Customer Reviews

Success in the Arts: What It Takes to Make It in Creative Fields

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found "Success In The Arts: What it Takes to Make It In Creative Fields" to be an entertaining, interesting and informative book which should help any aspiring artist, whatever their chosen field in the arts, to avoid the pitfalls that have swallowed the less fortunate.

With a wealth of experience as a creative illustrator and graphic designer, Michael has paid his dues, and reaped the rewards in his creative field.

He makes it abundantly clear in his book that talent alone is no guarantee for success in the arts. Indeed, latent talent may not even be the most important requirement. The book is divided into three parts, each of which cover the three major components necessary to make a success in creative fields - these are: talent, heart, and smarts. Each is very clearly explained in detail, with pearls of wisdom on just about every page.

"Success In The Arts: What it Takes to Make It In Creative Fields" will make a valuable resource for anyone with ideas of using their creative ability to survive in the demanding world of artistic endeavour; but it goes a lot deeper too. This book certainly is a valuable guide for life in the arts, and in the process, Michael wrote a guide for the art of life, too.

This is a witty, easy-to-read book, with practical advice for those trying to break into the arts. It's well worth the investment.

What a great mentor Michael Shumate would be for anyone planning a career in the arts! It is quite clear that he has good advice developed over a long and successful career. I especially liked the part about "the Grand Poo-Bah": a bit whimsical, but it gets the point across with humor. If he can't be your mentor in person, then his book is next best. He is always clear, down-to-earth, and honest. You can read the book in an afternoon. It's a great investment for anyone in the target audience.

This short and very readable book is drawn from the author's experiences teaching art in college. Although mildly motivational, it lacks the pretense of many motivational books. It concentrates mainly on the ideas and attitudes will help an aspiring artist actually to become an artist and includes a few excellent quotes. Shumate addresses all practitioners of the arts, including visual artists, actors, writers, and musicians. There is a lot of good common sense in this book, which is necessary these days because common sense is in such short supply. Shumate urges people to work hard at their art, and to practice virtue and eschew the tendency to feel sorry for oneself, or to focus too heavily on oneself. In this day and age, this is sound advice because in many places, schools train prima donnas, not achievers. The one thing I missed, and a major reason I bought the book, was information on how to locate people who are in a position to advance the artist's career, and how to find resources likely to lead to such people. Obviously, Shumate has been successful in accomplishing this, and I hoped he would share his secrets. Though I had pretty much learned many of the things he discusses by the time I read the book, I did get some valuable ideas from it just the same. One should never be too proud to learn from experienced people. But the question for which I sought an answer was, where does the artist go from here? I sincerely hope that Shumate will write a "sequel" that includes this information.

Michael Shumate gives extremely insightful and relevant advice in a sometimes confusing career path. Unfortunately, being successful in the arts isn't as straightforward as some other professions (go to the right school, maintain a good GPA, get a solid internship). He suggests that if you have two of these three traits, you MIGHT make it:
-talent
-smarts
-passion
I've personally seen the road to a successful career in the arts littered with people lacking a few of these traits (yes, even very talented people). Definitely worth a read if you or someone you know is considering a career in the arts.

I ordered this book, through an art email that offered bonuses if i bought the book - turns out, i got to listen to the authour on the radio talk on some website and repeating everything i had already heard in the book! I also got to download an ebook with a few helpful bits of advice on GRAPHIC DESIGN, which of course is what the author teaches. tough luck if you are a budding actress or a singer - how is that going to help you in your auditions!!

although i get the impression that the author is probably a really nice guy, i have to say i dont buy books just to LIKE SOMEBODY, i buy them to feed me KNOWLEDGE and to further myself in my profession! which this book does NOT deliver.

The book was basically written using other famous people's QUOTES that the author obviously has found over the years. as facinating as it is to re-read lots of OTHER PEOPLES quotes on how to be motivated and stay positive, i found that the author uses quotes from others, in nearly every paragraph! Im sure you will agree that a quote from Thomas Edison is always nice and learning 'HOW TO CATCH A MONKEY' is a very enlightening story BUT!!! - THAT IS NOT GOING TO GET YOUR ART SOLD , OR GET YOUR NAME IN SHINEY LIGHTS ON BROADWAY, is it?? this books title is SUCCESS IN THE ARTS - Written by someone i have never heard of ! (however i guess if you are a GRAPHIC DESIGNER and have spent years in the advertising industry, you COULD fool alot of people to buy your book, by giving it a GREAT TITLE and a nice ATTRACTIVE cover, SO theoritically you could eventually be SUCCESSFUL IN THE ARTS - dont you think??? )

if you are the type of person who has drive, ambition, heart and soul (oh and dont forget that little thing called TALENT btw) in your craft you will be successful, without even reading this book - and if you are the type of person who DID NOT KNOW THAT, - then maybe you might not make it anyway, regardless of buying this book!

This book would have been far better value for money if it actually listed a network of people to contact in the arts - (as he indeed tells you to have one, yet does not offer any kind of direction or contact list to help you begin your 'success in the arts'!!!)

Although im sure the author of this book is a 'very nice man and teacher' and now 'author' - i would like to offer some practical advice back - less of the philisophical and more of the PRACTICAL, maybe the way to go with the NEXT book!

i have never felt more MOTIVATED to write a review on my book until today! sorry its not a good one ! (oh and the 2 stars are because i think the author sounds like a very nice guy! otherwise i would give it 1 star)