Do you ever wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a more standard path? Does everyone have these doubts sometimes? We wanted to find out and so we asked as many talented artists and creatives as we could and have shared highlights below.

Elisabetta Fox Piantoni

There is no doubt that I picked the job I love doing but, sometimes, second guessing is normal. Especially in those days where things are hard on set – perhaps for the project itself or maybe the team isn’t as cohesive as it should or there are miscommunications. Or even when there’s work that comes up last minute and you have to cancel your plans, maybe with friends or family, and wonder what your life would look like if you had a regular office job or even one with a recurring schedule in order for you to plan your life a little better. Read more>>

Laura Benack

Looking back on my personal journey as a creative, there’s been a recurring feeling that the title of ‘professional musician’ hasn’t quite been earned, as I’ve never relied solely on my art to sustain me financially. Throughout my career, I’ve always maintained day jobs, dedicating evenings and weekends to my creative endeavors. Read more>>

Alexandra Ficken

That’s such a great question and an important one. As humans I think we strive so hard for this: the feeling of true happiness and contentment. We are constantly chasing it, especially in a world that tells us having certain things will make us happy. And I think as creatives we will do whatever we can to get to that point. Read more>>

Jillian White

Taking the creative route is definitely a risk but overall the reward is twice as gratifying. I’m currently in school for fashion design so I can not only learn but also have a safety net to fall back on rather than just going full-on freelance. I feel genuinely fulfilled and the most in touch with myself when I’m creating artwork and developing my sewing skills and wouldn’t choose to do anything else. Read more>>

Nikki + Jon

This is such a big question. Overall, yes, we love being able to shoot content while traveling to beautiful places! And as someone who had a “typical 9-5 job” before this, I am able to see all the benefits and drawbacks with choosing to share our lives publicly as content creators. Read more>>

Kayla Goldsmid

I believe that being an artist or a creative has its ups and downs. There have definitely been days where I have thought to myself that it must be so nice to have a ‘regular job’, something with benefits and consistent pay. There is something alluring about the idea of a job where your schedule and ultimately, your path, is picked out for you. Where there is someone above you to take on responsibility when things are going wrong. Read more>>

Megan Coy

I think we are always going to wonder if the grass is greener on the other side, but I love being an artist because it gives me the freedom to do what I want and need without reporting to someone else. I’ve worked “regular jobs” and I definitely prefer this! I get to decide if I need to work extra time to catch up or if I need a day off and that’s what’s working best for me and my family right now. Read more>>

Trevor McGoldrick

I am definitely happiest when I’m working in my field. It’s a turbulent and uncertain field of work, it doesn’t have the certain stability of a regular job, but I’m happier doing this than when I am working a “normal” job at home. I do sometimes wonder what it’s like to be happy being at home with a regular job, it definitely brings a comfortable familiarity having the same schedule and doing the same thing every day. Read more>>

Annetta Marion

I am thrilled to be making my living as an artist. I never thought that someone like me could be so lucky. Read more>>

Ashlyn Craig

I think it can be expected to have questions about what it would look like to stop pursuing art as a career and pursue a “regular job”. I often find myself wondering, “Am I making the right choice?” or “Do I have what it takes?” anytime I have a particularly slow market, or an exceptionally daunting materials bill comes along. Read more>>

Kari Lu Cowell

I didn’t choose to be creative; it is inherent in my soul. Everything I do is an act of creation, whether it’s creating a character while acting, creating yoga sequences, or creating plans for my love coaching clients. I tried a 9-5 job once and it was not for me, for many reasons. I don’t know what life would be like if I was not driven by creation. At times, I am envious of my friends who knew exactly what they wanted to do as an adult. Read more>>

Cate Caplin

Music, dance, theatre and the performing arts has always been valued and embraced in my family. For as far back as I can remember, every birthday, special occasion, and gathering of celebration included an outing to enjoy some sort of creative production. I used to joke with my parents that we were spoon fed the arts, how could we possibly want to pursue any other profession?! Read more>>

Gabe Keller Flores

I’ve been writing songs since I was 12, but it wasn’t until the last 4 years that I felt good enough about what I was making that I wanted to actively share it with as many people as possible, and it wasn’t until just this last year that I prioritized doing this over other things, like making money. I can say that for me, making music can’t be ultimately about making money; that’s not the point. Read more>>

