A Thread for TAD students' plans

[drd]

Since I won't be attending this year (too many unknowns), I'm wondering how all of you guys out there are planning on doing this. This could be a really helpful thread for a lot of people who are shot about how to do this and survive financially, since, though it may be advertised as low priced, 45k, despite being about 1/3rds the price of the big art schools, is still a lot of money, and living expenses are going to be added to this for the people who attend the pods.

Convincing my mom to help me out on this is still proving close to impossible. Possibly some others have similar situations?

[Jason Manley]

If you break it down into monthly payments in POD it comes to 800 a month which is within reach for those who have jobs, save their money, and make it happen. I had to go work in Alaska on the salmon docks in order to save money for school. I answered phones at ATT and did anything else I could do to support it including working two jobs.

The fees for tad are not 2/3 the price of the big art schools..its only one third...and those who are able to pay up front are around 19 percent.

You can do anything you put your mind to. The question is, how are you going to do it. How many hours this week did you work to save money for school? Ask yourself that. Did you waste any money this month on worthless stuff? What can you do to save more money? I had to ask myself all those questions in order to be able to do it.


JM

[Fvallejo]

To make it as an artist, you have to do things that we're taught to believe aren't reasonable. Making a living as an artist is equivalent to being a professional athlete. Extraordinary measures must be taken. Attending the TAD program will, without a doubt, take your work to the next level. But what if you can't afford it; or other practical issues arise? Some people may settle, take out a loan, and go to normal art school. Or even give up. But what does this say about how bad you want it? Will your art just settle and fit into the status quo, or will you work nonstop to make it stand out.

Research art grants, personal sponsorships, take normal jobs, scholarships, build relationships, network...Many options are available. Research the cost-of-living situations in the POD cities and make the best financial decisions. Make contacts in those locations and see what the job situations are. Working a normal job, and creating your art during your open time is very possible. Maybe go in with other POD hopefuls on a super cheap place so you can have people on your team as you fight to make it happen! And maybe doing all this doesn't seem reasonable...but taking the risk and making things happen is what it's all about.

Jason spoke about the work he had to do on the side to move things forward. I've done similar, and many of the other folks associated with the program have. They've been in the spot where things seem impossible, but they fought for their goal, and are now successful.

I guess what I'm saying is don't settle. If you really want to go to TAD... make it happen; and be creative with your strategy. We are artists after all .

best of luck,
-fv

[Thyname]

Since you are wondering about what people are doing to make this happen.

With a year's worth of hard work, I impressed the people around me with my dedication. Someone believed in me enough to loan me the money to pay for the school up front. They would not have done this if they did not see my dedication everyday and know that I was a good investment.

I gave up all of my hobbies, I don't watch or follow sports anymore. I gave up all video games. I don't waste time on random websites. For christmas and my birthday, I asked if I could attend DISCOVERY, Massive black downloads, pencils, pads, instructional dvds, oil paints, and acrylics. I take 19 hours of senior level biology classes so that I can graduate and attend TAD this summer. I work on Fridays and Saturdays and I don't spend any money. If it's not art supplies or occasionally buying dinner for my fiance, I save it. I hand wash my car to save money. I sold all of my things around the house to get some money.

My fiance and I have one car and I get up at 6:30 in the morning to take her to work, but I don't have class till 11. I draw or study from 8 to 11. I stay at school drawing and working until I have to leave. I go to school, and learn about art until 2am. I average 4-5 hours of sleep a night. I don't do anything to waste an once of my time because I am never getting it back.

When I am in Austin attending the POD. I am going to spend 10-12 hours a day in the studio working my ass off. I will bartend or wait tables on fri, sat, and sundays to make money. My fiance will work full time to help cover the things I can't. We are going to do our best to live on top of the POD so I can walk to school everyday and she can have the car.

Everyone's situation is different. My personal situation is a group effort. I have my family and my fiance, to thank for making this happen. I could not do it without everyone. I also have a huge burden because of this. I work non stop, because I don't want to let anyone down and because what I want in life is no easy task to achieve. People fall by the wayside everyday, and I am not going to be one of them.

