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Thread on individuality, niches and "it's MY thing":
Over the years I've seen SO many creatives - artists, VAs, musicians, comic creators etc - get real upset that they're not the only big shot on the block known for a certain niche, which they may call "[their] thing". 1/?
Over the years I've seen SO many creatives - artists, VAs, musicians, comic creators etc - get real upset that they're not the only big shot on the block known for a certain niche, which they may call "[their] thing". 1/?
This "thing"/niche can be anything: fandubs of certain comics, storytime animations about Cthulhu, chillhop remixes of baroque music, comics about food gijinkas, fanart of Mona Lisa, pastel-colored kawaii chibis of narwhals etc. The possibilities are endless. 2/?
Some people are known to get possessive over their respective niches - you hear all the time about artists bullying others off social media and out of art altogether, just because they DARE to draw in a similar way to them, because "it's MY thing and I DID IT FIRST!" 3/
Do multiple people coexist in the same niche? All the time. These people may serve the same niche in similar or different ways - it's why In-N-Out, Five Guys, Shake Shack etc all exist as burger restaurants. Oh - same with McDonald's, and various mom and pop burger joints. 4/
You don't see Five Guys telling Shake Shack to get lost just because FG has been around longer than SS at serving burgers+shakes and it's "THEIR thing", or because "everyone keeps comparing us". They coexist: they have their own fans, plus people who enjoy both, or neither. 5/
Of course, you can bet your ass that if one of these joints were known for shit quality standards in their food and service, they wouldn't last very long with the drop in support. That's just how it is.
It's the same way with creative output, honestly. 6/
It's the same way with creative output, honestly. 6/
Multiple people can make romance comics about birds and bees.
Multiple people can make fandubs of whatever comic is trending in webtoons (Merryweather lul).
Multiple people can redraw Sailormoon as a meido.
ALL OF THIS IS OKAY. Everyone will put their own spin on it. 7/
Multiple people can make fandubs of whatever comic is trending in webtoons (Merryweather lul).
Multiple people can redraw Sailormoon as a meido.
ALL OF THIS IS OKAY. Everyone will put their own spin on it. 7/
Artists complain all the time that "oh someone else has already done x, no point me putting out the x I did".
For this, I present this lovely comic by Stuffman on Tumblr.
As long as you're not plagiarizing, JUST DO IT! 8/
For this, I present this lovely comic by Stuffman on Tumblr.
As long as you're not plagiarizing, JUST DO IT! 8/
When I see people complain "BUT I DID IT FIRST", I ask "but did you do it BETTER?
Now "better" can be subjective: just like how some people will never buy burgers because they're steak fans, some people will never like your furry pastel art if they like painterly bara men. 9/
Now "better" can be subjective: just like how some people will never buy burgers because they're steak fans, some people will never like your furry pastel art if they like painterly bara men. 9/
Even smaller details can be more subjective, like how people prefer Five Guys over Shake Shack because one does Cajun fries and the other doesn't.
What's non-negotiable, however, is OBJECTIVE quality of your work. 10/
What's non-negotiable, however, is OBJECTIVE quality of your work. 10/
You aren't entitled to your niche just because you were there "first".
Apple didn't make the first smartphone, but they DID make the first one that didn't suck. All the other competitors have been constantly one-upping ever since, which means we get lots of good choices. 11/
Apple didn't make the first smartphone, but they DID make the first one that didn't suck. All the other competitors have been constantly one-upping ever since, which means we get lots of good choices. 11/
So if you're wondering how to stay relevant in your niche: KEEP IMPROVING.
These new players may point out things you can improve on, whether it's your understanding of lighting, your acting, your music editing etc.
Find out what you can do better - then do it. 12/
These new players may point out things you can improve on, whether it's your understanding of lighting, your acting, your music editing etc.
Find out what you can do better - then do it. 12/
You might have to confront some ugly truths about your current work and skill level as a result - it'll feel like crap, we've all been there before.
But hiding behind I WAS HERE FIRST AND YOU'RE TAKING AWAY MY HAPPINESS and refusing to better yourself is pretty selfish, tbh. 13/
But hiding behind I WAS HERE FIRST AND YOU'RE TAKING AWAY MY HAPPINESS and refusing to better yourself is pretty selfish, tbh. 13/
Comparisons about your creative work will always happen, and some of them will be hurtful and sucky. But you may learn something useful out of them.
If you choose not to do anything about it, you can't cry when the other players in your niche leapfrog you. 14/
If you choose not to do anything about it, you can't cry when the other players in your niche leapfrog you. 14/
Also, don't tie your self worth to being the first/only person in your niche. Recipe for disaster, that one.
You may be known for a certain thing, but you as a person are worth more than that thing. 15/
You may be known for a certain thing, but you as a person are worth more than that thing. 15/
TL/DR:
- you don't "own" a creative niche, other people can dabble in it too
- you aren't entitled to all the kudos just because you did a thing first
- keep striving to improve yourself, learn from the others in your niche
- don't tie your damn self worth to this 16/
- you don't "own" a creative niche, other people can dabble in it too
- you aren't entitled to all the kudos just because you did a thing first
- keep striving to improve yourself, learn from the others in your niche
- don't tie your damn self worth to this 16/
Thank you for coming to my TED talk! It was prompted by this thread I saw from a creative who was upset that they weren't the only one doing a specific niche.
I have my reservations on their work, but I do hope to see them improve! 17/17
I have my reservations on their work, but I do hope to see them improve! 17/17
