Today’s episode is all about faaaaaamily! What’s your family like? Are they supportive of your day job [or lack thereof?!]. Do they think freelancing is for the birds? Comment below to start your own dialogue!
IN THIS EPISODE: WILL BRYANT KATE BINGAMAN-BURT MEIGHAN O’TOOLE
Link: Dialogue | Design For Mankind.
You know, I don’t get harassed so much anymore apart from my Father’s side of the family, who just can’t see why I would rather spend my time working in a restaurant to get extra cash than doing graphic design full time. Working in an office from 8 to 6 and never ever really turning off is just so creatively stifling. My mother on the other hand completely understands. Great video. Enjoyed it. (You are certainly right about the party questions, oh, never mention you draw monsters as you main focus for your work, good as saying you are a blogger or a serial killer).
yowza i can’t keep up! this is AWESOME, well done Erin. i’ve gotta go back and see the other Dialogues now….. i LOVED hearing what each person had do say.
for my part, my parents were definitely apprehensive when i quit my well paying design job in nyc to move to ireland, but almost two years later i still know it was the best decision i ever made and now they are totally on board with all my various creative pursuits. there’s an interesting mix of successful and starving artists in my family so its not all together surprising that my parents would worry for me, now though i think they are quite confident that I always land on my feet.
my siblings who are all very creative people in their own rights have always been a huge source of support no matter how crazy the idea may have seemed. I think having that balance in my family, parents that have worried and questioned, and siblings encouraging has actually been a perfect mix keeping me in check while giving me the confidence to just go for it, ya know?
thanks again for putting this out there!
i usually end up not telling people i meet at parties or things like that what i do, which is work in retail while i study graphic design and do freelance illustration. it is really looked down upon by a lot of people – i am perceived as one of those “professional students” who “can’t find a real job” and who “works in retail (ugh!)”. my family buy into some of that, but they are getting better. i think it IS really hard to make it as a creative person, especially if you didn’t always know you wanted to be creative.
another great one, erin! you are amazing! (and also, so is everyone in this video– i love it!)
i enjoyed hearing these perspectives so much. my husband is incredibly supportive of anything i want to do. he has more faith in my talent than i do and keeps me from giving up or thinking i’m getting too old for it all. it’s important to have a few cheerleaders whether they be friends or family.
my mom was creative and always supportive of my endeavors, too. my in-laws, on the other hand, never seen to understand what i do whether it be professional services, marketing, or blogging. my mother in law laughed pretty hard when she simply heard the word ‘blog’ ;). and, i don’t think she understands photography beyond family photos.
thanks for this series!
Nice to see so many of my favourite artists having so much support from their families. I wouldn’t say my family has been un-supportive – but being Asian, and from that kind of outlook of “art is not a profession”, its been hard for them to come to terms with it – doesn’t help that I gave up being a scientist to pursue this.
I’m glad though that they atleast make an effort to try and find out about what I do – although they are still quite unsure about telling their peers about it. Hopefully once I graduate and am able to support myself as a freelancer, things will be better.
Great topic. Makes me miss Will & Kate even more!
As my husband watched me mat, frame and wire 40 prints and canvases for my upcoming solo show, he stopped me in my tracks yesterday to say a very loud, very firm “I am SO proud of you.” Of course, I know he supports my talents and abilities, but hearing it put into simple words made my entire day.
I think the best way to say it would be: my family appreciates what I do but never fully grasps an understanding of what it actually is.
They used to be tough on me when I first started studying design — I wasn’t particularly what you’d call artistic when I was little; I never liked drawing and all, hence their constant (and vocal) doubt that I’d do well in design. Thankfully, after five years of hard work on my part, nowadays they believe in me enough to just let me be and do what I love best. The next step for me would be convincing them that freelancing IS a real job. :)
I feel like a broken record as I always say the same thing whenever you post a new video — but this truly was awesome :) Loved it, as per usual. Thanks for putting this video together and sharing it with us, Erin!
