Its actually way harder to be self-employed than work for an employer (and unfortunately less secure as more exposed to market forces)
The one time I was unemployed seemed good at the start but became a nightmare towards the end especially as no private sector employer wanted me as I’d dared to take a long career break – plus any “alternative” ways of money just weren’t there.
I found out the hard way that there’s fuck all real and long term opportunities for employment in the electronic dance music scene, even commercial events are a money pit as the authorities are determined to recover the costs of all the drugs treatment/addiction via licensing. I know people who may do a few paid DJ sets or hire out rigs but they barely cover their costs.
The same applies to 95% of the creative industries, especially as the market is skewed by enthusiastic middle class youths working for nothing whilst being funded by rich parents.
Ironically it was the very same Government I’d spent 15 years rebelling against and cursing what gave me a job in the end and boosted up my skills to the point I’ve actually done fairly well today! I would probably have considered some form of crime had I not got that job!
