It’s no secret that if you find something you love to do, that can cover your costs and is of service to others, you have found the perfect job. Many of us know this and would like our income to source to be our art but many of don’t know where to begin. Here are some ideas to get you started offering you creative works as a service that can bring home the bacon.
Local festivals
Local festivals and showcases are a great way to expand your reach and get in front of audiences looking for something of interest. Not only are they a great way to in front people primed to receive your gifts but you will also network and get new ideas from other artists and performers. These festivals are often very supportive of emerging talent and booths are often very affordable. If you are a performer, there are often budgets that provide you enough income to cover your costs. Start local go regional and with any luck you may take your show on the road. Don’t forget business cards and the value of sharing your activity on social media.
Online distribution and sales
It is now easier than ever to prepare your art and creative/performance 
services for market online. Services like Etsy, Ebay, Google Play Music, Woo commerce, Thumbtack and Craigslist are great low cost ways to begin letting people know what you have to offer. Everyday there are literally millions of people online looking for something new, things you can offer them. Once you have chosen a platform that suits your purpose a little savvy marketing will help you standout from the crowd and begin cultivating leads and closing sales. Start be promoting to your social media and web outlets and expand by cross-promoting and commissioning with more established outlets.
Live demonstrations & busking
Everyone longs to be more creative and everyone wants to be entertained and intrigued. You would be surprised how many people would stop and watch you working if only they had a chance. You might also be surprised to know so many actually value this type of experience. Buskers are a great example of how this relationship works. We’ve all seen it, an artist or performer in the street or subway doing his thing and people passing by dropping money in appreciation. His bucket may be filled with change and small denomination money but we all know large sums of money are just accumulations of the small. In most cities and populated areas there are however laws and licenses that must be obtained so do a little research and find out how to apply. You may find there is much more to this than first appeared.
Workshops & educational
There are people all over the world that are just discovering a passion for what you do. These folks are constantly seeking opportunities to learn and expand their skill sets, why not help them? Teaching classes, programs & workshops are great ways to help out doing what you love and earn a little dough. You don’t have to be an expert to offer valuable insight to the beginner so don’t worry, if you have a body of work you have experience and knowledge that would be of value to someone getting their feet wet. Start simple with a bullet point list of topics you think are relevant and valuable and soon you will find you are on your way to the development of you very own program. Once you 
have this completed put together a promotional page that can be printed and handed out, talk to friend that work in education and college professors, they will provide you with relevant info that will lead you to earning through learning. Public libraries and community centers may also be good options for hosting your workshops.
Discussion boards and forums
What I have shared here is far from the be all end all of earning through the arts. These are just ideas to get the wheels turning and piont you in a positive direction. Many more great ideas and opportunities are out there for the ones willing to explore. Take a little time each week or day and invest in cultivating and discovering opportunities for yourself.
More importantly remember, money isn’t everything, sometimes non-paid endeavors are the ones that will introduce you to a life changing connection, help you develop rapport and can establish you as a professional in the industry. Do your work, share it through as many positive outlets as possible and know, there is much more at stake than just money.
