Toni Morrison edited other people's writing, and wrote hers on the train home. That certainly didn't make her less of an artist. You hear about "No Plan B" the most when it works, although I think Ringo had a thought about opening a hair salon, at one point.

I have seen, over and over, myself included, the lower middle class artists choose the plan B without even trying Plan A, because the thought of being without security is terrifying

It's probably a big part of the reason why I stopped doing theatre.

Bruce Springsteen did not have a Plan B. He has never worked at anything except being a musician since he was 16.

Hmm. This reminds me of the study I heard of recently. A former minor-league ball player quit baseball and went to grad school in sociology, and then did a long-term economic analysis of baseball players. He looked at people who stayed with it, and people who didn't, and the long-term earnings of both categories.

What he discovered is that the people who quit playing professionally made more money over their lifetimes than the ones who stuck with it. The small percentage of those who went on to highly-successful careers in the majors were far outnumbered by those who struggled for years being paid very little--and losing out on other work and educational opportunities.

The fact that Bruce Springsteen didn't have a Plan B doesn't mean that everyone gets to be Bruce Springsteen. It means that IF you're as persistent, talented, creative, business-like, and lucky as Bruce Springsteen, MAYBE not having a Plan B will pay off for you financially.

But as an entirely casual hobbyist in the arts, I gotta say that trying to make a living by my creative writing would put so much pressure on me that it would dry up my creative drive entirely. Anyway, there should be room in this conversation for people who aren't in the arts as a career: Dentistry school or Bruce Springsteen aren't the only two options.

There's not a band in the world (except for the trust fund baby Strokes) that didn't eat ramen and couch surf and scrape to make things happen.

So if someone came up with a non-Strokes musical exception you'd concede the point? This seems really fragile.

Can actors have plan Bs and still succeed? Is it only music which rewards desperation and lack of contingency planning ability?

Can actors have plan Bs and still succeed?

What about artists? Is this when I get to bring up Chatty and how he's landed the dream job inking for Marvel yet still works at a day job because he wants his wife and son to have health insurance?

Damn sell-out.

That's choosing something else over your artistic career.

No, it's not. That's my point -- you can do both. My first novel was published while I was working full-time, and I had kids and a home to take care of.

"Fuck Plan B" is dismissive and contemptuous of the idea of a Plan B.

So what? What kind of responsible, inoffensive rock stars do you want anyway? Morrissey says ten pissier things than that before he has his tea. Go ahead and dump your Smiths albums. Your life will be poorer. Jesus, it's a stupid thing to hold as a grievance against Amanda Palmer.

Which is your prerogative, but if that's your standard for rock stars you're going to get some very tame music.

Why get mad at a rock star for advocating risk taking? Some people thrive on it - just about all rock musicians do.

Toni Morrison edited other people's writing, and wrote hers on the train home. That certainly didn't make her less of an artist.

Yeah, and I did my first book writing on my lunch breaks and working until midnight after I put Emmett down. But Toni and I had children and guess who doesn't - Amanda Palmer.

And juggling parenthood and a career in the arts is very different than advocating that young people just starting their careers leverage their biggest asset - their freedom.

I don't need to argue the point any further. I think the grievances against Amanda Palmer are ridiculous.

What kind of responsible, inoffensive rock stars do you want anyway?

Yes, that's exactly the crux of my issue with the statement. Some musician's persona. Right.

Well, except I want to respond to this.

I have seen, over and over, myself included, the lower middle class artists choose the plan B without even trying Plan A, because the thought of being without security is terrifying

That is a pretty close paraphrase of my point. If you value security more than your work then you will have a much smaller chance of succeeding.

However, I do not think this blanket rule fits all. Some people - many artists - work best when they have a stable base. I think that's true for a lot of writers.

But for musicians? It's much less common.

So, I don't see how Amanda Palmer's comment is irresponsible or wrong.

Yes, that's exactly the crux of my issue with the statement. Some musician's persona. Right.

What is your objection? She was condescending to people with straight jobs?