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Arts & Culture

How to be an artist in New York (and afford rent): A guide

Christine Stoddard, one of Brooklyn Magazine’s 2023 50 Most Fascinating People, offers tips on making it in the City of Dreams.

By Christine Stoddard (B.A.’12, B.A.’12, Cert.’12)

Eight years ago, I moved to New York City — a place as magical as it is cutthroat — to make films, publish books and show my art. 

I suffered through a string of clickbait jobs but persevered, and today I make a living writing, acting, photographing, directing, painting, sculpting. You get it. I have my own press and production company, Quail Bell, my own culture pub, Quail Bell Magazine, and my comedy play, “Quail Tales,” premiered at the famous Players Theatre, which is attached to the as-famous Cafe Wha?, in Greenwich Village. I’m still not sure I believe that actually happened.

Sometimes it can be annoying, especially with all the W-9s. But that’s part of doing art for a career in New York — just like having a YouTube channel (“Stoddard Says”) and a podcast (“Badass Lady-Folk”). Even when my head is spinning around like a Looney Tunes character, the hustle is exciting, rewarding. But make no mistake: It’s not easy. 

Here are 28 things I’ve learned being an everyday working artist in the City of Dreams.

christine stoddard
  1. Peacocks get attention for a reason, so get peacocking.
  2. Actually carry business cards with you.
  3. Blushing isn’t cute. Oodles of humility don’t translate into oodles of success.
  4. Don’t like social media? Too bad.
  5. Your first apartment won’t look like anything from “Friends” or “Sex and the City” or probably even “Broad City.”
  6. Your phone will die at least once when you’re in the middle of a Brooklyn neighborhood you never knew existed.
  7. Some bosses and clients are just rude, mean and/or gross — even when you’re doing everything “right.”
  8. YouTube all the best stain-removal hacks.
  9. You’re not just an artist; you’re a “brand,” until you’re lucky enough to become an “icon.” 
  10. Set your boundaries around drugs, because they’re everywhere.
  11. Know your tenants’ rights. Some landlords are vampires — and not the hot kind.
  12. Pitches, proposals and auditions are constants. Always be pitching.
  13. If you need a car, get a beater.
  14. Chasing down money is part of the game.
  15. Your resume, headshot, website, etc., better sparkle.
  16. Advocate for yourself. You deserve it. Nobody else will pipe up for you.
  17. Even when you’re approached for a commission, you’ll be expected to chip in with social media and marketing. Thanks, Zuckerberg!
  18. Learn to create within constraints without losing your ability to dream big. Even for client projects where someone else handles the money!
  19. Normalize bartering with other artists and small businesses.
  20. Don’t let bad apples who try to cheat you, drag your name or steal your ideas make you give up.
  21. Stay positive and never lose your sense of play, even when the rent’s due.
  22. Get ready for hero death. You will meet celebrities and other notable folks who will disappoint you.
  23. Forget “getting into a groove.” The groove will change next week.
  24. Layoffs happen. Have a backup.
  25. Your worth is never dependent on how anyone in (or outside) the industry treats you.
  26. Find a guy. Know a guy. Or find a guy who knows a guy.
  27. Babysitting never ends. When working with other creatives, you might have to play the grownup.
  28. Your career is not a sprint but a marathon. Keep running.