Yep, I like Bernie's > I'm all for multi-skilling yourself. I'm a firm believer that you have > to be a jack of all trades vs master of one
With today's graphic systems, to be a jack of all trades is as close as you need to be to being a master of most of them. And being close enough to that is to be independant, free. You're programming work must be a very real asset in moving on to something like 3D graphics. I went back to uni about 15 years ago to do a couple of computer sci papers and the benefit was massive. Nope, I don't think you got any worries. Damn the torpedoes, turn a blind eye, and all that sort of thing. Easy for me to say I suppose .... being an old man, with the kids all grown up, well, maybe "grown up" is stretching it, but definitely out in the world on their own feet, more or less .... Neil Cooke ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bernie @ VRgrafix" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 5:24 PM Subject: Re: OT: graphics for a living? > > I'm sure! I've always loved computer graphics, but took a different > > path. Actually changing to something else seems impossible, but I'm so > > sick of what I'm currently doing. > you don't need any more reason than that. > > I'm all for multi-skilling yourself. I'm a firm believer that you have > to be a jack of all trades vs master of one these days. While we all > have our strengths/ weaknesses, the ability these days to meet any > request of a client far outweighs the "master" title as being a master > painter these days rarely pays the bills.. > > > That's a tough question, but certainly not limited to graphics either. > of course not - its a personal question of course.. everyone is > different and a question you have to ask yourself. Its rhetorical of > course ;) > > > For someone to hire me over someone else they will have to want absolute > > perfection and be building the Taj Mahal. > ahh yes. the perfectionist types have a very hard time in the "real > world" workforce. I have a good friend that makes 3d characters. A total > perfectionist - taking up to 6 months per character fiddling up to 18 > hours a day on it. As to paying the bills - he can't. If it was'nt for > his cash cow bank account he would truly be on the street.. > > > these days with regards to computer is "cheaper and faster". Everyone > > thinks anything can be done in a few weeks for less than a $1000. > LOL! Weeks ! Try days. The public perception these days is like cd > players - press fast forward and buy them cheap. > This is the challenge in business. You can target the more lucrative > clients - but not only are they few and far between, they demand skills > that are rarely the domain of a single owner operator. Not only do they > want "movie style" graphics, but they want them on ridiculous budgets > and unrealistic deadlines, hence there is a small market segment that > targets these types and only survive due to the fast turnaround nature > of them. > (of interest - a magazine called "cinefx" is very good reading - past > few issues have been discussing this very topic with TV vs movie > graphics) http://www.cinefex.com/ highly recommend it if your interested > in going down that path. > > > door. To the contrary, I'm overly pessimistic that I'd even be able to > > get even a handful of clients... Probably the biggest thing holding me > thats the million dollar question. Clients. Dependant on the type and > quantity of clients will dicate how busy you will be and type of work > you will do. If we all knew how to find them easily then we would all be > rich ! ;) > > > Can't do the months without funds part, I have three little hungry > > mouths to feed. > ahh yes. I'm the same. Hence its far more imperative to try my > aforementioned method. When you are solo its one thing to try a > "seachange" but when you have a family dependant on you as well, then it > just makes it that much harder. > > The best advice I can give is the multi skilling option - do several > things rather than put all your pidgeons into one basket. > > Good luck with your venture > > Bernie >
