Pursuing a creative or artistic career can certainly be fulfilling, but it’s far from certain. Over the years, we’ve heard about the struggles from thousands of artists and creatives – it’s incredibly challenging and it can be tempting to wonder – what if you hadn’t pursued this path. We asked artists and creatives from across the community if they’ve every had those doubts themselves.

Mikhail Capote

I always knew I’d be doing something in the arts, I was raised for it. Dance recitals, gymnastics and theater were a part of the well oiled machine that was me growing up just outside Detroit. Things started to fall apart for me around high school when my parents couldn’t handle the teenager I was growing into. I suffered terrible bullying at school that ultimately caused me to have to leave not only the school but the city itself. Read more>>

Michael McCoy.

I like to think so. Being in a creative field has always been more appealing to me because of the freedom associated with it. I get to make my own hours, work when I want on what I want, and say no to projects that I don’t think I would enjoy. However, being self employed in a creative space comes with a lot of pressures you wouldn’t have in a normal job. Primarily the fact that if something goes wrong, or if you have a slow month, there is nobody to blame but yourself. Read more>>

Phillip Gunder

I would say that I am fulfilled and motivated as a creative because I feel like it is what I am meant to do. No matter what you do you are not going to be happy all the time and that is just apart of life. I’ve always felt like having a normal job/career was not for me. I’ve worked various jobs before and going the traditional route, I knew that I would not be able to accomplish what I want to and be fulfilled with my life. Along the journey you have to deal with the ups and downs but I have made alot of progress and also created a lot of opportunities and that’s what keeps me motivated. Read more>>

Jacquelyn Clark

I am happiest when I am creating, there is a level of necessary required energy (creative magic) and I always think to myself how worth it is to be in “the zone.” When I’m working in a creative space it becomes my real-life Twilight zone, easy to get lost in and lose touch with the reality of things that really matter. Acting, modeling, and styling will always be an epicenter of my creative freedom and release, but the importance of finding time for myself without connection to my craft has become evidently clear to me. Read more>>

Ali O’Neal

What a complicated question. Doesn’t every creative wager this debate internally on a somewhat regular basis? On one hand, I feel complete creative autonomy in what I’m building within my business and artistic endeavors, which is such an incredible opportunity. And on the other, damn, wouldn’t a consistent paycheck that I clock in and clock out to receive feel simple in the best of ways? I’m recently contemplating stepping away from my creative business for an undetermined amount of time, as I’m hitting a place where the grind of constantly hustling for a consistent income is overshadowing the joy of creating. Read more>>

Kiko Rodriguez

I am happy as a creator. I have two creative worlds, artist and designer. I enjoy both of them but I spend more of my day-by-day time as a designer working in an office. Often I wonder what it would be if it have a more balanced time between the two disciplines or even more art time. Design has more rigid thinking, art is more open, and is more “Yourself”, so, sometimes I miss being myself when I am in the creative processes. Read more>>

Kimberly Miller

Joyous is the appropriate adjective to describe my creative career journey! Chalk art is life however before artwork I dreamt of navigating through the world or media and entertainment. 4th grade was the year that started it all as I conducted monthly meetings as president of Midvale Elementary’s media club in Tucker, Georgia. Often I whisper “Thank you” for the support of my teachers and librarian Susan Grigsby for cultivating the early thoughts of a life in media and entertainment that have directed me to my current position in broadcast television at ESPN and Disney! Read more>>

Arielle Goldberg

I actually do have a regular job, and it can be really hard to make time to do my art. It’s important to me to have a steady paycheck – I grew up without a lot, and have student loans to pay and a family to support. Over the years I’ve found that learning about business and how the world works has made me a better artist. I have more chances to meet random people, go to new places, and I appreciate and have learned a lot about the business side of things. I’m also a Capricorn which might have something to do with wanting a strong career or getting validation from it Read more>>

Allante String Quartet

I think being a creative is such a happy and freeing adventure. I truly love it and I am very happy where I am. As a string quartet, we find satisfaction and joy in our creative lives even in tiny rehearsal spots that we have worked hard to get ensemble together, or in a moment of music when the melody connects between two instruments. We love to search for repertoire and we burst out in excitement when we think a musical theme is asking for more connection between players. There is so much gratification in the journey of creating together as we make something that everyone can enjoy. The actual creation is why we play, not necessarily the pay. Read more>>

Jhetta Ebron

I can honestly say that I wasn’t born to be anything other than a creator/artist. I’ve worked so many different jobs on different calibers and by the time I hit 3 to 4 months it starts to break down on my spirit. Being able to write my music and work my camera is so powerful and healing to me. When I didn’t have anyone to turn to my art became my therapy. I just want to get it to a place where I can sustain the lifestyle that I have made for myself money wise. I don’t fault people for wanting to have a regular job where I live a regular life but after trying it I know for a fact it’s not for me. Read more>>

Keambra Wilson

I am happier as a creative . I haven’t had the thought of working a 9-5 in about a year or two . When the pandemic hit and work started slowing down as far as modeling and events you couldn’t help but to have that thought . We were in a recession and no one could leave their homes or at least no one wanted to leave their homes because at the time it was dangerous. Not knowing all along that it was a blessing in disguise . I flourished more than I ever have , put together more events , helped the youth and connected with more likeminded individuals through social media . Read more>>

Mercedes Melendez.

