Why does it feel like my art business isn't taking off even though I've been working hard?

Your timeline might be completely normal for an artist’s journey. Look at comedians: most spend three to five years doing open mics and finding their voice, years three to four getting regular club spots, years five to seven headlining and building a following, and only after seven-plus years do they get major specials. Chris Rock trained for two years before his breakout. Louis CK spent fifteen years stuck before pivoting his approach. If you haven’t been grinding through those early phases—the equivalent of open mic nights—you’re exactly where you should be. Success in art isn’t typically a year-one or year-two phenomenon. Once you accept that your timeline is normal and stop comparing yourself to unrealistic expectations, you can focus on putting in the consistent work that leads to breakthroughs.

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Asked by an artist frustrated with slow progress · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2026-02-19