Living Off Your Art on the Road

So you're somewhere in your life where you've decided to change it all, that's awesome! but at the same time, we still need to have enough to live, so what do we do? Well, as a creator there are so many things you can do, it's just a matter of executing them and turning your skills into bills!

Music

Music is probably the easiest and fastest way to make a bit of money, and if you're consistent, it's not hard to pay for food and accommodations with music alone. In particular, depending on where you are, busking is an easy and great way to make some money, and you only need to know a few easy songs.

You may need to check the laws depending on where you are staying, but in a lot of places, it is perfectly alright for anyone to take a guitar, ukulele, violin, cello, etc. to a street corner and perform for money. If you find the right location, you can easily make $20 an hour, which is enough to feed you for a day and more.

And remember to always stay positive, smile at people passing, never wait for someone to give you money, and don't use pity to get change. Because the world is already such a negative place, brightening someone's day with a happy face and nice music is enough for anyone to toss you a coin or two.

Selling Art

Now, as a visual artist, it is a little bit more difficult to sell your work, as it works much differently than music. But there are a few ways to go about it if you are willing to put in the effort.

There is the street art approach, where you can setup a little area displaying your art for passerby to see; the problem with this is it can come across as begging to some people, so it is important that you try to smile and engage people in friendly conversation to quickly eliminate hasty assumptions.

You can also scope out some local coffee shops, as many places will sell artists work on their walls if you approach them about it. But before you go, make sure your work is wall ready with a frame or base of some sort, should they decide to keep it.

A little bit more difficult, but if you have access to a print shop and have a little bit of time and money to invest, you may want to consider opening an online shop, or setting one up before you leave.

Writing

There are so many ways to make money off of your writing, whether you write stories, blog posts, journals, poetry, there are countless websites you can use to publish your work such as Vocal, for example.

If you are interested in starting your own blog and making enough to live off of it, you may want to invest in a website. There are many places you can start a blog for as little as three dollars a month, or you can use a free one, but usually you will have to have their name in the URL.

More of a story writer? Once again, there are many platforms you can upload your stories to and make money off of them, or you could always try your hand at submitting it to some local publishing companies if you're serious about it.

Living Wages

No matter what you decide to do, just remember to stay positive and motivated; consistency is the key. It does not take a lot of money to live, you can find accommodations for 15 to 25 dollars a night and eat for very little. If you are smart, you should have no problem surviving off your work.

There are many great adventures to come, and living off what you love gives you the freedom to explore the opportunities waiting for you!