To answer if I’m truly happy at the moment is honestly fairly difficult. The past two years have thrown at me some major tribulations that at times it still feels like I’m in recovery. It has been on my mind, the question of whether I feel fulfilled in my career. I think at the heart of it, I’m grateful for my accomplishments in what is a pretty niche area of the industry. My community has been amazing in their support of my works and I can’t be more thankful to them for that. Read more>>

Brandi Little

I absolutely love being an artist. The preparation each aspect takes to pull off an incredible show, the hours spent in the studio to make sure every word and note translates the way it was felt in my heart while writing the song. I love seeing my team come together and utilizing each of their gifts to make sure I’m presented in the best light. I love the world of entertainment, but the road does get weary. Some long nights feel longer than others some shows get canceled the day of, some studio recordings never turn out how I’d hope. & in those moments of frustration I often ask myself what it would have been like to take a different route. Read more>>

Zo Doe .

I’m happier as a creative/entrepreneur. When working a 9-5 regular you don’t have time to anything for YOU. It was constant headaches going home from the workplace and bringing work problems into the household. It was very frustrating having somebody that you work for telling you what to do, when to come in to work, what days you could get off, etc. For so many years I thought to myself, what it would be like if i quit this job today! Read more>>

Chelsey Luster

I love being an artist and curator, I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. Growing up people always told me that I’d have to find a non-creative career to be successful and they were completely wrong. There is art all around us from the clothes we wear to the posters on our walls to the carefully designs mundane its that we use everyday. Read more>>

Tony Correlli

We spend so much of our lifetimes at “work”, so the real metric for success should be how enjoyable and fulfilling that time is to use individually and internally, regardless of money, titles, and all that external stuff. I’m very lucky to have found something I love doing, and I have done well in my field because I enjoy it and have immersed myself in it. I don’t know if I’d do well in another job, I don’t know if I’d have the same passion that I have for producing music, and really I don’t want to find out. I want to spend my waking hours collaborating with diverse musicians and creating new music and sounds as long as I am able. Read more>>

Juliet Piper

I’m happiest and feel the most like ME when I am creating. It’s my number one priority and at the center of my heart. Right now I’m a full time songwriter/composer, artist, podcast host, and entrepreneur, and I feel exactly where I am supposed to be. Anytime I’ve tried to stray away from music, creative projects, or entrepreneurial endeavors to do something I was “supposed” to be doing, Read more>>

Daniel Finaldi.

I am not going to answer this question in a way you might imagine. I think the word “happy” does not quite make sense to me. Happiness is not the same as happy or being happier. To me happiness is tied to the word “joy, and bliss”. That being the case, painting is not always a “happy” experience. Painting can be a struggle and it can be tormenting. I’ve had sleepless nights obsessing about my work. Read more>>

Luna Avila

Happiness is subjective. Am I happy as an artist? Sometimes. Being an artist is one of the hardest forms of being, you get artist blocks all the time, the projects you envision can sometimes fail on you or not exceed your expectations. Nothing is original now and days I think, everything now is definitely a personalized form of everything that already has been made. Am I happy as a creative however? Absolutely, you’re exposed to beautiful people, beautiful creations, beautiful experiences. Read more>>

Cara D’Adamo

I love being an artist, it is the greatest gift. Having the opportunity to create gives such a sense of freedom. When I first graduated from school, I took many different types of gigs. I wanted to continue to work on my craft and be able to provide for myself and my family. Then after working in both the music and entertainment industry for many years, it made me want to start my own production company. I started my own business as a way to help, teach and mentor younger actors getting started in the entertainment Industry. Read more>>

Natasha Ria El-Scari

I am definitely happy as an artist and creative. However, recently, I felt the crunch of having my daughter in college and her needs, the reduced sales at my gallery and fewer clients in my spiritual readings and editing practices. It was only about money. It was never about feeling like I have run out of ideas, joy or inspiration but more so feeling overwhelmed with the time it spends to create and having shorter spaces of time between pay. Honestly, I don’t want to get up early in the morning or go to bed early. Read more>>

