Jim Henson Career Book

Product Description

In our culture, artistic genius and poverty seem inevitably linked, but does it have to be that way? Jim Henson didn’t think so.

An iconic creator and savvy businessman, Henson is a model for artists everywhere: without sacrificing his creative vision, Henson built an empire of lovable Muppets that continues to educate and inspire—and a business that was worth $150 million at the time of his death. How did he ever pull it off? And how can other creators follow in his path?

In Make Art Make Money: Lessons from Jim Henson on Fueling Your Creative Career, journalist and educator Elizabeth Hyde Stevens presents ten principles of Henson’s art and business practices that will inspire artists everywhere. Part manifesto, part history, part cultural criticism, part self-help, Make Art Make Money is a new kind of business book for creative professionals: a guide for creating and succeeding thanks to lessons from the Muppet Master himself.

This book was initially released in episodes as a Kindle Serial. All episodes are now available for immediate download as a complete book.

Top Reviews

Creative artists: everything you know about business is wrong
by Barbara R. Saunders (5 out of 5 stars)
December 15, 2013

Two competing, discouraging messages dominate the conversation about how to make a living while making art. The first: "Keep your day job." Do your art on the side (whatever that means) and hope that someday, somehow, something will take off. The second: Rush to monetize whatever it is you do; turn your art into a business. The life of Muppet creator Jim Henson provides an alternative example. The author patiently illustrates the reality of how artists are "different," why neither of those two mainstream messages work for us. Rather than aiming to earn more money in order to work less, artists ultimately pursue money in order to work more - to fund our projects and to minimize the distractions and time constraints that paid work introduces into our lives.

Henson put it front-and-center. He worked hard and constantly. He combined business and friendship. He did not relegate his art to his "free" time or subject it prematurely to a world where its worth was equivalent to its price. Once given life, his characters and creations reflected dual value. To audiences they were priceless gifts; to business men, sources for generating money. Copyrights in hand, Henson could enter the world of business on its own terms without compromising himself. The book will leave you feeling like you can do that, too.
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Lots of history of the Muppets
by David and Suzanne McClendon (4 out of 5 stars)
October 18, 2017

We purchased Make Art Make Money: Lessons from Jim Henson on Fueling Your Creative Career by Elizabeth Hyde Stevens in the Kindle format.

This is a very interesting read and very informative as far as learning more about the Muppets and Jim Henson.

Readers learn a little about what decisions Henson made along the way. Although this book is an interesting read and entertaining, we are not sure that it will be incredibly helpful to aspiring artists. That really remains to be seen. Most likely this will depend upon the takeaway that each reader gets from this book.

One of the biggest concerns we have is the mention several times of a certain board that is used to delve into the occult. The illustration is not needed and it takes it out of the realm of being "Christian Friendly".

We give Make Art Make Money four stars. We could not give it all five stars because we just don't feel that the lessons the author is trying to teach are readily apparent.

As a biographical book, this is a good read. As an artistic "how to" book, it comes close but doesn't quite make it. As a business book, it is helpful but misses the mark slightly.

We suggest this book would make a fair companion book with Real Artists Don't Starve by Jeff Goins.
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Refreshing reassurance that nice artists can be successful!
by Mark Toonery (5 out of 5 stars)
August 26, 2017

As an avid Fan of both the Muppets and their creator Jim Henson, I was keenly curious to read more about the artistic career of the gentle genius. Elizabeth Hyde Stevens did not disappoint me with her in-depth analysis of Jim Henson's rise to fame with Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. But don't mistake this book for another mere biography or history, as the focus here is how Henson managed to "sell his art without selling out," a precarious tightrope that all artists must manage to survive. Henson's secret seemed to be that he retained OWNERSHIP of his characters up to nearly the very (and regrettably premature) end. This, along with his cautious merchandising (with few exceptions) of these characters provided means for his surprisingly small organization to produce less commercial projects like The Dark Crystal (which I held in reverent awe as even a 12-year old) and The Storyteller. I also enjoyed the author's comparisons between Walt Disney and Jim Henson. Walt was an avid perfectionist, while Henson was more of an advocate of believability over realism. As an animation instructor, freelance cartoonist and part-time puppeteer, I've already highly recommended this valuable resource to my students. Furthermore, I believe it should be required reading for all would-be/could-be freelance artists and performers.
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A wonderful book for creatives!
by pinkmushroom13 (5 out of 5 stars)
November 18, 2015

This book takes the reader on an amazing journey, and let's them get an inside look at the man who created the muppets and Sesame Street. If you're like me you grew up watching Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on tv. I loved the show. And even though it seems like I should have outgrown them, I don't feel like I have. That's what this book show you - that you're never too old for the message Jim Henson was trying to give. Henson wanted peace, he wanted everyone to get along. He really thought that if his creations could touch and move enough people, he could change the world. And, you know, I think he was right. And none of us are too old and grown up to hear that message.