Tanya Venom

Being an artist comes with extreme highs and lows, taking risks and investing in yourself with no guarantee of financial stability or retirement plan, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am incredibly happy as an artist! As a musician, it is necessary to be able to leave town at a moment’s notice to travel and sometimes for weeks at a time to tour, so whenever the allure of having a stable job crosses my mind, I’m reminded of how trapping regular jobs can be. Read more>>

Stephen Haigh

I don’t wonder what a regular would be like, because I’ve definitely worked my share and continue to, outside of my artistic pursuits. But I do often think how a creative my can be a blessing and a curse. I sometimes go to great lengths to produce my art, in ways that feel true. The creative mind is typically, when open is often one that sees value in many things. Read more>>

Gabi Magaly

I don’t mean to sound cliché but art really saved my life this past year. I, unfortunately, went through a breakup at the beginning of the year and lost control of everything that was happening around me. Art was the only thing I had to process what was happening around me. Being an artist does make me happy because it’s been the only thing that has helped me express my feelings. Read more>>.

Donna Giraud

I had a regular job (I was a nurse for 15 years) and there is not a day that goes by that I do not regret the decision to leave nursing and follow my true path as an artist. Read more>>

Julie “JJ” Joseph

I often do wonder what it would be like to have the stability of a 9-5 job, and I think the arts can absolutely go through phases of being incredibly draining. However, I think when it comes to work situations, stability can often go hand in hand with monotony. I love the flexibility of being a freelance creative, how I can shape each day with the understanding of what is in place for my survival, and what is in place for my expression. I wouldn’t change my path for the world… but when the going gets tough its definitely hard not to daydream. Read more>>

BOIIWONDERZ

I suppose one’s idea of happiness will always be different than anyone else’s, but for the most part I try to remind myself that in this moment I am happy as an artist. I never wonder what it’s like to have a regular job because I already know what that’s like. Sad and uninspired. Read more>>

Rena Kubota

I find immense happiness in my role as an artist, but I’d be remiss not to mention the challenges I’ve encountered on this path. My experience working with a cosmetic company was insightful, yet it illuminated the conflict between my artistic imagination and corporate constraints. While it wasn’t always a smooth journey, the lessons I learned were invaluable. Read more>>

Susan Bercu

For me, being an artist is not a choice but who I am. I never imagined doing anything else. I studied art through high school and college culminating in an MFA in ceramic sculpture and painting. There were early art career successes with galleries and exhibits when an ensuing work life and moves from place to place, rendered ebbs and flows. Read more>>

Scotty Dunn

Right now I’m not very fulfilled as a creative. I’m sure every artist feels like this at one point or another. There’s been so many recent changes in my life – I’m moving across country, starting a new job managing a company in Wisconsin that’s completely unrelated to filmmaking/YouTube. I’m raising a toddler and as of now I’ve switched over to making YouTube content. Read more>>

Lulu Yueming Qu

I always feel I am so lucky to be an artist. But when I just graduated from my graduate school in New York City, it is very difficult to start my art career. The reason is simple, I don’t know how to make money, and it is hart to get enough commissions as a beginner. I started to look for a job, and yes, I got a job at a nice gallery in Chelsea, New York City. Read more>>

Mary Henderson

The question of whether I am happy doing what I do is one that I ask myself periodically. I feel like a lot of artists go through stretches of doubt, because there is usually so little extrinsic reward for what we do. I’ve often reached points where I felt like it was time to start preparing a back-up plan, but every time I have gotten close to pulling the trigger – like looking seriously for a full-time job – I’ve gotten some little bit of affirmation from the universe that made me feel like it wasn’t *quite* time yet. Read more>>

Jon Rappleye

I have been an artist all my life, one of my earliest memories was drawing with crayons all over my mother’s newly painted living room walls and painting murals on the back of my father’s automotive repair and paint shop using buckets of car enamels. My mother used to tell the story of how I once caught a container full of worms and painted them red and blue so that when I let them loose, I could find them when we went fishing. Read more>>

