We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nadja Tizer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nadja below.
Alright, Nadja thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Six days before my 40th birthday, I took the biggest risk of my life. I quit my full time, salaried job with benefits in favor of being a full time creator. I was already an aerial dance instructor and very part time creator but I had never relied solely on creative endeavors to pay my bills. It was scary at first and money was tight for a while. I had to take side jobs driving kids, cleaning, caretaking and any other odd jobs I could find in order to make ends meet. I went to Cosmetology school and found another creative outlet. During lockdowns, I shifted my art business to mask making to pay my rent. Through it all, I kept faith that I could make a living as a full time creative. Fast forward 6 years. I am now a full time creative, teaching circus arts, making visual art and jewelry and working part time as a hairdresser.
Nadja, 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?
The truth is do not do just one thing and/or offer just one service. That is one magical aspect of self-employment. Some people say that one should focus on only a single thing and become really great at that one thing but I prefer to be good at many things. In this manner I am never bored. One day I might live paint on a streaming app. The next day I might cut and color hair, then in the evening teach aerial dance. Sometimes I cut gemstones or make jewelry. Sometimes I accept art or costume commissions. No two days are identical. These days I perform and do fewer events but a few times a month I find myself entertaining as a stilt walker, a character an acrobat or an aerialist. What services do I provide? Well, I have two main businesses: Firebird Moving Arts and Firebird Fashionista. The first is my own moving arts company. I teach aerial dance, aerial yoga, yoga, flexibility, dance and performance skills. I also perform Circus Arts and Burlesque. Firebird Fashionista is the umbrella for my other artistic passions. I create paintings, drawings, jewelry, costumes and accessories. I also cut and/or carve gemstones. The best way to fully understand the things I do is to visit my IG and Facebook Pages.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Art is oxygen for me. When I create, the world fades into the background, worries slide away and the world narrows to just that present moment: me and my creation. I never get bored because there is always something to create. If one medium is not calling to me on a given day, I focus on a different one. Art is a reward I give myself every time I do some adulting. Maybe I wash the dishes or pay the bills, whatever I do, I then allow myself to get lost in the creation of a visual or moving art. Art is my wholesome escape hatch.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I became a yoga teacher, and then an aerial coach because I truly value what moving arts bring to my life and want to share this with others. I have found that creating any art or movement allows me to breathe and be fully present. My goal in teaching is to help students feel better when they leave than when they arrived in my classes. There is no other specific goal with my other art. I create art because that is what brings me joy. Art keeps me focused on the hood in front of me versus all the struggles of humanity. Art alone cannot change the world but it can change the destructive paths of the mind. Art is something we can control in a world where we often have little or no control. The goal of my art is to keep my personal sanity and happiness. I find when I am at my best, I have my best to offer in the world where my efforts are most needed.
Contact Info:
- Website: firebirdmovingarts.com
- Instagram: firebirdfashionista nadjatizer
- Facebook: @firebirdfashionista @firebirdmovingarts
- Linkedin: Nadja Tizer
- Twitter: nadjatizer
- Youtube: Nadja Tizer
Image Credits
Not applicable