We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Renaissance Austin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Renaissance below.

Hi Renaissance, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve have always known I wanted to work professionally in the world of the performing arts and entertainment since I was a toddler. I always tell people since I was aware I existed as a person. I never saw any other life for myself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born in Los Angeles, California and I am proud to say I am a jack of all trades and a master of a few. The foundations of my creative career paths were set by my father, relatives, and especially my grandmother, who was a seamtress and taught me how to crochet when I was eight years old. My aunts were beauticians, makeup artists, and singers. I grew up around Mary Kay, Avon, bright clothes and gaudy jewelry. One of my uncles is an unknown fashion designer. He inspired me to design my own fashions at age 11. So, I started sketching at that time. By 12, I was hand sewing full outfits. At 15 my grandmother and I made a homecoming dress I designed. By prom, we designed and made two dresses. I also sewed my after prom dress made out of black lace. I still have all of my dresses which bring back so many memories. Throughout my school years I developed a reputation for being the most talented of which I was always voted. This included fashion, singing, dancing, modeling, and hairstyling. Some of my classmates were my clients! However, I must warn that winning the Best or Most of anything does not always translate into real life.

My father was a musician and loved to sing. He raised my brother and I on his own and while we attended public school the inner workings of our home was very much like homeschooling. As he raised us he attended the local college paralleling a certificate program in Child Development, so our home was filled with developmental wonders. We had an organ, of which my father played. A bass guitar, saxophone, keyboard, and harmonica. There were books everywhere. Volumes of encyclopedias, dictionaries, art supplies, books on how to draw, about animals, history, and anthologies. My father loved playing the organ in church and though I was super shy he encouraged me to sing in the children’s choir and told the director to give me a song to lead. I have the fondest memories of standing in the choir stand in my mustard yellow robe looking over at my dad on the organ and him pushing and encouraging me. He truly was my greatest support.

My mother died tragically in a car crash when I was a baby but I somehow inherited her talent for writing and poetry. When my father died suddenly at the age of 14, I was pretty much on my own. I can say, that everyone and everything that influenced me and was given to me throughout my early years was packed in a suitcase. A suitcase I carried with me into adulthood I then had to unpack to figure out where every talent and inspiration would fit.

I made my first five bucks at age 11 putting a braid in my classmate’s mother’s hair, so I fell into hairstyling first. I did braids for many years with the help of my aunt who was also a braider. I had always sat and crocheted with my grandmother in my spare time when I did not have clients. By the year 2000, I was attending my local community college, saw a crochet product a vendor was selling and suddenly a light bulb moment occurred. I thought to myself, ‘you can SELL crochet?’. That same day I went home took out my yarn and crochet hooks and started designing. I had already attended and graduated from cosmetology school and was more educated and professional in my hair business. Now, I was balancing hair clients and vending at church events, community festivals and farmers markets.

Once I started learning the business of small business I had to become official by setting up a DBA and publishing my company. This is where I became Raghouse International and just some time later I got the revelation to convert my living room into a full service boutique. I officially became Renaissance Austin, hairstylist, makeup artist, photographer, knitwear designer, business woman. Opportunities snowballed. I hosted open houses every Spring, Summer, and Christmas. I worked as a hairstylist, makeup artist and model dresser for LA Fashion Week. I was hired for all of my skills. Wedding makeup and photography. Braids, weaves and extensions for corporate workers as well as dancers and actors. I was part of a Fashion Collective in Glendale and took part in every event, fashion show or creative opportunity that came my way, from MAGIC Las Vegas to every free business seminar. Once I opened an Etsy shop in December of 2007 sales took off and for a few years I was shipping my handmade products across the world. It was a good season. Lots of money was made, time spent, and there were plenty of all nighters. Yet, I have learned that in business things change because the world changes socially and economically.

In the last year of me making and shipping my knit dresses, after finishing the very last one and sending it out, I put my Etsy shop on vacation and have not returned since. I had made dresses for a year straight and did not go anywhere. I did not have a life and was seriously in need of sun. This break was a time of evaluation for me. I reflected upon the negative experiences I had throughout this successful era and I had to come to terms with the fact that I was not capable of fulfilling orders all by myself. I begin looking for new avenues I could re-route my business to because I had also become a crochet instructor at Joan, Etc. and loved teaching.

