ZBrushCentral

A serious matter indeed.......

hello …i have an urgent question and you guys were the people i think are most experienced and approachable…
well…i am a pre-med student and i love 3d very much…well…i want to do 3d as a profession…and i had a few questions
well…i have a frined danny…who has just got a job at a high profile company and hes getting paid 15-20k…a year…well…at first i though that woah! thats alot…cuz it comes to quite a large amount whrere i live…
this was one of the reasons which helkped me to force my parents to reconsider 3d as a profession…but then i found out that my cousin who has jsutr finished her business degree is gonna be earning 60k a year!!! holy carp thas alot dude…and on top of that…a doctor will get more pay than 60k…which is a start!
so i wanted to ask…do you guys in the profession earn alot…can you please give an open answer…i wont get jealous or sumthing…i just need a figure with which i can ponder over 3d…as a profession…and do you think i should join 3d as a profession…and just think to myself…“hey! i love this and i want to do this…”…ignoring the pay?
this is a serious matter dude…and i need help!

thanks alot!

this question goes out ot all the people in the business,starters and experinced…

please help me…im kind aconfused right now…:cry: :cry: :cry:

please go to http://butt-sahib911.deviantart.com/ this is were i post my 3d art…and please tell me if i can do this or not…

thanks!

Well butt_sahib911, if you are good at a job you can make good money.

That site where you post your work doesn’t explain what is yours or what you have done, and thus is misleading. Heck I don’t even know what was on that page that could have been yours.

I have made more than several friends with business degrees over the years. Had a friend at Nortel that thought he was on the gravey train, until it crashed. I had a friend with a internet startup many years ago, and he made quite a bit of money, then one day it was all gone. Both these guys make far more mundane salaries now working for others. I have several friends that were lucky and talented at ILM for between 12-18 years making some pretty good scratch. It all comes to an end eventually.

Now if you are asking whether or not some one will give you a fulltime job in the industry for big bucks, I don’t think you researched the industry very well. Also don;t think you are being honest with yourself. No matter the job or the industry, you are going to have to earn that pay.

This industry you are interested in is pretty much based on talent, connections, lots more talent, a little luck, willingless to commit. Well actually that’s pretty much it for anything.

Relax, breath, assess your goals and abilities and be honest with yourself. Then do what you want and what will make you happy based on whatever priorities you set. :wink:

Well, i can only tell you from my own experience. And I cant even say much about the CG industry. But I can speak about the “business” side of things. I started working for a multinational investmentbank with the age of 22. Actually this was before I started studying. I was just doing a temp job for a while to earn some cash before university when they asked me take on a regular job. 2 years later i was promoted to a project analyst in the rank of an associate director with quite a good pay. The job was asking much, i was 24 and had already responsibilities i was not really able to cope with at beginning.However, I learned it with time. But although i was getting more experience, i also learned that the “business” world is very taff:

*Its extremely political (many people want to climb the career ladder at the same time, you will soon know the darkest sides of your collegues, the people that work for you and senior management: Everyone fights only for his own success)
*people are generally getting paid well BUT thats exactly the point. The only thing that keeps them there. Why? They generally dont like to work there, because they have seen too many people made redundant for mobbing and business reasons, too many bad management decisions, too much politics and so on

Ok, so thats for banking, but i think it applies to many industries nowadays, and especially for all larger enterprises regardless of the business. Cost pressure is the buzzword in todays business world.

BTW Im now 29 and took the decision to leave that bank, although i had “bright” chances for the future. It just wasnt right for my health! Im doing my bachelor in economics atm with the goal to open up my own business after that, whatever this then will be. But what i have learned: Money makes life easier, but dont let you fool, many “well” paying jobs are asking much from both your health and lifetime. I for myself have taken the decision that im happier with less money, less stress and time to live my life. Thats what I expect from a good job nowadays. But i might be in the minority with that point of view…

Let me tell you something out of experience:

Do whatever you LIKE to do and from what you can earn the standard of living you consider comfortable.

If you like selling insurance and need the 150 Yacht in the Bahamas, believe me, it will not work.

