Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Duncan Ragsdale. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Duncan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you 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?

I have been one lucky girl or as they say “I am not lucky, I am good”! My husband bought me a t-shirt that said that to remind me of how hard I have worked to get where I am.

The last semester in college I need an internship. I was tired of the Graphic Design major that I had chosen and told my teacher “I can make anything… what else can I do?” He knew a special effects man in Nashville that was working on a movie. I helped him blow stuff up and make rain and fog. I did my internship there and never looked back. I didn’t even know the Film and TV business was outside of LA and never considered that as an option. I made some business cards and set out calling everyone in the local business on a weekly basis to get hired as an assistant for anything.

That same special effects man hired me to do jobs at a local business that only did radio station commercials for television. This is where I worked freelance in their art department and learned so much! We built sets, painted scenery and made props of all sorts. I attribute that to helping me be successful in my career as well as introducing me to a producer and the love of my life.

I found that showing up when and where I was supposed to be and using ALL of my creative skills to make, find and figure things out is what helped me succeed at this creative career. Being self-employed means doing what you have to do to get and keep the job and client. Its integrity and wanting to be there no matter what. The skills that I feel like I have always had but honed in college prepared me for this life of entertainment design.

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.

Creating beautiful sets, stages and events with a proven framework of design is my forte. With a strong eye on elevating your brand with those tiny design refinements that make all the difference, I will make your project shine, enhance your company’s prestige, and scale your production and events to the next level. As a purpose driven designer, I have worked with the wealthy, the famous, the glamourous, and even the notorious. My stories have accrued over the decades to become part of the Nashville legend in this truly unique town.

I specialize in design of environments, specialty props, sourcing, fabrication and installation for production & events including sets for film & TV, commercials, promos, series, concerts, corporate content and events in private or public spaces.

Working in Nashville and across the country with a diverse set of clientele from both small and large companies and a range of industry sectors, I collaborate with my clients on projects from initial concept to design execution to ongoing project management. I have craftsmen at the ready like sculptors, carpenters, scenic painters and printers to make visual designs come to life. People call me when they need a creative, experienced team that delivers on time and within budget.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

As a self-employed, creative person in the Film, Television & Event industry you have to rely on other self-employed people and outside companies to get the jobs done. Keeping close relationships with those key people is very important. This industry has different cliques that work well together and rely on each other for constant work. As a lead in my department I get to choose the people that I want to work with and in turn I try and protect them from things like cheap rates, overtime cuts, bad meals or just bad decisions that my bosses or others make at our expense. I feel like it is my job not only to put the right people together but lead them with integrity and show appreciation at every turn. I write thank you notes to producers that hire me and take my lead crews out to lunch in appreciation for showing me support. I invest in those that will be there for me in the long run.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I went to school for Graphic Design and never took any business classes or entrepreneur classes like that are offered today. I asked how to do things like accounting and taxes from my peers but never fully realized that I was a real business. I didn’t know that I could go farther and make more money than what I was doing. At the very least I was leaving money on the table.

I just this year Joined the Braintrust: Women Business Owner Membership Organization. It is a small group that encourages us to work together and learn from each other. We utilize the groups resources and meet to learn and grow. I wished I had had a mentor not just as a creative but as a business woman.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.duncanragsdale.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duncanragsdale/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/duncan.ragsdale
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncanragsdale/

Image Credits
– Keeping On album cover photo Jeremy Ryan – All other photos Photo credit Duncan Ragsdale