Why Japan is One of the World’s Safest Countries
Mairi McLaren
Hey, NFT buyer. How’s your day going? Can we talk for a minute?
I know enough about what NFTs are, so no need to explain it (again). What I want to talk to you about is all the other ways you could spend your money on art that directly and indirectly improves your life and the lives of those around you.
I’d like to introduce you to the idea of art as a social investment, rather than an economic investment. Sounds weird to you, huh? Stick with me, it’ll all make sense soon.
You know how you spent anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars on nonfungible tokens attached to copies of digital art made from a template? Well, what if I told you you could have invested that money into artists, creators, and other people who are creating thought pieces, theatrical productions, works of comedy, podcasts, films, novels, music, games, and countless other nonfungible art that benefits us all?
“But how does some weird play or nerdy D&D game or podcast benefit me,” you ask? I’m glad you asked that question, my bro/sis/pal.
We’re all living through a pandemic that has gone on so long we can’t remember what it was like to not have to wear a mask in the grocery store. How many times did you turn to music, Netflix, YouTube, TikTok, film, your favorite podcast, or to Etsy to buy some comforting thing for your apartment whose walls you’ve spent eons of time within? Those are all made by people who need to pay their bills and need money to buy food, medicine, clothes, and furniture. And most of the time, you willingly consume the fruits of their labor for free.
Independent artists are very likely the same people who, in 5-10 years, with some luck and grit (and YOUR support) could very well be creating their own Netflix shows, charting on the Billboard Hot 100, or selling their designs to a major fashion label. Wouldn’t it be cool if your NFT money could instead invest directly in these artists; giving back to those people who kept our spirits, hearts, and minds afloat during this difficult time, and ensuring they can continue making art for all of us to enjoy? Wouldn’t it be super awesome to make sure they can keep making the art that we can turn to when life gets hard, or boring, or when we simply just want to laugh and feel good?
Below are some ways you can support independent artists and creators of all kinds. Have at it! That NFT money is burning a hole in the environment somewhere!
Twitch (subscriptions & bits)
CashApp/Venmo/Paypal/Zelle gifts/donations directly to artists (they often link this information on their social media)
Additionally, you can buy artwork (physical, digital, or any combo thereof) directly from artists. You can even commission custom pieces to give as gifts! Cool, right? Why not skip the NFT farms cranking out images from a template, and instead commission original art directly from a creative artist? It’s a thrill you don’t want to miss out on.
At the end of the day, it’s your choice what to do with your spending money. Once you’ve done all the responsible adult things like paying bills and donating to worthy causes, I hope you’ll consider including artists and creators as recipients of your hard-earned discretionary funds. After all, you’ve been consuming and benefiting from the hard work of artists and creators your entire life.