Christina Fidler

I am very much happy as an artist. I also acknowledge the privilege I have to be able to pursue my passion for a living, as it’s not a forgiving or particularly stable road to take. Especially now. With the development of AI, the income inequality between higher-ups at major entertainment networks versus staff artists who are on the ground creating the media we consume, and the increase in limited/short-term contracts on projects that are very quick to get canned, there is so much uncertainty with creative roles in entertainment. Read more>>

Destinee Thomas

Being an artist/creative is one of the most liberating feelings in my humble opinion. I feel as though being an artist is another form of saying “Being Yourself”. To be an artist or creative requires a certain level of self acceptance & alignment with self. Despite having a regular job for survival & to support whatever lifestyle I choose to live, it’s also reassuring to know that one day my dreams & passions will be able to sustain me. Read more>>

Chad Carrier

have been able to do both. I have worked jobs all my life as well as been an entertainer and song writer. It has been a challenge to juggle all my careers. Read more>>

Courtney Senior

I love being a creative person and an artist. However, it does require a lot of energy, consistency and persistence. Forget the business side of it all; just maintaining inspiration can be challenging. I have fallen into multiple creative slumps over the years, some lasting a month or two and others lasting nearly a year. Read more>>

Jacob Haag

I love the freedom that comes with being an artist. I feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to work with so many talented people that help me bring my creative visions onto the screen with each of my music videos. One of my favorite things about working on set is the sense of community created by everyone working together towards the same common goal. Read more>>

Bernadette Armstrong

I love working in film and theater. When I was getting my BA in film and theater I would walk the grounds and look at all the other students and wonder…. how can they not be studying anything else but FILM!!! I am at my happiest when I am working on a project, either writing and directing plays, working on sets, and or writing – anything.. Read more>>

Nicole Maican

Never! I came from a corporate retail visual background. I loved it at the time, but I have never been so fulfilled as I am now. Having my own resin artisan business, where I am able to travel around to different community events, and talk to people about art, it is absolutely amazing! Talking to random people about art, idea generating, and problem solving, is not only helpful but inspirational! Read more>>

Hallie Rae Ward

I am choosing to be an artist because it is what I love to do and therefore I am happy. My parents always encouraged my twin brother and me to explore possibilities and to find what you are passionate about. Everything is a choice. An artist has many choices in terms of why they create the art they do, who they do or do not want to share it with, and whether or not you want to sell it. Read more>>

Tiffani Gyatso

Anyone with a creative mind is an artist. We are being creative when we dress, when we clean, cook, talk, love; we are also very creative and imaginative to create problems and chaos too. Actually creativity is the very essence of what make us humans, is the capacity to be so curious to the point of studying, analysing and understanding to the depth. Is curiosity that sets our heart in fire and moves our lives with purpose – purpose that we were so creative to invent! Read more>>

Kelly Diffie

I am happy as an artist, but I also do many other jobs. The median income for an artist is 30,000, the median income for a household is around 58,000, so even the best selling artists usually have multiple income sources coming in to supplement their art, but despite that I feel that I love all the things I do which helps keep me happy as an artist. Read more>>

Brandon B. Goehner

Am I happy being a creative person? Absolutely! Nothing is more exhilarating than seeing something come to life; creatively speaking. From an idea or a riff to a full length song or album. I live for the process. Read more>>

Justin Nelson

The short answer is yes. Pre-pandemic, absolutely not. As tired as it gets, the pandemic was a blessing for me. It allowed me time to slow down and evaluate my life’s direction and flow. So many of us were raised thinking we could only pursue one thing. For me, that was only performance. It was either musical theatre or film work. Read more>>

JaDarrel Belser

First off, thank you guys for having me again. I’ve gotten a lot of great response from the previous work I’ve done with you and it’s greatly appreciated. I personally feel I’m happiest as an artist . I’ve always been a creative being in some form of another since childhood. I used to draw, make my own comics and do make-believe movies. I also do have a regular job as well. Read more>>

O.T. Ashton

I do sometimes wonder what it would actually be like to have a regular job. Read more>>

John Campbell

I have been in performance for over 33 years and acting for over 20 years and have loved every minute. From the early days in dance, music and fashion to acting in theatre, TV and film and everything in between. Read more>>