We were lucky to catch up with Te’Shawn Crenshaw recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Te’Shawn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Has Covid resulted in any major changes to your business model?
During COVID it definitely gave me plenty of time to think and really feel. Without a lot of disturbance I was able to get clear of of what I wanted to do more. The time I had with that opened my eyes in a few wats ways. The lack of funds, my grandfather passing during the peak of COVID, and just not being satisfied with my current position. I wasn’t in control with what I didn’t know that I could do, but that definitely changed over time.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Originally I didn’t think I’d fall back into videos like I did. I was just a skateboarder, for 17 years that’s just what I did. Eventually I got a camera since I didn’t have the patience to wait on a filmer anymore, there were too many good moments to record. This was my first real glimpse at what I was good at (outside of skateboarding) then the addiction to create something was short lived. I was living in Colorado at the time, enjoying these moments with friends but not my life or work there, it was weird time just figuring out life.
I ended up just moving to Texas after 3 years in Colorado and pivoted my lifestyle towards paintball. It was literally the same as skateboarding as far as being an athlete, sponsors, and industry as a whole. Something about it made me feel like I could “do it”. I revisited that hobby, got my skills up and made the leap to play professionally. Within a year I went from the lowest ranking division to semi-pro, just one step away from pro! It felt like having a black belt in martial arts.
At the end of all of the training, the traveling, promotion of sponsors, and teaching I was so burnt out. Naturally I quit, pivoted to video again to tell stories and went down a rabbit whole to a point where it lead to me fishing and hunting with friends to documenting big game hunts in the Pacific North West, starting with bears.
Now I offer a service for promo videos for guides, outfitters, and brands, social media content, as well as mini docs. It’s been a liberating experience. Apparently I love extreme things, the long hikes, late nights and early mornings…the outdoors provided that and balanced me out as a person as well.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
This is a big one, the right community for you! It can be tough, I had it great on Clubhouse since COVID was a big deal, but then there’s Facebook groups, Discord, and courses. Take advantage of these, follow the group that is authentic to you! You’re not the only one out here even though it seems like it’s hard to relate. Put yourself out there, there’s people waiting to receive what you have to offer.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Every time I book a trip with a hunter. It reminds me that no matter how much you prepare, nature will out do you every time. You have to embrace whatever comes and have an open mind. You could deal with weather change, carry 100lbs of meat on your back, surrounded by predators, and hiking mountains for God knows how long. You have to take your mind away from comfort, you’re forced to, that’s what I love about it. You have no choice but to keep going, how else will you get home? You’re off the grid, no service, just you and your team versus nature. Typing that makes me smile, it’s an adventure. Discomfort will make you feel good after, you have to deal with yourself, that’s resilience in it’s purest form.
Contact Info:
- Website: mcmp.media
- Instagram: instagram.com/mcmpmedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teshawnsb
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teshawncrenshaw/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/teshawncrenshaw
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/K1ddoh/