One of my cousins as studied Chemistry, made his Doctor, specialised as ‘post Doc’ in Pharmacy and earns a 6 figure income. Besides the necessity to be able to digest the knowledge (you need to be more or less ‘smart’ to do certain things) he has converted himself to a selfish bastard prick and is now living in the basement of his own house where his wife and kids live, hating himself every day.

The other cousin is a cop in europe and has his life, as far as he does not plan to change it, laid out including date of retirement and what he has to do till there. Nice and safe for him which makes him happy…

I work at Wallstreet and there is a Shoe Repair Guy down the street in the Financial District who also shines shoes on several stations. The guy’s have a blast, and when I asked him ‘How’s life’ he said ’ Life’s great, cool shop, cool wife, cool kids, and money… ahhhhhh how many steaks can one eat…’.

So… I wish you the best in figuring out what the right thing for you is, the right mix of your interests, capabilities, and plans for the future.

Don’t stretch the envelope to far and you will always be happy.

Good luck!
Lemo

so it all comes down to:

"pays in 3d are REALY low? "
so all you guys in 3d arent happy with the pay?..satisfied is not the word…

“i think i should do what i like”…

man…you gave alot to think about…well…thats life for you…

btw,i compared the pay of business and 3d which was 15-20k to 60 k respectively…

well…the two pics in the link i gave are mine…you can scroll down to “Recent Deviation” and then click on the “Deviation Gallery” deviation tab…
there ull see my different projects.

thank you oh so very much for replying! i am in your debet…

btw…i thought to my self where to post this thread…i didnt put it in the troubel-shooting forum cuz its not trouble shooting…well…it IS my lifes trouble-shooting…:stuck_out_tongue:
oh well…thanks for the move!

Sahib…interesting question and replies…

I will add my 2 cents worth…

  1. Sounds like you need a bit of direction on what you want to be

I would not necessarily pick a job based on pay. All it would be at that point is just a job…A career without passion is just a job…Money eases life but comes at a price. When I was in my 20s money dictated alot in my own life. I had to make that dollar to support a new family etc…so you do what you have to do…and my top management job back then ran me ragged…70 - 80 hours a week…slept most of Saturday, went to church Sunday morning…prepped for work for the upcoming week and that was my cycle. I made decent money, had no free time to enjoy it, missed my children’s early years, ran up debt (because the more you make the more you will spend). At the end of that cycle I had nothing to show for my efforts for the most part…and had diminished health issues…

Moved on to several smaller and short lived jobs making hourly wages (shuddddders) but…I started noticing something…more family time, more freed up Ron time and a whole lot less stress…

During all that the best I have had was running a few small businesses…set my own hours and the rewards of my efforts came directly to me and not to an “employer” aka (the people making money from the sweat of my brows)…

But the early years have had a toll on my health…and have recently applied for benefits under my past veteran service.

Readjusted my budget a few years ago and now because of health issues did a role reversal with the wife…we live off less than people around us realize…But…and this is a big but, we have happiness, the stress is lower, we have more than the alot of the people around us, we live within our means, enjoy the amenities of everyone else…and I don’t owe anything except utilities and a house payment…The largest thing we miss are health insurance benefits (worth their weight in gold)…

Ok…now all that is out of my mouth I can tell you why I said what I did…It’s always nice to have money…but don’t sacrifice money for your health…and remember that whatever direction you decide to take your life in the business world, do something that will make you happy…There are alot more things you will experience that will let you know money doesn’t buy happiness…it can help keep life comfortable.

If your passion is numbers be an accountant…

If your passion is art then enter the art field

If your passion is business then get a plan together and go for it…

Whatever you do though, do it for passion and happiness’ sake not for the sake of a buck…

A goal without a plan of action and without workign on key activities to achieve that goal is nothing but a pipedream.

I am 41…moved away from home at 15 and I married at 23 and had my first child at 27 and my second one at 29 found happiness at 39…

I hope my 2 cents helps you at some junction in your journey.

Good luck

Ron
[email protected]

Money is a poor way to measure satisfaction. If you enjoy what you do, you will be happy. If you’re happy, you will always seek to improve yourself. If you always seek to improve yourself., you become good at it. If you become good at it, the money will come.

Don’t worry about the pay. Perhaps 15-20k isn’t a lot for being a art monkey. But you will get experience, and you can find other ways to make money from your skills.

