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How other people react when you take up crafty hobbies or start your own creative business can be fascinating - from the well-intentioned questions, to the outright frustrating expectations, your friends and family need time to adapt to your new life choices! My last blog post about 5 ways people react when you start making jewellery got a lot of reactions, with makers and creatives from across different media sharing their own tales of comedy or woe. Some of those situations I've known, some I've never thought about, so I've come back to the topic for a special commenter edition, with 5 (more) ways people react when you make handmade. 1. "Look! You could make this/Could you make me one of these?"It's painful to see your name tagged in a social media post, with someone asking you outright "This is lovely! Could you make me one?". No. Because I have my own ideas, my own styles, and I'm not going to steal the work of another person. Buy it from them! 2. "You’ll never earn any money doing THAT!"Seeing this reply in a Facebook group, I was saddened that someone had to face the people they'd expected support from being so brutal instead. A little reality check perhaps never hurt, but to see your hopes dismissed so harshly? All the more reason to prove them wrong and work to thrive. 3. "But you're doing it because you love it?"The flipside to #3 on the previous list (assuming creativity must become a business), is shock from people that when you're creating art, jewellery, poetry or whatever to earn a living, that the money even matters. Surely, making lovely things is reward enough?! 4. "Mate's Rates?" or even worse... freebiesAfter working out often slim profit margins, it's a creative's choice to offer a discount, but some folk will expect you to be thankful for any sale and make the casual request of mate's rates. Even harder to manage are friends or family expecting work for free with "I'll credit you!". That kind of 'support' doesn't pay my bills. Hurrah though for the people who refuse mate's rates and insist on paying full whack, they're total keepers. 5. Enthusiastically telling people what you do, and getting it so very wrong.If you hear it in real time, or find out in the confused aftermath, there's something endearing yet eye-rolling about the enthusiasm of "Oh yeah, she weaves wool!" (no-oooo, spinning wool makes the yarn, which can then be knitted or woven) or "Jay said you can fix this ring because you make jewellery?" (I can't set actual diamonds!) Once again, all of this is a little tongue in cheek, because usually it's friends and family who are the rocks behind creative people and what we do, supporting our ideas, and cheerleading if we decide to move into business. (Love you all x) There is the reality of it though, that not everyone will understand the whys and wherefores of what you want to create, so hopefully rather than make you feel down, this list equips you with responses and ways to manage possible reactions. Perhaps casually sharing it with potential offenders could make them think twice before they shoot their mouth off! Thanks to all of the commentors on my post about the original list, and across various social media, but special mentions to some of you who specifically inspired me to make version 2 of this list:
6 Comments
Becca
7/8/2021 10:35:01 am
Ahhh! I just replied to your email, thanks for the name drop at the end of this, and thanks for always being honest about what it means being a creative business with a real person behind it! I so much prefer this honesty to complete slick corporate pretenders, I feel like I'm really supporting a person with a business, not just a money making business if that makes any sense?!
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Lisa
8/8/2021 07:48:29 pm
Hi Becca. I totally hear what you're saying. I have a lot of respect for the one person businesses who manage that seamless appearance, where I'd absolutely assume it's a whole team of professionals working away. Buuuut personally if I want to feel like I'm buying handmade and supporting a passion, I love to know about the reality of the person, process and challenges! Thanks again for your previous comments x
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7/8/2021 10:43:28 am
A great read - and thanks so much for the name check!
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Lisa
8/8/2021 07:49:17 pm
Thank you so much for talking about your experiences and being part of the inspiration for this second round!
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9/8/2021 02:41:32 pm
Thank you for the name drop. I very much relate to the comment about soinning/weaving, having heard it so many, many times when demonstrating at fairs. Hard to keeo a smile on your face at the end of a loooong day/weekend as you correct them for the millionth time!! Also relate to the 2nd of your points, having been told (twice) by official funding/ assistance bodies that I would never amke any money at it , so they weren't interested in helping/funding. If we didn't love what we do, we wouldn't be able to sustain doing it, but love don't pay bills!
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Sharon (Sprites et al)
9/8/2021 04:36:40 pm
Enjoying reading your blog and tickled pink to see my name mentioned!
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