the glitch in the matrix.

dav adé
Jan 25
3 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

tldr;

quitting a stable 9-5 to chase art isn't just a career change—it’s a systemic rebellion. while most choose the benefits of the corporate world, the entrepreneurial artist moves to the rhythm of their pulse. whether you’re a "double-agent" creating after hours or an artist who walked away from the retirement fund, the goal is the same: living free in a world that wants you to stay predictable.

why quitting your 9-5 for art is the ultimate systemic rebellion.

the world loves a predictable human. the system is built on you staying in your lane, contributing to your rrsp, and waiting until you’re 65 to finally breathe. when you stand up and say, "i’m leaving the pay cheque to go paint," people don't just think you're crazy—they’re threatened by you.

because by choosing to be an independent creative, you’ve become a glitch.

you’ve broken the script.

the leap: why "crazy" feels so good

leaving a 9-5 is a massive risk. you’re trading a guaranteed paycheck for a guaranteed struggle. but there is a specific, electric high that comes with that risk.

it feels good because, for the first time, your time belongs entirely to you. you aren't selling your best daylight hours to a corporation and giving your "exhausted leftovers" to your craft. when you quit, you reclaim your peak energy. the "crazy" label is just what people call courage when they’re too scared to try it themselves.

the double-agent: the art of the 9-5

however, let's kill a common myth: having a job doesn't make you "less" of an artist.

in fact, for many, the 9-5 is a secret weapon. when you spend 40 hours a week in a sterile environment, the act of creation becomes a sanctuary. the contrast makes the art feel more vital, more urgent, and more romantic. you are a double-agent. you use their office supplies to sketch; you use their salary to buy your materials. there is a deep, quiet power in protecting your spark while navigating the "real world."

the "glitch" vs. the "gold watch"

the system promises you a reward at the end of decades of service, while the artist industry maintains no guarantees... and yet the "glitch" who pursues their truth tends to be the one who is truly free.

for an artist, the constraint is the messy, underfunded, and chaotic art industry, however the appeal is the the freedom of knowing you are no longer a cog. you aren't a line item on a budget. you are an autonomous creator of worlds.

while everyone else is following the map to a pre-planned destination, the artist is the one exploring the wilderness. the constraints of the industry are real, but they are a small price to pay for the ability to look at a blank monday morning and decide exactly who you want to be.

the BLANK perspective

at the BLANK arts society, we don’t care if you’re a full-time glitch or a weekend warrior. we care about the honesty of the work. whether you’re planning your exit strategy or you’ve already burned the bridge, you’re part of a lineage of people who realized that "security" is often just another word for "silence."