I’m LOVING hearing your thoughts! Keep ‘em coming, and I’m glad to hear the bulk of you do have supportive families. It’s tough out there…
great! really enjoyed this one :)
well done erin!!
Hi Erin! Congrats again! Like Christa said above, I sound like a broken record too.
My family is ultra supportive though I get the occasional weird comment.
But the worst comments always come from outside your inner circle, mainly people who envy what you do or how you chose to live your life. The fact that I live abroad adds to that “glamourous” aura of having a sweet, sweet life. Freelancing isn´t for everyone, and those who aren´t fit to it just don´t understand how one can live happily this way.
Looking forward to the next episode!
I’m the only one in my family (included extended family) who has even a remotely creative job (architecture is far less creative than it seems!) My partner and my family don’t really understand why I have to put in so many hours to keep a project going, or the endless deadlines that just keep appearing out of thin air, but they’re all endlessly supportive nonetheless.
Friends however can be a little less understanding, even those who are in other creative industries. The general response to any mention of long hours is “But you just have to draw? Like, a house? Right? What’s so hard about that?” I could bore them with the details, but I spare them the 3 hour lecture about the joys of specifications and the fact that I’m often working on multimillion dollar buildings. I’m still waiting for the glamourous part of architecture to reveal itself to me :D
kit and ana– you’ve brought up some great points, yes. sometimes the most discouraging are those outside of your family circle.
here’s to creating a supportive group of friends!!
Another great dialogue.
I subscribe what Meighan says about not engaging with some people that just don’t understand what you do… but as she says, why waste the nergy? what’s the point? Brilliant.
hey – you keep picking my favorite people! fun to see! yay erin! (and kate and will and meighan)!
Thanks so much all! so much fun to see the video in action. GREAT editing job too because I know that I rambledededededed :)
Yay, thanks so much. It’s fun to hear the conversation this has raised and how everyone has their own support coming in different ways. I come from a full family of artists and I feel so lucky, I love em! Thanks again, I enjoy the videos!
my mom is super encouraging. i am very lucky in that, but it is definitely hard to justify to everyone. Blogs are the hardest things to describe to grandmothers!
nice vid erin!
hm. this is a tough one. both my parents are in the creative industry, but my dad initially wanted me to be a scientist of some sort or work in the foreign service. my mom wanted me to be a journalist. these were careers they wanted to have for themselves. both are successful at what they do now though.
they’re supportive either way. VERY critical, but supportive. they’re very good at what they do. but to make them happy, i also took a degree in journalism and have 2 more years of geology left aside from my BFA. i have rather large shoes to fill.
i don’t always tell people what i do for a living.
oh i loved your perspective, yas— you’re right; you do have big shoes to fill. i hope that someone’s supporting you!!! [besides me, of course!]. :)
e.
YEEEHAW.
thanks Erin! great editing Ken :)
such an honor to participate
good one Er,
I really enjoyed Will Bryant. He’s a riot.
Hi Will! Hi Kate! Hi Everyone!
Will- love the southern drawl.
So fun to hear what you guys had to say, what a good conversation!
I think my family wonders what I do at home all day. When I was working 18 hour days as a corporate lawyer I think they wondered the same day but at least they knew that I was getting up and putting my best threads on and going to my office. Now, I just get up and work in the same jeans and tanktops every day. They definitely wonder but they are supportive. I think they really want to understand so they ask questions but I’m really excited when I get to tell them things that are actually happening as opposed to things that are in the works.
I love these videos, Erin. loves!
I’m totally loving your dialog segments. I come from a family of teachers and engineers, so I’m pretty sure most of them have no idea what I really do but overall they do a good job of supporting me. My brother thinks I draw all day for a living, which is a little bit true.
ha— brothers tend to be right, don’t they? ha!
It is wonderful to hear that many great artists and crafters have supportive families. But, I’d really like to hear from artists who have to stand up for what they do, fight for their cause. I’d like to hear the other side and see how other people deal!
