We recently connected with Courtney Holly and have shared our conversation below.

Courtney, appreciate you joining us today. 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 graduated college with a BFA in Acting back in 2015 knowing full well that I’d more than likely have to get a “day job” as I began my professional journey. Some of those day jobs were horrendous, and some were absolutely wonderful, but at the end of the day, I had to muster the energy to focus on my creative endeavors. This was far from acceptable for me. My husband (boyfriend at the time), a professional audio engineer (who specializes in mix engineering) and I both were looking for extra ways to bring in an income so we combined forces and I started auditioning in the voice-over world. This was only the beginning. Over the next few years, I learned how to record, edit, and produce all of my own voice-over work thanks to my husband’s teaching, and it led to multiple recurring jobs in the voiceover industry and subsequently new clients via word of mouth.

My voiceover gigs (audiobooks, commercials, etc…) laid the foundation for me to be able to focus full-time on my creative work. Over the course of 3 years it began to pay bills/rent and afford me time in between my acting gigs (which is my real passion) because of this I was on set more, and because of that I was not only being asked back on to set as an actress but as a makeup artist too.

in 2020 I stepped away from my “day job” and went full-time into my creative business. Having all the legal work in place for a sole proprietorship, I was able to make the transition smoothly.

In 2021 I became a rep for the makeup line I use on set and that added yet another stream of income to my roster.

Now in 2022 my colleague Jonathan Everett and I have started a podcast (The Sights and Sounds Podcast) about filmmaking by filmmakers that really focuses our insight and efforts on helping others succeed in their filmmaking dreams but also to help others make this their full-time too.

I guess the moral of my story here is 3 things:

1. If you can’t find work, make work. The only way for your creative dreams to progress is to continuously be creative and make things happen for yourself. Things don’t just fall into your lap and you need to get inventive. It might not look the way you thought it would so be open to all the possibilities. It all comes back around in the end.

2. You are the CEO of your own company. Every single time you work on something (be it your day job or creative work) be the kind of person that you would want to work with, one that people talk about in a positive light when you’re not in the room. People talk, and your reputation is half the battle. It’s not about who you know it’s about who knows YOU, and HOW they know you.

3. Give. Give your time. Give your skills. Give your insight back. Other people are NOT your competition. So be generous, be giving. If someone comes to you wanting your advice on your area of creative expertise, give it to them. You never know who the person you’re speaking with may be in the future. And on top of that, we all need to just be a bit more supportive of one another. You are the only competition you have.

Courtney, 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?

Hi! Yeah! I’m Courtney! I hold a BFA in Acting from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (2015) and I am a professional actress, voice-over artist, and makeup artist (Specializing in SFX).

I moved to Nashville in September of 2015 and never looked back! My journey has been a long and crazy one, but I wouldn’t change a single second of it.
I am the producer/co-creator/co-host of the Sights and Sounds Podcast! A podcast about filmmaking for filmmakers, as well as being a helpful resource for those just getting started in the business! My co-host and I really aim for this podcast (and anything that comes after it) to be the sort of advice and resource that we didn’t have when we first started our creative journies!

My work is comprised of acting (both on stage and film) as well as being a professional voice actress. I’ve narrated countless audiobooks and have been the voice of commercials for clients like the TSA and Army National Guard, and if you call the Hunter Hotel’s headquarters you’ll hear my voice guiding you through the phone tree options. I absolutely love what I do, but what I love most is helping my clients bring their projects to life. I adore helping small businesses the most, and I offer discounted prices for small businesses needing commercial work done.

I also work in SFX makeup on set! I love the creativity that goes behind bringing movie monsters to life or the challenge of doing makeup for a fight scene!

I recently became an artist with the company Seint Beauty and I spend so much time with my customers making sure they feel absolutely gorgeous in their own skin. I’ve worked with ages 18-82 with this makeup and it brings absolute joy to my life helping others.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

I want to help others realize their dreams. While there have been so many people in my life that have been incredibly supportive, and helpful… there have been plenty that have ignored me because I was what they considered their “competition.”

I strive to put an end to that mentality. The world needs art and it desperately needs YOU, so never give up on your dreams.
I want to make sure you don’t ever give up.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

We need to stop this mindset that hobbies or talents must be capitalized. Allow people to try new things, and encourage creativity by not putting the pressure of making a profit on it.

Not all journeys start off profitable and the idea that: “if you’re not making a living off of your creative endeavors you’re failing” is a mindset we MUST eliminate.

Parents: encourage your kids to try out for the school play, let them learn an instrument or play with arts and crafts.
Create a safe creative outlet for them and watch them become the problem solvers of the world.

As for the rest of us: stop believing that you must be working 24/7 in order to be productive. Give yourself rest. Give yourself grace. Go experience art so that you can create it.

We were not born into this world to work, pay bills, and die.

Let’s make things a bit more beautiful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.courtneyholly.com
• Instagram: @ohcorntee @makeup.yer.mind
• Other: www.makeupyermind.com www.sightsandsoundscollective.com Listen to the Sights and Sounds Podcast everywhere you get your podcasts!! Want a free custom color match for Seint IIID foundation? Follow the link! https://form.jotform.com/213067767049059

Image Credits
Sara Dee Creative Justin Hammond Courtney Holly