Be strong, be bold, work! It will be hard and you will mess up. Get up and be ready for the next struggle. There will always be struggles and for you? Maybe attending TAD is that struggle. Just keep working at it and do as Jason and Francis have said... Be creative and don't give up. Make smart decisions and know the difference between needs and wants.

One thing that has helped me is that I have a personal motto. "There are only ever choices, you either do it... or you don't". I right the number 2 on my walls in my office, in my notebooks, I write it on my hand everyday. Every time I procrastinate I see my 2's. It reminds me that I am choosing to not do my best. I know it's an oversimplification, but the two choices things helps me do the right things everyday. Find your own motto and system and STICK TO IT!!!!!

This message isn't exactly directed to the original poster, but rather to anyone who needs it.

-Evan

[drd]

Sorry Jason, the 2/3rds was a typo; I know its 1/3rd. I should know, if I care about this at all
(talking to myself)

everything you guys are saying is true

there have been a lot of times in the past when I have made resolutions and promises to begin working harder and being more productive and setting goals and basically getting my life and future in order; I've never been able to keep them. I'm just scared I won't be able to this time either, and maybe I just need the assurance that a big college provides: a place to lay my head down and ramen basically. Thats all I need, and art supplies, of course

I just hope that I'm not the only one who has this kind of trouble being motivated, cause it kind of seems that way; everyone else on here is working so hard to get to where they want to go, but maybe they're all dealing with the same things. I have nothing to complain about though.

I've been looking at apartments around Richmond and the lowest I'm getting is like $700/month. I won't fool myself by thinking I know what this entails in the reality of living on my own, but my dad tells me that is a lot of money for an apartment. But then, I've heard people on here say that there is cheap living in Richmond, so I don't know what to think.

Yeah...so I just cleaned up my room and desk a bit. I'm thinking that maybe getting rid of the physical clutter in my life will symbolize getting all the mental clutter out.

Think I'm gonna go find a job now.

[-Zer0-]

Daniel, you're not the only one in the situation. It's tough, it really is. I'm actually in the same boat myself. Maybe even worse with some debt on my shoulders. I don't care though. I have a family I want to uphold and get back on track. As the oldest sibling, I've got kids looking up to me. Can't let them down, you know?

Sure, the big colleges like one I'm at now might provide assurances and loans...but what's the point of it if you're worse off when you're done...when they can't guarantee you the job you worked hard for...or the skills you dreamed of?

"It's not a matter of can or can't, you just do."

[Burhtun]

Why do you need your own full apartment? I rent out rooms at less than half that. I've seen plenty of ads on craigslist around $300-400. You can live VERY cheaply here if you want to.

I'd take it easy on the ramen though. Too much sodium. Also, crap nutritional value = waste of money no matter how cheap it is. Its not even filling either.

[chris_wilhelm]

I feel what everyone here is saying.

My own story isn't so pretty either- I can relate to DRD. I spent a lot of years not focusing the way I should have, but fooling myself into thinking I was. I put a lot of money into a school that, while the faculty meant well, just did not provide what i needed. Now I'm going on 31, and my carer is not where I want it to be, nor where it should be.

This has led to some serious internal reckoning, and believe me, you do NOT want to be in this position. It's very.... hard on the pride, if you get my drift.

I'm with Thyname on this, though. I'm planning on living out of a cheap RV for the next 2 years while i attend the new Berkeley POD under Andrew Jones (friggin awesome artist, that guy). I will be working nights and weekends as well as continuing my freelance illustration endeavors and selling commission portraiture. I don't intend to get much more than 4-5 hrs sleep a night, and I am currently trying to pull together financing to pay the up front tuition to TAD.

This is on top of massive student loans for my past schooling, as well as other debt.

Believe me, I look at it at some moments, and think "there is NO way in HELL", but then i remember how I feel about where I am, and how I've comported myself over the years. I won't go back to that. I'm gonna be one of the best out of this, and there is no other option (Better get that spot at MB ready for me Jason, here I come, lol). I spent too many years avoidant and afraid and the boat is just about to leave. I'm not gonna miss it.