LOVE this!!!
my path as an artist has had more than a few family-constructed roadblocks… from keeping me away from art classes in high school to telling me i’d never make it. my mom is supportive now, though my dad takes it extremely personally when i tell him that i cannot possibly fulfill my full purpose on earth through my environmental law work alone… that is tough. luckily, my sisters have ALWAYS supported me. my husband is mucho supportive, and this makes all the difference. when i tell him i think i’ll just go back to regular 9 to 5 work, he says….”are you crazy??? why on earth would you want to do that??” and he always wants to take paintings to his office. sweet kid. i got so LUCKY!
xo
My family is generally supportive, but at the same time have no connection to the world I’m involved in and just don’t “get it”. It’s more about how much $ am I making, rather than what I’m making.
Oh! These are just awesome Erin! Is it bad that I just want to talk about how gorgeous you are? :) You know, my family is very supportive too….my hubby mostly. He is very proud of me and very sweet about making time for me to work. This is such a great series hun! Thank you!
xo
Melis
i love this. this is so inspiring. i don’t know what i’d do without my family. they are my complete support, and alex is my rock. i would be a basketcase without them (and am kind of a basketcase regardless:) thank you for this, i loved this!!!
i loved this episode. i’m new at exploring my creativity and for the past year my dad just hasn’t really understood what i’m doing – until he visited for coffee and i took the time to explain the ceramic decal process – he may not get my humour but, as he’s an engineer, i won him over with the process. now he’s talking about commissioning a piece! (admittedly, he wants it to feature his football team – sigh).
hahahhaahah football team? oh that’s funny.
i totally agree guys— it is sometimes really hard w/out family support. hang in there— show them you’re passionate about your work and they’ll follow [hopefully!]. :)
OMG Erin! This was the most amazing dialogue I have seen…it was well worth the wait!
Me…
I’m 18. This alone can make you understand that sometime my family have issue with what I do. Not with me making jewellery but having a blog, twitter, flickr and the rest of online social stuff. In the beginning I never told them [my dad] because they wouldn’t like it.
They say:
“Why do you need a blog” “who are you taking to” and “it’s dangerous!” “You’re wasting your time”
I agree completely with them on the dangerous factor because it’s true, you could be talking with anyone. So I am really careful with how much I say and what I say and who I say it too.
My family; like my mum, dad, sis, or bros knows I have a blog and that’s all. I don’t think they ever read it or look at it [maybe my sis does sometimes] neither do my cousins or other relatives. Truthfully I’m glad about this because I’m kind of embarrassed about them reading it. My blog is me but a different me, a side I don’t show my family. Also they don’t understand why I need one so I don’t push it on to them.
I started making jewellery when I was 13 years old. Back then I use to only make it, and that’s it. But what I really want to do is to make jewellery and sell it; I wanted to become a jewellery designer. Since then I have been trying and this is how far I have come I’m still trying and hoping one day I will reach my goal and dream. People do try to pop my bubble but I’m very protective of it and fight back furiously. I opened an etsy shop when I was 17 years old. It was the start of my dream; I have stumbled a lot since then and sometime come to a breaking point and have almost given up. Then I call my self stupid and say “what do you have to loose” pick my self and carry on.
My family are really proud of me making jewellery, especially my parents [and I love them for that]. My brothers and sister thought it was a joke that I wanted to sell it. They said my jewellery would NEVER sell. And when it did….I loved the look on there face! [Was priceless]
Everything I know about jewellery I’ve learnt by myself by reading books and though the web and so I’m completely self-taught. I really want to go to an arts collage and learn to do silversmith-ing from a professional. The problem is its really expensive and so I’m saving up for it and enjoying every moment of it too. Also my family don’t really want me to go [they see my jewellery as a hobby, a little girl having fun] I don’t think they really believe I can make a career out of it, also they are worried about how much money I’m putting in to it. But I’m really persistent! And LOVE making jewellery so I got my heart set on it.
I sell my jewellery online only in my etsy shop. I’m planning on building on it hopefully and open my own web site in the future. Right now I’m doing a lot of online promoting; having to spend so much time online is not something my parents are happy about so I try to balance it.
