Job Requirements
Reading Time: 8 Mins.
Due to recent events, I’ve been receiving an influx of individuals vainly attempting to buddy up with me over the past few weeks, so I wanted to make a few things clear regarding any potential opportunity to “work with me”.
As previously stated, I’m not particularly the kinda guy that really bothers seeking out anyone, and it’s extremely rare when I do so. Primarily because finding artists and creatives who can produce quantifiable work at a level I can and also possess a demonstrable work ethic are few and far between. Too many people claiming they’re artists in their bio but playing games 90% of their time; just change your bio to “Gamer”, man… 🙄 I also don’t have any time for playing dick-measuring games with egocentric people who strive to be artistic antichrists on Twitter. This adage is the reason I wear so many hats as an independent creator: “if you want something done right, then do it yourself.”
With that being said, this is an article that I will future-direct to all who have hopes and/or dreams to work alongside me, if I so deem fit. If you can’t read this, then you are immediately disqualified. And you can’t use the “I can’t read English” rebuttal in 2025. We been had translators. 📖
1. Professional Experience
You must have at least 5 years of actual professional experience in whatever skill. Contrary to popular opinion about me, some label me an “unprofessional artist” simply because I worked myself like a dog to get to the point of working when I want, and on what I want, over various professional projects for close to 20 years at the time of this writing. So now, I’m considered an “asshole” for doing what 99% of artists have literally not been doing, I guess.
Ex.A: Soooo, they only have an issue with generative AI towards real artists when it’s convenient and they’re not successful, eh… I can’t win, lmao.
With that said, there’s no need for semantics there. Anyone can take a very quick gander at my body of work and see the proof of the “professionalism” front and center. You don’t need to see that I’m not allegedly “very unprofessional” from NPC Who Don’t Know Me Personally #52562621054 on X dot com. Also, I sell art consistently. If you can make money off any skill, and have done it to the extent where you can live off of it over an extended period of time, then you are considered a professional. Those are just the well-defined facts.
Ex.B: Definitions never lie…
You must have done that with your work as well. Again, it’s relative to your skill set. For example, in my personal career, I worked and was paid in various industries (comics, gaming, and animation). I suppose my actual resume is somewhat vast; I’ve worked in a professional and official capacity at times for/with Capcom, Bandai-Namco, Konami, Atlus, Wayforward, Zynga, Marvel, Dark Horse Comics, UDON Entertainment, Sony Pictures Animation, and many other smaller clients. And there are other agencies still silently watching for whatever I’m doing next. That isn’t a lie, that isn’t a fabrication, it’s the truth.
If you don’t have any experience of working with at least one major entity in a professional capacity, then you aren’t a fit for me by any means. Why? It’s not elitism, but the reason is simply having said experience. When people have similar experience in a career, it’s easier for them to align. I won’t have to motivate you to get your workday started or to start drawing something because you already demonstrate that you can do it on your own and got your own motion. It saves me the trouble, time, and energy allowing me and all related to focus on getting stuff done.
2. Be Great At Your Skill(s)
If for whatever reason the number 1 requirement didn’t turn you away, this one is the next: Know what you’re doing and do it well.
This one might trigger a lot of people, as it should: nothing you consume on a regular basis— actually, lemme rewrite that since there’s a ton of garbage out there that people be consuming… nothing good that you consume on a regular basis was built with subpar skills. Nintendo ain’t hiring a graduate fresh out of college with no applicable work beyond their degree to work on Donkey Kong’s character model for DK: Bananza. Marvel Studios ain’t hiring an actor just starting out in their film resume to play a popular titular character. Gordon Ramsay ain’t hiring someone who only knows how to make grilled cheese sandwiches… That kinda mindset should be viewed towards me; you see the kind of art content I’m capable of producing, so why should I look to hire someone who draws like a grade schooler or someone who can only tinker with spaghetti code until it magically works by the grace of the lord?
People never liked me for saying this or calling me a snob, but facts are just facts. The main reason most aspiring artists complain about not getting likes, job leads, or attention is because THEIR ART FUNDAMENTALLY SUCKS. If you’re not making art for a commercial reason, then by all means, draw stick figures and meme art for a hobby. But everyone extends that same pardon for work created with intent to sell or build brands off of. Ridiculous. And no one tells them the truth, keeping them in a perpetual cycle of complaining. Gotta be fit for this shit. If you’re out of shape, then you can’t run towards any of your aspirations.
I strive for excellence on whatever I work on. I also like having fun in making stuff. If you can't do any of that, then as the ready Reggie from Nintendo said:
3. Have A Lotta Backbone
I don’t like pussyfooters. Don’t get that confused with not liking pussy or drawing pretty feet; I clearly favor those things. 👀 I’m talking about ones who lack confidence in their work and persona as an artist/creative person. They tend to beat around the bush and have next-to-nothing to show for whatever they proclaim being. Confidence is the single-most important trait to possess, and if you don’t got it, you just don’t got it. People will lie to your face and tell you that you got it, but that’s not how I roll. I don’t like sugarcoating the truth with anyone, because I didn’t tell myself that “I got it” when I didn’t. I was hyper-aware how garbage my work was as a wee lad, to the extent people would tell me to stop beating myself up over it. But I was simply just being honest about my art then just as I’m honest about my art today.
There’s nothing wrong with admitting that you aren’t yet good, it’s admirable. But there’s everything wrong in pretending that you are.
Ex.C: I’m pretty much Zero with a Pen instead of a Z-Saber, lol. Naturally, I also became a hunted Maverick in real life.
The above is an old “throwaway” sketch done in like a half hour. It comes from confidence. You should be nearly as confident in your own skills, producing whatever your skill is at the drop of a pen, without complaining about “art blocks” or “needing inspiration”. It’s an excuse. No one complains about having game blocks or needing inspiration to play a game, do they? Or watching anime blocks and needing inspo’ to do that, right? Or complaining about getting cock-blocked or needing inspiration to smash effectively? (Okay, that last one might actually be a struggle for some.)
So, if that’s the kind of mindset you have towards making your own shit, then I respectfully want nothing to do with you in a creative capacity. We simply won’t align. “Having backbone” also implies that you don’t back down from your values and goals as a creative person. I’m not one to try and convince anyone to get into shit they’re clearly not into; I like encouraging others to be hype to make things from whatever their own interests are. So, that goes both ways working with me: I dealt with various people in the past who bended their aspirations or faked themselves just because I provided an opportunity or a bag to them, which led to misaligned working environments.
In essence, don’t pretend you’re into something I’m into because it’s an opportunity to use me. I can easily sniff out and pick up on that energy. Do you. I have no problem working at my own pace and in a solo capacity; I’m not ever begging or striving to get just anybody on my team. Different strokes, different folks.
I’m No One’s Savior
Only you are capable of saving yourself. For whatever that means or entails.
I know what I’m doing when it comes to this art and development shit, but I’m still learning many other things myself. I had to essentially “cut off” people who I wanted to work with and to share in reaping whatever rewards because they lacked either one or all of those above “requirements”, and it lowkey sucks. Their energy would rub off on me, making me lazier, complacent, or be unrealistic. But, it is what it is.
For my own sanity, I simply must have people who are damn near my creative clone to work with in a professional capacity. But don’t get it twisted: I don’t need that, it’s just the requirement if anyone wants to work alongside me.