Don’t fall into the trap of being a “Pure” artist. They always end up starving. In every project, you can usually find something you enjoy, and put your best foot forward. It’s good to work on personal conceptual projects, but they don’t pay the bills. :wink:

Me? I’m a well paid programmer. But it can take many months for what I write to be used, and some times it never sees the light of day. I enjoy programming, but the business can take the fun out of it. Perhaps the type of programming I do right now is not the kind I love… No really sees the end results of my work. And I don’t get to do much with the design phase.

The money is good, but I got *****ed on for 4 years by the dot-bomb and 9/11, so it’s back to paying off debt.

But sculpting is my semi-serious hobby. I sculpt miniatures, I have 2 pieces in production now. Nothing like setting down a fig and saying “I made that”, and knowing people are buying it in stores.

I see digital sculpting as a coming trend. It hasn’t made too much progress into miniatures, but it’s getting close. So I’m looking to jump into the coming convergence of 3D printing and digital art.

It’s already starting to happen.

So do what you love, get a job, but don’t let it be your life, and find ways to get noticed.

A career for the sake of money is not a good life.

Wow, I guess I shouldn’t be supprised, but there are more philosophers here than I thought.
Crusoe, you said what I was going to and I think the two things of critical importance for anyone
seeking their future are (as you said):
What you do, is NOT who you are.
and
If you are good at what you do, the money will follow.

With everything I have today, from my house, property, all my
THINGS that I have bought over the years, I am happy not because
I have them, but because I am not afraid of losing them.
If you seek money as your goal in life, when you lose it you
lose your life’s goal. If money defines who you are, when you lose
it you lose yourself.
When money is a byproduct of your life’s goal, you not only enjoy
it more, but if and when you lose it, you are the same person you
where yesterday. Don’t be defined by what you do, the THINGS
you possess or how much money you make.
Be defined by the experience of life, the confidence of knowledge
and the people you share your life with.
In your own mind you must know who you are and never lie to yourself.

I once knew a young woman who served coffee in a small doughnut shop.
She did everything with great attention and purpose. She knew what
she was doing, but it was NOT who she was. She smiled from her heart
and remembered everyones name.
I would line up in the morning with scores of people, from millionaires
business people to school bus drivers. People from miles around
would go into that shop not because they made great coffee(they didn’t),
but because the most uplifting thing we could experience every morning
was the joy of that woman who showed us all that life is about living not the money.
That shop was so popular they made a fortune. Yes the money does follow
but not if it is the objective.
So Crusoe, as you said, “get a job, but don’t let it be your life.”
and
“If you become good at it, the money will come”
Great advice. I hope the aspiring young artists here will find the wisdom in your words,
it is more valuable than most of them can imagine.

Muhammad Ali once said that if he was a garbage man, then he would be the the best garbage man ever. He would pick up more garbage cans then the other guys and empty them out faster tan the other guys. He would be the World Champion Garbage Man. If you are going to do a job then do it to the best of your ability and take pride in what you do. I am not so sure about the fame and fortune. I have had a business in London - made me money, lost me money, made me feel good and bad. Lived in Pakistan for a few years as well. I then came over to Hollywood there to worlk in the film industry, it was great earnt lots of money. Then the hard times set in. Uncertain future. Money comes and goes, hard times and good times. Through it all have a passion for what you are doing - sometimes its all that you have.

TD

That’s a great line TD!
Lemo

Cool, someone appreciates my words of sorrow…time for a job change!!

TD

you may try http://www.insurance-quote-free.com i had use it before they’ll give rebates to their customers if claims are down for a given year.

Basic rule says… it’s not about money, it’s all about your love for the job you have. Alot of people with highprofile jobs and who are rich from that are terribly unhappy people. Meanwhile people with jobs where they may earn less are happier in many different ways as they absolutley love their work and that’s seriously all that matters.

Money is secondary, as long as you earn enough to cover your basic human needs such as food, rent and bills then you got enough to live a good life.

Those who do 3d only to earn alot of money quickly are in the wrong business, sure you can earn a good living from it but if that’s the main goal then you have no true passion for 3d at all.