Every one in my family at one point in there life use to make things; mostly they sawed, did crochet, or drew, but no one tried to make money from it. I think they though it would not be successful or it was just too hard, so they didn’t bother.
Some of them have real jobs [9 to 5] and also do there hand making stuff as side jobs. Because they don’t believe they can make enough on there hand making jobs alone.
So this is my story, apart from the fact that they love me and kind of support me in my jewellery making “hobby”. In a way I’m completely on my own.
But I’m happy.
Nice, I’m so glad I stumbled upon this! Great stuff and really interesting.
I think it should be said how proud I am of those that are pursuing their dreams despite family setbacks. If half of the world listened to their parents and extended family, we wouldn’t be near as creative [I think!]. :)
erin! i LOVE your new DIALOGUE addition to your already wonderful site! you are gorgeous! great topic. my family is and has always been 100% supportive of my career choice as a graphic designer. they were behind my back from the get-go when i was in college staying up in the wee hours working on projects–everything was done by hand back then! seeing that my hard work did pay off when i got my first job as a professional designer even before i graduated college, they were even more supportive. i love my family. :)
now that i’m married and with child, my husband is totally supportive as well. i work from home and am forced to work in the wee hours (this time it’s on the computer!) since i have a toddler who needs my attention during the day. my hubby is always there for me when i need the extra help to try to get work done. i feel so blessed that my family feels my passion for design as well. :)
What a fabulous topic! And I agree wholeheartedly about how important a supportive network can do wonders!
I quit my full-time job last year, and have never looked back. I now work part time and also freelance as a copywriter, and it’s tough to explain to family sometimes (I hear you benconservato!) about why I want to be doing a couple of things at the same time instead of shackling myself down to a 9-7 job. But my husband is my biggest supporter – he tells me how proud he is of me for having the guts to do this, and reminds me why I did all this when I feel a little lost.
I still manage to pay half of the mortgage and bills — it’s tough, and he does tell me he can hold the fort, but I’m adamant and won’t have it any other way. And because we’re doing it on our own and our way, I am happy that I do not have to answer to anyone but myself. And that includes nosy relatives, neighbours or any negative people in general. We make it a point not to borrow money from anyone and although it does get tight sometimes, we are happy that we are free to make our own decisions without being obligated to anyone’s views.
x
Oh, when I saw the title I thought I need to see this! That’s amazing that so many people have such supportive families – I thought it would be much less but maybe that’s because of my own experience. I’m the only one in my family and circle of friends who is freelance or does a creative job and they all think that being freelance means you actually don’t work – or the work that it’s obvious I’m doing isn’t “real work” but some kind of lame hobby. (do I sound bitter!?) I used to send articles I’d written that I was proud of to my family or even just to show what I’d been doing and I usually didn’t even get a response, though when I asked they said they had read it. As above, I also once took on a waitressing job to supplement my income and my dad told everyone at a wedding that I worked in the catering industry. I suppose that was better than when someone introduced me as a pro-blogger to a roomful of people who didn’t know what a blog was. It is difficult to not have the support but I guess if you don’t have it, you can’t miss it and as long as you yourself know what you’re doing and why it’s ok. (But it’s taken me 10 years to reach that conclusion).
I love these videos!
It’s a really current issue for me. thanks for bringing the subject up, Erin, you’re the best.
I envy all of you crafters who gets supports from ones you love and really close to, I think that’s what makes us standing and going strong when things get rough. Friends are great, but sometimes they are not around us 24/7 and live under the same roof as us and that differs friends’ influences from immediate family members.
My husband, unlike many of yours, didn’t get the whole freelance thing, let alone the blogging thing. He, and the rest of his family, thinks that a wife should just stays home, makes the home, grows babies, and cooks. It’s very HARD to explain about my work. Everytime a husband’s friends or relatives ask about what I do, he always says “full time housewife.” with a look that says “meaning she had a lot of free time and please don’t chat to her about the economy or current affairs because it is irrelevant to her world”. Excuse me, noone can imagine how hard it is to balance housework, freelance work with endless deadlines, keeping up a blog, promoting yourself, while raising a child and taking care of self, unless they are mothers who go through all these.
