<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Mercenary Artists]]></title><description><![CDATA[Welcome Artist! Our goal is to help you find ways to feed your soul while making enough to feed your body too. Let us know how we can help.]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:42:56 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.mercenaryartists.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[The Intuitive Actor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Years ago, I wrote a book. It wasn't sophisticated. It was simply a way to document my process in acting. I put it out there without expecting much, but I got the ideas out of my head and onto paper. I reread it a couple of days ago, and strangely; It is exactly what I need. A couple of ideas. A list of tools. Clarity. Now most writers hate a lot of their work from when they were less "mature". This one is the exception. I knew what I was talking about a few years ago, and hopefully this book...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/the-intuitive-actor</link><guid isPermaLink="false">691621058299f58d7f82c76b</guid><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 18:27:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8aebdd_7a8301b502224983803cdcf8d9d06f30~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_324,h_500,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Prospecting for Actors and other Artists]]></title><description><![CDATA[Recently, I took a sales job. I can't release Self Harm until October due to festival obligations and I thought a little extra income...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/prospecting-for-actors-and-other-artists</link><guid isPermaLink="false">66976ba8d1b13e223ad8b2e4</guid><pubDate>Wed, 17 Jul 2024 07:18:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_60c6742d11b6404aa61ac1dd16e26aa0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Embracing The "Jack Of All Trades" Mentality]]></title><description><![CDATA["Specialization is for insects." - Robert A. Heinlein At a certain point, you want to be able to tell people what you do at parties. When...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/embracing-the-jack-of-all-trades-mentality</link><guid isPermaLink="false">664f993c433b7b96ca76fca9</guid><pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2024 19:48:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8aebdd_30aafc94287d4a768485e19b59ef1ff0~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Putting In The Reps]]></title><description><![CDATA[I believe, therefore; that it's best not to focus on "results". At least at an individual level. 

Instead, I'm focusing on reps.
]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/putting-in-the-reps</link><guid isPermaLink="false">655e5c495872936753064bef</guid><category><![CDATA[Working Artists Philosophy]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 22 Nov 2023 20:20:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_4c954df482f64ba1911ac3f2fcfed60c~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Choice]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hey Artist, If you wanted to boil down my philosophy to one phrase it would be: "Make Stuff and tell people about it" But which to focus...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/the-choice</link><guid isPermaLink="false">652b8fb8c338c17395be95ec</guid><category><![CDATA[Business Of Art]]></category><category><![CDATA[Working Artists Philosophy]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 18 Oct 2023 17:02:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_e609d07aac904e12bf0781d2a76adf4f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Skills Vs Tasks]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello Artist, I have been inconsistent with this blog recently. But I have been very consistent with movie making. This got me thinking....]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/skills-vs-tasks</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64cbe07c39c742a5e0022baf</guid><pubDate>Thu, 03 Aug 2023 17:32:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_b5bfcd9974ec438a9acfc71ebc778913~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Do I Know If My Art Is Successful?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hey Artist, So, recently I've been really buckling down on finishing my latest film. It's getting done and I'm being productive but as...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/how-do-i-know-if-my-art-is-successful</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64bd66bed5ac9c839718cf62</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Jul 2023 18:08:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_8cbf24edcb1143f48bf9dd23c7cf72ed~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Make Stuff. Tell People About It.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hey Artist, It's easy to get in the weeds with promotion. People (including myself) will talk about finding your audience, SEO, cost per...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/make-stuff-tell-people-about-it</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64b5a2e7ad685584962c67f3</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Jul 2023 20:35:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_ce078d20afa7419f87fda5fa40f06d4b~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Strike]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hey Artist, You are probably well aware that The Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA (The actors guild) are on strike. Generally, I am fiercely...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/the-strike</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64b1b1cba450abc218fdd049</guid><pubDate>Fri, 14 Jul 2023 20:47:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8aebdd_fdced85e93f342c3ad3756d9a2e453bc~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Harder Is Not Better]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hi Artist, Do you ever have a day when the art works easily? What's your response? If you are like me, this experience often makes me...