5. Downside of Becoming an Affiliate
To offer a comprehensive perspective on becoming an affiliate, examining the potential drawbacks many seasoned artists encounter is crucial. We'll discuss the negative aspects of affiliate relationships in terms of financial success, career advancement, and reach.
Actual Profitability
Many artists who have been part of hierarchical systems and collaborated with academies for years report that financial profitability often remains theoretical and unattained. This discrepancy stems from two main reasons. Initially, the financial success of previous artists was mainly due to high market demand, which did not require extensive efforts to attract customers. This demand facilitated a focus on selling professional training materials and supplies from the academy. However, when the market demand declines and artists need to find customers actively, the academy system can become burdensome. Without solid market demand, the system's added value is minimal, and artists may feel like they're merely sales agents for the corporation, sharing their income in a manner reminiscent of an unfair taxation system.
Furthermore, artists who have joined affiliate programs as "professional teams," "elite artists," or "masters" find that being tied to one brand and its products can be limiting if there is no genuine demand for those products. This limitation can restrict their flexibility and ability to adapt to market changes or personal growth.
Actual Influence on Career
Many artists agree that affiliation can be beneficial for career advancement, especially for the "smallest fish in the pond." This term refers to artists at various levels of experience, reputation, reach, and brand value within a group. Joining a hierarchical group can raise or lower the group's average level within a more prominent academy or corporate hierarchy.
Joining a higher-status category can significantly advance the careers of less experienced artists with smaller reach and brand recognition. They benefit from the group's established reputation and resources. However, for artists who are among the group's more experienced and well-known members, affiliation might slow their career progression as they may end up supporting the group's status at the expense of their advancement.
Artists should carefully evaluate their position and potential career impact before joining any hierarchical group, assessing whether the affiliation will genuinely elevate their status or if they risk becoming a support for others' rise.
Actual Reach
Affiliate-structure artists often recognize the potential to expand their reach through academy and corporate affiliations. However, there are important considerations. Promotion within many systems is contingent upon the artist's profitability to the academy, either through sales or enhancing its reputation. This support often diminishes when the artist's contributions decrease, indicating that promotional efforts are rewards for past success rather than investments in future potential.
Artists also face intense competition within these hierarchies, where backstabbing and diplomacy are expected to gain favor. The quality of the reach gained is another concern. Followers acquired through affiliations are often already connected to the academy's brand, and converting them into paying customers can be challenging, especially if the artist leaves the affiliate academy or corporation. This highlights the need to understand the quantity, quality, and engagement level of the reach gained through affiliation.