It actually happened to me, when my husband’s cousin, an single office worker (woman), said to me, during a little chat about hair care, “Well, you can try almost all products they (hair products manufacturers) sell, you stay at home, don’t you? Once you do, please tell me what works and what’s not, I don’t have the time, really.” I was irritated, of course, because 5 minutes ago I just said to her I do freelance illustrations and designs at home, not staying idle at home.
That means nothing to me, actually, compares to my husband un-supportive gesture. I love him dearly and I support him on whatever he do. I wish I can open his heart and mind.
oh ning— i’m so sorry you don’t have a support system at home— i hope those of us online can hold you up when you’re feeling down and make up for your lack of support with your family. :(
Erin,
Support does help-sometimes I get it and sometimes I don’t. :-D My daughter’s love my creativity-I love to take pics, decorate and entertain or teach others-to create/plan a meal & an evening of entertainment,add color to their rooms, their lives. My husband-he rather I work at a full time 8-5 job and my in-laws think I’m not being responsible when not sitting in an office to bring a regular paycheck.I tried it for over 30 years and got physically sick and depressed.My aunts, cousins and my daughters are very creative..I’ve always encouraged my girls to go with their hearts…find their passion and run with it!I found out that I’m not so happy doing the office job but need a steady income… So,now I’m working a full time office job plus taking classes in graphic designs, photography, web designs and next would be interior decorating & then I’ll quit my current job..this way I may be at the office,use my natural talents to enjoy what I love doing and make money…everyone will be happy! I know once I work with my passion,I’ll be happier and money will come. To all that don’t get enough support..compromise but don’t give up…or you’re going to lose yourself…I found this out after some hard knocks…I found out why God had given me these talents…to help,to inspire and create-only then,I can shine my light into this universe for all to see & enjoy-we want to stay in touch with our natural talents and passion..our mission on earth is to use our god given talents to improve & touch lives on this earth. We were born to do this! Hey, this feels great to tell..thanks Erin-I’ll look you up again..very soon! Keep shining your light! :-D
Amen, Juman— thanks for sharing this!
e.
I quite envy you guys, those who have families that support them. Now I’m thinking if people like me are few and far between –
I’m 23, and I’m a freelance writer and graphic designer. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and have dreamed of pursuing something creative for the rest of my life, but my family isn’t supportive and appreciative of what I do. I come from a family of teachers, doctors, lawyers and accountants – so you can imagine how much I stood out as I was growing up. They are all very formal and straight-laced, even my personal interests like art, music, literature and the like are something that they don’t quite understand. So for a long time (until now, actually), I feel removed from everyone. I have to fight really hard to keep my creativity and my spirit alive, and I guard that part of myself fiercely.
Nevertheless, to appease my parents I took up a management course in college, although I really wanted to study literature, creative writing, and design, above all things. When I graduated I took on a corporate job to make them happy. Unfortunately I couldn’t really stand it; I was only there for eight months – and it was my first and (hopefully) last corporate job.
Now I’ve decided to go full-time with freelancing, and, to make use somehow of what I studied back then, am planning to expand it to a small company. I have a vision of not only writing and designing but expanding to other arts & crafts-related activities as well, and maybe sell some of my art.
Right now I am just home, writing and designing. My parents still think of me as very foolish to have gone this path, and haven’t made an attempt yet to understand what I do. They just think I’m bumming around, and from time to time, can’t help but drop side comments about my being “unuseful”. Sometimes it’s becoming difficult to fight it, and I have almost given in to what they say, and believe that what I do is impractical, and is not something I can live off on. But every time I think of that cubicle in the corporate office, and how stifling and depressed I felt, I tell myself that I just have to be strong and work hard to make it. Sometimes I get angry, too – why do I have to show them that freelancing can be profitable? I don’t have to prove anything to anyone but myself. But I just look at it as the way of the world, I guess.