So yeah, I'm uprooting and hauling everything to SF to live in a trailer under massive financial duress for 2 years to get what I want. And Just like Thyname suggested, aside from making sure I don't neglect my girl since she's being awesome and supporting me in this, I will be living at the POD, and eating art....and bananas.

[Thyname]

there have been a lot of times in the past when I have made resolutions and promises to begin working harder and being more productive and setting goals and basically getting my life and future in order; I've never been able to keep them.

You and me both man. Do you know how many times I've made resolutions to work out and get ripped?? haha. I think I painted an amazing picture of myself but it's not that way. It's hard! and I always find myself thinking I should be better. You are not alone, not even close.

I just hope that I'm not the only one who has this kind of trouble being motivated, cause it kind of seems that way; everyone else on here is working so hard to get to where they want to go, but maybe they're all dealing with the same things.

I couldn't agree more. Everyone has their own stories and struggles. I'm serious though. Start simplifying your life. Give yourself only two choices. Writing 2's everywhere really helps. If your parents are doubtful about the school it may just be that they aren't 100% sure you are ready. Maybe they think you need that college institutions to guide you. But, if you shape up and impress the hell out of them. Before you know it they will proud of you and you might even get their blessing.

oh by the way. Halo, Battlefield, World of Warcraft... is that fleeting fun really worth everything your trying to achieve??

There are tough choices out there. I saved up money for dragon age, I got in my car and started driving to the store and decided not too buy it. If I played 100 hours of dragon age then that meant I wasn't drawing for 100 hours and that 100 hours might have made a difference on me getting a scholarship to TAD. Months later I can tell you that I am just as happy, Dragon Age was not some critical element of my life that completed me. I didn't get a scholarship and I wasn't very efficient with that 100 hours. But... it was the right choice.

[Hive_minD]

haha I think I´ve written like five times and not posted, each one being different. But I just want to say, drd, you are not alone. Actually if you think about it, when in trouble or in need you are never alone. There is always someone who has or is having the same difficulties.
It isnt easy. Sometimes you know what you have to do, but you just do not have the motivation. So perhaps its that inner motivation you have to find, again, to help you keep at it, even though it at the moment does not seem to be going forward. This is what I have been working on a lot lately.

But like people are saying, it all comes down to the choices you make. I really like how Shawn Barber puts it :
Experience and risk taking precedes opportunity. Opportunity fosters growth, knowledge and confidence. Confidence is taking responsibility for your choices and actions, knowing that the integrity of your decisions will solidify your personal aesthetic on life.

That being said, I still find it important to socialize and do the stuff you love. because I feel living in the moment is possible even though you have certain goals and objectives in your life. Hell it will help the morale and keep your spirit up, making all the tough shit in your life just a tad easier to overcome. Though, beware that you don´t take steps away from your goal, I find you should either be going forward and towards your dream, or have a little pause and take break. Never go backwards. I think of it like working out, hell if you are having a shit day and do not feel to hunky dory, then take the day off and collect yourself so that you can come back stronger the next day. You have to listed to your body. If you are sick and work out just as hard, you might just lay even longer in bed because you did not rest when your body told you too.
Reason I compared this to working out is because, well I work out, even in my tight ass schedule. I make the time, for I have found out that having a healthy body helps my mind stay healthy, thus contributing to my mood, motivation and work.

Talking of work. I am turning 20yo now in May, and have two jobs, one as a swimming instructor, and the second being me working at a moviestore, renting out movies and flipping burgers. Having these two jobs and studying on the side takes a lot of my time. Some say too much. But I have accepted that it is necessary, so that I can make the money which I need. But believe me, sometimes I really wish I could go out with my friends (every time), but later on I realize that that just would not have helped me in any way, and in fact taken me a few steps back. But now after a while I have gotten into a rhythm where I make the time for these things too without it stopping me from moving forward. It just takes structure. Structure, patience, motivation and determination.