Leah Mueller

I went through this process a little backwards. I grew up loving to sing and perform and was involved in every thespian group, every choir, and every production I could get my hands on. All of my closest friends went to undergrad and studied theatre, while I chose a related, but more stable major of Music Education. I ended up teaching at a local school district and I loved it. I got to direct shows with my students and conduct the choir and lead a Rock Ensemble class. It was wonderfully fulfilling. However, after six years, I found I wanted to feed into my own artistry. Read more>>

Zach Reeder

I ask myself this question ALL the time, it crosses my mind at least every few months. I think “wouldn’t it be great if I could just do music and film projects for the fun of it? Out of pure joy? And to not have to worry about where my next paycheck is coming from?” I even start looking at job postings on LinkedIn that I would be more or less qualified for. I’ve even gotten some ideas for pursuing paid projects by doing that! Read more>>

Cymrie Hukill

I love being a freelance musician. To me, it’s not work. And I believe that everybody should feel that way about their job. Everyone should enjoy their career, because that’s how they thrive, and when everyone thrives, society as a whole succeeds. However, freelancing as a musician (or freelancing in any career, really) is not financially stable. In the months where don’t receive a lot of work, finances cause more stress in my life than they should, and at those times, Read more>>

Maggie O’Gara

Overall I’m happy as a creative, but there are obviously good and bad days. I’ve had a wide range of jobs during my time as a creative to cover bills and what not, and have done some full time work here and there. It’s a weird thing because on the one hand it’s nice to have the money and stability that a full time job provides. However, it doesn’t really leave me with much time to create and pursue my creative career which is tough on me and my mental health. Read more>>

Nora Tirrell

In all honesty, I don’t do creative things full time. I have a full time job currently as a nanny, where I work from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. And to be honest, I love it. Being around kids helps my creativity and keeps me inspired to keep pursuing music as the job positively affects my mood and how I view creativity. I’ve been through times in my life where I’ve felt like it would just be easier to get a desk job where the work is mundane and the same every day but where I earn a lot of money. Read more>>

Mike James

As artists, we often create our interpretation of the world and how we see it. I create inspirational audio stories that help empower listeners to get to just a little more freedom in their lives. Oftentimes, that freedom may come in the form of looking for different work that feels more satisfying or creates a better work/life balance. I’m at most most happiest and in that “flow” state that’s often talked about, when I’m creating stories. It’s what I’m built to do. It actually makes me better at my “jobs” that I do as it fulfills a piece of me that Corporate America cannot. Read more>>

Caroline Dare

I always knew I wanted to be a creative! I’ve known since I was little. Now that I’m living a creative life full time, I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. Being a full time musician is most definitely a real job & not an easy one. It’s still my dream job though. I love working independently & being my own boss. I get to manage my own schedule & take time away if I need to. It’s allowed me to find a work/life balance. I hate the feeling of being boxed in & not being able to do my own thing. Read more>>

Chris Cranick

Though it has its ups and downs, I am ultimately most fulfilled living as an artist and playing music. I have had fleeting moments of wondering what it would be like to have a “regular” job. I’ve even considered fully pursuing a handful of my day jobs over the years. Most recently, I had started a job at a wholesale music distributor in Metro Detroit. I thought it was the perfect day job for a musician, and on paper it was: selling exclusive instruments and brands to retailers across the nation by day, and performing shows by night. Read more>>

Tyrus Solomon.

I am happy as an artist. It’s literally a dream come true to be doing what I love professionally and also introspectively. It feels like a huge ongoing project. I’m also pretty aware of what a regular 9-5 would be like being that I’m an artist. I like to explore, I like to learn new things so it’s never an issue picking up a 9-5. As an artist timing is very important. I think if you have to suffice for a regular job temporarily in order to take care of expenses then do so. Never allow your doubts to control you or allow your pride to keep you confined. Consider options! That’s my insight. Read more>>

Jhane

I have a full time job as well as my poetry writing. I am super happy as an artist/creative. I know myself well enough to know that I need to be doing something creative in order to thrive. So, I like being able to do both. I get the best of both worlds and I get to strengthen so many skills because I am doing my creative and day jobs. Read more>>

Nicole Willingham

I am happy as an artist, however this is something I think about often still. Being a full time artist is truly FULL time, every waking moment practically. Finding a balance between work and life is difficult for most of us, but that line between the two is essentially nonexistent as a creative. I’ve taken basically everything I do to unwind and relax and turned it into a job; so what do you do on a day off once you’ve done that? For me, you end up just continuing to work until the burnout inevitably hits. When I reach that burnout is when I question my career choice the most. Read more>>