/ Max

Generally speaking you can really earn a lot if youre into medical field. Not unless you are into movie 3d filming or something.

Ok guys need to add in my views too.

Butt your very approach is wrong.

Always do soemthing which you like to do.

If you like creating stuff , then “only” then join this field and not to earn money.

If you like to be a millionare then join a stock company or become a manager or something else.

or else you will find yourself jumping from one job to another in life.

I came into this line because of Games. I am hardcore gamer and can spend hours playing strategy games and multiplayers like halo.

These games inspired me to learn 3d art. in India there are still no institutes to teach proper gaming, even no one teaches softwares like Zbrush. So I decided to study it all by myself through these forums.

Because I am passionate about creating things, but that doesnt feed my family.

So I keep doing some outsourcing work to keep myself running.

Family responsibilities are very differnt in India then in the west.

I have to take care of not only my career but also my family and parents who depend on me.So if any of project fails it will not only effect me but also my family.

I will be creating a game soon, if that game works I might becaome a millionare, if not, my time and energy will be wasted , and that wont stop me from pursuing my dreams to create another game but I will make a mark in the industry and in any field what matters the most is the experience you have

The fun is not in getting the end result or money the fun is in creating the game under strenous circumstances.

regarding money, the more rich you are the more unhappy you will be.

I dont give importance to money, just till the point where money helps me to survive and pursue my dreams.

Money makes your life comfortable by proviidng you luxuires ,which in return makes a person lazy or careless, or maybe too stressed to get more money. Its like a slow posion.

Regarding animation works, well if you have creativity and luck who knows you might be working in next hollywood blockbuster.

In todays world nothing is concrete or permanent. keep watching your cosuins and friends closely they might be earning a lot now but what happens to them 5 yrs down the line ? Goa nd talk to them, ask them why they chose the respective careers just ebcause they want to earn money or ebcause they like doing the work.

Follow your passion and not money and you will reach soemwhere in life.

DO not judge people and take a decision

Everyone of us are different having differnt destiny and faith, you will find many people working in same field, later earning more then the first.

that doesnt mean theres soemthing wrong with the field itself. It depends on person to person.

Animation, medical science and business management are three different roads first test yourself you are good in which of these and follow what your heart tells you to follow.

:smiley:

Ok, gotta jump in.

I had a friend who really really wanted to be an actor. He was doing alot of stand-in work, and he got to meet alot of actors and actresses. Bruce Willis (who he said was one of the coolest people he’d ever met) said something that changed his life. He said, “There are plenty of people out there who want to become actors. None of them are going to make it. You have to NEED to be an actor to be a successful one.”

What I got out of that was this: If you want money, then pursue money with a passion in a career where money is always the bottom line (and the top line, and the line in the middle). If you NEED to be a professional artist, then pursue that with a passion. BUT, never pursue an artistic dream with money in mind.

Of course, you could end up making alot of money through art, but if money is your reason behind it, then you will be setting yourself up for dissapointment, or even failure because you’ve got the wrong fuel in the furnace.

Me, I will always be an artist, but maybe not professionaly. I get alot of satisfaction out of my art, but at least for now, it’s only for me and not for a client. That could change any day, I’ll never know, and I will never care, because I will always follow my heart.

One last thing. Never let anyone tell you that money is the root of all evil. It is simlpy not true. GREED is the root of all evil, and just because someone wants to make alot of money does not mean they are greedy or shallow, or anything like that. Money will never make anyone happy, but for some, not having to worry about money just makes life easier. Different people have different wants and needs, and THAT is what you want/need to figure out about yourself!

Sorry for the long post :slight_smile:

I currently have a high paying job in the pharmaceutical industry that doesnt really interest me. I am applying for games work as a modeler/texturer because it is a dream of mine.

If I get one of these jobs then it will mean more than 10K a year less for me but that doesnt matter as its what I want to do. You sound in your post as if you are more motivated by money so I would seriously consider what you want to do before settling on a career with less earning potential.

My girlfriend is a doctor and she makes a hell of a lot of money, but she works ridiculous hours and hates the thought of having to go to work everyday. Most prfessional level jobs take over your life nowadays so it might aswell be something you enjoy.

Take it from me enjoying your job is worth so much more than making money.