Hyperallergic had a great article for artists who are trying to establish their careers later in life. Author Paddy Johnson answers concerts about fitting in with younger, apparently better connected crowds.
Johnson points out that the appearance of ultra-connectedness can either mean a person has been around cultivating relationships for years or that they are rich and have the access that comes with wealth.
Johnson also acknowledges that there is an age based bias that sees the same missteps interpreted differently.
All that said, building a career in the arts gets harder as you get older, doesn’t it? Learning new technology doesn’t come easy, and when you’re older, small tech mishaps on social media can make it seem like you’re out of touch. When you’re young, those same mistakes often read as deliberate choices. Thank you, cultural bias!
On the plus side, Johnson notes that it is possible to network and establish relationships outside of official events. She suggests swinging by galleries with friends during the afternoon if you don’t have the energy to always hit frenetic gallery openings in the evening. The gallery staff is likely to have more time to interact. Though she advises artists not omit openings entirely.
Artist talks and panel discussions are also options.
Similarly, she suggests experimenting with new technologies with an artist friend in order to share the experience and add an element of fun.
Ultimately, be aware that whatever you do is probably going to take you out of your comfort zone. Johnson relates a story illustrating her own discomfort with the wealth disparities she has experienced and acknowledges the disdain some wealth arts patrons exhibit toward the less wealthy classes.
She says artists need to work past that discomfort in order to develop as an artist. Likewise, she says often the discomfort never entirely disappears, it is just the source of the discomfort that changes.
There are a lot of meaningful relationships we can build in the world, and deciding who’s worthy of attention based on wealth and status alone prevents us from building a life of meaning and purpose.
That mindset shift helps, but I can’t pretend it erases discomfort. Think about common worries in your 20s: you’re not attractive enough, too inexperienced, and how any networking looks like gross social climbing. When you’re older, those anxieties just shift: Now you’re intimidated by the fresh energy young people bring, or that they might see you as irrelevant. The specific worries change with age, but the core anxiety stays the same — that our intrinsic value doesn’t align with our culture’s values.