At the moment I cannot see myself going to the TAD this year, or the next. Money has to be saved, and I have to finish my current studies first. But I am working towards it. Slowly but surely.
Chris

[marcodoom]

Here are my two cents on this interesting subject:

There must be some shades between being crazy workaholics and time wasting addicts.

I feel what everyone here is saying.

My own story isn't so pretty either- I can relate to DRD. I spent a lot of years not focusing the way I should have, but fooling myself into thinking I was. I put a lot of money into a school that, while the faculty meant well, just did not provide what i needed. Now I'm going on 31, and my carer is not where I want it to be, nor where it should be.
This has led to some serious internal reckoning, and believe me, you do NOT want to be in this position. It's very.... hard on the pride, if you get my drift.

I'm in the same situation Chris, i'll also be in the TAD SF POD, but with Carl (i think...) i'm 28 and way far back from where i wanted to be, i made bad choices, got extremely depressed, and gave up drawing for years.
Now i'm getting back on track, slowly, and i have decided to spend all my savings for art instruction and still i'm not sure if i'll be able to make it through the living costs, as SF is not the cheapest place.

I don't intend to get much more than 4-5 hrs sleep a night

I must say i am against any form of extreme workaholic attitude, i understand being disciplined and determined to reach the goal, that's how i'd like to be, but i think there are limits to this.
Sleeping 4 or 5 ours per night, can be necessary in some cases, but really, it is not the healthiest idea, there is scientific proof for this, so i wouldn't recommend it to anyone as a lifestyle. I'd rather start an heavy smoke habit then sleep 4 ours per night..lack of sleep is THE THING that drives me in the worst of moods..if i'll never be a good artist because of this, well, i dont' care.

That being said, I still find it important to socialize and do the stuff you love. because I feel living in the moment is possible even though you have certain goals and objectives in your life.

Yes, finding balance is the key, some sort of balance between the sacrifices the goal is requiring and our personal life, which after all, is the only one we get to live (sorry i'm not religious..).

If I played 100 hours of dragon age then that meant I wasn't drawing for 100 hours and that 100 hours might have made a difference on me getting a scholarship to TAD.

This is being a bit extreme, you can still play 10 hours and draw the remaining 90, it will take longer to end the game but you'll still be getting good drawing results...and a bit of relax.

So we all realize that being disciplined in handling time it' a huge difficulty in a decently ambitious life, it's an art maybe more difficult than visual art..

..but i trust the ancient Romans and Greeks before them who said
"In medio stat virtus"...(virtue is in the middle)

[Simon Boxer]

I used to beat myself up over these issues and it just doesn't get you anywhere. Some people can substitute sleep with drawing, I'm not one of those people. I can't function on 4-5hrs sleep, and noone benefits.

Socialising is also important, as is being happy/healthy in general, just try not to get complacent. There's always going to be someone better than you, but do the best that you can. The more you put in the more you get out to a point. As long as you can maintain that lifestyle you'll keep improving, but if you're overworking yourself you'll get diminishing returns. It's like the slavedriving profit-driven CEO that demands staff work 60hrs a week. The first week makes it look like the project will be done 5x faster, but productivity rapidly drops and workers become sloppy.

Also remember working as a concept artist (for example) is not all about technical skills. The concept is important, and for that you'll draw from external experiences and a healthy mind.

[Reymus]

There's also this phrase going out lately that boils down to "If I can do it like this, you can too", easy to say, almost never applicable unless you have similar situations and social opportunities.

I think sleep, staying away from distractions (social,entertainment,empty idle time) and a good diet are basically the foundations.

Sure you can get a part-time custodial technician job (like myself) and in 6-7 years save up enough to go to school, but it's a hell of a lot easier to establish good credit and just borrow during that time.

P.S. For living, why not contact people here who are going to attend the PODs you are and set up a living arrangement (2 bedroom apartment for $2000 split between 3-4 people is really cheap considering a studio may go for $400-700 in expensive cities)