We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Thomas Juarez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Thomas, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
The 1st dollar I made as a creative was selling my 1st mixtape I had ever recorded for ten dollars on the street to a perfect stranger. I ended up driving to Oakland California with my friend who had a brother running a professional studio. We paid for our studio time and recorded 7 tracks and put out an EP. We burned the music on to CD’s, this was 2004. My friend gave me the idea or should I say confidence/courage to actually ask strangers if they wanted to support a local artist and the rest was history. I made my 1st sale for $10 no cover just a burned CD. What a rush, what a feeling. I’ve been making money off my craft ever since and I’m extremely thankful. You never know where something could take you in life if you just show up and be present.
Thomas, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
TG is an inspiring hip hop artist from Fresno California. He has some of the best music in the game for being unsigned and independent.
In 1996 TG started his hip hop career freestyle rapping at Fresno High School’s south patio with a couple other local MC’s. As time went on and the years went by TG started to develop as an artist and now today has some of the hottest songs coming out in the underground hip hop scene.
As an independent artist TG sold over 100,000 units out the trunk. Putting out 15 independent projects from the span of 2004 to 2018 on top of having 5 number 1 local radio singles on homegrown radio, as well as winning best lyricist in 2009 voted by the people.
TG is definitely one of hip hop’s hidden gems. Upon discovering his deep catalog you will hear the metaphors and punchlines that will connect you to personal experiences that will give you something to relate to.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect is actually seeing the effect that the music has on people’s lives. When A fan sends you a message and says “keep doing what your doing” or “I really love your work” makes all the difference in the world as a creative.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Yes 2018 I found myself on the street trying to sell a product which nobody was consuming anymore. CD’s became the main source of income for artist in the mid 90’s all the way till 2010+ but as time went by the way people consumed music started to change and it made it so difficult for artist depending on CD revenue to maintain the same level of business. I found myself asking person after person if they wanted to support my CD and everyone was just ignoring me walking past me, total opposite of when I first started. I had to Pivot and I had to Pivot fast so I made a choice to put my music catalog into the stream world. Steam royalties come a little different then selling merch the artist has to wait up to 3 months before streaming services report income but the good part about this era is you get paid every time someone streams your music vs selling a CD one time. Either way I’m glad I made the adjustment cause if I hadn’t I would a missed a lot of money
Contact Info:
- Website: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7qwOsGanRCnWgty6lX05P4?si=go2shCJuQmCnUQwbeKeaDA
- Instagram: @iamtherealtg
- Facebook: @iamtherealtg
- Linkedin: @iamtherealtg
- Twitter: @iamtherealtg
- Youtube: @iamtherealtg
Image Credits
Distrokid for the poster