If you could make the hobby your job would you?

If I could just paint doll faces for part of my income I'd feel pretty content. I don't think I have much of an audience for my acrylic paint only faceups though, so it remains a dream and a hobby.

 

I've learned that sewing, I 300% would not want to make it my job. Sewing lately isn't out of love some much as a necessity of being persnickety and liking niche styles no one sews.

But face-ups, I really enjoy doing that.

I think making wigs professionally would be cool, but I don't think I could make them quickly enough to be viable.

 

Having had the opportunity to turn a hobby into a job on two occasions, I'd say probably not. Typically, hobbies are fun because they offer a form of escapism from everyday responsibilities. When the hobby becomes demanding, or integral to your means of survival, it's not going to be fun for long.

Sort of like listening to your favorite song. It's wonderful when you can hear it anytime you want, but if it were the only thing you ever got to listen to, you'd get sick of it pretty quickly.

 

I definitely would make this a job/source of income. I've been sculpting, creating figures out of wires, masks out of plaster, paper mache Día De Los Muertos dolls, and sewing felt dolls for a while now. Given my list, I'd love to make BJDs a part of all of my work.

 

I see a fair amount of negatives on here, so I'll just offer my opinion ^^

I've been a seller/custom/seamstress for a little under 3 years now and I love it! It's a challenge and quite fun to have goals I set myself. I enjoy the work I do and I haven't reached the point of burnout because I take breaks away from the technical business aspect of things around once every two months or so, even if I'm not feeling too stressed over the work and working outside the hobby. So far I'm making my business pay for my hobby, I don't -quite- make enough to live off of but 2019 I'm hoping is the year I'm going to start really pushing things. I'm looking forward to it!

 

In theory yes I think it would be awesome to make the hobby my primary source of income. In practice I hate doing commission work and lack the discipline to actually DO the commissions so I know it wouldn't be an option for me personally. I've had friends, so not even proper customers, commission some sewing stuff from me and I hated every moment of it. I do hope someday to be at a point where I can sell some pre-made clothes made for fun for a little extra doll money though!

For the folks who do have the drive and discipline to make sculpting, faceups, wigs, etc their primary source of income I say go for it! Artists are what make this hobby possible! Freelancing is full of challenges and it will never have the job security a regular job may have, but it can be very rewarding. And there's something to be said for being your own boss! You just have to be careful to not let customers push you around, and make sure you keep a healthy work/life balance. Leave yourself time to enjoy the hobby outside of work. I've got a good friend who does digital drawing commissions for a living and she's been so much happier since she switched to doing that full time! She sets herself a proper schedule to work on commissions and won't touch them outside of her schedule. Then she can draw her own stuff outside of 'work hours'. She even schedules herself several short breaks and lunch!

It's not for everyone, but if you're in a place where you can try then no harm no foul. It might be perfect for you and there's only one way to find out!

 

Yes! I would love to make money out of something I enjoy doing, only if I were living in the USA or Europe tho... It is very hard to keep track of what you sell these days so I give up opening my own Etsy store. Now I only sew for fun or for my friends

 

Well, I think it's not a bad idea at all! I love games & dolls, so making dolls or game for sideline can be nice. However making wigs or makeup seems so difficult to me. I hate thinner smell. It makes me sick.

 

If I could? In a heartbeat.

I would love to spend the whole day surrounded by dolls and doll-related activities but unfortunately there is no way I'd be able to make end meets without working an actual full-time job. And the only jobs here that pay enough don't leave me any free time to be creative with my dolls if I still want to sleep and eat too.

Dreams are nice but they're just that, dreams.

 

Oh I'd be all over this!

But I have yet to take on the biggest sewing challenge of my life for one of my own dolls, and until I know I can "speak string," I'm not even gonna THINK about doing this as a serious profession.... yet.

 

I won't because bjd hobby does not have large audience here. With high cost of living gradually rising I can't afford to waste time on something that is not practical.

 

I once did.
At first that was even fun. But I have a good job and it brings me much more money the dolls ever could.
And what's more important I grew tired of the stress BJDjob brought to my life. I couldn't relax thinking about the dolls anymore.
After three years of taking orders and serving the customers I stoped. And it took me two years more to look at bjd without avertion again.
So I strongly do not suggest to make it your job, since you are absolutely sure it will make you happy. Or have a good plan which will let you have enough rest of the routine.

 

Absolutely not!
I literally have zero artistic talent, especially when it comes to crafting and all.
While this hobby does make me happy, but I don't think I'd be as happy if I'm a doll maker, because I'd get stuck all the time. Even just plan my doll's outfits, I got stuck several times and over. If I become a dollmaker, I'd probably get stuck even more.
When something becomes a job, you'd have to enjoy doing it all the time. I very much enjoy my current job because I can feel like there is no problem I can't solve in a reasonable amount of time.

 

No, never. I know myself too well, It just can't work. I like my dollie time to stay a fun thing. My best friend always ask for new pictures and what I plan next time, when will I finish the jeans I sew etc, and she is dancing on my nerves with that. She asking those things, like I do my projects for her with a short deadline. It made me hate to touch my doll, so I stop tell her anything about my plans, or actual things I make. I like to separate work and fun. If I ever have the talent to make something good enough to sell, it's still a no. Running your business is stressful, and I am sure I can't handle it. And I am not really good in communicating, so it can't work for that reason too.

 

No. I actually really love the work I do and would be sad to leave after all of the effort I've put into my career. I'm pretty sure I'd burn out on my hobbies if I tried to do them full time.

 

That would be the dream.

 

If I can make some extra cash from the hobby as part-time then why sure. I will not make it my full-time job due to how bad the smell of sealant/painting materials can be.

If you are planning to make a living out of this, I would strongly suggest that you need to have your protection equipment ready.

 

^This. And to add my two cents as a doll sculptor: The time you invest in sculpting is so high, and the price of a doll so low, that it is hard to make a living, unless one of your sculpts becomes popular.

It's almost impossible to know if something is going to be a hit or miss. There are hundreds of new dolls released each year, and only one or two will become the new hits everyone talks about. These popular dolls are the ones that will give a company income. They are also definitely going to get recasted.
For instance, people were already asking for someone to bootleg Salomé, when I was still working on her. Salomé was neither popular, nor a big seller; I believe I sold only 40 copies of her in total.

In the end, there are two reasons why I'm slowly moving away from dolls and to 'regular' sculptures:
1. I can actually ask a decent hourly rate as a traditional sculptor. It's funny: In the art world a low asking price is actually hurting your credibility and as a result, your options to make a sale; the complete opposite is true in the BJD-market.
2. (and this is the main reason) Although each doll looks different, sculpting them is a pretty repetitive procedure. When it came to sculpting and casting, I had reached the point where I was no longer learning anything new. It was time to try something different.

 

Oh my gosh, I would've jumped at the chance of making this hobby as my job! In fact, I am studying Sculpture in university right now, hoping to learn more about sculpting in general, and my dream is to become a doll sculptor!!

 

I would love to make this hobby my full time job. I make and trade wigs currently but I planing to start selling them to contribute to my 'hobby fund,' to be a small supplement to my income. I am also working on sculpting a doll, I have recived some interest in her but not enough that I believe I be about to make sufficient amount selling dolls.