything else with me that I can upload.

Here's my deviant art.
http://kiyru.deviantart.com/

And here's some of my music.
http://www.myspace.com/451771111

[Meloncov]

I'd say just choose, totally randomly if you have to. Focus on it; if you feel happy and satisfied, stick with it, and if not, try something else.

[stragan]

Generally speaking the answer I got has been "well what do you want to do?", but that's the problem, I don't know,

yea i agree that's a bullshit answer.

if you want to be a modeler, then become one; the pay is decent (i heard), so it could still be considered a 'career'
also, you may have more free time to work on 'independent projects' then
especially because of the free time..

good luck!

[Angroc]

Well. Im still a student, so I can't give you any specific advice based on much experience, but I can tell you what I've heard. It seems to be a trend that the smaller a studio gets, the more willing they are to hire generalists. Where I come from, Norway, we don't have any super huge studios, so being a generalist there is pretty much a must unless you are supremely skilled at one thing. You're pretty much required to know a bit of everything, and be able to do an assignment for your company single handedly (which I ended up doing over a summer. I did all the grunt work, while my boss (who worked at other projects) just gave me approvals and guidance.

Thing is, with a generalist you can save a lot of money since you can assign them a broader range of tasks.

With a specialist, you have to know that you can utilize his/her (narrow) skill range all his time, and thus get bang for your buck.

But then, I am only talking about 3D skills here. When it comes to your skill range I sure don't know if what I've said applies so much.

But consider the fact that some things have a higher success of hiring. I am all for chasing dreams, but I also like to think about my hiring prospects (which is why I studied 3d before I started studying 2d art).

So my philosophy is get skills in something thaht you like doing (say modelling and texturing), then when you get a firm foot in the door, start tinkering with say music a bit more seriously. Music, film scoring and such is harder to get a job. 3D is a fast growing job market, and its a *lot* of fun. Know that it has a slow start, but it gets soo rewarding if you stick with it.