As a side note. I was on public access TV when I was 10 and then in a featured film at 15. And while running my business I was also working as a professional singer with groups, choirs and ensembles for Film, TV, corporate events, celebrity weddings, award shows, and live events all throughout the 2000’s. I was a busy lady and I wanted to make my fashion business more automated and passive so that I could do more singing and acting.

Unfortunately, I had to stop everything when I went through a health crisis that nearly cost my life. After three years of sickness I had a successful surgery that removed four tumors from my body. After two blood transfusions and a great recovery I was led to return to college. The first time around I was a double major in Fashion Design and Marketing. This time I was working toward my degree in Fine Arts- Applied Music- Vocal Performance and my Certificate in Commercial Music. And I did it and was so proud of myself. Receiving my degrees and putting more focus on the music business has brought a lot of balance to my life. The down side was graduating in 2020 into a halted world, which meant my plans for working in the music industry the way I thought I would were halted. I believe the “life break” was a blessing in disguise for most of us though. Sure, I and my family and friends lost people. But on the flip side I was able to rest and reflect upon my entire life up to that point. I began working on myself more spiritually, becoming vegan and planted-based. I lost my college stress weight. I observed what was going on in the world and firmly defined what I was truly passionate about, socially, environmentally, and spirirually. I crocheted and sold a lot of masks also. But I understood that I was morphing into the person I am now and continuing on to be. One without fear or trauma. One full of balance, space, relief and just BEING.

Now, at age 44 I have one of the most flexible job positions and it is that of a flight attendant. I am more creative while traveling than I have ever been. Do I still design? Yes! I take projects with me everywhere I go. I do photoshoots in hotels. I write songs and post TikTok duets. This keeps me in good songwriting practice. I am travel vlogging. I meet bands and Djs on flights all the time. It is a constant networking. I always knew travel would be a huge part of my life and now I am finally enjoying the history, architecture, music, and culture of other cities. In 2022 I began working with Billie Eilish’s mom, Maggie Baird, as a volunteer worker for Support +Feed, an organization whose mission aligns with my passions and beliefs. Not only that, but volunteering has become the most gratifying activity in my life, so I volunteer for anything that applies to me. Mostly music events.

Because my work is based in Utah and I fly into California every month and I am currently connecting to the music and arts scence throughout Utah. I just finished three amazing volunteer days at the Park City Song Summit and I am now developing my first artist, Mariah Morales, right here in the small town of Provo, Utah. I am very excited about bringing this beautiful young talent to musical success.

While there are so many lessons and details left out of this commentary, I could not ask for a better balance of life. After all I have been through, both trial and triumph, I am living the best segment of my life during these mid years than ever before. What have I learned and what can I say to young and older creatives? Be patient with life. Change is constant. As the world morphs and adjust, so does business. Read, be intuitive and discerning. This will keep you steps ahead. Archive EVERYTHING. I have a hard drive full of photos, videos, documents and social media content I created over the past 24 years.

I was just laughing with a friend of 20 years about how crochet, knitting, and sewing revived themselves during the shut down. I told her how I had worked so hard for 20 years for everyone to fall in love and accept knitwear (during my time I got called granny and people still were not accepting of the art as mainstream. When I was teaching, teenagers were the hardest group to get into classes. Now look.) and as soon I get tired and want to just sleep, BOOM. Needle crafts are all over social media. I could be bitter but for me it was actually a dream come true. I could not wait for the day when crochet would be on red carpets worn by artists and actors. Then friends started sending me posts and that’s when I knew things were headed in the right direction. I actaully love simply observing the revival. Remember that life is cyclical. Things come back around and then fizzle out again. It feels good knowing I have 24 years of archival content I can post anytime. Which means, always have a preparation midset. This takes having faith in yourself and being positive about your future. You must have vision and foreshadowing. If you don’t you won’t believe what you desire can be obtained. Lastly, don’t be afraid to pivot when it is time to pivot. If you need to rearrange or close your business for a different vision or plan, do so. Don’t worry about what others may think. If they do not support you or put money in your pocket they are not important anyway. Finally, balance. We creative entrepreneurs can take on so much that we ruin our health, our minds, and our wealth. Find physical, spiritual, and mental balance through trusting the process for your life. Slow down and worry less. Stay peacefully determined and focued. The minute I realized during the shut down that someone else had the capability to push a button and stop the world, I begin working on letting everything go. It does not happen over night but you can start the process of living in peace and balance through your creativity by taking it one day at a time.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

