If you’re from the old school Punk or DIY culture it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that having a structured approach to your creativity goes against the spirit of rebellion.
But is that a voice in your head that is building self-limitations?
Punk culture is highly intelligent and informed by great literature, philosophy, film making, art, and a variety of music outside of strictly Rock & Roll.
The people who informed punk culture were people who had structure and consistency to their respected crafts.
Having a daily routine and structure to what you create can only help enhance your skill set and output.
I’ve seen some great entrepreneurial successes emerge from Punk culture and they were all people who had the self discipline to be consistent as creative people in building income from their DIY efforts.
No one is going to think you aren’t “punk” if you’re financially successful, or have a structured plan in place. If they do, then they’re still stuck in high school.
The fact that everyone now has a smartphone actually goes against the whole concept of “punk” anyway.
Are we all yuppies now?
The smartphone is just a tool anyhow and it’s all about how you choose to use the tool.
It has to do with an attitude and spirit. What will you use the tool for?
The underground/punk scene that I was a part of largely consisted of a bunch of very creative “lost children”. We largely lacked guidance from mentors who could show us how to find our way in life.
We were damaged goods looking for something that normal society wasn’t able to offer.
A lot of us fell by the wayside of alcohol and drugs, while others found a way through it and figured out how to lead sustainable lives involving our creativity.
Those of us who did have typically juggled a variety of creative income-generating activities in order to keep our noses above water level. Seldom was it only one thing.
Some of us though found ourselves consistent careers within the Hollywood entertainment system as art directors, costume designers, lighting technicians etc.
So how do you maintain that youthful spirit of punk rebellion while also having a structured plan in place to help create income through creativity?
Firstly, stop thinking of it in strict black & white terms. Nobody, no matter whether they be a punk or a “normo” is wired with the capability of changing behaviour and developing new habits at the drop of a hat.
Change is a decision that we consciously make. Nobody is great at a new thing when they begin, so you must be willing to consistently fail the test but keep getting back on the horse until you can ride.
We reach a time in our lives when certain behaviours and patterns no longer work for us and we decide to take action. This doesn’t mean we’re any less rebellious than we ever were in the past. It means that we are growing in a positive direction.
In my mind, I’ll always retain a margin of “angry young man” which is actually that punk element that fuels my spirit for change and creativity. But I refuse to become an angry old man.
Rather, I would prefer to continue discovering new ways of self expression and develop whatever change in behavior is required in order to bring them to fruition.
Taking a close honest look at yourself isn’t always the most fun activity but in my own personal experience, there’s no other way for me to get to the root cause of what keeps me stuck in certain holding patterns.
Several helpful ways to build structure is to:
Consistency is key and if you find yourself getting derailed by life’s curveballs, do your best to return back to those windows of open time as soon as you can.
Punks are intelligent people. We create exciting and surprising things from our minds, using whatever materials may be immediately at hand.
Sometimes it’s easy to forget your innate magic in this sense. Building structure will help provide a container for you to “paint like a child” as Picasso said.
Enjoy the process and remember, you’ll still be Punk.
(photo of Salvador Dali: Philippe Halsman in 1948)
