Career Advice: Marketing or Sales vs. Creative

[Nid Noy]

Guys.
I'm a creative worker and have supported myself in one of the most expensive cities in the world for over 15 years now. I've never made a lot of money, but enough to do things like take a trip to Japan, Europe or LOS every year. I have a small apt. in a happenin' area of town, am single with not much to be responsible for. It's a good life.

Recently, some job offers have been coming my way. And I'm torn.

One is a product demo "evangelist" for a video software company. Another would be a sales guy of broadcast gear in the heart of movie studio land. The first job has a $70,000 salary, but I'd have to move to Boston (bear in mind, I'm from the west coast of the U.S.). It would be a load of travel, like 90% going from place to place doing product demos, trade shows, etc.

The other job has a $38,000 base + 18% commission for net profits on the gear I'd sell. I'd say, I could double my base salary (if not hit 6 figures) if I tried at all in this fairly lucrative market. I'd also meet a lot of wheelers and dealers in the film biz in LA.

Both jobs are in the sales field, so I'd totally have to dedicate myself to closing sales, gathering info and doing lots of traveling (near and far). I have zero sales experience, yet these companies are recruiting me. I'd have to say bye-bye to being a full-time creative for quite awhile if not forever.

Should I do it? I haven't done any creative stuff for about 1 1/2 years in that I freelanced for a large computer company doing tech writing, which was lucrative - but not very fulfilling. I really miss actually creating work (video stuff) and getting paid for it.

So, I feel I'm at a crossroads. Start a sales career and dedicate myself to that OR go back into the creative field after a long absence? Many of my friends advise to get the job with the most potential income. However, a colleague said, "Dude, don't do it. After the first week, you'll be wishing you were back in creative."

I interviewed in LA for the sales job. Got the hard and cold reality of it. It's a difficult job. Surprise! I go to another place that wants to see me. Same story. LA sure is nice in January though. I'd lived in the area briefly back in '97 during trade school. (Making mental note: "Oh yeah, it's NICE here - LA does NOT suck!")

A 6 hour drive home along boring Highway 5. Straight and Flat. A good chance to open up the throttle and do some thinking.

I like good money. A nice pad.
I like LA.
But I keep hearing my colleague's voice, "Don't Do It!"

I think i'm going to turn down all job offers.
But still do the move to LA.
Start up small, do some TV, save up and get a small biz loan.
Start a boutique specializing in HDTV post-production.
Make more than I would on any of these jobs.
I like this idea. Am I nuts?

What would you do?

[LivinLOS]

I would probably go for the job that kept you on the west caost making sales.. The wheeling dealing angle and ability to make contacts throughout the industry would appeal..

That said HDTV post production must be a boom field currently..

If you hated the job you could still move back to the creative angle, once in the creative angle and invested its harder to get back out..

[marc26]

i would take a shot at the job, becasue you can always go back to the creative aspect. believe it or not, i would advise against the boston job only because gettign acclimated to a new job and a whole new atmosphere might be too much for you.

[Nid Noy]

Thanks for your advice guys. I will let you know what shakes loose.