Do Canadians support Canadian artists? 🎭🎤✍🏼

After publishing my first book in 2010, I bent over backward to get attention for my work. I contacted the media, tried to run ads, attempted to have contests, and offered to have a signing at a large Canadian chain, you name it. I did everything I could think of, but all this was relatively new and quite terrifying to me, but I recognized that I had to at least try. Everything felt like three steps forward, two steps back, and sometimes, it felt the other way around. 

As the years moved forward, I continued to push forward, continued to write, and continued to get frustrated. At a certain point, I decided to just do my thing and make an effort, but I was constantly swimming against the tide. I had some local media (mostly newspapers and a rare CBC radio interview) but it was hard and I didn't know the best strategy. It was like being stuck in quicksand and trying to move ahead. I finally decided to focus on my writing and not stress so much about my success rate. 

It was during those early years a former coworker told me something that struck home. She said her boyfriend was studying journalism and how it was apparently well-known that the industry in Canada didn't support their artist after they found success. Although I was still terribly insecure about my writing skills, something in that statement rang true. And to be honest, in years since, I've heard the same thing repeatedly for Canadian artists. Those powerful enough to help an artist move forward in their career often show no interest until they've found success elsewhere, then consider them 'Canada's own' with a sense of pride. It's kind of a kick in the ass. 

Of course, I'm not talking about the fans. Fans are a whole, different thing. Canadian artists often have a lot of support from those who appreciate their work, although I'd be lying if that was always the case. It sometimes happens that people can also be contrary until the artist has shown success, but overall, I think most people want to see their hometown talent shine through. It's just unfortunate that elitists at the top can't see that.

Let's Help One Another! (Updated)

Independent artists and small business owners have a lot in common. They both work hard to get noticed (often as a side project along with a job) and don't have much money to invest in advertising. It's a struggle - but it's a struggle that's filled with passion. Anyone who has a side project probably isn't doing it for money alone because any new business owner or indie artist will tell you, it takes time to show a profit. They'll probably also tell you that they wouldn't be doing it if they didn't love it.

Somewhere between the time I published my first and second book, I had a friend insist I was crazy. Not to suggest she wasn't completely wrong, but her specific reason was that I invested in a book and advertising and wasn't making stacks of cash back. To her, I was wasting my time. Here's a spoiler alert; we weren't friends much longer. 😄

We have to follow our passion. It's not just for potential financial gains but the personal growth stemming from the challenges and the many learning opportunities along the way. Had I never written a book, would I be the same person? Where would I be now? Would I still be friends with that imbecile I mentioned in the last paragraph? I can't even imagine.

Artists and small business owners need to work together and help one another out. Be open-minded and know that by helping someone else, you're indirectly helping yourself too. It's an unselfish act that makes you feel pretty good about giving a hand to someone you know has been working hard to get ahead. Always be open to new ideas. Maybe you never considered (or wanted to) having a YouTube channel, but another artist suggests you start a project together. Maybe another business owner wants to collaborate on a promotion. Hear people out and consider their ideas. You never know where it might lead.

Follow your dreams because without them, what do we really have?