This question is one of the most important questions to ever be asked. All of us, that is you and I no matter the generation, have been socialized to choose American corporatism over the small business. I am Gen X, an ’80s baby. We did not have internet. Anything advertised to us through TV, billboards or radio was a federally support product. As time progressed and sites like Etsy came to be more makers realized they could make money with their crafts. Beforehand, everything was underground but the internet allowed makers to rise and even advertise directly to their following. It is very difficult to divert someone from buying a mass produced candle from Target for $12.99 just to send them over to Julie Jane at the craft fair to purchase her handmade candle for $48. We need major education in this area for both the maker and the buyer because some small businesses are undercutting their prices and most consumers think small business products are too expensive. But here is the catch and where the argument always wins. People spend money how they want and where they want. They can go to a craft fair with a Coach handbag and still refuse to buy a $48 candle. But if it were a designer brand candle $72, it would be a different story and we know this scenario is 95% true.

So, it becomes about INTENTION. In the book Our Black Year, a wealthy black family living in the suburbs of Chicago decides to take one year to support black businesses only. Let’s just say it is any amazing book and one to learn a lot from.

Overall, trust has to be built between the small business owner and consumer. Because the business is small it also makes for more intimate business friendships, because generally we have always seen our customers more like friendly supporters and these supporters have to be highly aware that they are re-routing their money from the mainstream into the small business arena.

Small business supporters should set markers just like in the book I mentioned. Be intentional about supporting small for 6 months or a year. Do research. Create a collection of businesses to follow and support on Instagram. Find local makers you can walk to or drive to so that you don’t pay shipping. Set budgets. Tell yourself you will hold off on Starbucks or shopping at the mall or Target.

I mean, the creative ecosytem is just that. Circulating the dollars within. Society has to know the box stores are not the only way. During the shut down there were many places I stopped patronizing because I did not want to support their practices. Also, it dawned on me that I am giving my little single dollars to retail operations owned billionaires. They did not need my money. The small business owner did.

The sad part is American corporatism is so greedy that they have infiltrated the artistic creative space bringing contracts and taking large percentages only to possibly copy that product or not renew the contracts. Target does this a lot with black haircare and wellness systems. I don’t feel it is the best road for a small business owner but I understand the reason it is done. Consumers will still go to their local Target instead of purchasing directly from the maker and believe me most owners I speak with would prefer direct sales and not another entity taking a cut.

It will take time. The positive is that we are getting there. Owners have to become business educators to inform their clients well.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There are so many, but these come to mind. The Millionaire Mind, A Million Bucks by 30 ( I was already past 30), Your Best Life Now, Shark Tank, E on Fire Podcast, and Bloomberg Businessweek.

There are many more, but the most important thing when reading these kinds of books is the ability to read in between the lines. An entrepreneur should be able to relate to what they are taking in. Text should bring vision and ideas that will help the entrepreneur’s business plans. Never stop reading, learning, and listening.

There are many people whose stories and careers I have been moved by. Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones and Angelique Kidjo. Autobiographies are amazing. So are documentaries. My favorite creative, Billie Eilish, whom I discovered in the midst of my music studies, was very influential in my mid years, helping to bring a musical refreshing to my life. Billie Eilish took me back to my innocent years where I was bright-eyed and dreamy but well lived and in a more mature spot. I loved how I felt about music by the time I graduated and much of it was due to her.

Contact Info:

• Website: raghouseinternational.com
• Instagram: @renaissance_alien_superstar
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renaissance-marie-austin-1b6517108
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@RenaissanceAustin?si=Su2sL5-H4KNkLFCY
• Twitter: @renaissance_creates_art

Image Credits
Renaissance Marie Austin Raymond Wright Zoe Photography