Someday I will earn enough to move out and have my own place, maybe open my own studio, and live happily as I have dreamed ever since. For now I just have to keep my chin up and not listen to people putting me down. And of course, continue to find inspiration in places like this, like your blog, Erin – and believe that I can make it, too :)
Anyway, to those who are in the situation as me, I’m going to share a little secret: I take comfort in John Lennon, who sings, “You may say that I’m a dreamer / But I’m not the only one” :)
T.
Well, actually, I am speaking from the perspective of noncreative family member. I am so proud of my blogger/designer sister and her supportive fabulously creative husband. I realize that while I have a shift job, mine is over when I come home and then I get to do family/mommy stuff while their jobs are never done, because they have a much more far reaching goal. Starting something new is terrifying, and still I am proud that they continuously start new projects with more effort than most people give them credit for. They are not cookie cutter people in a world that seems to need everyone to be manufactured. They are open minded and loving, and just so they know, I am VERY proud.
Thank you SO much for sharing this, T— I feel for those who’s families aren’t supportive. Mine, like yours, doesn’t quite know what to make of me and my freelance choices, but I can’t say they’re discouraging, necessarily. Not a bit.
I feel for you, dear. Hang in there, and amen to John Lennon. He’s a mastermind.
e.
thanks so much for sharing you guys! i am really enjoying the dialogues and getting to know such amazing people in our community on a more personal level ;) thanks erin! you rock my world!
Hi!
I really enjoyed these videos! It’s always nice to have the support of your family and friends. I find it helps you do the best you can do.
Woo.
I’m one of these guys who have a family think freelancing is for the birds.
My mother doesn’t like my works (as graphic designer), she just don’t get the idea why i’m doing that. I think this is good for me, because i didn’t become a spoiled designer.
ha, great point, marshall!!!!
I LOVE this dialogue! I’m happy to have a very supportive family all the way around when it comes to my illustrations or stationery. But, my family (and friends) have a really hard time wrapping their heads around the blog thing…I can totally relate to the cocktail party blank expression!
Awesome videos! I just watched all of ’em they are totally Super Duper. It‘d be sweet if you could get Jeff from Booooooom to be involved in one of these
It’s funny…I used to be a music major, and my father wasn’t the most supportive of people…he went to one of my concerts (of probably 80-100) from the age of 15-22. This is in opposing contrast to my mother, who saw me play in my collegiate orchestra and finally understood why I loved music so much…and she supported me completely in whatever decision I would make about my career. My dad, on the other hand, would always tell people I was taking science classes “to pay the bills.”
I decided being a performance major wasn’t for me, and I’m now loving my life of doing science all day every day as a graduate student in bioengineering at MIT (and I say this not to brag or be a jerk etc…but more to prove a point) and my dad still really has no idea what I do, or why I do what I love.
So – I guess the point to take away is no matter what, there will be people who don’t understand your actions, and learning to respond to that, while not easy, is a lesson in itself. For my dad, it’s trying in vain to explain what I do…and realizing that he’d be happier if I knew how to weld and could lift as much as my younger brother.
You can’t please everyone, and you might as well start knowing where you stand with yourself, and go from there.
i love that mentality, bridget. :)
Oh, good one Erin!
“that’s different..” ha!
My family just thinks I spend wayyy to much time on the computer, which is still pretty foreign.
I’ve heard flak from the academic community about blogging, like “we don’t deserve to have an audience so easily.” First: it’s NOT easy. And second, that’s so NOT what it’s about. Keep blogging and doing what all of you do!
Thanks again, Erin, for an awesome dialogue!
Jessie–
Hey Erin! Long time no chat! Brilliant little thing you got going on with the videos. Really love it. And Will and Kate are 2 of my new best friends! Small world in this blogospheretasical internet. Keep up the good work!
it IS a small world; thanks, sweet chad!
My family is a very important part of my work, allways.
My mothers & brothers really support me.
Now I take my experiences & family photo to show the best & worst of my family.
…& they support me in this new step of my artwork :D