This book shows the reader how making art and money is possible without "selling out" as an artist. Personally, I think if you're good at something, you should be allowed to make a living from by it without being criticized. But, the book teaches that, as long as the art comes first and is always at the forefront of whatever you do, you can make money. Henson didn't like the idea of commercializing Sesame St. in the beggining. He wasn't after the money. But he realized that with commercials and merchandise, he just might reach more kids with his message of peace and sharing, no matter what our differences are.

If you're an artist struggling with the moral decision of selling your art for profit, you need this book. If you are a Jim Henson fan, you'll love to hear about his journey as an artist. This book takes you from Jim creating his own puppets to his slots on late night tv to a scene of him stopping everything during a shoot to entertain a passing child. It is a heartwarming story that any creative will be thrilled to have on their shelf.
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Not sure that the book is directly about "making money ...
by C. Morrison (4 out of 5 stars)
August 14, 2015

Not sure that the book is directly about "making money with your art" but more about changing the way an artist's views the corporate/money world in order to have a chance to make money with art. The Author shows us in stories, how Jim Henson's approach to art and money worked to get him where he wanted to go. I am a huge Jim Henson fan-I cried when he died-not something I generally do for celebrities, II think a lot of people felt that way about him as well, so he must have been doing something very right
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Good book for educating yourself but not necessarily a fun biographical book.
by Jack Sparrow (3 out of 5 stars)
March 7, 2015

Seems to hash over the same emotional/ethical dilemma that Henson grappled with so it is a little tedious but sometimes that can be a good thing for this type of book. It has given me opportunities to think the main ideas over and over again and evolve my thinking as I consider a variety of ideas. This is not an entertaining book. It is good if you want to learn about funding art and the challenges out there for artists, using Henson as an example.
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A gift to every creative person who struggles with the money question
by Jeff Goins (5 out of 5 stars)
August 23, 2017

Smart, insightful, and well-researched. This book is a gift to every creative person who struggles with the money question. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It even led me to delve more into Henson's life and work, which left an inedible impression on me as a writer and entrepreneur.
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Great book about Jim Henson's life in puppetry
by Michelle Dunn (5 out of 5 stars)
December 14, 2015

Great book about Jim Henson's life in puppetry. Great story and motivating book. Really a biography of Jim Henson and his business and how he got to where he was and became successful all while still following his vision and living his dream, though at some sacrifice to his family. I still think about parts of this book and I finished reading it weeks ago. I passed it on to a friend who also loves it.
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Delightful read, ready for the next episode
by Amazon Customer (5 out of 5 stars)
September 17, 2013

What a delight to read Ms. Steven's first installment in her series on the life of Jim Henson, entrepreneur! I will certainly be tuning in for the next episode based on this insightful and meticulously researched introduction into the unseen life of Jim Henson. I love that I grew up with the Muppets and their creator, but have never thought about his life in the context of his struggle and ultimate success in finding a balance between capitalism and creativity.

Ms. Stevens reminds us that this iconic artistic genius was also a businessman, in fact started out doing commercials. But he didn't lose his integrity... how did he do that? Well I won't give away too much, except she starts with toys and I want to know more.

Is Ms. Hyde Stevens related to Lewis Hyde? She shows the same insightful eloquence as Mr. Hyde in is his great book, The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World
, and if they are not blood relatives, then they are certainly kindred spirits in laying out the artist's dilemma and posing elegant (and entertaining) solutions.

I thank Elizabeth Stevens for her gift to the struggling artist in all of us. We all strive to balance our real world needs with the desire to be unique and creative. I can't wait to read the next episode of this intriguing series.
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Brilliant analysis of Henson's creative career
by Matthew Drew (5 out of 5 stars)
June 10, 2014

From beginning to end, I thoroughly enjoyed Stevens' examination of the man, the Muppets, and the machine. The insights she offers from his career, topical rather than chronological, were intimate, often amusing, and profound. The book digs deep into what made Jim Henson tick, and the reader starts to feel the tension that he must have felt daily in wanting to create but needing to fund his ideas and run a business. Throughout the book the author uses Henson's own shows or puppet sketches as parables to illuminate a deeper point about his career. This book has shaped my thinking about creativity and business. Eye-opening and fun, I would highly recommend it to anyone familiar with Henson's work who is trying to get traction for their own creative careers.

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