Is it "who you know" rather than "what you know" when it com

Question:

Is it "who you know" rather than "what you know" when it comes to success in the arts?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Certainly having great social connections with the in-group can open doors for you...but what happens next is the "what you know" stuff. A rich patron can keep you going just so long, but if you're not producing quality, eventually a disinterested critic [i.e., not tied to the patron or wired into the in-group] will lay it out in spades. I've seen some artists talk the greatest gas in the world, but they faded away fast once the adoring toadies faltered and fell away. In other words, you can dine out on charm & glittering chums just so long--but the WORK will be your true measure.