We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ezra Murry. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ezra below.

Ezra, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I have recently been able to earn a full-time living from my creative works. It literally took years to get to this point. It started off only doing sound engineering then writing, then DJing all before the age of 15. The main step was self investing for sure. Teaching yourself mental discipline is a must in being self employed/running a business. Going out to eat, buying expensive items may seem tempting but it will only hinder your progress. Save those coins and get the equipment you need to advance ! If I knew what I know now… what I would essentially do is just invest in myself a lot sooner. Now would that lead to me being further ahead? Who knows, I probably would’ve relocated or things could’ve gone entirely opposite. Best thing I can do is stay appreciative of the road taken to get where I am & continue to do what I can to advance.

Ezra, 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?

I’m from a small city of Peoria, IL

I’ve always been creative and innovative, I started building actual crafts outside of legos at around the age of 7,8. I used to LOVE to build boats that would float in our kitchen sink haha.

I got into what I do currently from none other than my late step father Ferell Robinson. He was a hardened businessman but there was a side of him that absolutely loved music and everything about it. He introduced me to my first studio and from there I took about a whole day or 2 backtracking all the wiring and when I got the chance I built a studio myself in our basement. We would occasionally record music and write songs together.

Over the years I’ve advanced and learned multiple sides of the craft. Graphic design, photography, videography, lighting etc.

Usually clients come to me with no preparation in mind whatsoever and I help them create a look they didn’t know they desired. Sometimes clients come to me with a full drawn out blueprint of exactly what they want and I’m able to capitalize and even over succeed expectations. Seldomly, the look or expectation isn’t fulfilled and that’s ok because we’re human, nobody is perfect, we just go back to the drawing board and figure out how to fix it.

My most proud moment for sure is my stepfather being able to see our very First Peoria Fashion Week I created and him and my mother telling me they were very proud of me. I later learned he was fighting cancer and that would be the last show he would ever see. He passed the next year on my birthday & I thought no better way than to celebrate life because he LIVED HIS LIFE TO ITS FULLEST EXTENT. Next to that would be my step daughter walking in Hollywood at the ecoluxe lounge Oscar’s Preshow put on by Durkin Entertainment. It made me proud to be able to see her walk with confidence and certainty on one of the biggest stages there is. Then of course the day I got married 6/20/2020.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

To show the world that the arts matter. We’ve seen how the arts can negatively impact cultures but it can also do the very opposite and uplift cultures.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I can tell how I am currently building my social media audience ….. POST CONTENT ! Haha that’s pretty much it, you have to treat it like a 9-5, post everyday even if it’s just random stuff, it keeps the engagement.

Also, invest in your social media marketing, run a few ads of your best work, even if it’s only $100 budget just do it, you’ll love the results for sure.

Contact Info:

• Website: ThePeoriaFashionWeek.com
• Instagram: @jokervisuals
• Facebook: Ezra Murry
• Threads: @jokervisuals (if you like to talk anime that’s the best place to do it) 😂

Image Credits
All images shot and edited by @JokerVisuals Ezra Murry