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/harder-is-not-better</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64b04d8ef85c0d4db54144d1</guid><pubDate>Thu, 13 Jul 2023 19:26:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8aebdd_ef406bd84ced42e2a971e607be2b14ca~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Goal ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hi Artist, I've been thinking. Who the hell am I to talk to you about art? Well, I'm a guy who got really sick and tired of seeing his...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/the-goal</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64aefab436271072964ad109</guid><pubDate>Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:22:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_d90df216143443398e9d9b0ea64a97a9~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Action Beats Attitude]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hi Artist, Everywhere you go people will talk to you about the importance of the right mental attitude. "Attitude is everything"  "Think...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/action-beats-attitude</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64ade3021e85209d841fe62a</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Jul 2023 23:59:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c1918e16622f45fe85a6ba396afc7bac.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When You Feel Like Garbage (Or that your art is)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hey Artist, I don't know if I've been getting too much work done and my self sabotage is kicking into overdrive; but some of my internal...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/when-you-feel-like-garbage</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64ac9ec8eba4a90a97d68e33</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:28:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94342992aacdf5635e39a42e421252d5.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Separating The Blogs]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hi Artists, So I write about art, I make movies, and I write about making movies; and I have come to realize that the art people don't...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/separating-the-blogs</link><guid isPermaLink="false">64a9c9d3865495c9c02bd081</guid><category><![CDATA[Business Of Art]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 08 Jul 2023 22:13:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_e5d4cea7639f49c49ceb3941bad756f4~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Seize The Means Of Distribution]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hey Artists, In many ways it has become much easier to make art on your own terms. High quality movie cameras can be bought for under a...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/seize-the-means-of-distribution</link><guid isPermaLink="false">640ae30dbd14f42718223ce8</guid><category><![CDATA[Business Of Art]]></category><category><![CDATA[Step by Step / Brass Tacks]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 10 Mar 2023 08:16:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8aebdd_071009d747d042c7b69a5b4ef11d7ca7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Many Hats, One Head]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hey Artists, I'm filming on Tuesday, and Wednesday, on two entirely separate projects. And I have multiple jobs on each. Tuesday I am a...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/many-hats-one-head</link><guid isPermaLink="false">640a58224dbbf3ccdb5fcb86</guid><category><![CDATA[Business Of Art]]></category><category><![CDATA[Working Artists Philosophy]]></category><category><![CDATA[The Struggle]]></category><category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 09 Mar 2023 22:18:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_426d716d51765851587073~mv2_d_3264_2181_s_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pump Up The Volume]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello Artists, Yesterday I went to a screening of a film I shot 8 years ago. While there, I chatted with another actor who mentioned that...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/pump-up-the-volume</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6407b1554cd34c50d7062b1e</guid><pubDate>Tue, 07 Mar 2023 22:00:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/db6e66c11cf24c1aa7aa0b93a17bbb2f.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Down Temporarily due to LACK of Scheduled Maintenance]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello Artist, I've had the flu. Because of this, I obviously wasn't able to cross off as much on my todo list. That sucks, but it isn't ...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/down-temporarily-due-to-lack-of-scheduled-maintenance</link><guid isPermaLink="false">63e6b34abce097b988ae1cfb</guid><pubDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2023 21:30:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8aebdd_6c26b28e1afb4c329ab9a7f7ff564f65~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[I'm On The Clock]]></title><description><![CDATA[I'm on the clock right now. I don't mean that I am sneaking a blog post in when working on someone else's dime. I mean, that I am clocked...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/i-m-on-the-clock</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6388eed02a5e98c2011c6c9c</guid><pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2022 18:29:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ecf0032afd8c45c29584a0439869b05a.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Start With Joy (But please still take your meds)]]></title><description><![CDATA[I was planning on writing more specifically about the business of Art today. I have two blog posts in rough draft form that just need a...]]></description><link>https://www.mercenaryartists.com/post/start-with-joy-but-please-still-take-your-meds</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6363f8535c33c2f35d5cc0ca</guid><category><![CDATA[Working Artists Philosophy]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2022 18:13:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_0434f91438d74c2bbabfb45246503216~mv2_d_5184_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>edwardgusts</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>